U.S. patent number 3,810,525 [Application Number 05/275,285] was granted by the patent office on 1974-05-14 for acoustical earpiece for air-push sound systems.
Invention is credited to Richard D. Crenna.
United States Patent |
3,810,525 |
Crenna |
May 14, 1974 |
ACOUSTICAL EARPIECE FOR AIR-PUSH SOUND SYSTEMS
Abstract
An acoustical earpiece having two cups connected by a headstrap
and lined with acoustically transparent foam, the cups having
plug-in sockets in their sides tightly receiving the ends of the
two tubes of an earphone of an air-push sound system after removal
of the standard ear cushions thereof.
Inventors: |
Crenna; Richard D. (Encino,
CA) |
Family
ID: |
23051632 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/275,285 |
Filed: |
July 26, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
181/129;
381/371 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04R
1/1008 (20130101); H04R 1/1058 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H04R
1/10 (20060101); G02k 013/00 (); H04r 025/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;181/23,24,31R,31B
;179/182R |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Tomsky; Stephen J.
Claims
I claim:
1. In combination with a conventional tubular earphone comprising
two elongated flexible tubes having input ends for connection to a
sound system for generating sound waves, and separated output end
portions of a predetermined approximate size customarily equipped
with detachable ear cushions for fitting into the ears of a
listener to deliver the sound waves to the listener, an improved
acoustical earpiece assembly, comprising:
a pair of open-sided hollow cups sized to overlie the ears of the
listener and each having an opening generally opposite the open
side of the cup and substantially larger than the cross-sectional
size of said output end portions;
a U-shaped headstrap connected at its ends to said cups to extend
around the head of the listener and hold the cups over the
ears;
and grommets of resiliently compressible material fitted snugly in
said openings and defining through passages into the interior of
the cup, said through passages being sized to receive output end
portions of said predetermined approximate size with a tight fit
and to frictionally retain said output end portions removably in
said grommets while providing acoustical seals around said output
end portions, whereby the customary ear cushions may be removed
from said earphone and the latter may be plugged into said earpiece
to increase the comfort of the listener and improve the quality of
the sound.
2. The combination defined in claim 1 further including a lining of
acoustically transparent foam material in each of said cups
overlying said opening and said through passage.
3. The combination defined in claim 2 in which said linings are
sheet foam material in cup-shaped form generally conforming to the
shape of the interiors of the cups.
4. The combination defined in claim 1 in which each grommet is a
generally cylindrical insert having a peripheral groove
interfitting with said cup around said opening.
5. The combination defined in claim 1 in which each cup has an
outwardly offset portion with a substantially planar wall that is
inclined downwardly and inwardly when the earpiece is in place,
said openings being in said walls and said through passage being
positioned to receive said output end portions in outwardly and
downwardly inclined positions.
6. For use with a tubular earphone having an input end for
connection to a sound system for generating sound waves, and an
output end portion for delivering such sound waves to a listener,
said output end portion comprising two relatively flexible tubes
for extending to the ears of the listener, an improved acoustical
earpiece assembly comprising:
a pair of open-sided, hollow cups sized to overlie the ears of the
listener;
means joining said cups together as a headset unit for supporting
the cups over the ears of the listener;
a grommet of resiliently compressible material mounted in each of
said cups and defining a socket therein for receiving the end of
one of said tubes with a snug friction fit and admitting sound
waves from the tube through the grommet into the interior of the
cup while forming an acoustical seal around the tube, whereby said
earpiece may be used with a conventional air-push earphone both to
increase the comfort of the listener and to improve the quality of
the sound;
and a lining of acoustically transparent foam material in each of
said cups between the socket therein and the open side of the cup,
for improving the quality of the sound delivered to the listener.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to acoustical earpieces, and has particular
reference to the acoustical earpieces for use with conventional
sound systems of the so-called "air-push" type presently used in
commercial transportation systems such as commercial airlines.
In such systems, the practice is to provide the passengers with
individual earphones in the form of tubular connectors having input
ends which plug into consoles conveniently located near the seats,
and output ends which deliver sound waves from the console to the
ears of a listener. The input ends are attached to a suitable
plug-in fitting, and replaceable ear cushions are provided on the
output ends to fit into the listener's ears.
Such ear cushions are intended to assist in retaining the earphones
in place, and to reduce the discomfort associated with their use.
The cushions that have been used have included soft rubber earplugs
telescoped over the ends of the tubes and having openings for
admitting sound waves out of the plugs inside the ears, and annular
foam cushions insertible in the ears. Such cushions are inexpensive
enough to be disposable after use, permitting replacement for
hygienic purposes prior to reuse of the earphones.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention resides in an improved acoustical earpiece
assembly for such air-push sound systems, which greatly increases
the comfort of the listener using the sound system, and also
improves the quality of the sound received, as compared to the
earphones that now are in use. Moreover, the improved earpiece may
be mass-produced at a cost that is low enough to make the improved
service available to passengers, or to sell as personal property to
those who travel extensively.
More specifically, the improved earpiece comprises a pair of
open-sided, hollow cups that are joined together to overlie the
ears of the listener, and each having a socket generally opposite
the open side of the cup for receiving the output end of one of the
tubes with a snug fit, the preferred socket being formed by a
resiliently compressible grommet fitted in an opening in the side
of the cup. Thus, the sockets provide releasable plug-in
connections for the tubes, and are sized to provide acoustical
seals around the tubes for optimum sound-wave transmission. One
size of grommet will accommodate a range of sizes of tubes, and
different sizes of grommets may be provided for different
situations.
The hollow cups not only are more comfortable than ear cushions,
but also provide sounding chambers around the ears, through which
the sound waves are delivered to the listener, thus enhancing the
quality of the sound. For even higher quality, a lining of
acoustically transparent foam is provided in each cup, for the
dispersion of the waves in the chamber.
Accordingly, the improved earpiece can be used with the same sound
systems that presently are in use, thus eliminating in a practical
manner the sources of the primary objections to such systems that
have arisen, and that have not yet been satisfactorily
resolved.
Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent
from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an improved acoustical earpiece
assembly embodying the novel features of the present invention,
shown in combination with part of a conventional earphone and in
place on a listener shown in outline form; and
FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of parts of the earpiece
assembly of FIG. 1, shown partly in side elevation and partly in
cross-section.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
As shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration, the
invention is embodied in an acoustical earpiece assembly, indicated
generally by the reference number 10 in the drawings, for use with
an air-push sound system in which sound waves are delivered to the
listener 11 through a pair of elongated flexible tubes 12 and 13
that are joined together to form an earphone 14. Such tubes are
standard parts of the various earphones presently in use, having
input ends (not shown) for connection to a source of sound waves
such as a transducer in a console adjacent the seat in a plane, and
separated output end portions 15 for extending to the ears of the
listener. The tubes usually are joined together by a lanyard 17, or
in some other fashion, to extend in side-by-side relation from
beneath the listener's chin to the console.
In accordance with the present invention, the improved earpiece
assembly 10 comprises a pair of cups 18 and 19 sized to fit over
the listener's ears and joined together in a headset unit by a
U-shaped headstrap 20 for supporting the cups comfortably in the
proper listening position. Each cup has a socket 21 in one side
generally opposite the ear of the listener when the cup is in
place, each socket receiving the free end portion 15 of one of the
tubes 12, 13 to connect the tube to the earpiece and admit the
sound waves from the tube into the cup.
The illustrative headstrap 20 comprises two pre-shaped, flexible
pieces of spring metal, plastic or the like having overlapping ends
which are slidably received in a sheath 22. This permits the
headstrap to be lengthened or shortened as may be necessary to fit
different people. The free ends of the headstrap are suitably
connected to the cups 18, 19, for example, by U-shaped yokes 23
having pivots 24 (FIG. 2) on their ends fitting rotatably in a pair
of oppositely opening, coaxially aligned recesses in the cup.
Each cup 18, 19 is large enough to comfortably overlie the
listener's ear, and preferably has an annular ear cushion 25 for
engaging the listener. For this purpose, each cup is shown as
having an outside peripheral flange 27 which constitutes the rim of
the cup, and the ear cushions 25 are simply rings of foam material
having internal grooves which receive the flanges 27. The cups may
be composed of metal, plastic, or other suitable material, plastic
being preferred for low cost.
To form the sockets 21, the cups are formed with openings 28 in the
portions generally opposite the open sides, the openings being
substantially larger than the cross-sectional size of the ends 15
of the tubes 12 and 13, and grommets 29 composed of resiliently
compressible material such as rubber are secured to the cups in the
openings. These grommets have through passages which are sized to
receive the ends of the tubes, as shown in FIG. 2, and to hold the
tubes releasably on the earpiece 10, the through passages forming
the sockets 21.
Herein, the openings 28 are circular, and the grommets 29 are
generally cylindrical and larger in outside diameter than the
openings, each having a peripheral groove 29a interfitting with the
wall of the cup around the associated opening. Thus, the grommets
are semi-permanently mounted on the cups, and may be sized to
receive the ends of the tubes 12 and 13 with tight, interference
fits forming acoustical seals.
Although the grommets 29 may be placed in various positions in the
cups 18 and 19, the illustrative cups are formed with outwardly
offset portions 30 having substantially planar walls that are
inclined downwardly and inwardly from approximately midway between
the upper and lower sides of the cups, and the grommets are mounted
in these walls. When the ends of the tubes are in place, they
extend outwardly and are inclined downwardly to some extent,
thereby reducing the angle of the bend as the tubes turn and extend
inwardly and toward the lanyard 17, At the same time, this
configuration assists in holding the tubes comfortably away from
the face and neck of the listener. If it should be desired to
attach such earphones permanently to an earpiece assembly 10, the
sockets can be permanent connections, instead of releasable
connections.
It will be apparent that the interiors of the cups 18 and 19 form
sounding chambers for the sound waves delivered through the tubes
12 and 13. This substantially enhances the quality of the sound, as
compared to the sound quality obtained with prior earphones in this
type of system. For even higher quality, a lining 31 of
acoustically transparent foam material (that is, foam material of
one of the commercially available types that passes sound waves
through the material to a relatively high degree) is applied to the
inner side of each cup, to disperse sound waves within the
chambers. This material preferably is applied in sheet form to the
entire interior of each cup, and conforms to the curvature of the
cup, as shown in FIG. 2. A thickness of about one-half inch is
suitable.
From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the present invention
provides a relatively simple and inexpensive earpiece assembly 10
for existing air-push sound systems, that is readily attachable to
the tubular earphones presently in use, after removal of the ear
cushions that presently are provided on such earphones.
Accordingly, the improved earpiece can be supplied to passengers
with earphones from which the ear cushions have been removed, or
can be carried as personal property by a traveller who wishes to
avoid the discomfort of such earphones and to enjoy the higher
quality of sound available with the improved earpiece. Such a
traveller can remove the standard ear cushions and simply plug the
tubes into his earpiece.
It also will be apparent that, while a specific embodiment has been
illustrated and described, various modifications and changes may be
made without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention.
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