Abstract:
The invention provides apparatuses for an earphone in which a cable may be positioned by rotating a first earphone component about a second earphone component. The earphone has a nozzle that may mate with a sleeve and that fits into an ear of the user and a driver assembly. A body houses the driver assembly and is coupled to the nozzle. A swivel attaches to the body and may be rotated around the body by the user in order to position the cable. The swivel may include a first recess and a second recess that engage the pin. A pin fits into a selected recess of a swivel to provide a detent for each position of the cable, in which a spring that forces the pin into the selected recess. The swivel includes a ridge portion and the body includes a stop end, thus restricting the rotational movement of the swivel.

Description:
[0001]     This application claims priority to provisional U.S. Application Ser. No. 60/674,888 (“Earphone with Selectable Cable Position”), filed Apr. 26, 2005. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The invention relates to earphones, and more particularly earphones in which a cable may be positioned by rotating a first earphone portion about a second earphone portion.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Earphones may be worn in many ways. Typically, earphones are placed in the ear. An attached cable drops down past the bottom of the ear (“cable down”) and connects the earphones with the sound source. Alternatively, earphones may be placed in the ear, and the attached cable is placed over the ear (“cable over ear”), front to back, behind the ear. The cable then drops behind the ear and eventually connects to the sound system. In general, earphone designs are worn for a specific cable position.  
         [0004]     Prior art earphone products manufactured by Shure Incorporated are designed so that the microphone cable is placed over the ear for overall best performance. However, the earphone may be worn in a “cable down” position with discomfort or degraded performance (resulting from an improper seal in the ear canal). Other models, such as the ER6 from Etymotic Research Inc., exit the wire straight out the earphone body, so the cable can drop down or be placed “over ear.” Exiting the cable straight out of the earphone makes the cable more visible and may also function as an undesirable moment arm. Consequently, the moment arm tends to pull out the earphone when wearing “cable down”.  
         [0005]     Thus, there is a real need in the marketplace to provide an earphone in which the cable may be easily adjusted while maintaining the acoustical characteristics of the earphone and providing physical comfort to the user.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     Aspects of the invention provide solutions to at least one of the issues mentioned above, thereby enabling one to construct an earphone in which a cable may be positioned by rotating a first earphone component about a second earphone component.  
         [0007]     With one aspect of the invention, an earphone includes a nozzle that fits into an ear of the user and a driver assembly that converts an electrical signal into an acoustic signal and directs the acoustic signal into the nozzle. The nozzle may mate with a sleeve portion to provide an acoustic seal within the ear. The driver assembly is electrically coupled to the cable. A body houses the driver assembly and is coupled to the nozzle. A swivel attaches to the body and may be rotated around the body by the user in order to position the cable. A snap ring mechanically couples the swivel to the body. The swivel includes a first recess and a second recess that engage the pin approximately 120 degrees apart. The cable is electrically coupled to the driver assembly through the body. The cable is routed through an exit hole of the cover, a cable opening of the swivel, and a center opening of the swivel.  
         [0008]     With another aspect of the invention, a pin that fits into a selected recess of a swivel to provide a detent for each position of the cable. A spring forces the pin into the selected recess.  
         [0009]     With another aspect of the invention, an earphone has a swivel that includes a ridge portion and the body includes a stop end. The rotational movement of the swivel is restricted by the ridge portion contacting the stop end.  
         [0010]     With another aspect of the invention, a cover fits over a swivel and mechanically couples to a body of the earphone. The cover and the swivel are able to rotate about the body.  
         [0011]     With another aspect of the invention, an actuator fits into a selected hole of a swivel to provide a lock for each position of a cable. The actuator is released from the selected hole if the user depresses the actuator. A spring forces a protrusion of the actuator into the selected hole. The selected hole may be cylindrical in shape. The hole may be selected from one of two holes that are angularly separated by 120 degrees. A body of the earphone includes a recess that mates with the actuator. The spring fits into a hole formed in the body. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]      FIG. 1  shows positioning a cable position of an earphone according to an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  shows a cable of an earphone that can rotate 120 degrees according to an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  shows an external perspective view of an earphone with a selectable cable position according to an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  shows an exploded view of the earphone shown in  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  shows an opposite exploded view of the earphone shown in  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of an earphone with a selectable cable position according to an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 7  shows an exploded view of the earphone shown in  FIG. 6 ; and  
         [0019]      FIG. 8  shows an opposite exploded view of the earphone shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0020]      FIG. 1  shows positioning a cable position of earphone  103  according to an embodiment of the invention. Earphone  103  has a plurality of selectable cable positions when earphone  103  is placed into ear  101 . In the embodiment, earphone  103  is removed from ear  101  when the user changes the cable position. However, other embodiments of the invention enable the user to change the cable position without extracting earphone  103  from ear  101 . A cable (corresponding to  105   a ) may be placed over ear  101  or may be positioned down past the bottom of ear  101  (corresponding to  105   b ). (Cable  105   a  and  105   b  are physically the same cable associated with different positioning.) When the cable is placed over the ear, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the cable is placed front to back, although the embodiment also supports positioning the cable back to front of the ear. Cable  105   a,    105   b  connects to a sound system (not shown). The user can select the cable positioning in accordance with the acoustic application.  
         [0021]      FIG. 2  shows cable  201   a,    201   b  of earphone  103  that can rotate 120 degrees according to an embodiment of the invention. With the embodiment, a user can rotate cable  201   a,    201   b  for an approximately 120 degrees in order to position cable  201   a ,  201   b  either in the “cable down” position (corresponding to  201   b ) or in the “cable over ear” position (corresponding to cable  201   a ).  
         [0022]     Earphone  103  may be configured so cable  201   b  exits down from the ear or may be configured so that cable  203   a  is wrapped over the ear. (Cable  201   b  and cable  201   a  are physically the same cable in different configured positions.) In either case, there is no required repositioning of the earphone nozzle within the ear. If cable  201   a,    201   b  were not able to rotate, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the earphone cable may degrade the listening performance by adding noise from the cable rubbing and from pulling on the earphone to prevent a good seal in the ear. The “cable down” position may be desired while stationary, or sitting. The “cable over ear” typically isolates cable noise much better while being more securely held in the ear. The “cable over ear” position may be desired for musicians, singers, or other recreation activities.  
         [0023]      FIG. 3  shows external perspective view  300  of earphone  103  with a selectable cable position according to an embodiment of the invention. Earphone  103  includes nozzle  301 , body  303 , and cover  305 . Nozzle  301  is angled (approximately 30 degrees) to fit into the user&#39;s ear canal. Body  303  connects nozzle  301  and cover  305 . An earphone cable (not shown in the figure) exits through cable exit  307  and connects to an electrical source that corresponds to a sound to be recreated in the user&#39;s ear. In order to adjust the cable (not shown) the user rotates cover  305  into one of two positions. The first position corresponds to an “over ear” position (shown as cable  105   a  in  FIG. 1 ). The second position corresponds to a “down” position (shown as cable  105   b  in  FIG. 1 ). In the embodiment, the rotational separation between the first position and the second position is approximately 120 degrees, although the embodiment may support additional positions and may support different rotational separations.  
         [0024]      FIG. 4  shows exploded view  400  of earphone  103  shown in  FIG. 3  in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Driver assembly  403  is an internal speaker that produces sound, and is mounted inside plastic body  303 . In the embodiment, body  303  is constructed from a thermo plastic, e.g., General Electric Cycoloy® C6200. Nozzle  301  mates with the body to channel sound into the ear. In the embodiment, nozzle  301  is constructed from a plastic, e.g., General Electric Cycoloy C6200. Sealing pad  401  between driver assembly  403  and nozzle  301  is included to prevent acoustic leaks. In the embodiment, sealing pad  401  is constructed from a foam rubber material, e.g., Poron® 4701-30-25035-04. An acoustic damper is mounted into nozzle  301 . Nozzle  301  includes a sleeve portion (made of silicone or foam). In an embodiment of the invention, a sleeve portion mates with nozzle  301  to provide an acoustic seal with the ear canal. Because of the typical variations among ears, an embodiment utilizes a broad assortment of sleeves (e.g., Shure E Series Sleeves as described at www.shure.com/earphones/eseries_accessories.asp) to ensure a personalized fit, as well as to ensure proper sound isolation. A sleeve, which is often tubular in shape before being inserted into the ear canal, adapts to the shape of the ear canal when inserted.  
         [0025]     A cable (not shown in  FIG. 4 ), which is soldered to driver assembly  403 , exits the rear of body  303  and is bonded with adhesive. Snap ring  411  secures swivel  409 . In the embodiment, snap ring  411  is constructed from carbon spring steel, and swivel  409  is constructed from DuPont Delrin® 900P. In the embodiment, snap ring  411  fits into a groove formed in a cylindrical protrusion of body  303 . Swivel  409  is allowed to rotate 120 degrees with relation to the body, and bends the cable 90 degrees to direct the cable away from body  303 . The cable is routed through center opening  408  and cable opening  410 . Both openings  408  and  410  are formed by swivel  409 .  
         [0026]     Spiral compression spring  405  fits into spring hole  406 , which is formed by body  303 . A protrusion of pin  407  fits within compression spring  405 . In the embodiment, compression spring  405  is constructed from stainless spring steel, and pin  409  is constructed from a high strength plastic, e.g., DuPont Delrin 900P. When swivel  409  is moved to extreme angle positions, pin  407  is forced by compression spring  405  into a recess, providing a detent at each position. The recess is formed by swivel  409  and is not explicitly shown in  FIG. 4  because the recess appears on a surface not exposed in  FIG. 4 . In the embodiment, two recesses are formed, each recess corresponding to the “cable down” position and the “cable over ear” position as shown in  FIG. 2 . In the embodiment, recesses  503  and  505  are shown in  FIG. 5 .  
         [0027]     Cover  305  is stretched on to provide flex relief to the cable and rotates along with swivel  409 . In the embodiment, cover  305  is constructed from a silicone rubber. Cover  305  hooks onto a ridge formed by body  303 .  
         [0028]     The user can rotate swivel  409 . However, the rotation of swivel  409  is restricted by a ridge portion of swivel  409  contacting a step end that is formed by body  303 . The rotational restriction prevents the user from continuously rotating cover  305 . Without the rotational restriction, the cable would twist, possibly causing the cable to break.  
         [0029]      FIG. 5  shows opposite exploded view  500  of earphone  103  shown in  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 5  illustrates that the user is able to rotate cover  305  (corresponding to rotation movement  501 ). As previously discussed, the cable position may be rotated approximately 120 degrees in order to configure one of two positions. However, other embodiments of the invention support more than two selectable positions. Also, other embodiments of the invention support selectable positions that have a rotational separation different from 120 degrees.  
         [0030]     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , pin  407  is forced into one of recesses  503  and  505 , corresponding to the “cable down” position and the “cable over ear” position as shown in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0031]      FIG. 6  shows perspective view  600  of earphone  103  with a selectable cable position according to an embodiment of the invention. As with the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , earphone  103  includes nozzle  601  (corresponding to nozzle  301 ), body  603  (corresponding to body  303 ), and cover  605  (corresponding to cover  305 ). The cable exits cable exit  609 . Also, the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6  includes actuator  607 . When actuator  607  is depressed, the user can rotate cover  605  in order to select one two positions as previously discussed. In the embodiment, actuator  607  is constructed from a plastic, e.g., DuPont Delrin 900P.  
         [0032]      FIG. 7  shows exploded view  700  of earphone  103  shown in  FIG. 6 . Driver assembly  703  is an internal speaker that produces sound, and is mounted inside plastic body  603 . Nozzle  601  mates with the body to channel sound into the ear. Sealing pad  701  between driver assembly  703  and nozzle  601  is included to prevent acoustic leaks. An acoustic damper is mounted into nozzle  601 . Nozzle  601  includes a sleeve portion (made of silicone or foam). The sleeve portion provides a seal with the ear canal.  
         [0033]     A cable (not shown in  FIG. 7 ), which is soldered to driver assembly  703 , exits the rear of body  603  and is bonded with adhesive. Snap ring  711  secures swivel  709 . In the embodiment, snap ring  711  fits into a groove formed in a cylindrical protrusion of body  603 . Swivel  709  is allowed to rotate 120 degrees with relation to the body, and bends the cable 90 degrees to direct the cable away from body  603 .  
         [0034]     Actuator  607  and compression spring  705  fit into a mating recess portion of body  603 . A protrusion of actuator  607  fits within compression spring  705 , which is shown in  FIG. 8 . When swivel  709  is moved to extreme angle positions, actuator  607  is forced by compression spring  705  into a cylindrical hole, providing a lock at each position. The cylindrical hole is formed by swivel  709  and is not explicitly shown in  FIG. 7  because the cylindrical hole appears on a surface not exposed in  FIG. 7 . In the embodiment, two cylindrical holes are formed with each cylindrical hole corresponding to the “cable down” position and the “cable over ear” position as shown in  FIG. 2 . In the embodiment, cylindrical holes  803  and  805  are shown in  FIG. 8 .  
         [0035]     Cover  605  is stretched on to provide flex relief to the cable and rotates along with swivel  709 . In the embodiment, cover  605  is constructed from a silicone rubber. Cover  605  hooks onto a ridge formed by body  603 .  
         [0036]     The user can rotate swivel  709 . However, the rotation of swivel  709  is restricted by a ridge portion of swivel  709  contacting a step end that is formed by body  603 . The rotational restriction prevents the user from continuously rotating cover  605 . Without the rotational restriction, the cable would twist, possibly causing the cable to break.  
         [0037]      FIG. 8  shows opposite exploded view  800  of earphone  103  shown in  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 8  illustrates that the user is able to rotate cover  605  (corresponding to rotation  801 ). As previously discussed, the cable position may be rotated approximately 120 degrees in order to configure one of two positions. However, other embodiments of the invention support more than two selectable positions. Also, other embodiments of the invention support selectable positions that have a rotational separation different from 120 degrees.  
         [0038]     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 8 , actuator  607  is forced into one of cylindrical holes  803  and  805 , corresponding to the “cable down” position and the “cable over ear” position as shown in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0039]     While the invention has been described with respect to specific examples including presently preferred modes of carrying out the invention, those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are numerous variations and permutations of the above described systems and techniques that fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.