earphones

Abstract

Shell headphones (100), comprehensive: - a support structure (1) which is arched and includes two free ends (11); - a support assembly (2) located on an inside of the support structure (1) and designed to rest against the back of a user's head; - two auricle assemblies (3) which are movably connected to the support structure (1) and can be actuated so that they each move towards or away from one of the free ends (11), each auricle assemblies (3) comprising an auricle (31) which is configured to cover one ear of the user; - two sound reproduction modules (4) arranged in the two ear cup assemblies (3); wherein the support structure (1) further comprises a support section (12) in which the support assembly (2) is arranged and which, together with the two free ends (11), defines a reference plane (S1); wherein the support structure (1) has two guide rails (13) inside, one of which is located near one of the free ends (11) and the other near the other free end (11); wherein each of the ear assemblies (3) comprises the ear (31), a housing (32) and a movable arm (33), wherein the ear (31) is attached to one side of the housing (32) in which housing (32) one of the sound reproduction modules (4) is arranged, while the movable arm (33) is connected at one end to the housing (32) and is movably connected at the other end to one of the slide rails (13); wherein when the individual ear assemblies (3) are actuated, a part of the movable arm (33) can move along a glide path (p) in a direction towards or away from one of the free ends (11) with respect to the slide rail (13), the two glide paths (P) being located in the reference plane (S1); wherein the auricular assembly (3) as it approaches the adjacent free end (11) along the glide path (p) gradually moves towards the other auricular assembly (3); wherein each of the slide rails is an arc-shaped sheet metal structure and each of the movable arms (33) comprises a connecting section (331) which connecting section (331) together with a slide (14) holds the arc-shaped sheet metal structure, wherein the connecting section (331) and the slide (14) associated with it can slide along the arc-shaped sheet metal structure.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a headphone, in particular an over-ear headphone.

[0002] DE 000019711708A1 discloses a headband-less head support unit, in particular for headphones, comprising a headband (10; 110; 210) with two ear cups (12, 14; 212, 214) arranged thereon, at least one of which is slidably guided on the headband (10; 110; 210). Furthermore, it is provided that at least one spring-elastic tensioning element (20; 120; 220) is provided, which engages on one side with the ear cup (12, 14; 212, 214) slidably guided on the headband (10; 110; 210) and on the other side with the headband (10; 110; 210) and / or the other ear cup.

[0003] US 9226060 B2 discloses a modular headphone system and a method for assembling a pair of headphones to meet individual personal preferences regarding fashion, comfort, and performance. The headphone system according to the invention consists of a plurality of modular, interchangeable headphone components, each component being interchangeable and exhibiting a plurality of unique variations with respect to fashion, comfort, or quality level.

[0004] US 8761431 B1 discloses an adjustable headset having a support section that rests on the user's head when the headset is worn upright, and on the user's neck or shoulders when the headset is worn around the user's neck. The adjustable headset also includes a pair of arm assemblies attached to the support section, comprising first arm sections and second arm sections. The adjustable headset further includes a pivoting mechanism that connects the first and second arm sections so that they pivot together.The swivel mechanism allows the second arm section to swivel relative to the first arm section, so that the second arm section can be swiveled between a first position in which the headset can be worn on the user's head and a second position in which the headset is worn around the user's neck to direct the sound to the user's ears.

[0005] US 8155368 B2 discloses an electronic shoulder / neck support device comprising: a wireless headset, wherein the headset includes a support unit designed to be worn on the back of a user's collar, a wireless audio device comprising a wireless transceiver carried by the support unit to receive an audio signal, and a power source electrically connected to the wireless transceiver; and a headphone element provided on the support device near the user's ear, such that the overall weight of the wireless headset is designed to be worn and distributed on the user's collar to minimize the strain on the user's head when the user is wearing the wireless headset.

[0006] US 2003 / 0079275 A1 discloses a headband-style earmuff for protecting a worker's hearing, comprising: a headband (12) formed from a wire frame (34) and a flexible polymer sheath (32) surrounding a large portion of the wire frame, and a pair of earmuffs (14, 16) that press around the wearer's ears. The wire frame comprises parallel wire sections (50, 52) with opposing end portions connected by loops (70, 72). Each earmuff has a keeper (40) connected to the end portions of the wire sections. Each keeper has a groove (42) with opposing sides that accommodates the pair of wire ends. This allows the earmuff to rotate on the wire ends and also slide along them. The casing is provided with a pair of slots (114, 116), and central parts of the wire frame are inserted through the slots into passages (54, 56) in the casing.

[0007] US 10816812 B2 discloses a head-mounted display system comprising: a housing; a visual system connected to the housing to facilitate image and / or video playback; a portable mount connectable to the housing; and an audio component pivotally connected to the mount such that the audio component is movable between a first position, in which the audio component is generally aligned with the mount, and a second position, in which the audio component is generally not aligned with the mount. By moving from the first position to the second position, the audio component switches from a first mode (i.e., an extra-aural mode), in which sound is projected to a user via a first port connected to a driver, to a second mode (i.e.,an intra-aural mode), in which the sound is projected to the user via a second connection that is linked to the driver.

[0008] In Fig. Figure 1 is a user wearing a known earphone, schematically depicted from different angles. The known earphone E comprises a support structure E1 and two earpiece assemblies E2. The support structure E1 is connected to the two earpiece assemblies E2 at both ends. When the user wears the known earphone E, the support structure E1 spans the top of the user's head and thus presses against the user's hair.

[0009] Fig. Figure 2 shows a top view of the head of a user with flat head syndrome who cannot wear the well-known over-ear headphones E because the positions of his two ears U1 and U2 are not on the same horizontal line HZ.

[0010] The present invention discloses a shell headphone that is mainly used to improve the problem that, when the user wears a known shell headphone, the support structure of the shell headphone presses against the hair on the top of the user's head, and the problem that a user with flat head syndrome has difficulty wearing the known shell headphone.

[0011] According to the invention, a shell-shaped headphone is provided according to claim 1. Further embodiments thereof are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0012] An embodiment of the present invention discloses a conch headphone comprising a support structure, a resting assembly, two ear cup assemblies, and two sound reproduction modules. The support structure is arc-shaped and comprises two free ends. The resting assembly is located on an inner side of the support structure and is designed to rest against the back of the user's head. The individual ear cup assemblies are movably connected to the support structure and can be actuated to move each toward or away from one of the free ends, with each ear cup assemblies comprising an ear cup designed to cover one of the user's ears. The two sound reproduction modules are arranged within the two ear cup assemblies.

[0013] In summary, when the user wears the inventive earphone, the support structure is located at the back of the user's head and does not press against the top of the user's head, so that the user's hair is not pressed through the support structure.

[0014] To better understand the features and technical embodiments of the present invention, it is described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying figures. This description and the accompanying drawings do not constitute a limitation of the scope of protection of the invention, but merely serve to illustrate the invention. Fig. Figure 1 shows a front view of a user wearing a well-known shell-shaped earphone. Fig. Figure 2 shows a top view of the head of a user with flat head syndrome. Fig. Figure 3 shows a schematic representation of a shell headphone according to the invention. Fig. Figure 4 shows a schematic partial exploded view of the shell headphones according to the invention. Fig. Figure 5 shows a schematic side view of a user wearing the shell headphones according to the invention. Fig. Figure 6 shows a schematic top view of the two ear cup assemblies of the ear cup headphones according to the invention after adjustment. Fig. Figure 7 shows a schematic representation of part of the support structure and one of the ear cup assemblies of the ear cup headphone according to the invention. Fig. 8 and Fig. Figure 9 shows schematic views of various sub-elements of the shell headphone according to the invention in exploded form. Fig. 10 and Fig. Figure 11 shows two different side views of the shell headphone according to the invention. Fig. Figure 12 shows a rear view of the shell headphones according to the invention. Fig. Figure 13 shows a front view of the shell headphones according to the invention. Fig. Figure 14 shows a top view of another embodiment of the shell headphones according to the invention.

[0015] If a specific drawing is referenced in the following description, this reference is not meant to be restrictive. Rather, it merely serves to emphasize that the content mentioned in the corresponding description is largely depicted in that particular drawing.

[0016] It will be directed to the Fig. 3, Fig. 4 to Fig. 5 referred to, whereby Fig. 3 a schematic representation of a shell-shaped earphone according to the invention, Fig. 4 a schematic partial exploded view of the shell headphones according to the invention and Fig. Figure 5 shows a schematic side view of a user wearing the earphones according to the invention. The earphones 100 according to the invention comprise a support structure 1, a mounting assembly 2, two earpiece assemblies 3, and two sound reproduction modules 4. The support structure 1 is arc-shaped and includes two free ends 11.

[0017] The support structure 1 can have a support section 12 essentially centered on its inner side, in which the support assembly 2 is rigidly arranged. In practical applications, the support section 12 can, for example, have the form of a groove. In practical applications, the support assembly 2 can, for example, comprise an elastic structure (such as a foam, elastic rubber, etc.), but is not limited to this.

[0018] In practical application, the support structure 1 can be spring-loaded, so that the inventive earphone 100 can be worn by the user by actuating the support structure 1 so that it expands slightly outwards before the earphone 100 is placed on the head. When the user wears the earphone 100, the spring-like restoring force of the support structure 1, generated by the actuation, ensures that the two ear cup assemblies 3 hold the user's head on both sides, thereby increasing the wearing stability of the earphone 100.

[0019] The individual auricular assemblies 3 are movably connected to the support structure 1, are each located near one of the free ends 11 and can be actuated so that they approach or move away from the respective adjacent free end 11.

[0020] The two audio playback modules 4 are housed inside the two ear cup assemblies 3. In practical application, each of the audio playback modules 4 comprises all electronic components (e.g., loudspeaker, circuit board, microprocessor, Bluetooth chip module, battery, connection port, etc.) required for audio playback.

[0021] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 4, the two free ends 11 of the support structure 1, together with the support section 12, define a reference plane S1. When the individual ear assemblies 3 are actuated, they each move along a glide path P, which corresponds to a direction in the reference plane S1 towards or away from the respective adjacent free end 11. The glide paths P are located in the reference plane S1.

[0022] Out of Fig. Figure 5 shows that when a user wears the inventive earphone 100, the support assembly 2 rests against the back of the user's head, with the support structure 1 being oriented in the horizontal direction of the user's head (i.e., in the front-back direction of the user's head) and not pressing against the top of the user's head, so that the inventive earphone 100 does not disturb the hairstyle on the top of the user's head.

[0023] When the individual auricular assemblies 3 are actuated as described above and thereby moved relative to the support structure 1, the auricular assemblies 3 move towards the back of the user's head or away from the back of the user's head so that the user can position the two auricular assemblies 3 appropriately according to the shape of his head and the position of his ears.

[0024] It is particularly important to emphasize that, once again, Fig. 2 referred to the positions of the two ears U1, U2 of a user with flat head syndrome as in Fig. 2 can be shown as follows, i.e. one ear U1 is closer to the back of the user's head U3 and the other ear U2 is closer to the user's nose U4, with the two ears U1 and U2 not lying on the same horizontal line HZ.

[0025] Since the two ear cup assemblies E2 of a known over-ear headphone E cannot be actuated to move towards or away from the back of the user's head, and furthermore, since the support structure E1 of the known over-ear headphone E is not designed to be twisted, the support structure E1 would be in a twisted state if a user with flat head syndrome attempted to hold both ear cup assemblies E2 over their ears. This would lead to the destruction of the support structure E1 or even to the user being unable to hold both ear cup assemblies E2 over their ears at all. Therefore, the known over-ear headphone E is clearly not suitable for users of all head shapes, and in particular not for users with flat head syndrome.

[0026] However, as in Fig. 3, Fig. 4, Fig. 5 to Fig. As can be seen in Figure 6, in the inventive earphone 100, the support structure 1 with the support assembly 2 is provided in a position corresponding to a position on the back of the user's head, and the individual ear assemblies 3 are movably connected to the support structure 1, which enables the user, when wearing the inventive earphone 100, to actuate the individual ear assemblies 3 as needed in order to move a respective ear assembly 3 relative to the user's head forward (away from the back of the head) or backward (towards the back of the head), so that the inventive earphone 100 can be worn by users with flat head syndrome.

[0027] More precisely, if the inventive earphone 100 is used by a user with flat head syndrome, as described in Fig. As shown in section 2, the user can wear the 100 earphones as shown in the diagram. Fig. 6 shown, by individually adjusting the positions of the two auricular assemblies 3 relative to the support structure 1 so that the two auricular assemblies 3 actually cover both ears of the user.

[0028] It will be directed to the Fig. 6, Fig. 7, Fig. 8, Fig. 9, Fig. 10 to Fig. 11. Referenced, whereby Fig. Figure 7 shows a schematic representation of part of the support structure and one of the ear cup assemblies of the ear cup headphones according to the invention, while the Fig. 8 and Fig. 9 schematic views of various sub-elements of the inventive earphone in exploded form and the Fig. 10 and Fig. Figure 11 shows two different side views of the shell headphone according to the invention.

[0029] Each of the ear assemblies 3 comprises an ear 31, a housing 32, and a movable arm 33. The ear 31 includes an annular section 311 and a base 312. The annular section 311 is arranged along the circumferential edge of the base 312 and, together with the base 312, forms a recess 313 for receiving the user's ear, with the annular section 311 and the base 312 being able to be used together to cover the user's ear. The ear 31 is attached to one side of the housing 32, to which the movable arm 33 is articulated, the housing 32 being actuated to rotate relative to the movable arm 33 toward or away from the other ear assembly 3.

[0030] Furthermore, the movable arm 33 comprises a connecting section 331, an exposed section 332, and a hinged section 333. The support structure 1 can comprise a base body 1A and several cover bodies 1B, which are detachably attached to the base body 1A. The base body 1A is provided with two fixedly arranged slide rails 13, each of which is arranged between the base body 1A and the associated cover body 1B without projecting out of the support structure 1. The two slide rails 13 are located near the two free ends 11 of the support structure 1. Each slide rail 13 can be an arcuate sheet metal structure, the degree of curvature of which can be shaped depending on the overall outer shape of the support structure 1.

[0031] The support structure 1 can further comprise two sliders 14, each connected to the connecting section 331 of the associated movable arm 33, wherein the slider 14 and the connecting section 331 together hold the slide rail 13, so that the movable arm 33 moves relative to the slide rail 13 along the slide path P (as in Fig. 4) can move. In other words, the individual movable arms 33 can be actuated so that they move along their respective assigned glide path P (as shown in Figure 4). Fig. (as shown in Figure 4) towards or away from the adjacent free end 11. It should be noted that the manner in which the movable arm 33 is connected to the slide rail 13 is not limited to the manner shown in the above description and in the drawings, but can be varied as required, provided that the movable arm 33 can be moved along the slide rail 13.

[0032] When an auricular assembly 3 is actuated so that it approaches the adjacent free end 11, the auricular assembly 3 gradually moves towards the other auricular assembly (as in Fig. 6 shown). This design ensures that the auricle 31 is adapted as closely as possible to the user's head when the auricle assembly 3 is adjusted to any position (because the average human head shape becomes narrower from both sides towards the front).

[0033] The exposed section 332 of each movable arm 33 is not located inside the support structure 1, but is directly exposed (i.e. directly visible to the user's naked eye), with one end of each exposed section 332 being connected to the connecting section 331, while the other end of the exposed section 332 extends to the free end 11 to form the joint section 333.

[0034] The individual joint sections 333 are each articulated to the associated housing 32, whereby the individual housings 32 can be actuated such that they rotate towards or away from the other housing 32 with respect to the associated movable arm 33. For example, the joint section 333 can be designed as a cylinder-like structure, while the housing 32 has a corresponding joint structure inside (not shown) and a through-hole 321 at a location associated with the joint structure, wherein the joint section 333 is connected to the joint structure through the through-hole 321.The ability to actuate each housing 32 so that it rotates towards the other ear cup assembly 3 relative to the movable arm 33 to which it is connected makes it possible to rotate the individual ear cup assemblies 3, when the ear cup headphones 100 are worn, according to the head shape of different users, thus allowing the ear cup assemblies 3 to better adapt to both sides of the user's head. This improves the user's comfort and ensures a better listening experience.

[0035] Out of Fig. 10 and Fig. Figure 11 shows that in a preferred embodiment, the shortest linear distance D1 of each movable arm 33 from the reference plane S1 can gradually increase from the end where the exposed section 332 is connected to the connecting section 331 to the other end of the exposed section 332, with each exposed section 332 being inclined in a direction away from the respective adjacent free ends 11. Such an embodiment allows the person concerned to actuate the ear assembly 3 more easily, so that the ear assembly 3 can be actuated relatively easily for a movement relative to the adjacent free end 11.

[0036] As can be seen from Fig. As shown in Figure 11, it is worth mentioning that in one embodiment, the earphone 100 may additionally comprise a microphone assembly 5. The microphone assembly 5 comprises a sound recording device 51 and a connecting arm 52, wherein the sound recording device 51 is arranged at one end of the connecting arm 52, while the other end of the connecting arm 52 is fixed within the housing 32. The microphone assembly 5 can be actuated, at least partially, to receive it within the housing 32 of the earphone assembly 3 to which it is connected. When the microphone assembly 5 is received within the housing 32, the sound recording device 51 preferably protrudes from the housing 32 only with its end section, while the greater part of the sound recording device 51 is housed within the housing 32.

[0037] It will be directed to the Fig. 10, Fig. 11, Fig. 12 to Fig. 13 Referenced, whereby Fig. 12 a rear view of the shell headphones according to the invention and Fig. Figure 13 shows a front view of the earphone according to the invention. In a preferred embodiment, each of the exposed sections 332 can comprise a first segment 3321, a second segment 3322, and a third segment 3323, wherein the two ends of the second segment 3322 are each connected to the first segment 3321 and the third segment 3323, respectively, while the other end of the first segment 3321 is connected to the connecting section 331, and the other end of the third segment 3323 extends to one side to form the hinge section 333.

[0038] The distance D2 between the first two segments 3321 can decrease slightly and gradually from the end facing the second segment 3322 to the end facing away from the second segment 3322. The distance D3 between the two second segments 3322 gradually increases from the end facing the first segment 3321 to the end facing the third segment 3323. The distance D4 between the two third segments 3323 gradually decreases from the end facing the second segment 3322 towards the end of the third segment 3323.

[0039] The distance between the two bases 312 of the two auricles 31 of the two auricle assemblies 3 gradually decreases from the side facing the support assembly 2 to the side facing away from the support assembly 2, with the individual auricle assemblies 3 being arranged obliquely.

[0040] Since, as mentioned above, the width of the head of an average user gradually decreases from the back of the head towards the front, the design described above, including the individual exposed sections 332 and the individual ear cup assemblies 3, can significantly improve the fit of the two ear cup assemblies 3 on the two sides of the user's head, thereby further improving the user's listening experience.

[0041] Fig.Figure 14 shows a top view of another embodiment of the earphone according to the invention. The main difference between this embodiment and the previous embodiments is that the earphone 100A comprises three support assemblies, defined as a central support assembly 2A and two lateral support assemblies 2B, wherein the central support assembly 2A is located near the center of the support structure 1, while the two lateral support assemblies 2B are arranged near the two ends of the support structure 1.

[0042] When the earphone 100A of the present embodiment is worn on the user's head, the central support assembly 2A serves as a support for the back of the user's head, while the two lateral support assemblies 2B act as supports for the left and right sides of the user's head, thereby further increasing the user's wearing comfort.

[0043] In summary, when the inventive earphone is worn on the head of a user, the support structure of the earphone is located at the back of the user's head and does not press against the hair on the top of the user's head, so that the user's hairstyle is not affected by the earphone.

[0044] The above description does not constitute a limitation of the scope of protection of the claims of the invention, but merely serves to illustrate possible preferred embodiments of the invention. Any equivalent modification that can be derived from the description or the drawings of the invention therefore falls within the scope of protection of the invention. Reference symbol list

[0045] For the present invention: 100, 100A earphones 1 Support structure 1A Base body 1B Cover body 11 Free End 12th edition section 13 Slide rail 14 sliders 2 Support assembly 2A Central support assembly 2B Side support assembly 3 Auricle assembly 31 Auricle 311 Ring-shaped section 312 Floor 313 Recess 32 cases 321 Through hole 33 Movable arm 331 Connecting section 332 Exposed section 3321 First Segment 3322 Second Segment 3323 Third Segment 333 Joint section 4 sound playback modules 5 Microphone assembly 51 Sound recording device 52 Connecting arm S1 reference plane U1 Ear U2 ear U3 Back of head U4 Nose HZ Horizontal Line P Glide path D1 distance D2 distance D3 distance D4 distance For the known state of the art: E earphones E1 support structure E2 Auricular assembly

Claims

[1] Shell headphones (100), comprising: - a support structure (1) which is arched and includes two free ends (11); - a support assembly (2) located on an inside of the support structure (1) and designed to rest against the back of a user's head; - two auricle assemblies (3) which are movably connected to the support structure (1) and can be actuated so that they each move towards or away from one of the free ends (11), each auricle assemblies (3) comprising an auricle (31) which is configured to cover one ear of the user; - two sound reproduction modules (4) arranged in the two ear cup assemblies (3); wherein the support structure (1) further comprises a support section (12) in which the support assembly (2) is arranged and which, together with the two free ends (11), defines a reference plane (S1); wherein the support structure (1) has two guide rails (13) inside, one of which is located near one of the free ends (11) and the other near the other free end (11); wherein each of the ear assemblies (3) comprises the ear (31), a housing (32) and a movable arm (33), wherein the ear (31) is attached to one side of the housing (32) in which housing (32) one of the sound reproduction modules (4) is arranged, while the movable arm (33) is connected at one end to the housing (32) and is movably connected at the other end to one of the slide rails (13); wherein when the individual ear assemblies (3) are actuated, a part of the movable arm (33) can move along a glide path (p) in a direction towards or away from one of the free ends (11) with respect to the slide rail (13), the two glide paths (P) being located in the reference plane (S1); wherein the auricular assembly (3) as it approaches the adjacent free end (11) along the glide path (p) gradually moves towards the other auricular assembly (3); wherein each of the slide rails is an arc-shaped sheet metal structure and each of the movable arms (33) comprises a connecting section (331) which connecting section (331) together with a slide (14) holds the arc-shaped sheet metal structure, wherein the connecting section (331) and the slide (14) associated with it can slide along the arc-shaped sheet metal structure. [2] Earpiece headphones (100) according to claim 1, wherein each of the movable arms (33) further comprises an exposed section (332) and a joint section (333), the exposed section (332) being connected at one end to the connecting section (331) and extending at the other end to the free end (11) to form the joint section (333), each of the connecting sections (331) being located in the support structure (1) and each of the joint sections (333) being pivotally connected to one of the housings (32), wherein the individual housings (32) can be actuated to rotate towards or away from the other housing (32) with respect to the associated movable arm (33). [3] Shell headphones (100) according to one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the shortest linear distance of each movable arm (33) from the reference plane (S1) from the end where the exposed section (332) is connected to the connecting section (331) to the other end of the exposed section (332) gradually increases, wherein each of the exposed sections (332) is inclined in a direction away from the respective adjacent free ends (11). [4] Earpiece headphones (100) according to claim 2, wherein each of the exposed sections (332) comprises a first segment (3321), a second segment (3322) and a third segment (3323), the two ends of the second segment (3322) being connected to the first segment (3321) and the third segment (3323), respectively, while the other end of the first segment (3321) being connected to the connecting section (331) and the other end of the third segment (3323) being connected to the hinge section (333), the distance between the two second segments (3322) gradually increasing from the end facing the first segment (3321) to the end facing the third segment (3323), while the distance between the two third segments (3323) gradually decreasing from the end facing the second segment (3322) towards the end of the third segment (3323). decreases. [5] Earpiece headphones (100) according to claim 2, wherein the earpiece headphones (100) additionally comprise a microphone assembly (5) comprising a sound recording device (51) and a connecting arm (52), wherein the sound recording device (51) is arranged at one end of the connecting arm (52), while the other end of the connecting arm is fixed inside the housing (32), wherein the microphone assembly (5) can be actuated at least partially so that it is received in the housing (32) of the earpiece assembly (3) to which it is connected. [6] Earbuds (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the earbuds (100) comprise three support assemblies (2) defined as a central support assembly (2A) and two lateral support assemblies (2B), wherein the central support assembly (2A) is located near the center of the support structure (1), while the two lateral support assemblies (2B) are arranged near the two ends of the support structure (1), wherein when the earbuds (100) are worn on the user's head, the central support assembly (2A) serves as a support for the back of the user's head, while the two lateral support assemblies (2B) serve as supports for the left and right sides of the user's head.

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