Headphone assembly

A headphone assembly includes a pair of headphones that are operationally coupled together. Each of the headphones includes a housing having a first wall, a second wall and a peripheral wall extending between the first and second walls. A plurality of openings extends into first wall. A sound emitter is mounted within the housing. A tubular member has a first end and a second end. Each of the first and second ends is open. A fastener is adapted for selectively attaching the first end of the tubular member to the peripheral wall of the housing such that the first wall is positioned within the tubular member. Each of the second ends of the tubular members may be selectively positioned over an ear lobe such that the ear lobe is positioned within the tubular member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to headset devices and more particularly pertains to a new headset device for positioning headphones adjacent to the ears of a wearer of the headphones without the use of a headband.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The use of headset devices is known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,625,171 describes an earpiece which is extendable around the back of an earlobe for positioning of a speaker adjacent to the ear. Another type of headset device is U.S. Des. Patent No. 403,681 having a band which is positioned around the back of the head and also includes a earpiece which is positionable around the lobe of an ear for holding a speaker adjacent to the ear. These types of devices are not comfortable to wear due to their rigid materials and because the speaker moves if the earpiece moves. U.S. Pat. No. 4,864,619 includes a headband which is adjustable for positioning headphone in positions adjacent to the ears of the wearer of the headband. Headbands are not preferred because they can lead to headaches and migraines for those who are required to wear them through a work day.

While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for a device that supports headphones adjacent to the ears of the person using the headphones and does so without a headband and in a manner that is comfortable to the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention meets the needs presented above by providing a headphone assembly that includes a speaker that is coupled to the ear using a tubular member. The tubular member is wrapped completely around the earlobe to distribute weight evenly and to ensure that the speaker does not move away from the ear.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new headset coupling device that may be retrofitted to existing headphones to convert such from using a headband to using the tubular member.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new headset assembly that includes headphone housings having a well therein for receiving the male coupler of a headband so that the user may select between the headband or the tubular member for headphone support.

The this end, the present invention generally comprises a pair of headphones that are operationally coupled together. Each of the headphones includes a housing having a first wall, a second wall and a peripheral wall extending between the first and second walls. A plurality of openings extends into first wall. A sound emitter is mounted within the housing. A tubular member has a first end and a second end. Each of the first and second ends is open. A fastener is adapted for selectively attaching the first end of the tubular member to the peripheral wall of the housing such that the first wall is positioned within the tubular member. Each of the second ends of the tubular members may be selectively positioned over an ear lobe such that the ear lobe is positioned within the tubular member. Alternatively, the tubular member may itself be presented as retrofittable coupling device which may be attached to the housings of headphones for removably attaching the headphones to ear lobes.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular toFIGS. 1 through 5thereof, a new headset device embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral10will be described.

As best illustrated inFIGS. 1 through 5, the headphone assembly10generally comprises a pair of headphones12. The headphones12are operationally coupled together. Each of the headphones12include a housing14having a first wall16, a second wall18and a peripheral wall20extending between the first16and second18walls. The first wall16is preferably circularly shaped. Preferably, a peripheral flange22is attached to and extends around an edge of the first wall16. A plurality of openings24extends into first wall16. A well26extends into the second wall18. The well26is preferably bulbous shaped and is adapted for receiving a male coupler ball30of a conventional headband28if the user desired to use a conventional headband28. A sound emitter32, or speaker, is mounted within the housing14. The openings24extend to the sound emitter32such that sound emitted from the sound emitter32may exit through the openings24.

Each of the headphones12includes a sound permeable covering34and a tubular member42. The covering34is removably positioned over the first wall16. The covering34comprises a resiliently compressible material which is ideally a foamed elastomeric material. The covering34has a first side36and a second side38. The first side36has a peripheral lip40thereon. The peripheral lip40is selectively extendable over the peripheral flange22to hold the covering34in position. This allows for easy removal and changing of the coverings34for hygienic purposes.

The tubular member42has a first end44and a second end46. Each of the first44and second46ends is open. The tubular member42comprises a resiliently elastic cloth material which preferably a mesh material. A resiliently elastic loop48is attached to and extends along the second end46of the tubular member42. Each of the tubular members42includes a fastener that is adapted for selectively attaching the first end44of the tubular member42to the peripheral wall20of the housing14such that the first wall16is positioned within the tubular member42. The fastener preferably includes a hook and loop securing assembly that includes a first mating member50attached to and extending along a length of the first end44and a second mating member52that is attached to and peripherally extends around the peripheral wall20. If the tubular member42is presented independently from the housings14of the headphones12as a retrofittable coupling device for securing headphones to earlobes, then it is preferred that that the second mating members52are removably attachable to the peripheral walls20of the housings14. This may be accomplished using pressure sensitive adhesive.

Though the assembly10may be used as conventional headphones, such as for listening to music, it is preferred that assembly includes a conventional interface54allowing a user to operationally couple the headphones to a phone line. The interface54preferably includes a volume control56and a phone jack58to which the headphones12are operationally coupled. Ideally, the volume control56would be adapted to selectively and independently control the volume of sound to the left and right ears and would include a mute actuator60for turning off sound to the speakers32and for disconnecting a microphone62attached to one of the headphones12. The microphone62would also be operationally coupled to the interface54so that a user of the assembly10would be able to converse over conventional telephone lines using the assembly10. The interface preferably includes a phone line-out jack64so that the interface54may be operationally positioned between a telephone and the headset of the telephone. The interface54preferably includes a headset actuator66so that the user of the assembly may selectively choose between the headphones12or the telephone headset.

In use, each of the second ends46of the tubular members42may be selectively positioned over an ear lobe such that the ear lobe is positioned within the tubular member42. The tubular member42thus holds the housings14against the ears without the need of a headband.