Hinged Privacy Panel for Headset Lip-Reading Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Coaches and other individuals using communication headsets in competitive sports often have their lip-reading protected information inadvertently exposed due to the lack of a reliable method to shield their mouth and lips from opponents and commentators, as manual covering is not consistently effective.
Innovation Solution
A mouth and lip shielding device with an elongated malleable member that attaches to the headset's boom swivel housing and features a hingedly secured privacy panel, allowing it to pivot and cover the mouth area without interfering with the headset's functionality, enabling users to adjust the position of the shield for privacy and normal use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a manual folder is used to cover the mouth, then lip-reading protection is improved, but reliability deteriorates because coaches often forget to cover their mouths
Solution Approach 1:
The shielding device is pre-positioned on the headset boom structure, automatically covering the mouth area before the coach begins speaking. This eliminates the need for manual intervention and ensures continuous protection without requiring the coach to remember to cover their mouth.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is designed to be self-adjusting through a hinge mechanism that allows the shield to move with the headset boom's motion. The shield automatically positions itself to cover the mouth area without requiring manual manipulation, making the system autonomous and reliable.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a fixed mouth shield is attached to the headset, then lip-reading protection is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates because the shield may interfere with headset functionality
Solution Approach 1:
The shielding device incorporates a hinge connection that allows it to dynamically adjust its position. The shield can pivot between a retracted position (for ease of operation) and an extended position (for lip-reading protection), enabling the system to adapt to different operational requirements without interfering with headset functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
A mouth and lip shielding device includes an elongated malleable member having a first end and a second end. A headphone attachment mechanism is positioned along the first end of the elongated member and secures the device onto the boom swivel housing of a headset. A privacy panel is secured along the second end of the elongated member at a location adjacent to the headset microphone. The privacy panel is hingedly secured to the elongated member and transitions between a closed position for covering the mouth of a user, and an open position that does not cover the mouth of a user. The attachment mechanism permits the device to pivot up and down with an up and down movement of the headset microphone.