Cover for headphones

Abstract

The invention relates to a cover for headphones, of the type that closes at the back of the headphone chassis (20), inside which there is a transducer (21) or sound reproducing medium, comprising a main body (1), which defines a first free end (6) where the transducer (21) is housed, and a second end (7), characterised in that it comprises: a spacer (8), of woven or non-woven fabric, as a seal, which allows the passage of sound, separating and sealing the second cover (4) from the first cover (2); an internal friction washer (11), arranged on the first cover (2), in the direction of the first end (6); a helical spring (10), arranged over the washer (11); a fixing means (9) passing through the first cover (2), the second cover (4), the spacer (8), the washer (11) and the spring (10); the first cover (2), the second cover (4) or both being rotated relative to the fixing means (9), and the open position being occupied when the first through-holes (3) are facing the second through-holes (5) and the closed position being occupied when the first through-holes (3) and the second through-holes (5) are offset from one another.

Description

[0001] Cover for headband headphones

[0002] DESCRIPTION

[0003] Cover for headband headphones of the type that subsequently closes to the chassis of the earphone inside which there is a transducer or sound reproducing means, which comprises a main body, which defines a first, free end, where the transducer is housed and a second end and which comprises: - a first cover associated or integrated inside the main body, with a series of first passage holes made in said first cover, - a second cover, facing said first cover, parallel to it, with a series of second passage holes made in said second cover, said second cover closing the second end, and because it comprises: - a separating means, of fabric or non-woven fabric, as a seal, which allows the passage of sound, which separates the second cover from the first cover by sealing, - an internal friction washer, arranged on the first cover, in the direction of the first end,- a helical spring arranged on the washer, - a fixing means passing through the first cover, the second cover, the separating means, the washer and the spring, rotating either the first cover, the second cover or both of them, in relation to the fixing means, remaining in the open position when the first passage holes are facing the second passage holes and remaining in the closed position when the first passage holes and the second passage holes are out of phase with each other.,

[0004] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Different headphone systems are known in the state of the art, with selectors for listening either in closed mode or in open mode.

[0006] Thus, US Patent US2005 / 01005755 A1 “MODIFIED EARPHONE STRUCTURE HAVING CLOSABLE OPENING” belongs to the state of the art, which relates to a modified earpiece comprising a closable opening. The cover body has a first housing and a second housing. The first housing has at least a first opening and forms a first connection portion. The second housing has at least a second opening and forms a second connection portion. The second opening faces and coincides with the first opening. The second connection portion is retained within the first connection portion. A speaker is arranged and housed in the second housing.The first housing can be rotated through the first connection part to connect the first opening with the second opening, so that external sound sources are unblocked and can be heard in the user's ears, or the second opening can be closed with the first housing to block the sound output of external sound sources.

[0007] Also known is US patent US2010 / 0272303 “HEADSET”, which describes a headphone with a hollow housing having a front wall with at least one sound hole formed therein, and a rear wall facing the front wall having a plurality of holes formed therein. A speaker unit is disposed in the housing and adjacent to the sound hole. An adjustment component is rotatably mounted on the rear wall of the housing. The adjustment component has an adjustment switch outside the rear wall and a locking tab against an inner surface of the rear wall and is connected to the adjustment switch. The adjustment switch is capable of controlling the locking tab to oscillate and stop repeatedly, to alter the number of holes covered when the adjustment switch is actuated to rotate.

[0008] Worth mentioning is patent WO2011 / 045782 "EARPHONE WITH TOGGLE MECHANISM" where the earpiece comprises a movable part, adapted to close an ear port, thereby alternating the earpiece from an open mode allowing ambient sounds to reach the user's ear, to a closed mode blocking the user's ear. The closure occurs while the earpiece is in use. The earpiece's sound capsule can also be activated and deactivated depending on the earpiece mode.

[0009] US Patent US8521480 “VARIABLE NOISE ATTENUATOR WITH ADJUSTABLE ATTENUATION” belongs to the state of the art. This US patent dates back to 2015 and claims an ear-attenuating earphone (at least two embodiments: Fig. 1 and Fig.3) comprising: - at least one earpiece, having at least one passage through the at least one hole allowing the passage of sound; - a control element, the control element being capable of controlling the flow of sound passing through the at least one earpiece; - said control element including a blocking member, the blocking member being configured to move through the passage to change the amount of sound passing through the passage of at least one earpiece wherein when the blocking member is in a closed position, the blocking member is aligned with the passage in at least one earpiece, and when the blocking member is in an open position, the blocking member is not aligned with the passage in at least one earpiece. The idea of ​​this mechanism is based on the concept of a “screw” that is tightened or released, thereby opening the air / sound passage.

[0010] Another example is US Patent 9674596 “HEADPHONE WITH SELECTABLE AMBIENT SOUND ADMISSION” from 2015. The patent describes a headphone apparatus comprising: a housing configured to substantially cover a user’s ear when wearing the headphone apparatus; a sound emitting component within the housing; a baffle member formed of flexible sound insulating material in the form of a tube having an open outer end and an inner open end with a central axis through the tube, the baffle member having an open arrangement with the tube providing an open channel and a closed arrangement in which the baffle member bends or rotates about the central axis to form a closed neck in the baffle member thereby preventing sound transmission through the tube; and an operating mechanism for switching the baffle member between the open arrangement and the closed arrangement.

[0011] Patent US2016 / 0330537 A1 “HYBRID HEADSET TUNED FOR OPEN-BACK AND CLOSED-BACK OPERATION” describes a hybrid headset that includes a variable aperture device configured to reversibly switch the hybrid headset between an open-back mode of operation and a closed-back mode of operation. The closed mode can be used to provide acoustic isolation from ambient noise. The hybrid headset can automatically switch from the open-back mode to the closed-back mode when ANC is activated or in response to a signal or data. The hybrid headset may include a semi-open-back mode that is between the open-back and closed-back modes. The variable aperture device may include a shutter, a hole, a port, or a port that includes a variable acoustic impedance material.

[0012] Finally, it is worth highlighting the European Patent EP3089474 B1 “ADJUSTABLE OPENING HEADPHONES”.The invention relates to an earphone comprising: - an earphone housing; - a resilient cushion attached to the housing defining a chamber with the housing for enveloping the user's ear; - an assembly disposed in the housing proximate a distal end and having a plurality of blades, each of the plurality of blades movable between at least an open position and a closed position, wherein in the closed position the plurality of blades interlock with one another to define a distal surface of the housing, and in the open position the plurality of blades define an opening in the housing, the opening allowing communication of sound from outside the housing to the chamber; - a controller in communication with the assembly and at least one external device, wherein the controller receives a signal from the external device and commands the assembly to move between the open position and the closed position in accordance with the signal.It comprises an interchangeable rod secured by a magnet. The closing / opening mechanism is based on the principle of overlapping leaves to form an opening of different diameters. The point worth highlighting about this patent is the claimed mechanism, which is quite similar to the mechanism in the two previous documents.

[0013] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] The present invention falls within the field of high fidelity headphones.

[0015] In the world of high-fidelity headphones, there are three models to choose from: open, closed, and semi-open / semi-closed.

[0016] Open-back headphones offer higher sound quality, but at the cost of transmitting the waves to the outside, making them unsuitable if there are other people around who might be disturbed. Closed-back headphones, on the other hand, isolate sound from the inside of the earpiece, but at the cost of reducing the quality of the sound they reproduce, as the waves don't expand outward but instead continue to bounce around inside, thus losing sound fidelity.

[0017] Finally, semi-open / semi-closed headphones combine some of the advantages of the previous two and also some of the disadvantages.

[0018] Thus, since they are not completely open headphones, the sound quality heard in them is inferior to that of open headphones, but at the same time, the sound quality is superior to that of closed headphones.

[0019] On the other hand, semi-open / semi-closed headphones prevent people around you from being bothered by the sound transmitted through open headphones. However, on the other hand, these headphones are not as airtight as closed headphones, so under certain conditions, they can still bother people around you because some of the sound is still transmitted to the outside.

[0020] The closest document is US Patent US2005 / 0105755.

[0021] This patent solves the problem of how to enable headband headphones to operate in both closed and open modes at the same time through an existing connector, with a hook, which allows the rotation of an external disk with three holes of equal dimensions.

[0022] On the other hand, it has the disadvantage that over time a gap is created in the connector, with the consequent loss of sound quality and the impossibility of using the closed-back headphone option because some of the sound would pass through the gap that has been created and from there to the outside.

[0023] Furthermore, the friction of the outer disc with the inner disc, when the outer disc is rotated during the open and closed configurations, also generates deterioration in the materials and a loss of quality thereof. The present invention solves the problem of material deterioration by providing a spring that regulates the pressure exerted when one cover is rotated with respect to the other and also by placing a separating means of fabric or non-woven fabric that allows the passage of sound through it, and that prevents friction between the two covers, this configuration solving the problem of the creation of gaps and the reduction in sound quality.

[0024] An object of the present invention is a cover for headband headphones of the type that subsequently closes the chassis of the headphone inside which a transducer or sound reproducing means is arranged, comprising a main body, which defines a first, free end, where the transducer is housed and a second end and comprising: - a first cover associated or integrated inside the main body, with a series of first passage holes made in said first cover, - a second cover, facing said first cover, parallel to it, with a series of second passage holes made in said second cover, said second cover closing the second end, characterized in that it comprises: - a separating means, made of fabric or non-woven fabric, as a seal, which allows the passage of sound, which separates the second cover from the first cover by sealing, - an internal friction washer,arranged on the first cover, in the direction of the first end, - a helical spring, arranged on the washer, - a fixing means that passes through the first cover, the second cover, the separating means, the washer and the spring, rotating either the first cover, the second cover or both of them, in relation to the fixing means, remaining in the open position when the first passage holes are facing the second passage holes and remaining in the closed position when the first passage holes and the second passage holes are out of phase with each other.,

[0025] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] In order to facilitate the explanation, seven sheets of drawings are attached to this report in which a practical case of implementation has been represented, which is cited as an example, not limiting the scope of the present invention: - Figure 1 is a perspective view of some headphones with the object of the present invention, and

[0027] - Figure 2 is an exploded view of one of the earphones,

[0028] - Figure 3 is a perspective view of the chassis,

[0029] - Figure 4 is a section along the dotted line IV-IV of Figure 3,

[0030] - Figure 5 is an alternative way of fixing the cover,

[0031] - Figure 6 is a detail of the second cover, from the view that it is hidden inside the chassis, and

[0032] - Figure 7 is a section along the dotted line VI l-VI I in Figure 3.

[0033] SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0034] Thus, in Figure 1 a main body 1, a chassis 20, a headband 24, clips 26 and pads 25 are illustrated.

[0035] Figure 2 shows the main body 1, a first cover 2, a second cover 4, a separating means 8, a fixing means 9, a spring 10, an internal washer 11, a first external nut 13, passage openings 15, 16, a transducer 21, projections 22, 24, a rail 25, the pad 25, a pad ring 27, a plush ring 28, a transducer cover 29, a front ring 30 and a jack connector 31.

[0036] Figure 3 shows the main body 1, the first cover 2 with first through holes 3, the second cover 4, a first end 6, a second end 7, the fixing means 9, the spring 10, the internal washer 11, the first external nut 13 and the chassis 20.

[0037] In figure 4 the main body 1 is drawn, the first cover 2 with the first through holes 3, the second cover 4 with second through holes 5, the first end 6, the second end 7, the spacer means 8, the fixing means 9, the spring 10, the inner washer 11, the first outer nut 13, a first through opening 14 and the chassis 20. In figure 5 the main body 1 is illustrated, the first cover 2 with the first through holes 3, the second cover 4, the first end 6, the second end 7, the fixing means 9, the spring 10, the inner washer 11, an outer washer 12, the first outer nut 13, the through openings 14,15,16, a second inner nut 17 and the chassis 20.

[0038] Figure 6 shows the second cover 4 with the second passage holes 5, the passage opening 16, and the rails 23,25.

[0039] Finally, Figure 7 shows the main body 1, the first cover 2 with the first passage holes 3, the second cover 4 with second passage holes 5, the separating means 8, the projection 22 and the rail 23.

[0040] Thus, the headband headphone cover of the present invention is of the type that closes posteriorly to the transducer chassis 20, inside of which chassis 20 a transducer 21 or sound reproducing means is arranged.

[0041] It comprises a main body 1, which defines a first end 6, free, where the transducer 21, of the electroacoustic type, is housed.

[0042] It also comprises a second end 7, which is located on the other side of the main body 1, which is closed.

[0043] The main body 1 comprises a first cover 2 associated with or integrated into the interior of the main body 1. That is, the first cover 2 may be part of the main body 1 or a separate element thereof (Fig. 1).

[0044] The first cover 2 comprises a series of first passage holes 3 made in said first cover 2 that allow the passage of sound, coming from the transducer 21, through it.

[0045] It also comprises a second cover 4, which is located opposite said first cover 2 and said first cover 2 is parallel to the second cover 4, with a series of second passage holes 5 made in said second cover 4, to also allow the passage of sound coming from the transducer 21 or from the outside through it, said second cover 4 closing the second end 7.

[0046] It also comprises a separating means 8, made of fabric or non-woven fabric, with a seal function, which allows the passage of sound through it, and which at the same time separates, sealing, the second cover 4 from the first cover 2.

[0047] This allows, on the one hand, to prevent dust and dirt from entering the interior of the earphone through the second through holes 5, and, on the other hand, prevents the first cover 4 and the second cover 2 from rubbing against each other, and consequently, from being damaged, when one rotates with respect to the other, since if they are damaged, there is a decrease in the quality of the reproduced sound.

[0048] Furthermore, said separating means 8 guarantees the complete absence of unwanted vibrations, even at high hearing levels, since the separating means 8 absorbs said unwanted vibrations.

[0049] The material of said non-woven fabric separator means 8 may be, for example, felt.

[0050] Similarly, the invention comprises an internal friction washer 11, said washer 11 arranged on the first cover 2, in the direction of the first end 6. This washer 11 provides rotational freedom to the cover assembly while also giving it mechanical rigidity, preventing wear of the first cover 2.

[0051] It also comprises a spring 10 arranged on the first cover 2, in the direction of the first end 6, whose function is to maintain a constant pressure when the covers 2, 4 rotate relative to each other, that is, it prevents said rotations from creating tension, since the spring 10 absorbs said tension by compressing or decompressing.

[0052] In this way, the spring 10 itself, by self-adjusting, guarantees maximum precision in the closing or opening capacity of the covers 2,4, ensuring that said capacity is maintained throughout the useful life of the covers 2,4, and compensating for possible wear of the other parts or elements of the handset, without reducing the quality of the closure.

[0053] Furthermore, with this spring 10, by conferring adaptability, the perfect assembly of different materials is guaranteed, for example, wood, aluminum, plastic,

[0054] Finally, it comprises a fixing means 9 that passes through the first cover 2, the second cover 4, the separating means 8, through the first 14 and second passage holes 15, 16, the washer 11 and the spring 10, which also serves as an axis of rotation on which the covers 2, 4 rotate.

[0055] That is, the fixing means 9 ensures the perfect placement of the aforementioned elements within the earpiece, since, by passing through them, it establishes the position of the elements and their interrelation with the rest of the elements.

[0056] Thus, by rotating either the first cover 2 or the second cover 4 or both of them, relative to the fixing means 9, it remains in the open position when the first passage holes 3 are facing the second passage holes 5, therefore, in the position in which the spatial effect of the sound reaches its greatest magnitude, but at the same time is subject to possible noise from outside that can affect the quality of the sound that is heard.

[0057] The closed position is when the first clearance holes 3 and the second clearance holes 4 are offset from each other, i.e. clearance holes 3, 5 face an area without clearance holes on the opposite cover.

[0058] In this way, the sound coming from the transducer 21 is stopped or diverted, preventing the entry of sound from the outside into the interior of the earphone, losing the effect of spatiality, but sealing off the sounds from the outside.

[0059] Optionally, the first cover 2, the second cover 4, and the separator element 8 adopt a circular configuration. This facilitates their rotation and makes it easier for the through holes 3, 5 to face each other and fit together.

[0060] Optionally, it could be configured (Figures 2 and 7) so that the first cover 2 comprises at least some projections 22, 24 that move inside some rails 23, 25 located in the second cover 4, the rails 23, 25 defining the turning radius of the second cover 4 with respect to the first cover 2. In this embodiment it comprises two projections 22, 24, which fit into two rails 23, 25, arranged equidistantly.

[0061] It is possible to configure the first cover 2 and the second cover 4 to rotate relative to each other by 10 to 20° between the open and closed positions. This would achieve the opening / closing effect without disturbing the invention, since the turning radius is sufficient for opening and closing and has little impact on the materials because it is a short-range movement.

[0062] It is possible to configure the first through holes 3 and the second through holes 5 closest to the perimeter of the circle to be larger in diameter than those closest to the center of the circle. This is done to take advantage of the antihelix of the auricle.

[0063] It is also possible to use a pair of nuts fixed to the free end of the fixing means 9 (Figure 5): a first outer nut 13, acting as a lock nut, and a second inner nut 17. The first nut 13 acts as a lock nut, ensuring the perfect fixation of the entire cover assembly. The second nut 17 allows the pressure of the spring 10 to be adjusted during assembly.

[0064] In one of the embodiment options it would be possible to arrange washers 11, 12, the internal washer 11 and the external washer 12, on each side of the spring 10. Thus, the internal washer 11 is in contact with the spring 10 and with the first cover 2.

[0065] The external washer 12 ensures the fixing of the spring 10 by means of the nuts 13,17, the friction of the second nut 17 with the spring 10 falling on said external washer 12, preventing the function from being performed by the nuts 13,17, which means a reduction in wear of both the spring 10 and the second nut 17.

[0066] To facilitate both manufacturing and in cases where noble materials are used to provide better sound quality, the second cover 4 can be made of the same material as the main body 1, for example, wood.

[0067] Thus, in a specific embodiment, the user would place the earphones object of the present invention over his or her earlobes.

[0068] If I wanted to have a spatial effect, i.e. open position, I would rotate (in this embodiment) the second cover 4 until the first passage holes 3 coincide with the second passage holes 5, i.e. allowing the passage of sound to the outside.

[0069] At the same time of rotation, the internal washer 11 would compress the spring 10 against the stop 13, facilitating the rotation of the second cover 2 and when the rotation ends, the pressure of the internal washer 11 on the spring 10 disappears, with the spring 10 recovering its initial compression.

[0070] If the user then seeks sound tightness, he would rotate in the opposite direction to that previously performed, seeking with the rotation that the first passage holes 3 are blocked by the second cover 4, that is, by a surface of the second cover 4 that does not contain the second passage holes 5, thereby preventing the sound from escaping from the inside of the headphones.

[0071] The present invention describes a novel cap for over-ear headphones. The examples mentioned herein are not limiting of the present invention; therefore, it may have various applications and / or adaptations, all within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

MODIFIED CLAIMS received by the International Bureau on March 10, 2025 (10.03.2025) 1.- Cover for headband headphones of the type that closes later to the chassis (20) of the earphone inside which there is a transducer (21) or sound reproduction means, comprising a main body (1), which defines a first end (6), free, where the transducer (21) is housed, and a second end (7), and which comprises: - a first cover (2) associated with or integrated into the interior of the main body (1), with a series of first passage holes (3) made in said first cover (2), - a second cover (4), facing said first cover (2), parallel thereto, with a series of second passage holes (5) made in said second cover (4), said second cover (4) closing the second end (7), characterized in that it comprises: - a separating means (8), made of fabric or non-woven fabric, acting as a seal, which allows the passage of sound, which seals the second cover (4) from the first cover (2), - an internal friction washer (11), arranged on the first cover (2), in the direction of the first end (6), - a helical spring (10) arranged on the washer (11), - a fixing means (9), wherein the free end of the fixing means (9) comprises a stop (13) regulating the compression pressure of the spring (10) and said fixing means (9) passes through the first cover (2), the second cover (4), the separating means (8), the washer (11) and the spring (10), rotating either the first cover (2), the second cover (4) or both, relative to the fixing means (9), remaining in the open position when the first passage holes (3) are facing the second passage holes (5) and remaining in the closed position when the first passage holes (3) and the second passage holes (4) are out of phase with each other. 2.- Cover, according to claim 1, characterized in that the first cover (2), the second cover (4) and the separating means (8) adopt a circular configuration. 3.- Cover, according to claim 2, characterized in that the first cover (2) comprises at least one projection (22) that moves along a rail (23) located on the second cover (4), the rail (23) defining the turning radius of the second cover (4) with respect to the first cover (2). 4.- Lid, according to claim 3, characterized in that between the open and closed position, the covers (2,4) rotate relative to each other between 10 and 20°. 5.- Cover, according to claim 2, characterized in that the first passage holes (3) and the second passage holes (5) closest to the perimeter of the circle are larger than those closest to the center of the circle. 6.- Cover, according to claim 1, characterized in that the stop (13) is a first nut, as a lock nut, and because it comprises a second nut (17), interior. 7.- Cover, according to claim 6, characterized in that at the free end of the fixing means (9) there is an external washer (12), between the stop (13) and the spring (10), said external washer (12) being the regulator of the compression pressure of the spring (10). 8.- Cover, according to claim 1, characterized in that the second cover (4) is made of the same material as the main body (1).

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