Foldable Headphone Hinge With Magnetic Latch And Adjustable Torsion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional foldable headphones lack a reliable mechanism for maintaining a consistent, user-adjustable fold position, leading to discomfort and the need for frequent adjustments.
Innovation Solution
A foldable headphone design featuring a magnetic latch and torsional hinges with adjustable components, allowing the user to set a preferred fold angle and maintain it through a 'set-and-forget' mechanism, ensuring consistent comfort and ease of use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional foldable headphones are used without a magnetic latch, then the structure is simpler, but the fold position cannot be maintained consistently leading to discomfort and frequent adjustments
Solution Approach 1:
A magnetic latch is introduced as an intermediary component between the first and second arms to maintain the fold position. The magnetic latch includes a magnet that magnetically engages with a magnetic material on the opposing arm, creating a holding force that maintains the fold angle without requiring complex mechanical locking mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical locking mechanisms with a magnetic field-based holding system. Instead of using springs, cam locks, or multi-component mechanical latch systems, the invention uses magnetic attraction forces to maintain the fold position, simplifying the overall mechanism while improving reliability.
2Reliability
If a magnetic latch is added to maintain fold position, then fold position consistency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic latch system is designed to automatically engage and disengage based on the relative position of the arms. When the arms are folded to the desired angle, the magnetic latch automatically engages to hold the position. When the arms are moved apart, the magnetic latch automatically disengages. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for additional actuators, sensors, or control systems.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the hinge is made rigid to maintain angle, then fold position stability is improved, but the ease of adjustment is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge is designed with dynamic characteristics that allow it to be easily adjusted when force is applied, but to stabilize at specific fold angles once positioned. The magnetic latch provides discrete stable positions at common fold angles (such as 90 degrees), while allowing continuous adjustment between these positions. This dynamic behavior enables both ease of adjustment and stability at desired positions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design provides a consistent fold position, enhancing user comfort and convenience by allowing one-time adjustment of the fold angle, which is maintained across multiple uses, reducing the need for frequent reconfiguration.
Implementation Method 1
the magnetic latch can comprise at least one magnet. Additionally, in these embodiments, the first arm, the second arm, the hinge, and/or the at least one earpiece can comprise a magnetic material that is attracted to the at least one magnet
Implementation Method 2
the hinge can comprise an adjustment member configured to adjust the second angle and a torsional member
Data Source
AI summary
A foldable headphone set in which the earphones of the headphone set may rotate between a folded (or closed) position and an unfolded (or open) position due to a torsion- or spring-loaded hinge associated with each earphone. The headphone set may be held in the folded position by way of a magnetic latch. Also, the user may adjust the amount of rotation by the respective hinges so that the earphones rotate to the user-defined limit position. The user could set the user-defined limit position to a comfortable position for the user. That way, the earphones will unfold to the user-defined limit position every time (until the user-defined limit is readjusted). In addition, a friction grommet in the hinge may provide for a slow, controlled, smooth opening of the hinge. In at least one embodiment, a hinge is provided for use in a variety of applications.