Headphones with moving parts and a clasp

Abstract

Headphones (600) with at least one ear cup (620, 630) and adjustable headband (610; 640-660), wherein the adjustable headband includes two parts (410, 420; 640, 660) that can be moved relative to each other in a predetermined direction and are guided by a guide, wherein - a first multipole magnetized magnet (430; 670) is attached to a first part (410; 640) of the two mutually movable parts; and - a second multipole magnetized magnet (440; 680) is attached to a second part (420; 660) of the two mutually movable parts; - wherein the first multipole magnetized magnet (430; 670) moves along the second multipole magnetized magnet (440; 680) when the two mutually movable parts (410,420; 640,660) are moved relative to each other in the specified direction; - each of the multipole magnetized magnets has several magnetic poles that alternate in the direction of movement; and at least one of the multipole magnetized magnets (430, 440; 670, 680) contains a flexible magnetic foil; wherein at least two different preferred or detent positions (531-534) are defined by magnetic forces occurring between the first and the second multipole magnetized magnets, which the two parts movable relative to each other can assume, wherein in each preferred or detent position opposite magnetic poles of the first and the second magnet are opposite each other.

Description

background

[0001] In many different devices, parts can be moved relative to one another or adjusted mechanically, for example, in the headband of adjustable headphones, but also in latches or slide switches. Often, a specific sliding position set by a user should be maintained as much as possible, while at the same time the force required by the user to move the part should be minimized. In such cases, a mechanical device is often used, which is referred to as a locking mechanism or stop. A locking mechanism can maintain the resting state of a fundamentally movable part relative to another part, either completely or up to a defined limit, by means of a locking device. In the latter case, it is called a stop. A detent, generally described according to the in Fig. The principle shown in section 1 works as follows. A part 120 can, for example, slide along another part 110, with certain preferred positions being provided. The distance between the two parts can be fixed, for example by a guide (in Fig. (1 not shown). The force required to move parts 110, 120 relative to each other is in a preferred or locking position, as shown in Fig. 1 b), larger than in another position, Fig. 1 a). Nevertheless, displacement is possible. The preferred or locking positions are generally defined by a locking element 130, here a ball, which is pressed into a corresponding recess 115 by a spring 140. The spring 140 can also have a different shape; for example, a flexible element can be used, which can also contain the locking element. The different recesses 115 represent different locking positions.

[0002] Such a mechanical locking device or tether has several disadvantages, such as a large number of often small components, and can therefore be difficult to assemble. This often makes assembly relatively expensive. Furthermore, the spring 140 (especially if it is, for example, a bending element) and the shape of the recesses 115 can wear down with use.

[0003] One object of the present invention is to provide a headphone with an improved, low-wear inhibitor.

[0004] The use of magnets is known, for example, in switches or latches. US 2004094393 A1 discloses a switch with a magnetic detent device that utilizes the interaction of the magnetic fields of two magnetic elements, each exhibiting an adjacent multipole magnetic pattern.

[0005] US 4068202 A discloses an electrical switch for use with a printed circuit board, wherein a reciprocating element houses a permanent magnet strip carrying contact elements for closing an electrical circuit, and opposite this strip is another permanent magnet strip. In the closed switch position, opposite attractive polarities are present, while in the open switch position, like repulsive polarities are present. US 2896043 A also discloses an electrical switch formed from magnets; this switch features ring magnets or bar magnets, each with several alternating north and south poles.

[0006] Simple two-pole magnets are most commonly used for closures. US Patent 2389298 A discloses a clothing closure with permanent magnets that allows for easy and quick opening and closing, as well as an elastic fit. EP 0714615 A1 discloses a clasp for jewelry in which a magnetized elongated element can be formed into a ring shape and then attached to a decorative element by means of the magnetic parts. US Patent 2014000312 A1 discloses a magnetic clasp for a length-adjustable bracelet. DE 3507264 C1 discloses a magnetic closure for a shower enclosure in which magnets enable precise positioning and locking of two door panels. DE102016005193 A1 discloses an adjustable and self-locking magnetic belt with an interchangeable magnetic buckle.

[0007] US 3407507 A shows a measuring device consisting of a wound, elastically flexible band that can be wound around a magnetically permeable workpiece and is magnetized to adhere to the workpiece.

[0008] WO 2020110490 A shows a headphone with a length-adjustable headband, where the user can mark a specific headband length by inserting a positioning magnet. At the preferred headband length, this magnet is attracted by a retaining magnet in the sliding section of the headband, making it easy to readjust the length.

[0009] Furthermore, flexible magnetic sheets are available, often inexpensively by the meter. They consist of a flexible backing material, e.g., plastic, with embedded magnetic elements, which are often oriented so that the magnetic sheet is permanently magnetized on one side only. As in Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the magnetic north poles N and south poles S are located alternately on one side 220 of the foil 210, while there are no poles on the reverse side 230. Accordingly, magnetic fields 250 and thus magnetic forces only occur on the pole side 220 of the foil. The reverse side 230 can, for example, be coated, painted, or glued to a substrate. As shown in Fig. Figure 3, shown in a perspective view, shows that the magnetic poles in the magnetic foil typically run in straight, parallel rows, either lengthwise or crosswise. Various parameters can be selected, such as the distance A between the poles, the magnetic force depending on the material and thickness D of the foil, etc. For example, the thicker the foil, the higher its magnetic force. Typical values ​​for thickness D are, for example, 0.5–2 mm. Furthermore, the foil can usually be easily cut with scissors into pieces of the desired width B and length L. Summary of the invention

[0010] The aforementioned problem is solved by a headphone according to claim 1. This device utilizes opposing magnets, each attached to the sliding parts of an adjustable headband, and each magnet having multiple alternating magnetic poles in the direction of movement to define preferred or locking positions. Opposing magnetic foils are particularly well-suited for this purpose because they have a relatively low mass, multiple poles, are easy to cut to the desired size, and can be easily and permanently attached by adhesive. According to the invention, multi-pole magnets are located on two opposing and sliding parts, resulting in preferred or locking positions due to the opposite poles.In some cases, it may be sufficient if a multi-pole magnet with several alternating magnetic poles in the direction of movement is arranged on only one of the parts, while on the opposite side there is only one pole of a magnet (with the other pole of the magnet pointing in the other direction).

[0011] Further advantageous embodiments are described in claims 2-8. Brief description of the drawings

[0012] Further details and advantageous embodiments are shown in the drawings. These show Fig. 1 a known locking device or hammer with a spring; Fig. 2 a known one-sided magnetized foil; Fig. 3 a perspective view of a one-sided magnetized foil; Fig. 4 a bearing with a tether according to the invention; Fig. 5 different preferred or locking positions; Fig. 6. Headphones with an adjustable headband; Fig. 7 a stop according to the invention in a headphone headband; and Fig. 8 embodiments with a circular inhibitor. Detailed description of the invention

[0013] Fig. Figure 4 shows a bearing 400 with a locking mechanism or stop according to the invention. Two parts 410, 420 are arranged in a sliding bearing, rolling bearing, or other bearing such that they can move relative to each other. The direction of movement and the distance between the parts 410, 420 can be limited or predetermined by guides (not shown). In this example, the upper part 410 can be moved laterally (right / left) relative to the lower part 420. A multi-pole magnetized magnetic foil 430, 440 is applied to each of the two parts 410, 420, e.g., glued on. The lines of like poles of the magnetic foil (corresponding to the width B in Figure 4) are oriented as follows: Fig. 3) They run perpendicular to the direction of movement, i.e., perpendicular to the drawing plane. In the preferred or locking position, different poles are opposite each other and attract one another. Fig. 4 a) the movable part 410 is located at a left stop, which is defined by a mechanical limit such as, for example, by noses 415,425, and can therefore only be moved to the right.

[0014] In Fig. 4 b) The movable part 410 was moved to the right, whereby the poles of the upper magnetic foil 430 initially approached like poles of the opposite lower magnetic foil 440 (not shown). This creates magnetic repulsion forces between the upper and lower magnetic foils. To overcome first the attraction of the opposite poles and then, during the movement, the increasing repulsion of the approaching like poles, a higher force must initially be applied until like poles are opposite each other. This position is unstable, and thus the movable part 410 can be moved further with minimal force until it assumes the next stable preferred or locking position, in which opposite poles are again opposite each other. If the bearing friction is low enough, the magnetic forces alone will pull the movable part 410 into the next stable preferred or locking position.This position is in . Fig. 4 b) is shown. Since the movement is initially inhibited, the arrangement of magnets 430,440 will be referred to as the inhibition in the following.

[0015] Any further shift to the right or left works according to the same principle. Fig. 4 c) The movable part 410 is in a preferred or locking position at a right-hand stop, defined here by lugs 415, 425, and can therefore only be moved to the left. However, a stop is generally optional and not necessary for the operation of the lock. Likewise, it is irrelevant whether only one or both parts 410, 420 of the bearing 400 are movable, since the parts 410, 420 only need to be movable relative to each other.

[0016] Fig. Figure 5 a) shows the four different stable preferred or locking positions 531-534 that the multipole magnet 430 of the moving part 410 of the bearing 400 can assume relative to the multipole magnet 440 of the fixed part 420 of the bearing. Other positions are unstable, but the parts 410, 420 can be pulled into stable positions by the magnetic forces.

[0017] In this example, the number of opposing magnetic poles is always the same. Alternatively, this number can be variable, for example, by allowing poles of the movable part 410 to be moved out of the force field of the poles of the fixed part 420. In this way, for example, particularly preferred positions within the preferred positions can be defined, as in Fig. 5 b) is shown. Here, the multipole magnets of the two parts can be completely, partially (more or less), or not at all opposite each other, and the bearing can thus assume, for example, a first preferred position (left drawing), a second preferred position (middle drawing), or a third preferred position (right drawing). The third preferred position is more favored than the second preferred position, and the latter is again more favored than the first preferred position because the number of opposing magnetic poles is greater in each case. Accordingly, more force is required to overcome the resistance and leave this position. Additionally, the bearing can optionally assume further positions in which no magnetic poles are opposite each other and which are therefore not preferred positions (not shown).The frictional resistance of the bearing can be dimensioned in such a way that, in this case, it prevents the bearing from being pulled into one of the preferred positions by the magnetic forces.

[0018] The invention can be used in a variety of different devices or applications, e.g. for improved headphone headbands.

[0019] Fig. Figure 6 shows, in one embodiment, a headphone 600 with an adjustable headband. The two earcups 620, 630 have pads 621, 631, transducers, etc., as usual, and are each connected to the headband 610 by a sliding bearing. Each sliding bearing includes a rail 640, 650 attached to the earcup and movable relative to the headband 610. This allows the headphone to be individually adjusted to different head sizes or ear positions. A locking mechanism is located between the movable rail 640, 650 and a counterpart inside the headband 610. While this is conventionally a detent, according to the invention a magnetic locking mechanism is used as described above, as shown in Figure 6. Fig. 7 shown as an example for one side of the headphones.

[0020] The rail 640, attached to the auricle 620, optionally runs in a guide (not shown) along a counter-rail 660 located inside the yoke 610. The clasp is shown here in a simplified form (and not to scale) with two multi-pole magnetic foils of equal length, but can also be configured as shown in Fig. It can be constructed with 4 multipolar magnetic foils of varying lengths. As shown in the excerpt in Fig. As shown in Figure 7, a first multipole magnetic foil 670 is attached to the rail 640 and a second multipole magnetic foil 680 is attached opposite it to the counter rail 660 of the bracket 610, e.g., by gluing. The rails 640 and 660 are slidable relative to each other with respect to the preferred or locking positions defined by the magnetic foils 670 and 680.

[0021] Optionally, clamps 695, for example, can prevent the magnetic sheets from moving laterally. In some cases, this may be sufficient to guide the rails or at least support them. In some applications (headphones or other devices with moving parts), the locking mechanism can simultaneously act as a bearing or fastening for the opposing moving rails, namely when the opposing magnetic sheets touch and the rails are held together (only) by magnetic force. Furthermore, a thin sliding film 690 or an oil or grease film can optionally be placed between the magnetic sheets 670, 680 to reduce abrasion on the magnets in the event of direct contact. The effectiveness of the locking mechanism is greater the thicker the magnetic sheets 670, 680 are and the smaller the distance between them. For example, the distance between the magnetic sheets 670, 680 should not be greater than their thickness, but preferably significantly smaller (e.g., 0).1%-5%, 5%-10%, 10%-20% of the thickness (depending on the application), up to direct contact (0%). Furthermore, the number of opposing magnetic poles influences the effectiveness of the barrier; the effect (with the same material and distance between the magnets) is stronger the more opposing magnetic poles there are or the larger the surface area of ​​the magnetic foils. Therefore, the magnetic attraction or repulsion force can be expressed in g / cm². 2 be specified.

[0022] Alternatively, other embodiments of the inventive headphone inhibitor are also possible. For example, the rails 640, 650 can be omitted, and the counter rail 660 with the second multipole magnetic foil 680 can slide through the ear cup 620, 630. Then the first multipole magnetic foil 670 can be located inside the ear cup to form an inhibitor according to the invention together with the second multipole magnetic foil 680.

[0023] In addition to the linear lock configurations described so far, other shapes are also possible. The flexibility of the magnetic foil is particularly advantageous in this regard. Fig. Figure 8 shows a circular stop 800 according to the invention, in which a circular first part 810 can rotate about a center point 830. A multipolar magnetic foil, e.g., attached to the outside of the first part 810, runs along another multipolar magnetic foil, which is attached to a second, stationary part 820. In other embodiments, the circular first part 810 is stationary, and the second part 820 can rotate about the center point 830. In further embodiments 800', the circular first part 810' forms a ring with the magnetic foil on the inside, with the second part 820' located inside this ring. In all cases, the opposing magnetic poles define preferred or locking positions for rotation, as described above. Likewise, certain positions can be prevented and thus excluded, namely the positions described above as unstable, in which poles of the same type are opposite each other.

[0024] In general, the invention relates to a device with two parts movable relative to each other in a predetermined direction, wherein the device comprises: a first multipolar magnetized magnet attached to a first part of the two movable parts, and a second multipolar magnetized magnet attached to a second part of the two movable parts. The first multipolar magnetized magnet moves along the second multipolar magnetized magnet when the two movable parts are moved relative to each other in the predetermined direction, at such a small distance that magnetic forces arise between the first and the second multipolar magnetized magnets, which influence a force required for the movement of the two movable parts relative to each other.In particular, the magnetic forces between the parts define preferred or locking positions where opposing magnetic poles face each other.

[0025] One advantage of the invention is that readily available, inexpensive, single-sided multi-pole magnetized magnetic sheets can be used. It should be noted that while such magnetic sheets are available with various pole spacings, e.g., from 1.5 to 4.5 mm, the magnetic sheets facing each other in a bearing must have the same pole spacing. The distance A between the poles determines the distance between the various preferred or locking positions. This distance is twice the distance A between the poles, i.e., e.g., 3 to 9 mm.

[0026] Another advantage is that the number of parts required is very small, assembly is very simple, and in many cases requires hardly any adjustment. Furthermore, the tether according to the invention operates completely without wear.

[0027] While the exemplary embodiments only contain one-dimensional bearings that can be moved, for example, in the left / right direction, the brakes according to the invention can, in principle, be moved against each other in two or three dimensions, depending on the arrangement of the magnets and, if applicable, the guide.

[0028] Several of the described embodiments can also be combined with one another, insofar as this is sensible and possible. Deviations not related to the inhibitor are also possible, e.g., the one in Fig. 6 Headphones shown with a cable 600 may also be wireless, have a boom arm and / or only one ear cup.

Claims

[1] Headphones (600) with at least one ear cup (620, 630) and adjustable headband (610; 640-660), wherein the adjustable headband includes two parts (410, 420; 640, 660) that are movable relative to each other in a predetermined direction and are guided by a guide, wherein - a first multipole magnetized magnet (430; 670) is attached to a first part (410; 640) of the two mutually movable parts; and - a second multipole magnetized magnet (440; 680) is attached to a second part (420; 660) of the two mutually movable parts; - wherein the first multipole magnetized magnet (430; 670) moves along the second multipole magnetized magnet (440; 680) when the two mutually movable parts (410,420; 640,660) are moved relative to each other in the specified direction; - each of the multipole magnetized magnets has several magnetic poles that alternate in the direction of movement; and at least one of the multipole magnetized magnets (430, 440; 670, 680) contains a flexible magnetic foil; wherein at least two different preferred or detent positions (531-534) are defined by magnetic forces occurring between the first and the second multipole magnetized magnets, which the two parts movable relative to each other can assume, wherein in each preferred or detent position opposite magnetic poles of the first and the second magnet are opposite each other. [2] Headphones according to claim 1, wherein the flexible magnetic foil is magnetized on one side and is glued or welded to the first or second part (410, 420; 640, 650) with the non-magnetic side. [3] Headphones according to claim 1 or 2, wherein both multipole magnetized magnets (430, 440; 670, 680) contain a flexible magnetic foil, and wherein there is a distance between the flexible magnetic foils which corresponds to 0.1% - 10% of the thickness of the flexible magnetic foils. [4] Headphones according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the distances (A) between the magnetic poles of the first multipole magnetized magnet (430; 670) are equal to the distances (A) between the magnetic poles of the second multipole magnetized magnet (440; 680). [5] Headphones according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first multipole magnetized magnet (430; 670) is shorter or narrower and has fewer magnetic poles than the second multipole magnetized magnet (440; 680). [6] Headphones according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein both multipole magnetized magnets have the same number of magnetic poles and substantially the same width and / or length. [7] Headphones according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a rail (660) in the headband and a rail (640) attached to the ear cup (620) form the two mutually movable parts to which the multipole magnetized magnets (670, 680) are attached. [8] Headphones according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the length of the headband can be changed by moving the two parts movable relative to each other.

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