Headphone pivot joint

An earcup to headband joint for headphones, wherein the headphones comprise an electrical cable that extends from the headband into the earcup. The earcup to headband joint includes joint structure that couples the earcup to the headband and that is constructed and arranged to provide for earcup translation along a vertical axis and rotation about the vertical axis, and at least one friction element in the earcup and in contact with at least one of the joint structure and the cable. The friction element is constructed and arranged to provide forces that resist rotational motion of the earcup about the vertical axis.

BACKGROUND

This disclosure relates to an earcup to headband joint for headphones.

Many headphones have one or two earcups that are designed to sit on or over the ears. The earcups are coupled to a headband. In some cases, the earcups can move vertically, up and down the headband, so that they can fit different heads. The earcups may also be able to pivot or rotate from side-to-side about the axis of vertical motion, again to accommodate different heads.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, an earcup to headband joint for headphones, wherein the headphones comprise an electrical cable that extends from the headband into the earcup, includes a joint structure that couples the earcup to the headband and that is constructed and arranged to provide for earcup translation along a vertical axis and rotation about the vertical axis, and at least one friction element in the earcup and in contact with at least one of the joint structure and the cable, wherein the friction element is constructed and arranged to provide forces that resist rotational motion of the earcup about the vertical axis.

Embodiments may include one of the following features, or any combination thereof. The earcup to headband joint may include at least two friction elements. The electrical cable may have two opposed sides, and one friction element may be in contact with one side of the cable and another friction element may be in contact with the other side of the cable. A horizontal portion of the cable may run generally along a horizontal axis that is perpendicular to the vertical axis. One friction element may be above the horizontal portion of the cable and another friction element may be below the horizontal portion of the cable. The friction elements may each comprise a strip of pliable material. The friction elements may comprise an elastomer. The friction elements may be made from silicone rubber. The earcup may comprise a generally horizontal slot that the joint structure and cable pass through, and the strips may be alongside both sides of the slot.

Embodiments may include one of the following features, or any combination thereof. The at least one friction element may be spaced from the vertical axis. There may be at least two friction elements that each comprise pliable material. The earcup may comprise a slot that the joint structure and cable pass through, and the friction elements may be adjacent to both sides of the slot. The cable may pass through the joint structure. The friction element may be in contact with the joint structure at a location where the cable passes through the joint structure. The joint structure at the location where the cable passes through the joint structure may comprise a tube in which the cable is located.

In another aspect, an earcup to headband joint for headphones, wherein the headphones comprise an electrical cable that extends from the headband into the earcup, includes a joint structure that couples the earcup to the headband and that is constructed and arranged to provide for earcup translation along a vertical axis and rotation about the vertical axis, wherein the earcup comprises a slot that the joint structure and cable pass through, and at least two friction elements in the earcup, one alongside each side of the slot and in contact with at least one of the joint structure and the cable, wherein the friction elements are constructed and arranged to provide forces that resist rotational motion of the earcup about the vertical axis, wherein the friction elements comprise strips of an elastomer.

Embodiments may include one of the above and/or below features, or any combination thereof. The friction elements may be spaced from the vertical axis. The friction elements may overlap both sides of the slot. The electrical cable may have two opposed sides, and one friction element may be in contact with one side of the cable and another friction element may be in contact with the other side of the cable. The friction element may be in contact with the joint structure at a location where the cable passes through the joint structure, and the joint structure at the location where the cable passes through the joint structure may comprise a tube in which the cable is located.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A headphone refers to a device that fits around, on, or in an ear, and that radiates acoustic energy into the ear canal. Headphones are sometimes referred to as earphones, earpieces, headsets, earbuds, or sport headphones, and can be wired or wireless. A headphone includes an acoustic driver to transduce audio signals to acoustic energy. The acoustic driver may be housed in an earcup. While some of the figures and descriptions following show a single headphone, a headphone may be a single stand-alone unit or one of a pair of headphones (each including a respective acoustic driver and earcup), one for each ear. A headphone may be connected mechanically to another headphone, for example by a headband and/or by leads that conduct audio signals to an acoustic driver in the headphone. A headphone may include components for wirelessly receiving audio signals. A headphone may include components of an active noise reduction (ANR) system. Headphones may also include other functionality, such as a microphone so that they can function as a headset.

In an around or on the ear headphone, the headphone may include a headband and at least one earcup that is arranged to sit on or over an ear of the user. In order to accommodate heads of different sizes and shapes, the earcups need to be able to pivot about at least the vertical axis, and they need to translate for some distance along the vertical axis. The headband can be collapsible or foldable, and can be made of multiple parts. Some headbands include sliders, which may be positioned internal to the headband, that provide for the necessary translation of the earcups. Some headphones include a yoke pivotally mounted to the headband, with the earcups pivotally mounted to the yoke, to provide for the necessary rotation of the earcups.

Some headphones have earcups that are able to move vertically, up and down the headband, and also pivot or rotate from side-to-side about the axis of vertical motion. The user experience can be improved if the side-to side pivoting motion is damped sufficiently to maintain the earcup position on the head as the headphones are used; if there is no damping the earcups may not stay in place as the wearer's head moves.

The headphones of the present disclosure have a joint that couples the earcup(s) to the headband. The joint is structured to allow constrained, damped rotation of the earcups relative to the headband about at least the vertical axis. In some cases, the joint may also provide for rotation about a perpendicular horizontal axis. The joint is also structured to provide for constrained translation along the vertical axis. Rotation about a vertical axis can extend to 90 degrees in one rotational direction, so that the earcups can be folded flat against the headband, anywhere along their translational motion. In this example of the joint, the joint allows the headphones to be folded flat, which allows a headphone storage case to be flatter than could otherwise be achieved without the joint.

An earcup to headband joint for headphones of this disclosure can include a joint structure that couples the earcup to the headband. The joint structure provides for earcup translation along the vertical axis (up and down along the headband), and earcup rotation about the vertical axis. There are one or more friction elements in each earcup. The friction elements are in contact with at least one of the joint structure and the electrical cable that extends from the headband into the earcup. The friction elements are constructed and arranged to provide forces that resist rotational motion of the earcup about the vertical axis. In one example, the friction elements are spaced from the vertical axis. The friction elements maybe located inside the earcups.

In one non-limiting example, each earcup includes two friction elements. One friction element may be in contact with one side of the cable and the other friction element may be in contact with another side of the cable. The friction elements may each comprise a strip of pliable material. The material may be an elastomer, such as a silicone rubber.

In one non-limiting example, the earcup has a generally horizontal slot that the joint structure and cable pass through, and the friction elements (e.g., the strips) are alongside both sides of the slot. In another example, the cable passes through the joint structure and the friction elements are in contact with the joint structure at the location where the cable passes through the joint structure. The joint structure at the location where the cable passes through the joint structure may comprise a tube in which the cable is located.

Headphone10is shown inFIG. 1. Headphone10includes earcup14that is carried by headband12, which is adapted to be fitted on and over the user's head. Cushion13is depicted, to schematically represent cushioning that may be present in some headphones. Cushions may increase user comfort. Earcup14is movably coupled to headband12by joint20. Joint20is constructed and arranged to allow translation of earcup14up and down along vertical or translational axis X. Joint20is further constructed and arranged to allow rotation of earcup14from the neutral position shown inFIG. 1, in both directions about translational axis X. In one of these rotational directions the rotation extends for approximately 90 degrees, such that the open face of ear cushion15of earcup14faces either forward or backward, rather than facing inward (i.e., toward the location of the user's head (not shown)). This rotation folds the headphone “flat,” wherein the height of the headphone (i.e., its extent along the Z axis) equals the height of the earcup plus headband. In one example, this fold-flat height is approximately 54 mm. This fold-flat height is less than the height that the headphones have when the earcup is not rotated about the X axis, which would equal the diameter of the earcup; in the example of this same headphone this height would be approximately 79 mm. Since the fold-flat configuration decreases the height of the headphones, the headphone carrying case can be thinner. The fold-flat aspect of the headphones thus decreases the bulkiness of the carrying case, which makes the headphones easier to store, pack and carry.

FIGS. 2-5provide pertinent details of one non-limiting example of an implementation of the joint structure that is constructed and arranged to allow translation of the earcup up and down along vertical or translational axis X, as well as damped rotation of the earcup in both directions about translational axis X. Damping of this rotation is discussed below. Joint structure30includes pivot member60that has first end62. End62is received by slider50, which is part of joint structure30and is located within the headband (not shown). Slider50comprises U-shaped, partially tubular body52. Pivot member60also has second end64. In this example, the distal surface of end64defines an arc-shaped surface77. Integral connecting portion66connects pivot member first end62and second end64.

Slider50fits into slider receptacle groove42on the outside of shell body41of earcup shell40. Horizontal slot44in groove42, which is bounded by raised ridges45and46, is sized and shaped to allow pivot member60to be nested into shell body41, such that end62fits through enlarged opening56of slider slot54. Slot54is narrower that the diameter of (generally spherical) end62. This construction retains end62in slider50. As shown inFIG. 3(which leaves out the earcup shell for the sake of clarity), when the pivot member and slider are assembled, end62sits against the interior of slider body52. Surface77of second end64projects from slider50. As best shown in conjunction withFIG. 4, connecting portion66of pivot member60has ends67and68that sit against edges55and57of slider slot54(FIG. 3); this inhibits pivot member60from pivoting within slider50about axis59(which is the translational axis that corresponds to axis X,FIG. 1).

As shown inFIG. 4, first end62includes generally disc-shaped retaining end member61, which has a slightly greater diameter than O-ring63. As shown inFIG. 3, O-ring63is fitted against the inside of slider body52, and thus creates some friction that allows the slider to slide along axis59, with some resistance. Slider slot54can be at least about 40 mm long, to allow for sliding of the earcup along the X axis of at least about 20 mm up and down from a neutral (centered) position. End62can pivot in both directions about the Z (horizontal) axis, until disc61contacts the interior of slider body52. In one non-limiting example, the rotation about the Z axis extends for up to approximately 10 degrees from a centered (neutral) position, although smaller or greater rotations can be provided for by proper construction of the joint. The rotation about the Z axis allows the earcup to adjust relative to the headband, to accommodate different sized and shaped heads.

The rotations of the earcup about the X axis are accommodated by arc-shaped surface77of pivot member60and the arc-shaped interior bearing surface72of bearing member70. SeeFIG. 2. Bearing member horizontal slot71accommodates the electrical cable that routes power and audio signals to the earcup, as described in more detail below relative toFIG. 11. As described above, pivot member60is held in slider50such that pivot member60cannot rotate about the X axis relative to slider50. Bearing member70is coupled to earcup shell body41such that surface77sits on surface72. This allows the earcup to be pivoted about the X axis.

In the non-limiting example depicted inFIGS. 2-5, joint structure30is constructed and arranged to allow for rotation in a first direction about the X axis (inFIGS. 5A-5Dthe translational (X) axis is into and out of the page), the rotation extending for about 10 degrees from a “neutral” position, and rotation of about 90 degrees in the other (a second) direction about the X axis. These rotations are illustrated inFIGS. 5A-5D, withFIG. 5Ashowing the “neutral” position (designated as zero degrees' rotation),FIG. 5Bshowing a −10 degree rotation (where the earcup is fully rotated in the first direction),FIG. 5Cshowing a +10 degree rotation (10 degrees from neutral in the second direction), andFIG. 5Dshowing a +90 degree rotation (where the earcup is fully rotated in the second direction).

In the neutral position shown inFIG. 5Athe earcup is centered on the Y axis. Rotation about the X axis in the first direction can extend up to about 10 degrees as shown inFIG. 5B. The end-point is defined when end65of second end64of pivot member60contacts earcup shell body41(at point81). As the earcup is rotated in the second direction it passes through the +10 degree location (FIG. 5C), to the second travel endpoint at +90 degrees (FIG. 5D), where end69of second end64of pivot member60contacts earcup shell body41(at point82). In this +90 degree position the earcup lies along the Z axis, at right angles to the longitudinal axis of slider50(which corresponds to the X axis). The relative locations of the X, Y and Z axes are illustrated, but offset from the actual positions. As can be seen by comparingFIGS. 5A and 5D, this rotation to a “fold flat” position (FIG. 5D) substantially reduces the depth of the headphones (i.e., their extent along the Z axis), from the diameter of the earcup (FIG. 5A), to the depth of the earcup plus about half the diameter of the slider (distance53,FIG. 5D). This substantially reduces the height needed in an earphone storage case, and thus reduces the size and bulk of the case.

An alternative pivot member/bearing member assembly90is depicted inFIGS. 6-9. Pivot member91in this case is made from two separate portions—first end92and second end94. The first and second ends are interconnected via attachment structure110and attachment structure106being positioned such that their holes are aligned, with pivot pin111passing through opening104in end92and through holes in structures106and110. This allows end94to pivot relative to end92. This pivoting is about the Z axis (FIG. 1), and helps to accommodate different shapes and sizes of heads. In one non-limiting example, this pivoting extends for about 10 degrees in either rotational direction from the “neutral” position depicted inFIG. 1. Other degrees of rotation can be accomplished by proper construction of ends92and94in a manner that would be apparent to one skilled in the art.

First end92includes one or more rubber strips or portions (such as strips103,141and142,FIG. 8) that provide the frictional fit in the slider140, in a similar manner to O-ring63. As shown inFIG. 7, slider140includes slider body142with slot144, and slot opening146. Second pivot member end94includes arc-shaped surface112that rides on arc-shaped interior bearing surface122of bearing member100. Earcup shell130includes slot132, which has a construction that is very similar to the embodiment shown inFIG. 2. Bearing member100is mounted inside of earcup shell130via four tabs (tab162numbered) that overlie mating pads that are part of the earcup shell (pad164numbered), using fasteners such as screws. SeeFIG. 9.

Constrained rotations about the Z axis can be accomplished in the manner illustrated inFIGS. 10A and 10B. The Z axis is coincident with the center of pin111. The X and Y axes are also illustrated. Pivot member second end94can rotate up and down about the Z axis, relative to first end92, which is held in slider50.FIG. 10Aillustrates the neutral position, in which the earcup is centered on the Y axis. Spring steel portion170of headband12pushes first end92toward bearing member100, which is fixed to the inside of earcup shell body41. This force also pushes second end94against bearing member100, such that surface112rides on surface122. The spring force thus provides for smooth rotational motion about the X axis.

FIG. 10Billustrates the farthest downward extent of rotation of earcup40about the Z axis, which can be approximately 10 degrees in one non-limiting example. The rotation end point (in both directions) occur when earcup shell body41of slot44contacts slider body52. Slot44and slider body52can have the same radius of curvature to facilitate the +/−10 degree rotations, but they do not need to have the same radius of curvature.

The present headphones have earcups that are able to move vertically, up and down the headband, and also pivot or rotate from side-to-side about the axis of vertical motion. The user experience is improved by damping the side-to side pivoting motion. The damping is preferably but not necessarily sufficient to maintain the earcup position on the head as the headphones are used. The headphones have a joint that couples the earcup(s) to the headband. The joint is structured to allow constrained, damped rotation of the earcups relative to the headband about the vertical axis.

FIGS. 11-13illustrate a non-limiting example of joint structure208of an earcup to headband joint206for headphones. Joint structure208includes pivot member210, which is similar to pivot member91, and includes first end212that is able to move up and down along slider140, as described above. Pivot member91also includes second end214that can pivot relative to first end212about pivot pin215that is received in opening217. Cable220is carried by slider140and is re-routed (turned 90 degrees, generally along or parallel to the Y axis) into earcup130by pivot member210, as best shown inFIG. 13. Second end214has bearing surface320which contacts bearing member216of joint structure208. Bearing member216is similar to bearing member70, but includes generally “U”-shaped outer portions217and218. Bearing member216is attached to earcup130in the same fashion as illustrated inFIG. 9, by using fasteners such as screws (not shown) to attach tabs162to earcup shell pads164. Cavity232is formed in pivot member second end214so as to accommodate and retain cable220such that it turns into the earcup. Cavity232may comprise a generally horizontal slot as shown, or the slot may be turned more vertically to better retain the cable.

As best shown inFIGS. 11 and 12, joint206also includes friction elements222and224. Friction elements222and224are fixed to outer portions217and218, respectively, of bearing member216, which are designed to accommodate (i.e., fix-in-place) strips222and224. Strips222and224can be fixed to bearing member216in a desired fashion, such as by an adhesive, or a mechanical faster. Alternatively, strips222and224could be overmolded onto bearing member216. Strips222and224overlap slot213so as to either fully or partially close it off. The construction is such that the friction members contact opposed sides of cable220. Friction members222and224are in this example thin strips of a pliable material, such as an elastomer. In one non-limiting example, the elastomer is a silicone rubber, which may be but need not be a material with a durometer of approximately Shore 50A. The friction elements are slightly deformed by cable220as the cable passes through them, as shown inFIG. 12. As the earcup pivots about the vertical (X) axis, cable220moves along horizontal slot213of bearing member216(which is similar to slot71of bearing member70,FIG. 2); the friction between the upper surface220aof the cable jacket and friction member224, and between the lower surface220bof the cable jacket and friction member222as the cable moves along the inner edges of the friction member strips, causes forces that damp (i.e., resist) the pivoting motion of the earcup. This force provides some feedback to the user as the earcup is pivoted, and also helps to maintain the final earcup rotational position and so to help keep the earcups in place as the user walks and moves.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the material and thickness and arrangement of the friction elements, together with the size (diameter) and jacket material of the cable, are selected to achieve a desired damping. The damping can be specified by an amount of torque created by these forces together with their offset from rotational axis X. The desired torque can be created using other arrangements of the elements of the earcup to headband joint structure, and/or the friction element or friction elements that provide forces that resist rotation about the X axis.

One example of such an alternative arrangement is shown inFIG. 14, wherein alternative pivot member second end240includes extension portion205. Portion250comprises tube252through which cable220runs. In this case, friction elements222aand224a(which are carried by bearing member216) contact the outside of tube252rather than the outside of the cable as in the example ofFIGS. 11-13. Other alternatives are within the scope of this disclosure and include the use of only one, or more than two, friction elements. For example, there could be one friction strip. Or, there could be a friction element (such as a sleeve) located on the cable or extension portion205. Also, the friction could occur directly between the inner faces of bearing member216that form slot213, and either the cable or the extension portion, thus obviating the need for separate friction elements and instead accomplishing friction elements directly in the bearing member (either by judicious choice of the bearing member material or by using a different material for the parts of the bearing member that define slot213).