HEADSET WITH ADJUSTABLE EARHOOK

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a headset comprising a headset body and an earhook, wherein the headset body includes a microphone, a speaker and attachment means for attaching the earhook to the headset body between the microphone and the speaker at an attachment position that lies at a distance from the speaker. Such headsets are primarily used as headsets for telephony. The headset is attached to the ear of the user by means of the earhook such that the speaker lies at the entrance of the auditory canal and the microphone more or less close to the mouth.

Background Art

[0002] EP 0 749 263 B1, US 2003/0013498 A1 and WO 03/009637 all disclose headsets according to the preamble of claim 1. These documents disclose headsets, which in different ways can be adjusted to the user. However, there is room for improvement. The head anatomy varies a lot between individuals and especially the distance between the auditory canal and top of the ear and the angle of an imaginary line extending between the auditory canal and the mouth varies. It is therefore desirable to be able to adjust the headset regarding these parameters.

Disclosure of Invention

[0003] The object of the invention is to provide a headset with good adjustability. The headset according to the invention is characterised in that the attachment means are adapted such that the distance between the attachment position of the earhook and the speaker can be varied in order to adapt the headset to the user. In this way, an improved and simple manner of adjusting the headset to the anatomy of a specific user is obtained.

[0004] According to an embodiment the headset body has a first end and a second end, wherein the microphone is arranged at the first end and the speaker is arranged at the second end. Preferably, the headset body is an elongate body extending between the first end and the second end.

[0005] According to an embodiment, the attachment means are adapted such that the earhook can be attached at two or more distinct distances from the second end. This is a simple and in many cases satisfying solution.

[0006] According to a preferred embodiment, the attachment means comprises at least two holes for receiving a portion of the ear hook. This is a very simple and reliable solution.

[0007] Preferably, the holes extend essentially perpendicular on an axis running between the first end and the second end of the headset body.

[0008] The holes can be through going holes. Thus, the headset may be used on both ears as the earhook portion can be inserted from either side.

[0009] According to a simple embodiment, the portion of the earhook is held in one the holes by friction.

[0010] According to an embodiment, the earhook comprises a first linear portion to be received by the holes, which first linear portion of the earhook is connected by a hinge to the remainder of the earhook.

[0011] According to an embodiment, the earhook is at least partly made of material making it plastically deformable in order to adapt it to the user.

[0012] According to an alternative embodiment, the holding means comprises a slider that can slide along the headset body.

[0013] According to a specific embodiment the slider can be arranged inside the headset body and the earhook can extend from the slider through a slot in the wall of the headset body to the outside.

[0014] Alternatively, the slider is in the shape of a sleeve, which is arranged around the headset body. In this case, the headset body may be shaped as an elongate boom. If the book has a circular cross-section, the slider may rotate around the boom, which adds to the adjustability. If the boom has a non-circular cross-section, the slider may be prevented from undesired rotation.

[0015] The slider can be frictionally held when no external force is applied.

[0016] Alternatively or additionally, the contacting surfaces of the slider and the headset body are provided with inter-engaging teeth and/or indentations. Thus, undesired sliding of the slider is prevented in a simple and reliable way.

Brief Description of the drawings

[0017] The invention is explained in details below with reference to the drawing illustrating embodiments of the invention and in which

Fig. 1

is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a headset according to the invention,

Fig. 2

is a perspective view of an ear hook of the headset according to the invention,

Fig. 3

is a cross-sectional view through a second embodiment of the invention, and

Fig.4

is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a headset according to the invention.

[0018] The following reference signs are used in the figures and the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments.

1

headset

2

earhook

3

speaker

4

microphone

5

first hole

6

second hole

7

first linear portion of earhook

8

second linear portion of earhook

9

curved portion of earhook

10

ear hook hinge

11

notch

12

dome-shaped protrusion

13

speaker hole

14

microphone hole

15

headset body

16

first end of headset body

17

second end of headset body

18

first side of headset body

19

second side of headset body

20

boom

21

slider

22

slider

23

slot

24

markings

25

attachment position

Modes for Carrying out the Invention

[0019] Fig. 1 shows a headset 1 according to a first embodiment of the invention. The headset 1 comprises a headset body 15 and an earhook 2. The headset body 15 is elongate with a first end 16 and a second end 17. The headset body has a first side 18 facing the user's head during use and a second side 1-9 facing away from the user's head during use. A microphone 4 is arranged in the first end 16 and sound waves can reach the microphone through a microphone hole 14 in the first side 18. A dome-shaped protrusion 12 extends from the first side 18 of the headset body 15 at the second end 17. A transducer or speaker 3 is arranged in the headset body 15 in this dome-shaped protrusion 12. Sound waves generated by the speaker 3 can reach the auditory canal of the user through a speaker hole 13.

[0020] Between the first end 16 and the second end 17 or with other words between the microphone 3 and the speaker 4 the headset body 15 is provided with two parallel, transverse through going holes 5, 6. These holes are adapted to receive a portion 7 of the earhook 2. The distance d between attachment point 25 of the ear-hook 2 and the speaker 3 depends on the hole 5, 6 in which the ear-hook is attached. The earhook 2, which is disclosed in more detail in Fig. 2, comprises a first linear portion 7, a second linear portion 8 and a curved portion 9. The first linear portion 7 is intended for being inserted in one of the two holes 5, 6. If the user has a relatively small ear, the portion 7 of the earhook 2 should be inserted in the first hole 5, and if the user has a relatively large ear, the portion should be inserted in the second hole 6. The portion 7 and the holes 5, 6 have a non-circular cross-section, and the portion 7 is therefore not able to rotate. As indicated in Fig. 2 one side of the portion 7 is provided with a notch 11. The internal wall of the holes 5, 6 is provided with a not shown protrusion that is adapted to engage the notch 11 and prevent the portion 7 from leaving the hole 5, 6 unintentionally. Alternatively, the earhook portion 7 could be held in the holes by pure friction.

[0021] There headset body 15 can be provided with more than two holes.

[0022] The first linear portion 7 of the earhook 2 is connected by a hinge 10 to the second linear portion 8. At the opposite end, the second linear portion 8 is continuing into a curved portion 9. The portions 8 and 9 can be flexed into different configurations. This property can e.g. be obtained by manufacturing the portions as plastic or rubber portions with a metal core. The core renders the earhook capable of being contoured and thereafter maintaining its shape.

[0023] The shaping properties of the earhook portions 8, 9, the hinge 10 and the holes 5, 6 with different distances d from the speaker all add to a great adjustability. Thus, the headset can be adapted to fit the most people such that the speaker rests at the auditory canal entrance and the microphone points in the direction of the mouth.

[0024] As shown in Fig. 1, the holes 5, 6 are through going. This means, that the headset can be used on left or right ear. The markings L and R (reference sign 24) indicates from which side the earhook 2 should be inserted in order to wear the headset on the left or right ear respectively.

[0025] The embodiment disclosed in Fig. 1 provides two positions at which the earhook 2 can be attached to the headset body 15. Figs. 3 and 4 disclose embodiments where the distance between the attachment point and the speaker can be adjusted more precisely. In the embodiment disclosed in Fig. 3 the earhook 2 is attached to a slider 22 that is arranged inside the headset body 15. The earhook extends from the slider 22 through a longitudinal slot 23 in the body wall. As shown, the slider 22 can be provided with a protrusion 18 that engages one of several indentations 19 on the inner side of the body wall in order to avoid unintentional sliding of the slider 22. On the contrary, the slider 22 could be provided with indentations and the inner side of the body wall with a protrusion. Finally, unintentionally movement of the slider could be prevented by pure friction between the slider 22 and the headset body 15.

[0026] Fig. 4 discloses a third embodiment, in which the headset body comprises an elongate boom 20 extending between the microphone 4 and the speaker 3. The earhook 2 is attached to a slider 21, which is shaped as a sleeve that receives the boom 21. The sleeve 21 is held in position on the boom 20 by friction and can be forced to move along the boom 20 in order to vary the distance d between the ear hook 2 and the speaker 3. The boom 20 and the sleeve opening have a circular cross-section such that the earhook can be forced to rotate around the boom 20. Alternatively, the boom 20 and the sleeve opening could have a non-circular cross-section in order to avoid rotation of the earhook 2 completely.

[0027] The invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments.

[0028] The phrase "attachment means" covers all possible means of attaching the ear hook to the headset body, the essential feature being that the distance between the attachment point of the earhook and the speaker can be varied. Thus, the phrase "attachment means" could be replaced by the term "fastener", "holder" or the like.

Claims

1. A headset (1) comprising a headset body (15, 20) and an earhook (2), wherein the headset body (15, 20) includes a microphone (4), a speaker (3) and attachment means (5, 6, 21, 22) for attaching the earhook (2) to the headset body (15, 20) between the microphone (4) and the speaker (3) at an attachment position (25) that lies at a distance (d) from the speaker (3), characterised in that the attachment means (5, 6, 21, 22) are adapted such that the distance (d) between the attachment position (25) and the speaker (3) can be varied in order to adapt the headset to the user.

2. A headset according to claim 1, wherein the headset body (15, 20) has a first end (16) and a second end (17), wherein the microphone (4) is arranged at the first end (16) and the speaker (3) is arranged at the second end (17).

3. A headset according to claim 2, wherein the headset body is an elongate body (15, 20) extending between the first end (16) and the second end (17).

4. A headset according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the attachment means (5, 6, 21, 22) are adapted such that the earhook (2) can be held at two or more distinct distances (d) from the second end (17).

5. A headset according to claim 4, wherein the attachment means comprise at least two holes (5, 6) for receiving a portion (7) of the ear hook (2).

6. A headset according to claim 5, wherein the holes (5, 6) extend essentially perpendicular on an axis running between the first end (16) and the second end (17).

7. A headset according to claim 6, wherein the holes (5, 6) are through holes.

8. A headset according to one of the claims 5-7, wherein the portion (7) of the earhook (2) is held in the holes (5, 6) by friction.

9. A headset according to any of the claims 5-8, wherein the earhook (2) comprises a first linear portion (7) to be received by the holes (5, 6), which first linear portion of earhook (2) is connected by a hinge (10) to the remainder of the earhook (2).

10. A headset according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the earhook (2) at least partly is made of material making it plastically deformable in order to adapt it to the user.

11. A headset according to any of the claims 1-3, wherein the attachment means comprises a slider (21; 22), that can slide along the headset body (15; 20).

12. A headset according to claim 11, wherein the slider (22) is arranged inside the headset body (15) and the earhook (2) extends from the slider (22) through a slot (23) in the wall of the headset body (1) to the outside.

13. A headset according to claim 11, wherein the slider (21) is in the shape of a sleeve, which is arranged around the headset body (20).

14. A headset according to claim 13, wherein the headset body is shaped as an elongate boom (20).

15. A headset according to claim 14, wherein the boom (20) has a circular cross-section.

16. A headset according to claim 14, wherein the boom (20) has a non-circular cross-section.

17. A headset according to any of the claims 11-16, wherein the slider (21; 22) is held by friction, when no external force is applied.

18. A headset according to any of the claims 11-17, wherein the contacting surfaces of the slider (21; 22) and the headset body (15; 20) are provided with inter-engaging teeth and/or indentations (18, 19).

Ansprüche

1. Headset (1), enthaltend einen Headset-Körper (15, 20) und einen Ohrbügel (2), wobei der Headset-Körper (15, 20) ein Mikrofon (4), einen Lautsprecher (3) und Anbringungseinrichtungen (5, 6, 21, 22) zum Anbringen des Ohrbügels (2) an dem Headset-Körper (15, 20) zwischen dem Mikrofon (4) und dem Lautsprecher (3) in einer Anbringungsposition (25) enthält, die sich in einem Abstand (d) von dem Lautsprecher (3) befindet, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Anbringungseinrichtungen (5. 6. 21, 22) derart eingerichtet sind, dass der Abstand (d) zwischen der Anbringungsposition (25) und dem Lautsprecher (3) verändert werden kann, um das Headset an den Benutzer anzupassen.

2. Headset nach Anspruch 1, bei dem der Headset-Körper (15, 20) ein erstes Ende (16) und ein zweites Ende (17) hat, wobei das Mikrofon (4) am ersten Ende (16) angeordnet ist und der Lautsprecher (3) am zweiten Ende (97) angeordnet ist.

3. Headset nach Anspruch 2, bei dem der Headset-Körper ein länglicher Körper (15, 20) ist, der sich zwischen dem ersten Ende (16) und dem zweiten Ende (17) erstreckt.

4. Headset nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, bei dem die Anbringungseinrichtungen (5, 6, 21, 22) derart eingerichtet sind, dass der Ohrbügel (2) in wenigstens zwei unterschiedlichen Abständen (d) von dem zweiten Ende (17) gehalten werden kann.

5. Headset nach Anspruch 4, bei dem die Anbringungseinrichtungen wenigstens zwei Löcher (5, 6) zur Aufnahme eines Abschnittes (7) des Ohrbügels (2) enthalten.

6. Headset nach Anspruch 5, bei dem sich die Löcher (5, 6) im wesentlichen senkrecht auf einer Achse erstrecken, die zwischen dem ersten Ende (16) und dem zweiten Ende (17) verlauft.

7. Headset nach Anspruch 6, bei dem die Löcher (5, 6) Durchgangslöcher sind.

8. Headset nach einem der Ansprüche 5 bis 7, bei dem der Abschnitt (7) des Ohrbügels (2) in den Löchern (5, 6) durch Reibung gehalten ist.

9. Headset nach einem der Ansprüche 5 bis 8, bei dem der Ohrbügel (2) einen ersten linearen Abschnitt (7) enthält, der in den Löchern (5, 6) aufgenommen werden soll, wobei der erste lineare Abschnitt des Ohrbügels (2) durch ein Gelenk (10) mit dem restlichen Teil des Ohrbügels (2) verbunden ist.

10. Headset nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, bei dem der Ohrbügel (2) wenigstens teilweise aus einem Material besteht, das ihn plastisch verformbar macht, um ihn an den Benutzer anzupassen.

11. Headset nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, bei dem die Anbringungseinrichtungen einen Gleiter (21; 22) aufweisen, der entlang des Headset-Körpers (15; 20) gleiten kann.

12. Headset nach Anspruch 11, bei dem der Gleiter (22) in dem Headset-Körper (15) angeordnet Ist und sich der Ohrbügel (2) von dem Gleiter (22) durch einen Schlitz (23) in der Wand des Headset-Körpers (1) nach außen erstreckt.

13. Headset nach Anspruch 11, bei dem der Gleiter (21) die Gestalt einer Hülse hat, die den Headset-Körper (20) umgebend angeordnet ist.

14. Headset nach Anspruch 13, bei dem der Headset-Körper als länglicher Ausleger (20) ausgebildet ist.

15. Headset nach Anspruch 14, bei dem der Ausleger (20) einen kreisförmigen Querschnitt hat.

16. Headset nach Anspruch 14, bei dem der Ausleger (20) einen nicht kreisförmigen Querschnitt hat.

17. Headset nach einem der Ansprüche 11 bis 16, bei dem der Gleiter (21; 22) durch Reibung gehalten ist, wenn keine Kraft von außen einwirkt.

18. Headset nach einem der Ansprüche 11 bis 17, bei dem die Kontaktflächen des Gleiters (21; 22) und der Headset-Körper (15; 20) mit ineinander greifenden Zähnen und/oder Vertiefungen (18, 19) ausgestattet sind.

Revendications

1. Casque d'écoute (1) comprenant un corps de casque d'écoute (15, 20) et un crochet auriculaire (2), dans lequel le corps de casque d'écoute (15, 20) comprend un microphone (4), un haut-parleur (3) et des moyens de fixation (5, 6, 21, 22) destinés à fixer le crochet auriculaire (2) au corps de casque d'écoute (15, 20) entre le microphone (4) et le haut-parleur (3) dans une position de fixation (25) qui se trouve à une distance (d) du haut-parleur (3), caractérisé en ce que les moyens de fixation (5, 6, 21, 22) sont adaptés de sorte que la distance (d) entre la position de fixation (25) et le haut-parleur (3) puisse être variée afin d'adapter le casque d'écoute à l'utilisateur.

2. Casque d'écoute selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le corps de casque d'écoute (15, 20) possède une première extrémité (16) et une seconde extrémité (17), dans lequel le microphone (4) est agencé à la première extrémité (16) et le haut-parleur (3) est agencé à la seconde extrémité (17).

3. Casque d'écoute selon la revendication 2, dans lequel le corps de casque d'écoute est un corps allongé (15, 20) s'étendant entre la première extrémité (16) et la seconde extrémité (17).

4. Casque d'écoute selon l'une des revendications précédentes, dans lequel les moyens de fixation (5, 6, 21, 22) sont adaptés de sorte que le crochet auriculaire (2) puisse être maintenu à deux, ou plus, distances distinctes (d) de la seconde extrémité (17).

5. Casque d'écoute selon la revendication 4, dans lequel les moyens de fixation comprennent au moins deux orifices (5, 6) pour recevoir une partie (7) du crochet auriculaire (2).

6. Casque d'écoute selon la revendication 5, dans lequel les orifices (5, 6) s'étendent de façon essentiellement perpendiculaire sur un axe s'étendant entre la première extrémité (16) et la seconde extrémité (17).

7. Casque d'écoute selon la revendication 6, dans lequel les orifices (5, 6) sont des orifices de passage.

8. Casque d'écoute selon l'une des revendications 5 à 7, dans lequel la partie (7) du crochet auriculaire (2) est maintenue dans les orifices (5, 6) par frottement.

9. Casque d'écoute selon l'une quelconque des revendications 5 à 8, dans lequel le crochet auriculaire (2) comprend une première partie linéaire (7) destinée à être reçue par les orifices (5, 6), laquelle première partie linéaire du crochet auriculaire (2) est reliée par une articulation (10) au reste du crochet auriculaire (2).

10. Casque d'écoute selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le crochet auriculaire (2) est au moins partiellement fait de matériau le rendant déformable de façon plastique afin de l'adapter à l'utilisateur.

11. Casque d'écoute selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, dans lequel les moyens de fixation comprennent un coulisseau (21 ; 22), qui peut coulisser le long du corps de casque d'écoute (15 ; 20).

12. Casque d'écoute selon la revendication 11, dans lequel le coulisseau (22) est agencé à l'intérieur du corps de casque d'écoute (15) et le crochet auriculaire (2) s'étend à partir du coulisseau (22), à travers une fente (23) dans la paroi du corps de casque d'écoute (1), jusqu'à l'extérieur.

13. Casque d'écoute selon la revendication 11, dans lequel le coulisseau (21) présente une forme de manchon, qui est agencé autour du corps de casque d'écoute (20).

14. Casque d'écoute selon la revendication 13, dans lequel le corps de casque d'écoute présente une forme de tige allongée (20).

15. Casque d'écoute selon la revendication 14, dans lequel la tige (20) possède une section transversale circulaire.

16. Casque d'écoute selon la revendication 14, dans lequel la tige (20) possède une section transversale non circulaire.

17. Casque d'écoute selon l'une quelconque des revendications 11 à 16, dans lequel le coulisseau (21 ; 22) est maintenu par frottement, lorsqu'aucune force externe n'est appliquée.

18. Casque d'écoute selon l'une quelconque des revendications 11 à 17, dans lequel les surfaces de contact du coulisseau (21 ; 22) et du corps de casque d'écoute (15 ; 20) sont pourvues de dents et/ou d'indentations (18, 19) entrant mutuellement en prise.

Drawing