Headwear Pass-Through Slots for Earbud Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing headwear designs often cause discomfort and instability for earbuds during cold weather activities, as they tend to shift and can be pulled out, while also allowing cold air to enter due to the earbuds protruding and the headwear not resting snugly.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates pass-through slots on the sides of the headwear, allowing earbuds to be securely positioned while maintaining ear and head coverage, using overlapping edges and stitching to form openings that accommodate earbuds and prevent cold air entry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If earbuds are worn during cold weather activities, then auditory function is maintained, but earbuds shift and slip within the ear causing discomfort and instability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces headwear with pass-through slots as an intermediary structure that holds earbuds in place. The slots are positioned to receive and secure earbuds, preventing them from shifting or slipping while allowing the headwear to rest comfortably against the head.
2Temperature
If headwear covers the ears to provide warmth, then thermal comfort is improved, but earbuds extend outwardly and are pressed further into the ear creating unwanted pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The headwear is designed with segmented fabric panels that are joined by stitching to form pass-through slots. These slots create openings at the sides of the headwear that allow earbuds to pass through, preventing the headwear from pressing earbuds into the ears while maintaining overall ear coverage for warmth.
3Adaptability or versatility
If earbuds extend outwardly from the ears, then auditory equipment is accessible, but cold air enters the interior of the headwear reducing warmth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates pass-through slots that extend through the lateral dimensions of the headwear. These slots allow earbuds to pass through horizontally while the overlapping fabric panels maintain vertical coverage, preventing cold air from entering the interior of the headwear while keeping earbuds accessible.
Data Source
AI summary
An article of headwear made of a resilient material includes at least two panels that cooperate to form openings or pass-through slots through which a user may thread earbuds or headphones while maintaining coverage of the ear. The ends of the at least two panels may overlap one another. The ends of the panels may be reconfigurable between a first configuration where the panels lay flat over one another and a second configuration, where the panels are manipulated to no longer lay flat over one another to define at least one opening. One of the panels may include a non-resilient material coupled to at least one of the panels proximate to the end of the panel to aid the user in threading earbuds through the at least one opening at least partially defined by the non-resilient material.