Patent Publication Number: US-2012043111-A1

Title: Long body unit with slider

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The present technology relates to a long body unit with slider, particularly to a long body unit with slider in which a plurality of long bodies can be united together and separated from each other by moving a slider. 
     Long cords have been used for transmission of audio signals, for example, from a music reproducing device to headphones or the like. In general, the cords are a pair of cords, consisting of an L-channel (left-channel) cord and an R-channel (right-channel) cord. Besides, a set of three cords is used, which includes a trunk cord connected to the music reproducing device, an L channel-cord, and an R-channel cord. 
     Since a plurality of cords is included in a cord set, entanglement of the cords is very liable to occur. Since the work of undoing the entangled cords is troublesome, entanglement of cords makes the user unpleasant. In view of this, there has been proposed a parallel cord unit including a first cord body and a second cord body having fitting elements for fitting to each other, and a slider by which the first cord body and the second cord body are gripped. 
     SUMMARY 
     The parallel cord unit described in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2007-173089 (hereinafter referred to as Patent Document 1), has a configuration in which with the slider moved, the first cord body and the second cord body are fitted to each other so that they can be handled as if they were a single cord. This makes it possible to restrain the first cord body and the second cord body from getting entangled with each other. At the time of using the parallel cord unit, the slider is moved in the direction opposite to the direction for uniting the cord bodies, whereby the first cord body and the second cord body can be easily separated from each other. 
     In order to fit together the fitting elements provided respectively in side surfaces of the first cord body and the second cord body, it may be necessary to keep the fitting elements in the state of facing each other. However, the slider described in Patent Document 1 only grips the first cord body and the second cord body, so that it may be impossible to restrain each of the cords from rotating about the axial direction thereof. Therefore, in the case where the cords are entangled with each other or twisted so that the fitting elements are not facing each other, it may be impossible to cause the fitting elements of the first cord body and the second cord body to fit to each other by moving the slider. 
     Thus, there is a need for a long body unit with slider in which a plurality of long bodies can be united together and separated from each other, in a highly assured manner, by moving a slider. 
     According to an embodiment of the present technology, there is provided a long body unit with slider, including: a first long body; a second long body; and a slider provided for the first long body and the second long body, the slider including a connection section by which the first long body and the second long body are clamped and are thereby united together, a separation section by which the first long body and the second long body united together by the connection section are separated from each other, and a restriction section by which the first long body and/or the second long body is restricted in rotation about an axial direction. 
     In accordance with the embodiment of the present technology, the plurality of long bodies can be united with each other and separated from each other in a reliable manner by moving the slider. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a general configuration of headphones having a long body unit with slider according to a first embodiment of the present technology; 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  are sectional views showing the configurations of a first cord and a second cord; 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  are perspective views and  FIG. 3C  is a horizontal sectional view, which illustrate the configuration of a slider; 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate a condition in which the first cord and the second cord are gripped by the slider; 
         FIGS. 5A to 5E  are sectional views illustrating mutual fitting and disengagement of the first cord and the second cord attendant on sliding of the slider; 
         FIGS. 6A to 6C  illustrate a general configuration of band-around-occiput type stereo headphones according to a second embodiment of the present technology; 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged view of the vicinity of a headphone unit of the band-around-occiput type stereo headphones; 
         FIGS. 8A to 8D  illustrate a condition in which a head band and a headphone cord are gripped by a slider; and 
         FIGS. 9A and 9B  illustrate a modification of the long body unit and the slider according to an embodiment of the present technology. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Now, embodiments of the present technology will be described below, referring to the drawings. The description will be made in the following order. 
     &lt;1. First Embodiment&gt; 
     [1-1. Configuration of long body unit with slider]
 
[1-2. Operation and effect of slider]
 
     &lt;2. Second Embodiment&gt; 
     [2-1. Configuration of band-around-occiput type stereo headphones]
 
[2-2. Operation and effect of slider]
 
     &lt;3. Modifications&gt; 
     1. First Embodiment 
     [1-1. Configuration of Long Body Unit with Slider] 
       FIG. 1  shows a general configuration of a long body unit with slider according to an embodiment of the present technology. In this embodiment, the long body unit with slider is configured as part of headphones for outputting sounds from a portable-type music reproducing device  100 , for example. The headphones include a first cord  10 , a second cord  20 , a third cord  30 , a plug  40 , a left-side earphone  50 , a right-side earphone  60 , a cover  70 , and a slider  80 . 
     The first cord  10  has a left-channel conductor L, a right-channel conductor R, and a grounding conductor G passed through the inside thereof, and is a cord for transmission of audio signals outputted from the music reproducing device  100 . The first cord  10  corresponds to a first long body in the claims. The plug  40  is provided at one end of the first cord  10 , and the headphones are connected to the music reproducing device  100  through the plug  40 . 
     The second cord  20  has a left-channel conductor L and a grounding conductor G passed through the inside thereof, and is a cord for transmission of an audio signal, like the first cord  10 . The second cord  20  is formed to be smaller in diametral size (be thinner) than the first cord  10 . The second cord  20  corresponds to a second long body in the claims. 
     The third cord  30  has a right-channel conductor R and a grounding conductor G passed through the inside thereof, and is a cord for transmission of an audio signal. The third cord  30  is formed to be as small in diametral size (as thin) as the second cord  20 , which is smaller in diametral size (thinner) than the first cord  10 . In addition, the third cord  30  is formed to be shorter than the second cord  20 . A right-side earphone  60  is provided at one end of the third cord  30 . The third cord  30  corresponds to a third long body in the claims. 
     The left-channel conductor L and the grounding conductor G in the first code  10  and the left-channel conductor L and the grounding conductor G in the second cord  20  are respectively interconnected by welding, for example. Similarly, the right-channel conductor R and the grounding conductor G in the first cord  10  and the right-channel conductor R and the grounding conductor G in the third cord  30  are respectively interconnected by welding, for example. At the interconnection part, there is provided a cover  70  made of plastic, for example. The interconnection part corresponds to a connection section in the claims. The headphone cord in this embodiment is a so-called U-type cord. The slider  80  is so provided as to grip the first cord  10  and the second cord  20 . 
       FIGS. 2A and 2B  are sectional perspective views showing the configurations of the first cord  10  and the second cord  20 . The first cord  10  is a three-core type long cord formed to be roughly circular in sectional shape. The first cord  10  has a first conductor assembly  11  including the left-channel conductor L, the right-channel conductor R, and the grounding conductor G. The first conductor assembly  11  is covered with a first insulator  12  roughly circular in sectional shape. The first insulator  12  is provided at its side surface with a fitting groove  13  along the longitudinal direction thereof. The fitting groove  13  has a roughly circular sectional shape which is smaller in diametral size than the roughly circular sectional shape of the first insulator  12 . 
     The fitting groove  13  is formed to have an opening  13 A which opens in a predetermined width in a side surface, along the longitudinal direction of the first insulator  12 . The second cord  20  enters through the opening  13 A into the fitting groove  13 , to be contained there. The width of the opening  13 A is set to be smaller than the diameter of the fitting groove  13 , whereby a pair of lock sections  12 A and  12 B are formed to face each other across the opening  13 A (to face each other in the direction for closing the opening  13 A). The pair of lock sections  12 A and  12 B is elastic. The second cord  20  contained in the fitting groove  13  are locked by the lock sections  12 A and  12 B, thereby being held in situ. This prevents the second cord  20  fitted and contained in the fitting groove  13  from being disengaged from the fitting groove  13  in an unguarded manner. The first insulator  12 , the fitting groove  13  and the lock sections  12 A,  12 B are formed from synthetic resin, for example, non-vinyl-chloride resin. 
     The second cord  20  has a second conductor assembly  21  including the left-channel conductor L and the grounding conductor G. The second conductor assembly  21  is covered with a second insulator  22 . The sectional shape of the second insulator  22  is a roughly circular shape, of which the diametral size is substantially the same as the roughly circular sectional shape of the fitting groove  13  so that the second cord  20  can be fitted into the fitting groove  13  in the first cord  10 . The second insulator  22  is formed from resin, for example, non-vinyl-chloride resin. With the first cord  10  and the second cord  20  formed not to be roughly tetragonal but to be roughly circular in sectional shape, their areas of contact with an inside surface of a slide body  81  of the slider  80  to be described later are reduced, whereby friction is lessened. 
     The third cord  30  has a third conductor assembly including the right-channel conductor R and the grounding conductor G, and the third conductor assembly is covered with a third insulator. The third insulator is configured in the same manner as the second insulator  21 , except for being shorter in length, and, therefore, description thereof is omitted. Incidentally, each of the first cord  10 , the second cord  20  and the third cord  30  may have one or more reinforcement threads (not shown) intermediately provided along the conductor assembly thereof. 
       FIGS. 3A to 3C  illustrate the configuration of the slider  80 .  FIG. 3A  is a perspective view as viewed from the side of a connection section  81 A,  FIG. 3B  is a perspective view as viewed from the side of a separation port  81 B, and  FIG. 3C  is a horizontal sectional view. The slider  80  has the slider body  81 , a separation rib  82 , and guide projections  83 . 
     The slider body  81  is formed in a hollow cylindrical shape for slidably gripping the first cord  10  and the second cord  20  therein. The slider body  81  is reduced in aperture diametral size on one end side thereof, to form the connection section  81 A. The connection section  81 A is designed to pinch and fasten the first cord  10  and the second cord  20  inserted in and passed through the connection section  81 A, thereby pressing the second cord  20  into the fitting groove  13  in the first cord  10  so as to unite the first cord  10  and the second cord  20  together. 
     The connection section  81 A is formed to be roughly circular in sectional shape, like the first cord  10 . The aperture diametral size of the connection section  81 A is approximately equal to or only slightly greater than the diametral size of the first cord  10  so that the second cord  20  can be assuredly fitted into the fitting groove  13  under fastening. This ensures the second cord  20  can be assuredly fitted into the fitting groove  13  by fastening the first cord  10  and the second cord  20 , and, simultaneously, the friction between the connection section  81 A and the first and second cords  10 ,  20  coupled together is lessened, so that sliding of the slider  80  is not hampered. 
     On the other hand, the slider body  81  is horizontally enlarged on the other end side in aperture diametral size, as compared with the connection section  81 A, to form a separation port  81 B through which the first and second cords  10 ,  20  separated from each other are led out. Thus, the slider body  81  is formed to be roughly trapezoidal in plan-view shape, narrowed along the direction from the separation port  81 B toward the connection section  81 A. 
     Inside side surfaces  81 C of the slider body  81  are formed in curved surface shapes such that the first and second cords  10 ,  20  formed to be roughly circular in section can be slid thereon without being caught. In addition, an inside upper surface  81 D and an inside lower surface  81 E of the slider body  81  are formed in flat plate shapes. 
     The separation rib  82  is bridgingly provided between the inside upper surface  81 D and the inside lower surface  81 E of the slider  81 , in a roughly central area in plan view on the side of the separation port  81 B of the slider body  81 . The separation rib  82  functions as a separation section for separating the first cord  10  and the second cord  20  from each other by being interposed between the first cord  10  and the second cord  20  at a branching part of the first and second cords  10 ,  20  in the united state. 
     The separation rib  82  is formed in a roughly cylindrical shape so that the areas of contact thereof with the first and second cords  10 ,  20  are reduced so as to lessen friction there and to prevent the first and second cords  10 ,  20  from being caught on the separation rib  82 . With the separation rib  82  thus provided, the separation port  81 B is partitioned into a first insertion/passage port  81 B- 1  for insertion/passage of the first cord  10  therein and a second insertion/passage port  81 B- 2  for insertion/passage of the second cord  20  therein. 
     The separation rib  82  is provided at its side surfaces with a pair of guide projections  83  projecting respectively into the first insertion/passage port  81 B- 1  and the second insertion/passage port  81 B- 2 . The guide projection  83  enters into the fitting groove  13  in the first cord  10 , thereby to restrict the first cord  10  in rotation about the axial direction so that, inside the slider  80 , the opening  13 A of the fitting groove  13  is always oriented to face the second cord  20 . The guide projection  83  corresponds to a restriction section in the claims. 
     The lateral width of the guide projection  83  is set to be approximately equal to or only slightly smaller than the opening width of the opening  13 A of the fitting groove  13 . In addition, the projection width of the guide projection  83  is set to be approximately equal to or only slightly smaller than the depth of the fitting groove  13 . This ensures that in the condition where the guide projection  83  has entered into the fitting groove  13 , no large gap is formed between the guide projection  83  and the fitting groove  13 , so that the first cord  10  is securely restricted in rotation about the axial direction thereof. 
     Besides, the guide projection  83  has a tip  83 A formed in a roughly spherical shape. This prevents the tip  83 A of the guide projection  83  from being caught on the inside surface of the fitting groove  13 , which is formed in a cylindrical shape. In addition, the second cord  20  is prevented from being caught on the guide projection  83 . Consequently, sliding of the slider  80  is not hindered by the guide projections  83 . 
     Incidentally, in this embodiment, the two guide projections  83  are provided to project respectively into the first insertion/passage port  81 B- 1  and the second insertion/passage port  81 B- 2 . Since the guide projection  83  is destined to enter into the fitting groove  13  in the first cord  10 , however, the guide projection  83  may not necessarily provided on the side to project into the second insertion/passage port  81 B- 2  for insertion/passage of the second cord  20  therein. With the guide projection  83  provided only on the side of the first insertion/passage port  81 B- 1 , the effect of an embodiment of the present technology can be displayed. It is to be noted here, however, that where the guide projections  83  are provided to respectively project into both directions so that the separation rib  82  and the guide projections  83  are both in left-right symmetry, an operation of attaching the separation rib  82  and the guide projections  83  to the slide body  81  in manufacture of the product according to an embodiment of the present technology can be carried out without need to recognize the orientation of the guide projection  83 ; thus, the manufacture can be carried out speedily and easily. The slide body  81 , the separation rib  82 , and the guide projections  83  are formed by use of, for example, plastic, polypropylene (PP), polybutylene terephthalate (PBP), metal or the like. 
     [1-2. Operation and Effect of Slider] 
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate a condition where the first cord  10  and the second cord  20  are gripped by the slider  80 .  FIG. 4A  is a perspective view, and the  FIG. 4B  is a horizontal sectional view. On the side of the connection section  81 A, the first cord  10  and the second cord  20  are fastened by the connection section  81 A, whereby the second cord  20  is fitted into the fitting groove  13  in the first cord  10 , to be united with the first cord  10 . 
     On the other hand, on the side of the separation port  81 B, the first cord  10  and the second cord  20  are in a separated state. The first cord  10  is being led out through the first insertion/passage port  81 B- 1 , while the second cord  20  is being led out through the second insertion/passage port  81 B- 2 . The separation rib  82  is intermediately present between the first cord  10  and the second cord  20 . In addition, as shown in  FIG. 4B , the guide projection  83  provided on the separation rib  82  is in the state of having entered into the fitting groove  13  in the first cord  10 . This ensures that, for example if the first cord  10  is twisted on the plug  40  side, the first cord  10  is prevented inside the slider  80  from rotating about the axial direction thereof; consequently, the opening  13 A of the fitting groove  13  is always oriented to face the second cord  20 . 
     Since the opening  13 A of the fitting groove  13  is always oriented to face the second cord  20 , nipping and fastening of the first cord  10  and the second cord  20  by the connection section  81 A will spontaneously cause the second cord  20  to be pushed into the fitting groove  13 . This enables reliable fitting of the second cord  20  into the fitting groove  13 . 
     In the state of being fitted in the fitting groove  13  in the first cord  10 , the second cord  20  protrudes from the surface of the first cord  10  only slightly, and is substantially embedded in the first cord  10 . Therefore, the first cord  10  and the second cord  20  are united together, and the second cord  20  is embedded in the first cord  10 , so that they appear as if only the first cord  10  were present. 
     When the slider  80  is slid in the direction toward the connection section  81 A, the separation rib  82  enters into the branching part of the first and second cords  10  and  20  being in the united state, whereby the first cord  10  and the second cord  20  are separated from each other. After thus separated, the first cord  10  is led out via the first insertion/passage port  81 B- 1 , while the second cord  20  is led out via the second insertion/passage port  81 B- 2 . 
       FIGS. 5A to 5E  are sectional views illustrating the fitting and disengagement of the first cord  10  and the second cord  20  attendant on sliding of the slider  80 .  FIG. 5A  is a sectional view taken along line  5 A- 5 A of  FIG. 4B ,  FIG. 5B  is a sectional view along line  5 B- 5 B of  FIG. 4B ,  FIG. 5C  is a sectional view along line  5 C- 5 C of  FIG. 4B ,  FIG. 5D  is a sectional view along line  5 D- 5 D of  FIG. 4B , and  FIG. 5E  is a sectional view along line  5 E- 5 E of  FIG. 4B . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5A , on the side of the separation port  81 B, the first cord  10  and the second cord  20  are separate from each other, and the first cord  10  is being led out through the first insertion/passage port  81 B- 1 , while the second cord  20  is being led out via the second insertion/passage port  81 B- 2 . In addition, the guide projection  83  is in the state of having entered into the fitting groove  13  in the first cord  10 , thereby preventing the first cord  10  from rotation about the axial direction thereof, so that the opening  13 A of the fitting groove  13  is oriented to face the second cord  20 . 
     In fitting the second cord  20  into the fitting groove  13 , the slider  80  is slid in the direction toward the separation port  81 B. As a result of this operation, as shown in  FIG. 5B , the second cord  20  is pushed toward the first cord  10  by the inside side surface  81 C of the slider body  81 . When the slider  80  is continually slid further in the direction toward the separation port  81 B, as shown in  FIG. 5C , the second cord  20  is further pushed toward the first cord  10  due to the gradually decreasing diametral size of the slider body  81 . 
     Then, the opening  13 A of the fitting groove  13  formed in the side surface of the first cord  10  and the side surface of the second cord  20  make contact with each other, and the lock sections  12 A and  12 B are bent in the directions of arrows to the inside of the fitting groove  13  by being pressed by the side surface of the second cord  20 . Since the opening  13 A of the fitting groove  13  is oriented by the guide projection  83  to face the second cord  20  as has been shown in  FIG. 5A , the opening direction of the opening  13 A and the position of the second cord  20  are matched to each other without fail, so that the fitting groove  13  and the second cord  20  can be securely faced to each other. Then, as shown in  FIG. 5D , the first cord  10  and the second cord  20  are united together. 
     In the condition where the first cord  10  and the second cord  20  are thus united together, the side surface of the second cord  20  is locked by the lock sections  12 A,  12 B. Therefore, the second cord  20  is prevented from being disengaged from the fitting groove  13  in an unguardedly. Further, even if the first cord  10  and the second cord  20  in the united state is bent as a whole, the second cord  20  would not be disengaged from the fitting groove  13 . 
     In separating the second cord  20  from the first cord  10 , the slider  80  is slid in the direction toward the, connection port  81 A opposite to the direction toward the separation port  81 B. As a result of this operation, the separation rib  82  intermediately present in the branching part of the first cord  10  and the second cord  20  biases the second cord  20  in a direction for separating away from the first cord  10 . Consequently, as shown in  FIG. 5E , the elastic lock sections  12 A and  12 B are bent in the directions of arrows to the outside, whereby the opening  13 A is opened wider, so that the second cord  20  is disengaged from the fitting groove  13 . Then, as shown in  FIG. 5A , the first cord  10  is led out via the first insertion/passage port  81 B- 1 , while the second cord  20  is led out via the second insertion/passage port  81 B- 2 . 
     Thus, by sliding the slider  80 , the first cord  10  and the second cord  20  can be united together or separated from each other at an arbitrary position. This ensures that the position of the branching part of the first cord  10  and the second cord  20  can be freely adjusted. For example, during use of headphones, it is possible, by regulating the length of the second cord  20  to a length fit for the user&#39;s taste, to prevent the cord from dangling. In addition, during when the headphones are out of use, it is possible, by moving the slider  80  to the position of reaching the earphone provided at the tip of the second cord  20 , to ensure that the first cord  10  and the second cord  20  can be handled as a single cord. This makes it possible to prevent the first cord  10  and the second cord  20  from being entangled with each other. 
     Incidentally, the configuration in which the separation rib  82  is provided with the guide projections  83  and the guide projection  83  enters into the fitting groove  13  ensures that the fitting groove  13  functions both as a groove for containing the second cord  20  therein and as a groove into which the guide projection  83  enters. This eliminate the need to separately provide a groove for containing the first cord  10  therein and a groove for permitting the guide projection  83  to enter thereinto, so that the first cord  10  can be simplified in configuration. 
     In general, headphone cords include those of a so-called Y-type structure and those of a so-called U-type structure. The Y-type structure is a headphone cord structure in which a single cord (hereafter referred to as trunk cord) extending from a plug is branched at an intermediately located branching part into a right-ear cord and a left-ear cord, and the right-ear cord and the left-ear cord are the same in length. In the Y-type structure, the right-ear cord and the left-ear cord are formed to extend from the branching part in the direction opposite to the direction in which the trunk cord extends. When the Y-type cord is set in use position, the trunk cord and the right-ear cord and the left-ear cord are in a Y-shaped form as a whole. 
     On the other hand, the U-type structure is a headphone cord structure in which a trunk cord extending from a plug is branched into a right-ear cord and a left-ear cord, like in the Y-type structure, but the right-ear cord and the left-ear cord are different in length, unlike in the Y-type structure. Besides, either one of the right-ear cord and the left-ear cord extends in the same direction as the trunk cord. In other words, the right-ear cord and the left-ear cord extend in opposite directions. As a result, when the U-type cord is set in use position, the right-ear cord and the left-ear cord are in a U-shaped form as a whole. In the U-type cord structure, a right-ear earphone and a left-ear earphone can be easily distinguished from each other by cord length, which is advantageous. Another advantage of the U-type cord structure resides in that, since the longer one of the right-ear cord and the left-ear cord can be laid around the rear side of the neck, cord dangling in front of the user&#39;s body can be obviated. 
     In the embodiment of the present technology, the second cord  20  is fitted in the fitting groove  13  in the first cord  10  and, therefore, the first cord  10  has to be formed to be greater in diametral size (be thicker) than the second cord  20 . In the Y-type cord structure, the right-ear cord and the left-ear cord are branched from the trunk cord to be in a Y-shaped form as a whole, so that it is desirable for the right-ear cord and the left-ear cord to be equal in diametral size (thickness), from the viewpoints of design and balance. Besides, in the Y-type cord structure, the right-ear cord and the left-ear cord are both extended in the direction opposite to the trunk cord. Therefore, it is difficult to realize a structure in which the trunk cord is set large in diameteral size (thickness) and provided with a fitting groove and either of the right-ear cord and the left-ear cord is contained in the trunk cord. 
     On the other hand, in the U-type cord structure, either one of the right-ear cord and the left-ear cord is extended in the same direction as the trunk cord. Therefore, it is possible, on a structural basis, to contain in the trunk cord the right-ear or left-ear cord extending in the same direction as the trunk cord. This enables a configuration wherein the trunk cord is greater in diametral size (thicker) than the right-ear cord and the left-ear cord, while the right-ear cord and the left-ear cord are equal in diametral size (thickness). Therefore, the long body unit with slider according to this embodiment of the present technology is preferably applied to the U-type cord. Application to the U-type is preferable from the viewpoints of design and balance.  FIG. 1  shows the application of the embodiment of the present technology to a U-type cord, wherein the first cord  10  provided with the fitting groove  13  is the trunk cord, and that one of the right-ear cord and the left-ear cord which extends in the same direction as the trunk cord is the second cord. 
     2. Second Embodiment 
     [2-1. Configuration of Band-Around-Occiput Type Stereo Headphones] 
     Now, a second embodiment of the present technology will be described below. In the second embodiment, the first long body is a headband  210 , the second long body is a headphone cord  240 , and the headband  210  and the headphone cord  240  are united together by use of a slider  80 . 
       FIGS. 6A to 6C  illustrate the general configuration of band-around-occiput type stereo headphones  200  according to the second embodiment, wherein  FIG. 6A  is a front view,  FIG. 6B  is a side view, and  FIG. 6C  is a top plan view. In addition,  FIG. 7  is an enlarged view of the vicinity of a left-side headphone unit  220  of the band-around-occiput type stereo headphones  200 . The band-around-occiput type stereo headphones  200  include the headband  210 , the left-side headphone unit  220  provided at one end of the headband  210 , and a right-side headphone unit  230  provided at the other end of the headband  210 . 
     The headband  210  is formed in a curved shape so as to be laid along the shape of the back of the user&#39;s head. In addition, the headband  210  has ear hook sections  211  formed in a roughly arched shape for hooking the headband on conchae so that it is held in a condition where its other portion than the ear hook sections  211  is laid along the back of the user&#39;s head. A wire (not shown) curved in the shape of the ear hook sections  211  and a shape along the back of the user&#39;s head is inserted in the headband  210  so that the shape of the headband  210  will not be easily changed in use. 
     The headband  210  has a cover body formed by use of an elastic material composed of synthetic resin such as polypropylene (PP), polybutylene terephthalate (PBP), etc. 
     The left-side headphone unit  220  and the right-side headphone unit  230  are provided respectively at the tips of the left and right ear hook sections  211  of the headband  210 . The left-side headphone unit  220  has a hanger  221  having a roughly hollow cylindrical shape, and the hanger  221  and the headband  210  are connected to each other. The hanger  221  is integrally provided with an arm section  222  having a predetermined length and projecting toward the concha so that, when the band-around-occiput type stereo headphones  200  are put in use position, the hanger  221  is located in an erect state in front of the concha. 
     In addition, a housing  223  is attached to the tip of the arm section  222 . Besides, an earpiece  224  constituting a portion to be inserted into the external auditory meatus is attached to the housing  223 , with a driver unit (not shown) incorporated therein. Incidentally, the hanger  221  itself is not hooked on the user&#39;s concha, and, in practice, the earpiece  224  in the state of being inserted in the user&#39;s external auditory meatus holds the ear hook section  211  of the headband  210 . The left-side headphone unit  220  is configured in this way. Incidentally, the right-side headphone unit  230  is configured in the same manner, and, therefore, description thereof is omitted. 
     A headphone cord  240  connected at its one end to a music reproducing device  100  or the like is connected in the manner of extending in parallel to the headband  210 . In the headphone cord  240 , a conductor assembly including a left-channel conductor L and a right-channel conductor R as well as a grounding conductor G is inserted and passed. The left-channel conductor L and the grounding conductor G in the headphone cord  240  are passed through the hanger  221  and the arm section  222 , to be connected to the driver unit in the earpiece  224 . 
     In addition, the right-channel conductor R and the grounding conductor G in the headphone cord  240  are turned back inside the hanger  221 , and are connected respectively to a right-channel conductor r and a grounding conductor g in a conductor assembly inserted in the headband  210 , for connection to a driver unit for the right channel. This ensures that a right-channel audio signal supplied through the headphone cord  240  can be securely supplied to the right-channel driver unit, irrespectively of the place where the branching point between the headband  210  and the headphone cord  240  is set by the slider  80 . 
     [2-2. Operation and Effect of Slider] 
       FIGS. 8A to 8D  illustrate a condition where the headband  210  and the headphone cord  240  are gripped by the slider  80 .  FIG. 8A  is a perspective view,  FIG. 8B  is a sectional view,  FIG. 8C  is a sectional view taken along line  8 C- 8 C of  FIG. 8B , and  FIG. 8D  is a sectional view along line  8 D- 8 D of  FIG. 8B . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 8A to 8D , the headphone band  210  is provided along the longitudinal direction thereof with a fitting groove  212  which is roughly circular in sectional shape and has an opening  212 A opening in a predetermined width. The fitting groove  212  is configured in the same manner as in the first embodiment above. The headphone cord  240  is fitted into the fitting groove  212  through the opening  212 A. The width of the opening  212 A is set to be smaller than the diametral size of the fitting groove  212 , whereby a pair of lock sections  210 A and  210 B are formed so as to face each other across the opening  212 A (to face each other in the direction for closing the opening  212 A). The cord contained in the fitting groove  212  is locked by the lock sections  210 A and  210 B, thereby being held in situ. 
     The slider  80  is provided in a slidable manner so as to grip the headband  210  and the headphone cord  240 , in order to unite the headband  210  and the headphone cord  240  together. The slider  80  is configured in the same manner as in the first embodiment above. In the second embodiment, the slider  80  is configured to have an inside diametral size approximately equal to or slightly greater than the diametral size of the headband  210 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 8C , on the side of a connection section  81 A, the headband  210  and the headphone cord  240  are fastened by the connection section  81 A, whereby the headphone cord  240  is fitted into the fitting groove  212  in the headband  210 , to be united with the headband  210 . On the other hand, as shown in  FIG. 8D , on the side of a separation port  81 B, the headband  210  and the headphone cord  240  are in a separate state, and a separation rib  82  is intermediately present between the headband  210  and the headphone cord  240 . In addition, as shown in  FIGS. 8B and 8D , one of guide projections  83  possessed by the separation rib  82  is in the state of having entered into the fitting groove  212  in the headband  210 . This ensures that when the headband  210  enters the slider  80 , the headband  210  is so restricted that the opening  212 A of the fitting groove  212  is always oriented to face the headphone cord  240 . 
     Since the opening  212 A of the fitting groove  212  is always oriented to face the headphone cord  240 , nipping and fastening of the headband  210  and the headphone cord  240  by the connection section  81 A will spontaneously cause the headphone cord  240  to be pushed into the fitting groove  212 . This enables reliable fitting of the headphone cord  240  into the fitting groove  212 . 
     When the headphone cord  240  is fitted in the fitting groove  212 , the side surface of the headphone cord  240  protrudes from the surface of the headband  210  only slightly, and the headphone cord  240  is substantially embedded in the headband  210 . Therefore, the headband  210  and the headphone cord  240  are united together, so that they appear as if only the headband  210  is present. 
     When the slider  80  is slid in the direction toward the connection section  81 A, the separation rib  82  enters into the branching part of the headband  210  and the headphone cord  240  being in the united state, whereby the headband  210  and the headphone cord  240  are separated from each other. 
     Thus, in the second embodiment, by moving the slider  80 , the headband  210  and the headphone cord  240  can be separated from each other or united together at an arbitrary position. This ensures that during use of the band-around-occiput type stereo headphones  200 , the position of the branching part of the headband  210  and the headphone cord  240  can be freely adjusted, and the headphone cord  240  can thereby be prevented from dangling. In addition, when the band-around-occiput type stereo headphones  200  are out of use, the headband  210  and the headphone cord  240  can be united together and can be handled as a single band. This makes it possible to prevent the headband  210  and the headphone cord  240  from being entangled with each other. 
     Incidentally, in the second embodiment, description has been made while taking as an example the case where an embodiment of the present technology is applied to a headband  210  to be laid around the back of the user&#39;s head. However, this is not limitative. An embodiment of the present technology can similarly be applied to a headband to be laid on top of the user&#39;s head, or a headband to be laid under the user&#39;s chin. 
     Further, in this embodiment as above, description has been made of the case where an elastic material composed of synthetic resin such as polypropylene (PP), polybutylene terephthalate (PBP), etc. is used as the material for the cover body constituting the headphone band  210 . However, this is not limitative. Not only the elastic materials composed of synthetic resin but also metallic materials having corrosion resistance and materials being elastic notwithstanding being metallic can be used to form the headband  210 . 
     3. Modifications 
     While some embodiments of the present technology have been specifically described above, the technology is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications based on the technical thought of the technology are possible. For instance, in the above embodiments, the guide projections  83  have been provided at side surfaces of the separation rib  82  located on the side of the separation port  81 B of the slider body  81 . However, the positions where to provide the guide projections  83  are not limited to the separation rib  82 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 9A , a guide projection  300  may be provided on the side of the connection section  81 A of the slider body  81 . Incidentally, in that case, the guide projection  300  cannot be made to enter into the fitting groove  13 , and, therefore, the first cord  10  has to be provided with a guide projection groove  400  into which the guide projection  300  is permitted to enter. In the first cord  10  shown in  FIG. 9A , the guide projection groove  400  comparable in diameter to the fitting groove  13  is formed along the longitudinal direction in a side surface on the side opposite to the fitting groove  13 . When such a configuration is adopted, also, it is possible to restrict the first cord  10  in rotation about the axial direction and thereby to ensure that the opening direction of the fitting groove  13  is always oriented to face the second cord  20 . 
     Besides, in the above embodiments, the first cord  10  has been provided with the fitting groove  13 , and the second cord  20  has been fitted into the fitting groove  13 , thereby uniting the first cord  10  and the second cord  20  together. However, the configuration for uniting the first cord  10  and the second cord  20  together is not limited to such a configuration. For example, as shown in  FIG. 9B , the first cord  10  and the second cord  20  may be provided respectively with engagement pieces  500  and  600  which can be engaged with each other. In addition, the slider body  81  is provided with guide projections  700  and  800  corresponding respectively to the engagement piece  500  of the first cord  10  and the engagement piece  600  of the second cord  20 . With the first cord  10  and the second cord  20  fastened by a connection section  81 A, the engagement piece  500  and the engagement piece  600  are engaged with each other, whereby the first cord  10  and the second cord  20  can be united together. In this configuration, the first cord  10  and the second cord  20  can be made approximately equal in diametral size (thickness); therefore, this configuration can be applied to a Y-type cord, without giving the user an uncomfortable feeling from the viewpoints of design and balance. 
     In addition, while description has been made in the above embodiments by taking as an example the case where the present technology is applied to a earphone or headphone cord, the technology can be applied to any system in which a plurality of long bodies are used in a set, such as speaker cords. 
     The present disclosure contains subject matter related to that disclosed in Japanese Priority Patent Application JP 2010-184357 filed in the Japan Patent Office on Aug. 19, 2010, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.