Earphone, headset and ear protector

[0001] This claims priority of German Patent Application No. 102007060233.4, filed Dec. 14, 2007, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0002] The present invention concerns an earphone, a headset and an ear protector unit.

[0003] In the case of headphones, in-ear earphones or headsets (listening-talking fitments) it is desirable if the transducer housing bears securely against the head of a user.

[0004] In the case of earpieces of headphones or headsets it can happen that those earpieces slip off the head as the holding force has to be applied to a spherical head.

[0005] As general state of the art attention is directed to DE 31 30 059, U.S. Pat. No. 1,579,412, U.S. Pat. No. 3,263,032, U.S. Pat. No. 3,488,457 and JP 2005-269075.

[0006] Therefore an object of the present invention is to provide an earphone, a headset and an ear protector which permits a stable fit for the earpiece on the head of a wearer.

[0007] That object is attained by an earphone as set forth in claim 1, a headset as set forth in claim 5 and an ear protector as set forth in claim 9.

[0008] Accordingly there is provided an earphone with a hoop with a first and a second pivot point at least one end of the hoop. The earphone has at least one earpiece for receiving at least one electroacoustic transducer. The earpiece has a first and a second pivot point. The earphone further has a first coupling element for coupling the first pivot point of the hoop and the first pivot point of the earpiece and a second coupling element for coupling the second pivot point of the hoop to the second pivot point of the earpiece.

[0009] The configuration of the two pivot points of the hoop and the two pivot points of the earpiece means that the earpiece can be pivoted or turned with a rotary axis substantially perpendicularly to a plane defined by the hoop.

[0010] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention the rotary axes of the first and second pivot points on the hoop and the first and second pivot points on the earpiece are substantially perpendicular to a plane defined by the hoop.

[0011] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention the first and second pivot points of the hoop and the first and second pivot points of the earpiece are so arranged that an operative pivot point is displaced in the direction of the ear-side end of the earpiece.

[0012] In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention the first and second coupling elements are each in the form of a rocking arm.

[0013] For that purpose the suspension of the earpiece is improved and a displaced operative pivot point between the hoop and the earpiece is provided.

[0014] The invention also concerns a headset having a hoop with a first and a second pivot point at least one end of the hoop. The headset has at least one earpiece for receiving at least one electroacoustic transducer. The earpiece has a first and a second pivot point. The headset further has a first coupling element for coupling the first pivot point of the hoop and the first pivot point of the earpiece and a second coupling element for coupling the second pivot point of the hoop to the second pivot point of the earpiece.

[0015] The invention also concerns an ear protector unit having a hoop with a first and a second pivot point at least one end of the hoop. The ear protector unit further has two earpieces respectively having a first and a second pivot point. The first pivot point of the hoop is coupled to the first pivot point of the earpiece with a first coupling element. The second pivot point of the hoop is coupled to the second pivot point of the earpiece with a second coupling element.

[0016] The above-described aspects of the present invention can also be used in relation to a headset in accordance with the present invention or an ear protector unit in accordance with the present invention.

[0017] The invention concerns the notion of displacing the pivot point between the hoop and the earpiece by way of a coupling transmission or a dual rocking arm to closely in front of, at or into the head in order to be able to provide for an improved action of force on the desired position.

[0018] In that way it is possible to permit a stable fit for the earphone or the headset on the head.

[0019] Further configurations of the invention are subject-matter of the appendant claims.

[0020] Embodiments and advantages of the invention are described in greater detail hereinafter with reference to the drawing.

[0023] FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic view in section in the region of the earpiece suspension configuration of an earphone in accordance with an embodiment by way of example of the invention. The headphone or the headset in accordance with the first embodiment has a strap or hoop 1, at least one earpiece 3 (with an electroacoustic transducer W) and a first and a second rocking arm 2, 4 for each respective earpiece. A first and a second pivot point A0 and B0 are provided at the end of the hoop 1 which can be in the form of a fork. The earpiece 3 also has a first and a second pivot point A and B, wherein the pivot points A0 and A are connected together by way of the first rocking arm 2 and the pivot points B and B0 are connected together by way of the rocking arm 4. That can thus permit a coupling transmission involving a double rocking arm. The configuration of the headphone, shown in FIG. 1, permits a displaced operative pivot point between the fork/hoop and the earpiece 3. The displaced operative pivot point is denoted by P₁₃.

[0024] The first and second pivot points A, B of the earpiece 3 are provided in the region 3b of the earpiece, being the region that is away from the ear. The first and second pivot points A0, B0 of the hoop are arranged in the region 3a of the earpiece 3, being the region that is towards the ear. It is possible in that way to provide that the pivot point P₁₃ between the hoop 1 and the earpiece 3 is displaced to closely in front of, at or in the head. That is effected for example by a coupling transmission configuration, preferably in the form of a double rocking arm. The earpiece in accordance with the first embodiment can be of a design which embraces the ear or bears against the ear.

[0025] In accordance with a second embodiment the invention also concerns an ear protector comprising a hoop and two earpieces. The ends of the hoop can be connected together by way of the transmission configuration shown in FIG. 1, with the dual rocking arm arrangement. The (passive) ear protector unit thus substantially corresponds to the headphone of the first embodiment, but in this case the passive ear protector unit does not have an electroacoustic transducer. The earpiece in accordance with the second embodiment can completely enclose the ears of the wearer to ensure effective ear protection. The ear protector in accordance with the second embodiment can also be in the form of an active ear protector arrangement, as shown in FIG. 2, wherein at least one microphone, an active noise compensation unit and at least one electroacoustic reproduction transducer is provide in or on the ear protector.

[0026] The above-described rocking arms can be used as coupling elements. The coupling elements can be adapted to be adjustable (in their longitudinal direction).

[0027] The coupling elements can have a spring element. The above-described transmission arrangement between the earpiece and the end of the hoop has at least four members.

[0028] In accordance with the invention the rotary axes of the two pivot points at the end of the hoop and the rotary axes of the pivot points of the earpiece can be substantially perpendicular to a plane defined by the hoop 1.

[0029] In accordance with the invention the two pivot points A, B of the earpiece 3 can be provided at the side 3b or the end 3b of the earpiece, that is away from the ear. The end of the hoop 1 can preferably be arranged in accordance with the invention at the end 3a of the earpiece, that is towards the ear.