Earphone device

Abstract

An earphone device 10A comprises: a body part 12 including a body-side connector part 26; and a battery part 14 including a battery-side connector part 32. Connection between the body-side connector part 26 and the battery-side connector part 32 is completed by inserting a portion of a second case 60 into a first case 40 and relatively rotating the second case 60 with respect to the first case 40 to achieve a locked state. Disconnection therebetween is completed by relatively rotating the second case 60 with respect to the first case 40 in the locked state and pulling the portion of the second case 60 out of the first case 40.

Description

Earphone device

[0001] This disclosure relates to an earphone device.

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an earphone device provided with a battery unit.

[0003] Chinese Patent No. 118138952 Specification

[0004] An object of the present disclosure is to provide an earphone device provided with a battery unit, which is easy to remove and attach the battery unit, can reduce the number of parts, and can suppress unintentional dropout of the battery unit.

[0005] The earphone device according to the first aspect includes a main body part and a battery part configured to be removable and attachable to the main body part. The main body part includes an earphone part, a main body side connector part, and a relay part that physically and electrically connects the earphone part and the main body side connector part. The battery part includes a battery main body and a battery side connector part that can be physically and electrically connected to the main body side connector part. The main body side connector part includes one of a first case and a second case, and the battery side connector part includes the other of the first case and the second case. The connection of the main body side connector part and the battery side connector part is completed by inserting a part of the second case into the inside of the first case and relatively rotating the second case with respect to the first case to a locked state. The disconnection of the main body side connector part and the battery side connector part is completed by relatively rotating the second case with respect to the first case in the locked state and pulling out the part of the second case from the inside of the first case.

[0006] In this embodiment, the connection between the main unit connector and the battery connector is completed by inserting a part of the second case into the first case and rotating the second case relative to the first case to lock it in place. The disconnection between the main unit connector and the battery connector is completed by rotating the second case relative to the first case while it is locked and removing a part of the second case from inside the first case. Therefore, the battery can be attached to and removed from the main unit without using any tools. In addition, the main unit connector and the battery connector can be realized with a simple structure, which reduces the number of parts. Furthermore, compared to a method in which the main unit connector and the battery connector are held together by magnets, the battery can be prevented from unintentionally falling out.

[0007] In the embodiments described later, the main unit side connector portion includes a first case and the battery side connector portion includes a second case, but this embodiment is not limited to this. The main unit side connector portion may include a second case and the battery side connector portion may include a first case.

[0008] In the embodiments described later, the relay section includes an ear hook, but the relay section in this embodiment is not limited to this. Furthermore, in embodiments in which the relay section does not include an ear hook, the relay section may be configured to appear as an integral part of the earphone section.

[0009] In the embodiments described later, the earphone device is of the in-ear type, but this embodiment is not limited to this. The earphone device may be of the open-ear type, for example.

[0010] In the second embodiment of the earphone device, the first case has a projection that protrudes radially inward from the inner circumferential surface of the first case, and the second case has a groove provided on the outer circumferential surface of the second case, the groove being composed of an axial groove extending in the axial direction and a circumferential groove extending in the circumferential direction, the projection and the groove being configured such that when a part of the second case is inserted into the interior of the first case, the projection passes through the axial groove of the groove, and when the second case is rotated relative to the first case, the projection passes through the circumferential groove of the groove.

[0011] According to this embodiment, the main unit side connector and the battery side connector can be prevented from separating in the axial direction by a simple configuration of protrusions and grooves.

[0012] In the third embodiment of the earphone device, in the second embodiment, the projection has a recess for rotation locking, and the circumferential groove has a protrusion for rotation locking, and the locking state is achieved when the recess and the protrusion engage.

[0013] According to this embodiment, the locked state can be achieved with a simple configuration consisting of a recess in the projection and a protrusion in the circumferential groove.

[0014] In the fourth embodiment, the earphone device is provided with a first projection and a second projection as projections, and with a first groove corresponding to the first projection and a second groove corresponding to the second projection as grooves, wherein the circumferential dimension of the second projection is larger than the circumferential dimension of the first projection, and the axial groove of the first groove is configured so that the second projection cannot pass through.

[0015] According to this embodiment, it is possible to prevent the connector on the main unit side and the connector on the battery side from being connected in the wrong direction.

[0016] In the fifth embodiment of the earphone device, in any of the first to fourth embodiments, the main body side connector portion comprises the first case, and the battery side connector portion comprises the second case.

[0017] The earphone device according to the sixth embodiment, in any of the first to fifth embodiments, includes an ear hook portion which is substantially U-shaped and can be placed over the user's ear.

[0018] According to this embodiment, the earphone device can be worn over the ear. Furthermore, compared to embodiments in which the ear hook portion is provided in a part other than the relay section, it is possible to prevent the structure of the earphone device from becoming overly complex.

[0019] The earphone device according to the seventh embodiment comprises a right main body, a left main body, and a battery unit configured to be removable and attachable to the right main body and removable and attachable to the left main body, wherein the right main body comprises a right earphone unit, a main body-side right connector unit, and a right relay unit that physically and electrically connects the right earphone unit and the main body-side right connector unit, and the left main body comprises a left earphone unit, a main body-side left connector unit, and a left relay unit that physically and electrically connects the left earphone unit and the main body-side left connector unit. The battery unit comprises a relay unit and a battery body, a battery-side right connector unit that can be physically and electrically connected to the main unit-side right connector unit, and a battery-side left connector unit that can be physically and electrically connected to the main unit-side left connector unit. The main unit-side right connector unit comprises one of a right first case and a right second case, and the battery-side right connector unit comprises the other of the right first case and the right second case. The connection between the main unit-side right connector unit and the battery-side right connector unit is made by connecting a part of the right second case. The connection between the right first case and the battery side is completed by inserting the right second case into the interior of the right first case and rotating the right second case relative to the right first case to lock it in place. The connection between the main body side right connector and the battery side right connector is completed by rotating the right second case relative to the right first case in the locked state and removing a portion of the right second case from the interior of the right first case. The main body side left connector comprises one of the left first case and the left second case, and the battery side left connector comprises the other of the left first case and the left second case. The connection between the main body side left connector and the battery side left connector is completed by inserting a portion of the left second case into the left first case and rotating the left second case relative to the left first case to lock it in place. The connection between the main body side left connector and the battery side left connector is completed by rotating the left second case relative to the left first case in the locked state and removing a portion of the left second case from the interior of the left first case.

[0020] According to this embodiment, the right earphone unit and the left earphone unit are connected via a battery unit, etc., so the whole can be treated as a single unit. In addition, the power supplied to the right earphone unit and the left earphone unit can be supplied by a single battery unit.

[0021] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the battery can be removed from and attached to the right and left main body without the use of tools. In addition, the left and right main body connectors and the battery connector can be realized with a simple structure, thus reducing the number of parts. Compared to a method in which the left and right main body connectors and the battery connector are held in place by magnets, the battery can be prevented from unintentionally falling out.

[0022] In the earphone device according to the eighth embodiment, in the seventh embodiment, the battery unit is located behind the user's neck when the earphone device is worn by the user.

[0023] According to this embodiment, it is easier to balance the weight between the left and right sides.

[0024] In the ninth embodiment, the earphone device, in the seventh or eighth embodiment, includes a right ear hook portion which is substantially U-shaped and can be placed over the user's right ear, and the left ear hook portion which is substantially U-shaped and can be placed over the user's left ear.

[0025] According to this embodiment, the earphone device can be worn over both ears. Furthermore, compared to embodiments in which the ear hooks are provided in parts other than the relay section, it is possible to prevent the structure of the earphone device from becoming overly complex.

[0026] According to this disclosure, an earphone device equipped with a battery unit can be realized in which the battery unit can be easily removed and attached, the number of parts can be reduced, and unintentional detachment of the battery unit can be suppressed.

[0027] This is a perspective view of the earphone device of the first embodiment. This is a cross-sectional view showing the main unit side connector and the battery side connector. This is a perspective view showing the main unit side connector and the battery side connector. This is a cross-sectional view showing the rotation lock mechanism, where (A) shows the unlocked state and (B) shows the locked state. This is a perspective view of the earphone device of the second embodiment.

[0028] <First Embodiment> Figure 1 is a perspective view of the earphone device 10A according to the first embodiment.

[0029] The earphone device 10A comprises a main body 12 and a battery unit 14 that is configured to be removable and attachable to the main body 12.

[0030] The main body 12 constitutes the main part of the earphone device 10A. The main body 12 includes an earphone section 22, a relay section 24, and a main body-side connector section 26.

[0031] The earphone unit 22 comprises a housing 22a and a driver unit and the like housed inside it. The driver unit is composed of a coil, a magnet, a diaphragm, and the like, and generates sound based on electrical signals. The earphone unit 22 also has wireless communication capabilities such as Bluetooth®. The earphone unit 22 has a mounting portion 22b to which an earpiece can be attached.

[0032] The earphone unit 22 may be equipped with an operating part that can be operated with the user's finger. The operating part may be mechanical or a touch sensor. The earphone unit 22 may also be equipped with a microphone function.

[0033] The relay section 24 physically and electrically connects the earphone section 22 and the main unit connector section 26. The relay section 24 is flexible. Specifically, the relay section 24 includes a flexible outer casing member 24b (see Figure 2) and an electric wire section (not shown) that passes inside the outer casing member 24b.

[0034] The relay section 24 includes an ear hook section 24a. In other words, a part of the relay section 24 is configured to function as an ear hook section 24a. The ear hook section 24a is roughly U-shaped and is configured to be placed over the user's ear. The ear hook section 24a has the same cross-sectional structure as the rest of the relay section 24.

[0035] When the earphone device 10A is worn by the user, the relay section 24 extends upward from the earphone section 22 and changes direction from upward to downward at the ear hook section 24a. The extension direction of the end of the relay section 24 on the main body side connector section 26 is approximately downward.

[0036] The main unit-side connector 26 is configured to be physically and electrically connectable to the battery-side connector 32, which will be described later. Details of the main unit-side connector 26 will be described later.

[0037] (Battery Unit 14) The battery unit 14 is positioned behind the user's ear when worn. When worn, the battery unit 14 is oriented with its axial direction approximately vertical. The battery unit 14 has a roughly cylindrical shape overall.

[0038] As shown in Figure 2, the battery unit 14 comprises a battery-side connector unit 32, a battery body 34, and a lower case 36.

[0039] The battery-side connector 32 is configured to be physically and electrically connectable to the main unit-side connector 26. Details of the battery-side connector 32 will be described later.

[0040] The battery body 34 is not limited to any particular type, but for example, it is a lithium-ion battery. The battery body 34 has, for example, a roughly cylindrical shape. The battery body 34 is electrically connected to the battery-side connector 32 via the electric wire 79.

[0041] The lower case 36 houses the battery body 34. The lower case 36 has a bottom wall portion 36a and a peripheral wall portion 36b. The lower case 36 is made of, for example, resin.

[0042] (Main unit side connector 26 and battery side connector 32) Next, the main unit side connector 26 and the battery side connector 32 will be described in detail.

[0043] As shown in Figure 2, the main unit side connector portion 26 includes a first case 40, and the battery side connector portion 32 includes a second case 60. The first case 40 of the main unit side connector portion 26 and the second case 60 of the battery side connector portion 32 constitute a rotating attachment / detachment mechanism.

[0044] Specifically, the connection of the main body side connector portion 26 and the battery side connector portion 32 is completed by inserting a part of the second case 60 into the first case 40 and relatively rotating the second case 60 with respect to the first case 40 to bring it into a locked state. Also, the disconnection of the main body side connector portion 26 and the battery side connector portion 32 is completed by relatively rotating the second case 60 with respect to the first case 40 in the locked state and pulling out a part of the second case 60 from the inside of the first case 40.

[0045] As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the first case 40 has protrusions 41, and the second case 60 has an L-shaped groove 61.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 4, the protrusions 41 protrude radially inward from the inner peripheral surface 40a of the substantially cylindrical first case 40. A plurality (two) of protrusions 41 are provided. The two protrusions 41 are provided at intervals of 180 degrees in the circumferential direction.

[0047] The protrusion 41 has a recess 42 for rotational locking. The recess 42 is a recess provided on the top surface (the radially inner surface in the protruding direction) of the protrusion 41 and is located at the circumferential center position of the protrusion 41.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 3, the groove 61 is a groove provided on the outer peripheral surface 60a of the substantially cylindrical second case 60. The groove 61 has a shape in which a part of the outer peripheral surface 60a of the second case 60 is recessed radially inward. The groove 61 is composed of an axially extending axial groove 61a and a circumferentially extending circumferential groove 61b combined.

[0049] The axial groove 61a is configured such that the protrusion 41 can pass axially. The axial groove 61a is open to the top surface 60b of the second case 60.

[0050] The circumferential groove 61b is configured such that the protrusion 41 can pass circumferentially. By arranging the protrusion 41 of the first case 40 in the circumferential groove 61b of the second case 60, the battery side connector portion 32 is prevented from separating axially with respect to the main body side connector portion 26.

[0051] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the circumferential groove 61b has a projection 62 for rotation locking. The projection 62 protrudes radially outward from the bottom surface of the circumferential groove 61b. When the user rotates the battery unit 14, the projection 41 rides up onto the projection 62 of the circumferential groove 61b, and the recess 42 of the projection 41 engages with the projection 62 of the circumferential groove 61b. This locks the rotation of the battery-side connector unit 32 relative to the main unit-side connector unit 26.

[0052] The first case 40 is entirely made of resin, and the second case 60 is entirely made of resin. However, parts of the first case 40 and the second case 60 (for example, the protrusions 41 and the convex parts 62) may be made of metal or the like.

[0053] The battery-side connector portion 32 is equipped with a sealing member 72. The sealing member 72 is positioned on the outer peripheral surface 60a of the second case 60. The sealing member 72 is positioned in a circumferentially extending recess provided on the outer peripheral surface 60a of the second case 60. The sealing member 72 is compressed radially by the second case 60 and the first case 40.

[0054] As shown in Figure 2, the main body connector section 26 comprises a first circuit board 52 and a plurality (three) of terminals 54. The first circuit board 52 is held in the first case 40. The first circuit board 52 is electrically connected to the wires provided in the relay section 24. The plurality of terminals 54 are made of a conductive material and are electrically and mechanically connected to the first circuit board 52. The plurality of terminals 54 include a terminal 54 (center terminal) that is arranged coaxially with the central axis of the main body connector section 26.

[0055] The battery-side connector portion 32 includes a second circuit board 74. The second circuit board 74 is held in the second case 60 so as to be flush with the top surface 60b of the second case 60. The second circuit board 74 has a plurality of pad portions 74a. The same number (3) of pad portions 74a are provided corresponding to the terminals 54. The plurality of pad portions 74a include a pad portion 74a (center pad portion) corresponding to the terminal 54 (center terminal) which is arranged coaxially with the central axis of the main body-side connector portion 26. The pad portions 74a other than the center pad portion are formed to extend in an arc shape.

[0056] Furthermore, the battery-side connector section 32 has a third circuit board 76 that is connected to the second circuit board 74 via an electric wire 78. The third circuit board 76 is connected to the battery body 34 via an electric wire 79.

[0057] <Effects> Next, the effects of this embodiment will be described.

[0058] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 1, the earphone device 10A comprises a main body 12 and a battery unit 14 configured to be removable and attachable to the main body 12. The main body 12 comprises an earphone unit 22, a main body-side connector unit 26, and a relay unit 24 that physically and electrically connects the earphone unit 22 and the main body-side connector unit 26. The battery unit 14 comprises a battery body 34 and a battery-side connector unit 32 that can be physically and electrically connected to the main body-side connector unit 26.

[0059] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 2, the main unit side connector section 26 comprises one of the first case 40 and the second case 60 (the first case 40), and the battery side connector section 32 comprises the other of the first case 40 and the second case 60 (the second case 60). The connection between the main unit side connector section 26 and the battery side connector section 32 is completed by inserting a part of the second case 60 into the first case 40 and rotating the second case 60 relative to the first case 40 to lock it in place. The disconnection between the main unit side connector section 26 and the battery side connector section 32 is completed by rotating the second case 60 relative to the first case 40 while it is locked and removing a part of the second case 60 from inside the first case 40.

[0060] Therefore, the battery unit 14 can be removed from and attached to the main unit 12 without using any tools. In addition, the main unit-side connector unit 26 and the battery-side connector unit 32 can be realized with a simple structure, thus reducing the number of parts. Furthermore, compared to a method in which the connection between the main unit-side connector unit 26 and the battery-side connector unit 32 is held by magnets, the battery unit 14 is less likely to fall off unintentionally.

[0061] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the first case 40 has a projection 41 that protrudes radially inward from the inner circumferential surface 40a of the first case 40, and the second case 60 has a groove 61 provided on the outer circumferential surface 60a of the second case 60. The groove 61 is composed of an axial groove 61a extending in the axial direction and a circumferential groove 61b extending in the circumferential direction. The projection 41 and groove 61 are configured such that when a part of the second case 60 is inserted into the first case 40, the projection 41 passes through the axial groove 61a of the groove 61, and when the second case 60 is rotated relative to the first case 40, the projection 41 passes through the circumferential groove 61b of the groove 61. Therefore, the main body side connector portion 26 and the battery side connector portion 32 can be prevented from separating in the axial direction with a simple configuration of projection 41 and groove 61.

[0062] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 4, the projection 41 has a recess 42 for rotation locking, and the circumferential groove 61b has a protrusion 62 for rotation locking. The locking state is achieved when the recess 42 and the protrusion 62 engage (see Figure 4(B)). Therefore, the locking state can be achieved with a simple configuration consisting of the recess 42 of the projection 41 and the protrusion 62 of the circumferential groove 61b.

[0063] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 4, the projection 41 is provided with a first projection 41A and a second projection 41B, and the groove 61 is provided with a first groove 61A corresponding to the first projection 41A and a second groove 61B corresponding to the second projection 41B. The circumferential dimension of the second projection 41B is larger than the circumferential dimension of the first projection 41A, and the axial groove 61a of the first groove 61A is configured so that the second projection 41B cannot pass through. This prevents the main body side connector portion 26 and the battery side connector portion 32 from being connected in the wrong direction.

[0064] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 1, the relay section 24 includes an ear hook portion 24a which has a roughly U-shape and can be placed over the user's ear. Therefore, the earphone device 10A can be placed over the ear. In addition, compared to an embodiment in which the ear hook portion 24a is provided in a part other than the relay section 24, it is possible to prevent the structure of the earphone device 10A from becoming complicated.

[0065] <Second Embodiment> Figure 5 is a perspective view of the earphone device 10B according to the second embodiment. Detailed explanations of the same configuration as in the first embodiment will be omitted.

[0066] As shown in Figure 5, the earphone device 10B comprises a right main body 12R, a left main body 12L, and a battery unit 14B. The battery unit 14B is configured to be removable and attachable to the right main body 12R, and also removable and attachable to the left main body 12L.

[0067] The right main unit 12R comprises a right earphone unit 22R, a main unit-side right connector unit 26R, and a right relay unit 24R that physically and electrically connects the right earphone unit 22R and the main unit-side right connector unit 26R.

[0068] The left main unit 12L comprises a left earphone unit 22L, a main unit-side left connector unit 26L, and a left relay unit 24L that physically and electrically connects the left earphone unit 22L and the main unit-side left connector unit 26L.

[0069] The battery unit 14B comprises a battery body 34, a battery-side right connector 32R that can be physically and electrically connected to the main body-side right connector 26R, and a battery-side left connector 32L that can be physically and electrically connected to the main body-side left connector 26L.

[0070] In the earphone device 10B according to the second embodiment, the right earphone unit 22R and the left earphone unit 22L are connected via a battery unit 14B, etc., so the whole can be handled as a single unit. Furthermore, the power supplied to the right earphone unit 22R and the left earphone unit 22L can be supplied by a single battery unit 14B. Note that only one battery body 34 is needed for a single battery unit 14B.

[0071] The specific configurations of the main body-side right connector portion 26R and the main body-side left connector portion 26L are the same as those of the main body-side connector portion 26 in the first embodiment, and the specific configurations of the battery-side right connector portion 32R and the battery-side left connector portion 32L of the battery portion 14B are the same as those of the battery-side connector portion 32 in the first embodiment. Therefore, in the earphone device 10B according to the second embodiment, the battery portion 14B can be removed from and attached to the right main body portion 12R and the left main body portion 12L without using any tools, just like in the first embodiment. Furthermore, since the left and right main body-side connector portions 26L, 26R and the battery-side connector portions 32L, 32R can be realized with a simple structure, the number of parts can be reduced. In addition, compared to a method in which the left and right main body-side connector portions 26L, 26R and the battery-side connector portions 32L, 32R are held in place by magnets, the battery portion 14B can be prevented from unintentionally falling off.

[0072] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the battery unit 14B is positioned behind the user's neck when the earphone device 10B is worn by the user. This makes it easier to balance the weight between the left and right sides.

[0073] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the right relay section 24R includes a right ear hook 24aR which is roughly U-shaped and can be placed over the user's right ear, and the left relay section 24L includes a left ear hook 24aL which is roughly U-shaped and can be placed over the user's left ear. Therefore, the earphone device can be placed over both ears. In addition, compared to embodiments in which ear hooks are provided in parts other than the relay section, it is possible to prevent the structure of the earphone device from becoming overly complex.

[0074] While preferred embodiments of this disclosure have been described above, this disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above.

[0075] In the above embodiment, the two protrusions 41 are provided at a 180-degree interval in the circumferential direction, but the interval between the two protrusions 41 may be changed. This prevents the second case from being inserted into the first case in the wrong direction. Furthermore, preventing the second case from being inserted into the first case in the wrong direction can also be achieved by changing the height of the protrusions, the depth of the grooves, etc.

[0076] 10A Earphone device 10B Earphone device 12 Main unit 12L Left main unit 12R Right main unit 14 Battery unit 22 Earphone unit 22L Left earphone unit 22R Right earphone unit 24 Intermediate unit 24L Left intermediate unit 24R Right intermediate unit 24a Ear hook unit 24aL Left ear hook unit 24aR Right ear hook unit 26 Main unit side connector unit 26L Main unit side left connector unit 26R Main unit side right connector unit 32 Battery side connector unit 32L Battery side left connector unit 32R Battery side right connector unit 34 Battery unit 40 First case 40a Inner surface 41 Protrusion 41A First protrusion 41B Second protrusion 42 Recess 60 Second case 60a Outer surface 61 Groove 61A First groove 61B Second groove 61a Axial groove 61b Circumferential groove 62 Protrusion

Claims

1. An earphone device comprising: a main body; and a battery unit configured to be removable and attachable to the main body; the main body comprises: an earphone unit; a main body-side connector unit; and a relay unit that physically and electrically connects the earphone unit and the main body-side connector unit; the battery unit comprises: a battery body; and a battery-side connector unit that can be physically and electrically connected to the main body-side connector unit; the main body-side connector unit comprises one of a first case and a second case; the battery-side connector unit comprises the other of the first case and the second case; the connection of the main body-side connector unit and the battery-side connector unit is completed by inserting a part of the second case into the first case and rotating the second case relative to the first case to lock it; and the disconnection of the main body-side connector unit and the battery-side connector unit is completed by rotating the second case relative to the first case in the locked state and removing the part of the second case from the inside of the first case.

2. The earphone device according to claim 1, wherein the first case has a projection that protrudes radially inward from the inner circumferential surface of the first case, the second case has a groove provided on the outer circumferential surface of the second case, the groove is composed of an axial groove extending in the axial direction and a circumferential groove extending in the circumferential direction, and the projection and the groove are configured such that when a part of the second case is inserted into the interior of the first case, the projection passes through the axial groove of the groove, and when the second case is rotated relative to the first case, the projection passes through the circumferential groove of the groove.

3. The earphone device according to claim 2, wherein the projection has a recess for rotation locking, the circumferential groove has a convex portion for rotation locking, and the locking state is achieved when the recess and the convex portion engage.

4. The earphone device according to claim 2, wherein the projections include a first projection and a second projection, the grooves include a first groove corresponding to the first projection and a second groove corresponding to the second projection, the circumferential dimension of the second projection is larger than the circumferential dimension of the first projection, and the axial groove of the first groove is configured so that the second projection cannot pass through.

5. The earphone device according to claim 1, wherein the main unit side connector portion comprises the first case, and the battery side connector portion comprises the second case.

6. The earphone device according to claim 1, wherein the relay portion includes an ear hook portion which is substantially U-shaped and can be placed over the user's ear.

7. The device comprises a right main body, a left main body, and a battery unit configured to be removable and attachable to the right main body and removable and attachable to the left main body, wherein the right main body comprises a right earphone unit, a main body-side right connector unit, and a right relay unit that physically and electrically connects the right earphone unit and the main body-side right connector unit, wherein the left main body comprises a left earphone unit, a main body-side left connector unit, and a left relay unit that physically and electrically connects the left earphone unit and the main body-side left connector unit, wherein the battery unit comprises a battery body, a battery-side right connector unit that is physically and electrically connectable to the main body-side right connector unit, and a battery-side left connector unit that is physically and electrically connectable to the main body-side left connector unit, wherein the main body-side right connector unit comprises one of a right first case and a right second case, and the battery-side right connector unit comprises the other of the right first case and the right second case, The connection between the main unit's right connector and the battery's right connector is completed by inserting a part of the right second case into the right first case and rotating the right second case relative to the right first case to lock it in place. The disconnection between the main unit's right connector and the battery's right connector is completed by rotating the right second case relative to the right first case in the locked state and removing a part of the right second case from the inside of the right first case. The main unit's left connector comprises one of the left first case and the left second case. The battery's left connector comprises the other of the left first case and the left second case. The connection between the main unit's left connector and the battery's left connector is completed by inserting a part of the left second case into the left first case and rotating the left second case relative to the left first case to lock it in place. The connection between the left connector on the main unit and the left connector on the battery side is completed by rotating the left second case relative to the left first case while in the locked state, and removing a portion of the left second case from the inside of the left first case.

8. The earphone device according to claim 7, wherein the battery unit is located behind the user's neck when the earphone device is worn by the user.

9. The earphone device according to claim 7, wherein the right relay section includes a right ear hook that is substantially U-shaped and can be placed over the user's right ear, and the left relay section includes a left ear hook that is substantially U-shaped and can be placed over the user's left ear.

Images