Patent Publication Number: US-3971901-A

Title: Communications headset with reversible mounting means

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE 
     The reversible microphone employed in this invention may be that described in the copending application of Lech Poradowski, Ser. No. 592,632, filed July 3, 1975. 
    
    
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A headset according to the invention employs a yoke adapted to fit over the top of the wearer&#39;s head and having pad means at each end of the yoke for engaging the sides of the wearer&#39;s head at areas spaced above the ears. One of the pad means has an aperture extending horizontally through it from front to back. A beam is insertable in either end of this aperture, and when so inserted is adjustable to project from the aperture by varying amounts. A leaf spring within the aperture holds the beam frictionally against the opposite side of the aperture and maintains the adjustment. The outer projecting end of the beam is provided with two opposed coupling elements. The coupling element on one side of the beam cooperates with a mating element on a transducer housing so as to support that housing on the beam. The other coupling element cooperates with a mating element at one end of an ear tube whose opposite end is fitted with an earpiece for insertion into the wearer&#39;s ear. The transducer housing is provided adjacent its lower end with an articulated joint. 
     In certain embodiments, a microphone is carried at the end of a conduit, and the opposite end of the conduit is connected to the articulated joint. One such embodiment includes wires from the microphone extending through the conduit and the joint to electrical circuit elements within the housing. In that embodiment, the joint includes rotation limiting means to prevent twisting of the wires. In another such embodiment, the joint is freely rotatable and a rotatable connector is provided for the conductors of the microphone circuit. 
     In another embodiment, a voice transducer is located in the housing and connected through an acoustic tube including an articulated joint to an end of the tube adjacent the wearer&#39;s mouth. 
     The headset may be mounted on the wearer&#39;s head with the one pad means that carries the beam either on the right or left side of the head. The beam should be inserted in that pad means so that it projects forwardly therefrom, with the microphone or voice tube adjacent the wearer&#39;s mouth and the earpiece adjacent the wearer&#39;s ear for ready insertion therein. 
    
    
     DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a headset embodying the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a right side elevational view of the headset of FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of FIG. 2, on an enlarged scale. 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 4--4 of FIG. 2, on an enlarged scale. 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of FIG. 4. 
     FIG. 6 is an exploded fragmentary, perspective view showing how the beam in the headset of FIG. 1 is assembled when the earphone is to be used at the wearer&#39;s left ear. 
     FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 6, showing how the headset is assembled when the earphone is to be used at the wearer&#39;s right ear. 
     FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale, partly in elevation and partly in section, on the line 8--8 of FIG. 2. 
     FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view on a still larger scale, partly in section, on the line 8--8 of FIG. 2, and partly in elevation, and with certain parts removed. 
     FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view on the line 10--10 of FIG. 9. 
     FIG. 11 is a front elevational view, similar to a portion of FIG. 1, illustrating another embodiment. 
     FIG. 12 is an exploded fragmentary elevational view of another modification, similar to FIG. 9 but on a smaller scale. 
     FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 12, but with the parts together which are shown separated in FIG. 12. 
     FIG. 14 is a view taken on the line 14--14 of FIG. 13. 
     FIG. 15 is a view taken on the line 15--15 of FIG. 13. 
     FIG. 16 is an enlarged perspective view of a locking clip used in the embodiment of FIGS. 12-15. 
     FIG. 17 is an exploded, framentary, sectional view taken on the line 17--17 of FIG. 12. 
     FIG. 18 is a view similar to FIG. 17, but with the parts together which are shown separated in FIG. 17. 
     FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 19--19 of FIG. 17. 
     FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 20--20 of FIG. 17. 
     FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a part appearing in section in FIG. 17, 19 and 20. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIGS. 1-10 
     A headset according to the invention includes a yoke 1, best seen in FIGS. 1, 2, 6 and 7, adapted to fit over a wearer&#39;s head and two pad means 2 and 3 at the opposite ends of the yoke. The pad means 2 comprises a resilient pad 4 of sponge rubber or the like fixed to a plate 5 which is pivoted at 6 to a casing 7 attached by any suitable means to an end of the yoke 1. 
     The pad means 3 comprises a resilient pad 8 (FIGS. 1, 4, 6 and 7) of sponge rubber or the like fixed to a plate 10. The plate 10 is attached to a casing 11 which is connected by any suitable means to the other end of the yoke 1. 
     The casing 11 is provided with an aperture 11a (FIGS. 2-5) extending from front to rear of the casing, and defined by a channel closed at its open side by a block 12 (FIGS. 4 and 5), which may be bonded in place on the casing 11. Before bonding the block 12 to the casing 11, an elongated leaf spring 13 having bent over ends 13d is inserted in the channel with its ends in apertures 12a in the block, so that after the block 12 is bonded in place, the leaf spring 13 is captured in the aperture 11a. 
     The leaf spring 13 is of a generally sinuous contour so that it engages the inner surface of the block 12 at two spaced localities, as shown at 13a in FIG. 5, and the middle of the spring engages the opposite side of the aperture 11a at 13b. The outer side of the aperture 11a is provided with a narrow channel 11b. The ends of the channel 11b are closed by the ends of the casing 11. 
     A beam 14 has one end 14a slidable into the aperture 11a from either end thereof. The beam 14 carries a projection 15 on its outer surface. Projection 15 rides in the channel 11b. When the beam 14 is in place in the casing 11, it is frictionally held by the spring 13, near the middle of the aperture 11a. The projection 15 prevents movement of the beam out of the aperture beyond a range of operating positions in which it is engaged by the middle of the spring 13. 
     The outer end of the beam 14 has an offset 14b, and beyond the offset carries a double acoustic coupling element 16, best seen in FIG. 8. The double coupling element 16 is adapted to engage a cooperating ear tube coupler 17, and also to engage a cooperating coupling element 20a on a transducer housing 20. The double coupling element 16 has a boss 16a which cooperates with a recess 17a formed on the ear tube coupler 17. The double coupling element 16 also has a recess 16b which cooperates with the projecting coupling element 20a. An O-ring 18 is captured within a channel 16c formed in the double coupling element 16 and is effective to hold the projecting coupling element 20a in the recess 16b after the two are pushed together. 
     The ear tube coupler 17 is connected to an ear tube 21 having at its end an earpiece 22 (see FIG. 1) adapted to be inserted into the ear canal of the wearer. The earpiece 22, tube 21, coupler 17, double coupling element 16, and projecting coupling element 20a are provided with connecting internal passages which define an acoustic path from a transducer 19 in the transducer housing 20 to the ear of the wearer. 
     If the headset is of the &#34;listen only&#34; type, there is only the transducer 19 in the housing 20. If the headset is to be adapted for two-way communication, then a microphone 23 (FIG. 1), which may be of the reversible type shown in the copending application of Lech Poradowski, Ser. No. 592,632, filed July 3, 1975, or any other suitable microphone may be fixed on the end of a conduit 24. The other end of the conduit 24 is attached to a ball 25 of an articulated joint 25, 26 (FIG. 9) having a socket 26 integral with or attached to the transducer housing 20. Electrical conductors 27 covered by insulating sheaths 27a lead from the microphone 23 through communicating apertures in the ball 25 and socket 26 to suitable terminals 30 or other electrical apparatus in the housing 20. A cable 31 connects the terminals in the housing 20 to suitable external circuitry. The ball and socket joint 25, 26 permits rotation of the conduit 24 at least 180° about the vertical axis of the socket 26, as viewed in FIG. 9, so that the microphone may be used on either the left or right side of the wearer&#39;s head. Furthermore, the ball and socket is constructed to permit tilting of the conduit at least 15° about any axis in the plane perpendicular to the vertical axis of the socket 26. 
     When the headset is in use on the left-hand side of the wearer&#39;s head, the beam is assembled on the casing 11 in the manner shown in FIG. 6, so that the transducer housing 20 is located forwardly of the wearer&#39;s ear. The flexible ear tube 21 may be formed as required to bring the earpiece 22 into alignment with the wearer&#39;s ear. The microphone 23 may be adjusted by sliding the beam 14 in or out and by moving the parts of the articulated joint 25, 26 to bring the microphone close to the left corner of the wearer&#39;s mouth. 
     If it is desired to wear the headset with the earpiece 22 in the right ear of the wearer, then the beam 14 is assembled on the casing 11 as illustrated in FIG. 7. The coupling between the transducer housing and the beam allows the transducer housing to be rotated so that it depends from the beam on either side of the wearer&#39;s head. The conduit 24 may now be rotated on the articulated joint to bring the microphone 23 into position adjacent the right-hand corner of the wearer&#39;s mouth. Since the microphone may receive sound through either of its two major faces, it does not matter which of those two faces is nearest the wearer&#39;s mouth. 
     The offset 14b (FIG. 5) is effective to bring the double coupling element 16 and hence the transducer housing 20, the ear insert 22 and the microphone 23 closer to the wearer&#39;s head than the slidable end 14a of the beam. 
     The ball 25 of the articulated joint is provided with a projection 32, which moves in a recess 26a formed in the socket 26. The ends of the recess 26 limit the rotation of the ball to an angle less than 360°, and preferably somewhat greater than 180°. This limitation of angular movement prevents the wires 27 from getting excessively twisted due to successive readjustments of the microphone position. 
     FIG. 11 
     In this embodiment, the microphone 23 and tube 24 of FIG. 1 are replaced by an acoustic tube 33 connected through a telescope coupling 34 and another acoustic tube 35 to an articulated joint 36. In this embodiment, the microphone is located in the housing 20, and the sound is conveyed through the acoustic path 33, 34, 35, 36 to the microphone. 
     It is, of course, possible to adapt either of the headsets illustrated for use as a microphone only headset, by omitting the ear tube and the earphone transducer 19. Alternatively, either headset may be adapted for use as an earphone only headset by omitting the microphone 23 and tube 24 in that embodiment of FIG. 1 or by omitting the acoustic tube 33, 35 and the microphone in the embodiment of FIG. 11. 
     Although the headsets illustrated employ a single earphone, it should be readily apparent that they can be adapted to use dual earphones by duplicating the pad means 3 and the associated earphone parts on both ends of the yoke 1. Such a dual earphone headset is reversible as to the left or right-hand location of the microphone, in the same manner as the single earphone headsets illustrated. 
     FIGS. 12-21 
     These figures illustrate a modified transducer housing generally indicated at 41 and a modified joint 42 which may be used to connect the microphone conduit 24 to the transducer housing 41. 
     The housing 41 includes a body 43, an inside cover 44 on the side of the body nearest the wearer&#39;s head, and an outside cover 45 on the opposite side of the body. A coupling element 44a corresponding in structure and function to the coupling 20a of FIG. 9, projects from the cover 44. The coupling element 44 has an internal passage communicating through another passage in the body 43 to an earphone transducer 46. 
     The joint 42 has a rotatable electrical connector plug 47 on its upper end. The plug 47 is receivable in the receptacle 50 at the lower end of the body 43. After the plug 47 is inserted in the receptacle 50, it may be locked therein by a retainer 51 (see FIGS. 14-16). The retainer 51 is generally U-shaped, having two legs 51a which engage a groove 42a (FIGS. 12 and 17) formed on the housing of the joint 42 and also engage channels 43 a (FIG. 14) formed in the body 43. After the plug 47 is inserted in the receptacle 50, and the retainer 51 is in place in the body 43 and joint 42, a cable 52 (FIGS. 13 and 15) carrying conductors connected to the transducer 46 and also to a terminal board 48 is inserted through an aperture 45 a in the lower end of the cover 45. The cover 45 is then placed on the body 43, so that a pair of prongs 51b on the retainer 51 engage the cable 52 as shown in FIGS. 15 and lock it against accidental withdrawal from the housing 41. 
     The covers 44 and 45 are fastened together with the body 43 by means of screws 53, best seen in FIG. 15. 
     The connector plug 47 is a conventional telephone type having an axial conductor rod 54 (FIG. 17) with an enlarged head 54a. The rod 54 is enclosed in an insulating sheath 55, which is in turn surrounded by a conductive sleeve 56. When the plug 47 is inserted in the receptacle 50 formed on the body 43, the head 54a engages a spring contact 57 (FIGS. 17 and 18), and another spring contact 58 engages the sleeve 56. Contact 58 is connected through a wire 61 to a terminal 62 accessible inside the cover 45. Contact 57 is connected by means of another wire 63 to a terminal 64, also accessible inside the cover 45. 
     The connector plug 47 is supported on the left end (as viewed in FIG. 17) of a cylinder 65 of insulating material. The cylinder 65 is open at its right-hand end as viewed in FIG. 17 and is partly closed at its left end by a wall which supports at its center a metal eyelet 66 through which the insulating sleeve 55 and the central rod 54 pass. The outer contact sleeve 56 abuts against the outer surface of the eyelet 66. The right-hand end of the eyelet 66 holds a terminal ring 67 against the closed end of the cylinder 65. The terminal ring 67 is formed with an integral cylinder 67a which extends to the right along the lower side of the cylinder 65 and is attached at its end to a wire 70 which extends through the microphone conduit 24. Another wire 71 in the microphone conduit 24 is attached at its left end to the axial conductor rod 54. 
     The cylinder 65 is mounted on the left end of a metal sleeve 72 by means of a pin 78 (see FIG. 19). The right-hand end of sleeve 72 is provided at its center with hemispherical recess 72a which serves as a seat for a ball 73 attached to the end of the microphone conduit 24. The sleeve 72 is enclosed within a metal casing 74 which is rolled over at its right-hand end to engage a bushing 75 which holds the ball 73 in place on the seat 72a. Another sleeve 76 is located within the casing 74 at its left-hand end. A coil spring 77 is retained in compression between the sleeves 72 and 76. The ball 73 is provided at one side with a pin 80, which projects into an aperture 72b in the sleeve 72. The aperture 72b defines the limits of universal movement of the ball 73 on its seat. 
     The connector plug 47 is freely rotatable in engagement with the contacts 57 and 58, so that electrical contact from the microphone wires 70 and 71 to the wires 61 and 63 is maintained in all angular positions of that connector. Hence, with the joint structure illustrated, the ball 73 and its associated seat 72a are only required to accommodate tilting movements of the conduit 24 with respect to the casing 74 and the parts contained therein. The conduit 24 is free to rotate, but the casing 74 and all the parts supported within it rotate with the conduit 24 except for the small amount of free motion permitted by the aperture 72b surrounding the pin 80. In view of the unlimited rotation capability of the casing 74 and conduit 24, the ball 73 and seat 72a essentially function as a pivot and could be replaced by a suitable pivot. 
     The casing 74 and the sleeve 76 are cut radially at 42a to provide the recess for receiving the legs 51a of retainer 51. A yoke 81 (FIGS. 17 and 18) of insulating material fits within the body 43. The contacts 57 and 58 are supported on a fitting 82 which extends through a threaded aperture in the bight of the yoke 81 and is held in place on the yoke by means of a nut 83. 
     It should be noted that in the joint 42, the tilting movements of conduit 24 are accommodated by the ball 73 moving on its seat 72a, while rotating movements of that conduit are accommodated by rotation of the casing 74 and connector plug 47. The rotation function is therefore separated from the tilting function. The casing 74 is capable of unlimited rotation with respect to the body 43 without causing any twisting of the wires 70 and 71 in the conduit 74.