CIRCUM-AURANT OR SUPRA-AURANT EARPLATE OF A HEADPHONE AND ASSOCIATED MOUNTING METHOD

Abstract

The invention relates to a circumaural or supra-aural earpiece of headphones comprising means for attaching a loudspeaker (2) to a front panel (1) formed by at least one first attachment means located on a rear face (210) of a basket (21), and at least one second attachment means located on a rear face (10) of the front panel (1), the first and second attachment means being configured to cooperate, the cooperation of the first and second attachment means comprising a sliding pivot movement about the central axis (Z) of the basket (21) relative to the front panel (1), between a locked position in which the loudspeaker (2) is locked to the front panel (1), and an unlocked position in which the loudspeaker (2) is released from the front panel (1). Figure for abbreviation: [Fig. 1]

Description

Title of the invention: CIRCUM- EARPLATE Auricular or supra-auricular of a HEADPHONES AND ASSOCIATED MOUNTING METHOD technical field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of headphones whose earcups include at least one loudspeaker. In particular, the invention relates to a circumaural or supra-aural earcup of headphones. The invention also relates to the method of mounting the earcup. State of the art

[0002] Generally, headphones consist of a pair of circumaural or supra-aural earcups connected by a headband designed to secure the headphones to the user's head. The earcups are designed to be positioned at the user's ears, and each earcup consists of a front panel attached to a cover to form a chamber housing a loudspeaker. The front of the front panel is typically coupled to an ear cushion designed to be positioned on or around the ear to form a frontal listening cavity.

[0003] The loudspeaker of a headset is a transducer commonly called a "driver" in Anglo-Saxon literature. The loudspeaker is equipped with a support structure called a "salad bowl", which notably allows the moving parts to be coupled / connected to the magnetic motor of the transducer.

[0004] The "front" side is designated as the side located opposite and closest to the ear, and the "back" side is designated as the side opposite the front and furthest from the ear, along the right-left axis orthogonal to the median plane of the user.

[0005] The loudspeaker is generally attached to the front panel or the cover, and then the cover is screwed to the front panel to secure the assembly. A sealing gasket is positioned between the front panel and the basket to eliminate any potential acoustic leakage between these two parts.

[0006] Current solutions propose attaching the loudspeaker by gluing the loudspeaker basket to the front panel. This gluing method presents several technical problems, such as the use of chemical adhesives that can be harmful to the environment, and the complexity of mounting and dismounting the loudspeaker from the front panel, which limits the repairability of the assembly.

[0007] Another solution is to attach the speaker to the hood or front panel by clipping the basket onto it using deformable tabs, and then using screws to secure it. The cover is attached to the front panel to ensure sound sealing. Such a solution is described, for example, in document WO 2023 / 062301. This solution exhibits some mechanical fragility due to the lugs in the event of frequent assembly and disassembly, and requires several steps to secure and compress the seal, resulting in a significant assembly and disassembly time.

[0008] The loudspeaker can also be secured by simply positioning lugs on the basket into slots in the hood or front panel, and then attaching the basket to the front panel with screws. However, using metal screws presents a risk of damage to the loudspeaker due to the presence of the magnetic motor. Furthermore, metal screws increase assembly and disassembly time and add considerable weight to the assembly.

[0009] Prior art fixation solutions thus present the following disadvantages: - helmets are too heavy; - assembly and disassembly time is quite long; and - possibility of deterioration of the screws or deformable lugs in case of significant repeated assembly / disassembly, and therefore impossibility of eliminating acoustic leaks between the loudspeaker and the front panel. Description of the invention

[0010] The present invention thus aims to provide an alternative solution for attaching the loudspeaker to the front panel. In particular, the present invention aims to provide a solution that offers the following advantages: - a reduction in the weight of the earphones; - shorter assembly time (mounting and dismounting); and - a more robust solution that allows repeated assembly / disassembly while ensuring sound sealing of the earphone between two successive assemblies.

[0011] The invention thus relates to a circumaural or supraaural earphone of a headset including at least: - a front wall on which a loudspeaker is removably fixed, the loudspeaker comprising a bowl on which is fixed a magnetic motor configured to move a movable assembly connected to the bowl, said bowl has an annular shape defining a central axis, the bowl having a front face fixed to a rear face of the front wall; - means for fixing the loudspeaker to the front wall, consisting of at least one first fixing means located on the rear face of the basket, and at least one a second fastening means located on the rear face of the front panel, the first and second fastening means being configured to cooperate with each other; and - a sealing gasket positioned between the front face of the bowl and the rear face of the front wall so as to ensure acoustic sealing between the front face of the bowl and the rear face of the front wall.

[0012] According to the invention, the cooperation of the first and second fastening means comprises a sliding pivot movement around the central axis of the basket relative to the front wall, between a locked position in which the loudspeaker is locked to the front wall and the gasket is compressed, and an unlocked position in which the loudspeaker is released from the front wall. In other words, this sliding pivot movement consists of a rotation around the central axis combined with a translation along this axis, of the basket relative to the front wall, between a locked position in which the loudspeaker is locked to the front wall and the gasket is compressed, and an unlocked position in which the loudspeaker is released from the front wall.

[0013] Thus, the sliding pivot movement used to lock or unlock the speaker from the front panel can be achieved in two movements, a translational movement and a rotational movement. These two movements can optionally be performed simultaneously, for example by using a helical movement.

[0014] In practice, the fixing means can be made in the form of means for guiding the sliding pivot movement of the bowl in a first circumferential direction, for example clockwise, from an unlocked position to a locked position, but also in a second circumferential direction opposite to the first circumferential direction, for example counterclockwise, from the unlocked position to the locked position, and means for blocking the rotation of the bowl in the second circumferential direction in the locked position.

[0015] Thus, unlike prior art clip-on fastening solutions where the basket is secured by a simple vertical translation of the basket relative to the front panel or hood, the present invention proposes a solution for locking the basket to the front panel by a sliding pivot movement of the basket relative to the front panel in a direction defined by the central axis. This movement of the basket in the locked position simultaneously secures the basket to the front panel and compresses the sealing gasket in the axial direction, ensuring the loudspeaker is fixed to the front panel and providing acoustic sealing for the assembly.

[0016] According to embodiments: - The first means of attachment includes: . at least one protruding leg on the rear face of the bowl in the axial direction, having a lower part in contact with the rear face of the bowl and an upper part opposite the lower part in the axial direction, and extending radially beyond the outer periphery of the bowl; - the second means of attachment includes: . at least one second body extending over the rear face of the front wall in the axial direction, each second body incorporating a groove extending in a circumferential direction, and configured to guide the movement of the leg, the groove being inclined relative to a plane perpendicular to the central axis;

[0017] According to embodiments: - The first means of attachment includes: . at least one spur extending radially from the upper part of said at least one leg; - the second means of attachment includes: . at least one relief placed on the second body, configured to cooperate with at least one lug to hold the bowl when the speaker is locked to the front wall.

[0018] Therefore, unlike prior art clip-on fixing solutions, these embodiments apply a positioning of the loudspeaker relative to the front wall by means of fixing means cooperating with each other and allowing the reversibility of a large number of sliding positions between the locked and unlocked positions of the basket relative to the front wall, without the need for fixing screws or gluing.

[0019] Preferably, in one embodiment of the invention, the ear cup has at least two lugs. The lugs are diametrically opposed or regularly distributed around the circumference of the bowl in order to minimize the resultant of the forces applied by the lugs on the raised areas and improve the overall durability.

[0020] Thus, the first fixing means and the second fixing means are preferably arranged such that the sum of the radial forces of the lugs applied on the reliefs when locking the loudspeaker on the front wall forms a zero resultant.

[0021] According to embodiments: - The first means of attachment includes: . at least one finger protruding from the rear face of the bowl in the axial direction, having a lower part in contact with the rear face of the bowl and an upper part opposite the lower part in the axial direction, the upper part extending radially with respect to the rear face of the bowl; - the second means of attachment includes: at least one tab extending axially from the rear face of the front wall, said tab being elastically deformable. The tab has a finger sliding surface in the circumferential direction, the sliding of the finger along this surface inducing elastic deformation of the tab, in the locked position the finger being prevented from rotating by a lateral face of the tab.

[0022] This fixing method containing the finger cooperating with the tab can be used alone, or in addition to the fixing method containing the lug and the relief in order to achieve a more durable holding of the loudspeaker in position relative to the front wall against the mechanical stresses that can be applied to the junction between the loudspeaker and the front wall, without the need for fixing screws or gluing.

[0023] In practice, the finger is positioned on the rear face of the bowl, more precisely on the circumference of the bowl. The tab is positioned on the front wall opposite the finger during assembly between the rear face of the bowl and the front wall. To mount the loudspeaker to the front wall, the tab, positioned at one end of the groove in the circumferential direction, engages in the groove, which guides the sliding pivot movement of the tab, for example, clockwise. The end of the finger is substantially rounded to allow the finger to position itself on the sliding surface. During the tab's movement, the finger pushes and deforms the tab.At the end of its travel, the finger extends beyond the sliding surface and beyond the tab in the circumferential direction. The tab then returns to its initial position, and the finger of the bowl extends radially further than the tab. Thus, the finger is prevented from rotating, for example counterclockwise, locking the bowl to the front wall.

[0024] Advantageously, the second fastening means may, in addition, include a relief on the second body configured to cooperate with the lug so as to generate a sound and / or haptic feedback notifying the operator that the bowl is in the locked position.

[0025] Advantageously, the second fastening means may, in addition, include a tab configured to cooperate with the finger so as to generate a sound and / or haptic feedback notifying the operator that the bowl is in the locked position.

[0026] For example, to release the bowl from the front wall, the operator pulls on the tab to release the rotational movement of the finger and thus allow the sliding pivot movement in the counter-clockwise direction of the leg in the throat.

[0027] According to one embodiment, the earpiece comprises a plurality of first fastening means, and only one lug is present on only one first fastening means, and only one relief is present on only one second fastening means.

[0028] The uniqueness of the lug in this embodiment makes it possible to limit the resistance force in the sliding of the loudspeaker relative to the front wall during the change of locking and unlocking mode.

[0029] According to another embodiment, the earpiece comprises a plurality of first fastening means, and the finger is present on only one first fastening means and the tongue is present on only one second fastening means.

[0030] The uniqueness of the finger allows for easy disassembly because only one tab needs to be moved when switching from the locking mode to the unlocking mode of the speaker relative to the front wall.

[0031] According to one embodiment, the front face of the bowl is equipped with at least one compression rib configured to press on the sealing gasket during the cooperation of the first and second fastening means.

[0032] This compression rib improves the retention of the seal and therefore increases the acoustic sealing of the junction between the bowl and the front wall.

[0033] For example, in the locked position, the seal is compressed by the rib to 70%.

[0034] To ensure compression of the sealing gasket, the inclined groove has a slope relative to the plane perpendicular to the central axis; this slope is preferably between 0.7° and 37°. This slope allows for a rotational movement, also called stroke, and a translational movement, also called descent, during locking. Thus, according to the patent, the stroke corresponds to the radial component of the movement, and the descent corresponds to the axial component of the movement.

[0035] For example, with a slope of 0.7°, the stroke is typically 35 mm and the descent is 0.4 mm, whereas with a slope of 37°, the stroke is typically 4 mm and the descent is 3 mm. Preferably, the slope can be between 3° and 7°. With a slope of 3°, the stroke is typically 15 mm and the descent is 0.8 mm, whereas with a slope of 7°, the stroke is typically 8 mm and the descent is 1 mm.

[0036] The invention also relates to a method for assembling a circumaural or supra-aural earphone as described above. The assembly method comprises the following steps: - Positioning the sealing gasket on the front wall or on the bowl; - Positioning the bowl against the front wall of the earcup in the unlocked position; and - cooperation of the first and second fixing means to achieve the sliding pivot movement of the salad bowl around the central axis, from the unlocked position to the locked position.

[0037] Advantageously, in embodiments in which the fastening means are as described above, the assembly method comprises: - positioning the tab at one end of the groove; - the engagement of the leg in the throat; and - the sliding pivot movement of the leg in the throat until the locked position, the movement of the leg simultaneously including the elastic deformation of the tongue by the finger until the finger passes over the sliding surface of the tongue. Brief description of the figures

[0038] The manner of implementing the invention, as well as the resulting advantages, will become clear from the description of the embodiments that follow, supported by the accompanying figures in which:

[0039] Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a circumaural earpiece according to one embodiment of the invention;

[0040] [Fig.2] is a view of the rear face of the ear cup of [Fig.1], according to one embodiment;

[0041] The [Fig.3] is a view of the rear face of the front wall of the auricle of the [Fig.1], according to one embodiment;

[0042] Fig. 4A is a general view of the first and second means of fixing, illustrating the cooperation of the finger of the salad bowl with the tab of the front wall, according to one embodiment;

[0043] [Fig.4B] is an enlarged view of area A identified in [Fig.4A], illustrating the cooperation of the finger of the salad bowl with the tab of the front wall, according to one embodiment;

[0044] Fig. 5A is a general view of the first and second means of fixing, illustrating the cooperation of the finger of the salad bowl with the tab of the front wall in the locked position, according to one embodiment;

[0045] Fig. 5B is an enlarged view of area A identified in Fig. 5A, illustrating the blocking of the rotation of the finger of the bowl by the tab of the front wall in the locked position, according to one embodiment;

[0046] Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the first and second means of attachment, illustrating a stage of the cooperation of the lug with a relief to generate an audible indication and / or haptic feedback, according to one embodiment;

[0047] Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of the first and second means of attachment, illustrating a step following that of Fig. 6, of the cooperation of the lug with a relief to generate an audible indication and / or a haptic feedback, according to one embodiment;

[0048] Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of the first and second means of attachment, illustrating a step following that of Fig. 7, of the cooperation of the lug with a relief to generate an audible indication and / or haptic feedback, according to one embodiment;

[0049] Fig. 9 is a schematic view of a portion of the bowl assembly provided with a rib, front wall and sealing gasket;

[0050] Fig. 10 is a perspective view illustrating the positioning of the salad bowl on the front wall, at the beginning of assembly, according to one embodiment;

[0051] Figure 11 is a perspective view illustrating the positioning of the fastening means during the sliding pivot movement of the salad bowl, according to one embodiment; and

[0052] Fig. 12 is a perspective view illustrating the positioning of the fastening means during the movement of the salad bowl towards the locked position, according to one embodiment. Detailed description of an implementation method

[0053] As illustrated in [Fig. 1], a circumaural earcup of headphones comprises a lower half-shell 60 covered by an upper half-shell 70. The upper half-shell 70 is normally attached to the lower half-shell 60 to house the electronic and acoustic components of the earcup. More specifically, the upper half-shell 70 comprises a rear face 72 and a front face 71. This upper half-shell 70 can be closed or open depending on the type of earcup.

[0054] The lower half-shell 60 consists of a front panel 1 to which a loudspeaker 2 is removably attached. The loudspeaker 2 consists of a basket 21 to which a magnetic motor 20 is attached. This magnetic motor 20 moves a moving assembly 54, typically a diaphragm possibly equipped with a dome, connected to the basket 21. The moving assembly may be directly connected to the basket, or it may be connected to the basket 21 via at least one other element, for example, a suspension 55. The front of the front panel may be coupled to a pad 6 intended to be positioned on or around the ear of a user to form a frontal listening cavity without uncontrolled acoustic leakage from the external environment. The headphones may be closed-back, i.e., soundproofed from the external environment, or open-back, i.e., not isolated from the external environment.

[0055] The "front" side is designated as the side located opposite and closest to the ear, and the "back" side is designated as the side opposite the front and furthest from the ear, along the right-left axis orthogonal to the median plane of the user.

[0056] The bowl 21 can be annular in shape and defines a central axis Z, an axial direction parallel to the central axis, a circumferential direction and a radial direction. The salad bowl 21 has a front face 211 opposite a rear face 10 of the front wall 1.

[0057] When the earpiece is assembled, the sealing gasket 3 is sandwiched between the front face 211 of the basket 21 and the rear face 10 of the front panel 1. Compression of the gasket 3 by attaching the basket 21 to the front panel 1 creates an acoustically airtight seal between the front face 211 of the basket 21 and the rear face 10 of the front panel. In practice, the gasket 3 is made, for example, of EVA foam, polyurethane foam, or silicone. The gasket 3 can be attached either to the basket 21 of the loudspeaker 2 or to the front panel 1, for example, by gluing, adhesive bonding, or other suitable technique.

[0058] Fixing means in the form of at least a first fixing means 4 positioned on the bowl 21 and at least a second fixing means 5 positioned on the front wall 1 are provided.

[0059] The mechanical cooperation of the first fastening means 4 with the second fastening means 5 makes it possible to obtain the reversible locking of the bowl 21 to the front wall 1 as well as the compression of the seal 3. In particular, the fastening means are such that: - the locking or fixing of the salad bowl 21 to the front wall 1, simultaneously with the compression of the seal 3, is obtained by a sliding pivot movement of the first fixing means 4 guided by the second fixing means 5, around the central axis Z in a first circumferential direction, for example in the clockwise direction, and in a first axial direction, for example from the back to the front; - the unlocking or release of the salad bowl 21 is obtained by a sliding pivot movement of the first fixing means 4 guided by the second fixing means 5, around the central axis Z in a second circumferential direction opposite to the first circumferential direction, for example in the counter-clockwise direction, and in a second axial direction opposite to the first axial direction, for example from front to back.

[0060] The earpiece may comprise a plurality of first and / or second fastening means. Advantageously, the earpiece comprises at least two first fastening means and at least two second fastening means. By way of example, and as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the bowl 21 may comprise three first fastening means 4a, 4b, 4c, and the front wall 1 may comprise three second fastening means 5a, 5b, 5c.

[0061] The magnetic motor 20 can be attached to the bowl 21 by means of a quarter-turn system. Alternatively, as illustrated in [Fig. 1], the attachment can be ensured by a set of screws 59 passing through the magnetic motor 20 to a first body 40 of the bowl 21.

[0062] Each first fastening means 4 may include: - at least one tab 41 projecting from the rear face 210 of the bowl 21 in the axial direction, i.e. the direction of the central axis Z. The tab 41 has a lower part in contact with the rear face 210 of the bowl 21 and an upper part opposite the lower portion in the axial direction. And the tab 41 extends radially beyond the outer periphery of the bowl 21; - at least one lug 43 extending radially from the upper part of said leg 41.

[0063] Preferably, at least one fastening means 4 comprises at least one finger 42 projecting from the rear face 210 of the bowl 21 in the axial direction, having a lower portion in contact with the rear face 210 of the bowl 21 and an upper portion opposite the lower portion in the axial direction. The upper portion extends radially with respect to the rear face 210 of the bowl 21. The finger 42 is preferably positioned offset with respect to the tab 41 in the circumferential direction.

[0064] Each second fastening means 5 includes, in particular: - at least one second body 50 on the rear face 10 of the front wall 1 in the axial direction, the second body 50 incorporating an inclined groove 51 extending in the circumferential direction, the groove 51 being inclined relative to a plane perpendicular to the central axis Z; and - at least one relief 53 on the second body 50 configured to cooperate with the lug 43.

[0065] Preferably, at least one fastening means 5 comprises at least one tab 52 extending axially from the rear face 10 of the front wall 1, the tab 52 being elastically deformable. The tab 52 may be elastically deformable under the action of a radial force.

[0066] The lug 41 is configured to engage in the groove 51 which is configured to guide the movement of the lug 41 in sliding pivot motion from an unlocked position to a locked position.

[0067] The material of the leg 41 can be the same as that of the bowl 21; for example, the leg 41 can be made of the same material as the bowl 21, or any material sufficiently rigid and durable to allow a large number of sliding movements between the locked and unlocked positions of the bowl 21 relative to the front wall 10, for example, a plastic or metallic material. This leg 41 can be attached to the rear face 210 of the bowl 21 by welding, gluing, assembly, screwing, joint molding, adhesive bonding, or other suitable technique.

[0068] The lug 43 is preferably made of the same material as the bowl 21; for example, the lug 43 may be made of the same material as the bowl 21. Alternatively, it may also be made of any material sufficiently rigid and durable to allow a large number of sliding movements between the locked and unlocked modes. of the bowl 21 relative to the front wall 10, and sufficiently deformable to allow the lug 43 to slide along the relief 53 to the locking notch 63, the lug 43 being, for example, made of a plastic or metallic material. The lug 43 is attached to the tab 41 by welding, gluing, assembly, screwing, joint molding, adhesive bonding, or other suitable technique, with the bowl 21.

[0069] The finger 42 has rigidity and durability requirements to allow a large number of sliding movements between the locked and unlocked modes of the bowl 21 relative to the front wall 10. Thus, the finger 42 can be made of a plastic or metallic material, and be attached to the rear face 210 of the bowl 21 by welding, gluing, assembly, screwing, joint molding, adhesive bonding, or other suitable technique, with the bowl 21. The finger 42 can also be made of the same material as the bowl 21.

[0070] The tongue 52 has a sliding surface 520 of the finger 42 in the circumferential direction, the sliding of the finger 42 along this surface 520 inducing an elastic deformation of the tongue 52. In the locked position, the finger 42 is blocked in rotation by a lateral face of the tongue 52.

[0071] The elasticity of the tongue 52 can be obtained by naturally elastic materials such as plastic materials, rubber materials, or any other material having elastic properties in thin film.

[0072] In practice, the groove 51 comprises two ends. With reference to Figures 4A to 5B and 10 to 12, the mounting or fixing of the bowl to the front wall according to one embodiment is detailed below.

[0073] The front face 211 of the bowl 21 (with or without the seal 3) is positioned opposite the rear face 10 of the front wall 1 such that: - the central axis Z of the rear face 210 of the bowl 21 and the central axis of the rear face 10 of the front wall 1 are coincident; - the lug 41 of each first fixing means 4 is placed opposite the groove 51 of each second fixing means 5 such that the lug 43 of each first fixing means 4 is located downstream on a clockwise rotation relative to the relief 53 of each second fixing means 5.

[0074] More specifically, the unlocked position visible in figures 4A and 6 presents the leg 41 and the lug 43 upstream of the second body 50 when considering a rotational movement of the bowl 21, in the clockwise direction.

[0075] Once in this configuration, in order to lock the rear face 210 of the bowl 21, a sliding pivot movement is performed. This movement includes a translation along the central axis Z, in which the front wall 10 and the rear face 210 of the bowl 21 move closer to each other so as to compress the seal sealing 3. In addition to this translation, this movement includes a rotation around the central axis Z, in the clockwise direction, until the lug 43 of each first fastening means 4 is brought into contact with the relief 53 of each second fastening means 5, [Fig.4B].

[0076] More precisely, this movement is effected, for example as illustrated in [Fig. 7], by a displacement of the lug 41, brought to the height of the groove 51 on the central axis Z by a translational movement of the front face 211 of the bowl 21 towards the rear face 10 of the front wall 1. The lug 41 then engages in the groove 51 of the second body 50 in a clockwise circular movement of the loudspeaker 2. The lug 41 then continues its movement in the circumferential direction within the groove 51, causing the lug 43 attached to the lug 4L to move with it in the same circumferential direction. The lug 43 then comes into contact with the relief 53 of the second body 50 and its radial part slides along the relief 53.Since the groove 51 is inclined from top to bottom in its circumferential direction along the central axis Z, the rotation of the lug 41 in the clockwise direction results in a translation of the lug 41 towards the lower part of the body 50, and an increased compression of the joint 3.

[0077] Finally, the movement continues in the continuity of this rotation until the lug 43 is housed in the notch 63, as illustrated in [Fig.5B].

[0078] When a sufficient clockwise rotation is applied, the tab 41 has its entire radial part in the groove 51, the radial part of the lug 43 slides over the entire relief 53 and comes to rest in the notch 63. At the same time, the loudspeaker 2 moves into a locked position relative to the front wall 1 as illustrated in [Fig.8], and the seal 3 at the junction is compressed.

[0079] During the movement, the finger 42 presses on the tab 52 which deforms to allow the rotation of the bowl 21. In the locked position, the tab 52 returns to its initial shape, and the finger 42 of the first fixing means 4 comes to rest against a lateral face of the tab 52.

[0080] Preferably, this compression reaches 70% compression in locked position between the loudspeaker 2 and the front wall 1.

[0081] To ensure this compression, the groove 51 has an inclination with a slope relative to the plane perpendicular to the central axis Z, this slope is preferably between 0.7° and 37°, and even more preferably the slope can be between 3° and 7°.

[0082] Optimally, the inclined groove 51 can be configured to allow a stroke of the leg 41 of between 4 and 35 mm, preferably 11 mm, until it reaches its final position, namely the locked position, this stroke inducing a descent of the bowl 21 of between 0.4 and 3 mm, preferably 0.9 mm. With a slope of 3°, the stroke is typically 15 mm and the descent 0.8 mm whereas with the 7° slope, the stroke is typically 8 mm and the descent is 1 mm.

[0083] The compression of the joint 3, schematically shown [Fig.9], takes place between the front face 211 of the bowl 21 and the rear face 10 of the front wall 1, preferably over a whole circumference formed between these two faces.

[0084] More specifically, the compression of the joint 3 is carried out on the axial part of the joint 3 by: - the radial part of the front face 211 of the bowl 21, around the compression rib 22; and - the rear face 10 of the front wall 1

[0085] On the radial part of the joint 3, the compression is carried out between the radial part of the front face 211 of the bowl 21, and the radial part of the rear face 10 of the front wall 1 located below the groove 51 along the central axis Z.

[0086] Specifically, the compression of the joint 3 is maximum between the tip of the compression rib 22 and the rear face 10 of the front wall 1. Preferably, this compression at the tip of the compression rib 22 reaches 70% of the compression in the locked position of the loudspeaker 2 with the front wall 1.

[0087] As illustrated in [Fig.9], to calculate this maximum compression in the locked position, a first height ff1 of the uncompressed joint 3 and a second height J7 of the joint 3 compressed at the level of the rib 22 describe the compression Tcompression of the joint 3 as follows:

[0088] [Math.l] y. _ * compression — j-jy

[0089] In order to find the height J7 of the compressed joint 3 along the Z axis, a third height fl and a fourth height db2 can be defined as follows: - the height fl of the inside of the groove 51 between its part in contact with the leg 41 of the bowl 21 and its part in contact with the rear face 10 of the front wall 1; and - the height db2 of the bowl 21 defined between the tip of the rib 22 in contact with the seal 3 and the upper part of the leg 41 of the bowl 21 in contact with the groove 51.

[0090] The height J7 can then be defined as follows:

[0091] [Math.2] J7 = + / -1 -db2

[0092] Unlocking the speaker 2 from the front wall 1 is illustrated by the same steps as locking the speaker 2 from the front wall 1, but with the steps reversed. Thus, unlocking involves [Fig. 5A] 5B to 4A 4B, and the configuration of [Fig. 12] then the configuration of [Fig. 11] then the configuration of [Fig. 10].

[0093] More specifically, the unlocking of speaker 2 from the front wall 1 is initiated by the deformation of the tab 52. This deformation can be performed manually, either directly by pushing with the hand or using a specific tool. This deformation allows the finger 42 to follow a circumferential movement along the Z-axis in the opposite direction to the locking direction of the loudspeaker 2 relative to the front wall 1, for example, counterclockwise. This movement is accompanied by a counterclockwise rotation of the entire basket 21, thus releasing: - the lug 43 of the notch 63 by its circumferential rotation towards the relief 53; and - the leg 41 of the throat 51 by its circumferential rotation out of the body 50.

[0094] Once back in the configuration of [Fig. 10], a translational movement along the Z axis of the loudspeaker 2 in the opposite direction to the direction used for the compression of the loudspeaker 2 to the front wall 1 can be applied in order to dismount the loudspeaker 2 from the front wall 1.

[0095] In conclusion, the invention therefore makes it possible to provide a circumaural or supraaural earphone with: - a watertight connection between the speaker 2 and the front panel 1; - a reversibility of the assembly between the loudspeaker 2 and the front panel 1 over a large number of assembly and disassembly cycles, improving its repairability; - easier disassembly between speaker 2 and front panel 1 to make repairs faster and easier; and - the possibility of obtaining haptic and / or audible feedback to notify the user of the locking or unlocking mode of the assembly for more efficient repairability.

Claims

Demands

1. Circumaural or supra-aural earpiece of a headset comprising at least: - a front panel (1) on which a loudspeaker (2) is removably fixed, the loudspeaker (2) having a basket (21) on which is fixed a magnetic motor (20) configured to move a movable assembly connected to the basket (21), said basket (21) having an annular shape defining a central axis (Z), the basket (21) having a front face (211) fixed to a rear face (10) of the front panel (1); - means for fixing the loudspeaker (2) to the front panel (1) formed of at least a first fixing means (4) located on the rear face (210) of the basket (21), and at least a second fixing means (5) located on the rear face (10) of the front panel (1), the first and second fixing means being configured to cooperate with each other;and - a sealing gasket (3) positioned between said front face (211) of the bowl (21) and said rear face (10) of the front wall (1) so as to ensure acoustic sealing between the front face (211) of the bowl (21) and the rear face (10) of the front wall (1); characterized in that the cooperation of the first and second fixing means comprises a sliding pivot movement around the central axis (Z) of the bowl (21) relative to the front wall (1), between a locked position in which the loudspeaker (2) is locked to the front wall (1) and the gasket (3) is compressed, and an unlocked position in which the loudspeaker (2) is released from the front wall (1).

2. Earpiece according to claim 1, wherein: the first fastening means (4) comprises: - at least one tab (41) projecting from the rear face (210) of the bowl (21) in the axial direction of the central axis (Z), having a lower portion in contact with the rear face (210) of the bowl (21) and an upper portion opposite the lower portion in the axial direction, the tab (41) extending radially beyond the outer periphery of the bowl (21); and the second fastening means (5) comprises: - at least one second body (50) extending over the rear face (10) of the front wall (1) in the axial direction, said second body (50) incorporating a groove (51) extending in a circumferential direction and configured to guide the movement of the leg (41), the groove (51) being inclined relative to a plane perpendicular to the central axis (Z); and

3. Earpiece according to claim 2, wherein: - the first fastening means (4) comprises: - at least one lug (43) extending radially from the upper part of said tab (41); - the second fastening means (5) comprises: - at least one relief (53) placed on said second body (50), configured to cooperate with said lug (43) to retain the basket (21) when the loudspeaker (2) is locked to the front wall (1).

4. Earpiece according to claim 3, wherein the second fastening means (5) further comprises a relief (53) on the second body (50) configured to cooperate with the lug (43) so as to generate a sound and / or haptic feedback notifying the operator that the bowl (21) is in the locked position.

5. Earpiece according to any one of claims 3 or 4, wherein the earpiece comprises a plurality of first fastening means, and the lug (43) is present on only one of the first fastening means (4) and the relief (53) is present on only one of the second fastening means (5).

6. Earpiece according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein: - the first fastening means (4) comprises: at least one finger (42) projecting from the rear face (210) of the bowl (21) in the axial direction, having a lower part in contact with the rear face of the bowl (210) and an upper part opposite the lower part in the axial direction, the upper part extending radially with respect to the rear face (210) of the bowl (21); - the second fastening means (5) comprises: at least one tab (52) extending axially from the rear face (10) of the front wall (1), said tab (52) being elastically deformable; the tongue (52) having a sliding surface (520) for the finger (42) in the circumferential direction, the sliding of the finger (42) along this surface (520) inducing an elastic deformation of the tongue (52), in locked position the finger (42) being blocked in rotation by a lateral face of the tongue (52).

7. Earpiece according to claim 6, wherein the second fastening means (5) further comprises a tab (52) configured to cooperate with the finger (42) so as to generate a sound and / or haptic feedback notifying the operator that the bowl (21) is in the locked position.

8. Earpiece according to any one of claims 6 or 7, wherein the earpiece comprises a plurality of first fastening means (4), and the finger (42) is present on only one of the first fastening means (4) and the tab (52) is present on only one of the second fastening means (5).

9. Earpiece according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the front face (211) of the bowl (21) is equipped with at least one compression rib (22) configured to press on the sealing gasket during the cooperation of the first and second fastening means.

10. A method for mounting a circumaural or supra-aural earphone according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: - positioning the sealing gasket (3) on the front wall (1) or on the basket (21); - positioning the basket (21) against the front wall (1) of the earphone in the unlocked position; and - cooperating the first (4) and second (5) fastening means to achieve the sliding pivot movement along the central axis Z of the basket (21) around the central axis, from the unlocked position to the locked position.

11. A method of mounting an earpiece according to any one of claims 2 to 5, in combination with claim 6 comprising: - positioning the tab (41) at one end of the groove (51); - engaging the tab (41) in the groove (51); and - sliding pivot movement about the central axis (Z) of the tab (41) in the groove (51) until the locked position, the movement of the tab (41) simultaneously comprising the elastic deformation of the tongue (52) by the finger (42) until the finger (42) passes over the sliding surface of the tongue (52).

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