Rotatable Headphone Sound Units for DJ Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional headphones are difficult for DJs to wear in non-standard positions, such as with one earpiece on the ear and the other held by the chin or at the back of the head, due to limited rotation range, which affects stability and requires larger storage space.

Innovation Solution

A headphone design with rotatable sound-emitting units connected to a headband via adjustable connectors, allowing a range of 0 to 90 degrees or 0 to 45 degrees, enabling flexible positioning and storage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the rotation range of the sound-emitting unit is set to 90 degrees, then the adaptability for different wearing positions is improved, but the thickness of the headphone increases requiring larger storage space

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewearing position adaptabilityVSAvoidstorage space
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a rotatable sound-emitting unit that can dynamically adjust its orientation. The rotating mechanism allows the sound-emitting unit to change its angular position relative to the headband, enabling the headphone to adapt between normal wearing position and alternative positions (such as DJ style wearing) without increasing the overall thickness when stored in the minimal 0-degree configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Volume of moving object

If the rotation range of the sound-emitting unit is restricted to less than 90 degrees, then the storage space requirement is reduced, but the stability when worn in non-standard positions deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage spaceVSAvoidwearing stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs an adjustable rotation range mechanism that can be configured to provide sufficient rotational freedom for stable non-standard wearing positions while limiting the maximum rotation angle to prevent excessive thickness. The rotation range parameter is optimized to balance between achieving stable alternative wearing positions and maintaining a compact form factor for storage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If the sound-emitting unit is made rotatable, then the ease of operation for adjusting wearing position is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition adjustmentVSAvoidconnector structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the headphone into modular components: a fixed headband and a rotatable sound-emitting unit connected through a specialized connector. This segmentation allows the rotating function to be isolated to a specific component, making the adjustment operation simple for the user while containing the mechanical complexity within a dedicated rotating connector assembly that can be independently manufactured and assembled.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3525479B1headphone
Publication Date: 2021.06.30 ALPHATHETA CORP
  • EP3525479B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3525479B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3525479B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A headphone includes: a headband (2); at least one sound-emitting unit including a sound emitter located therein; at least one connector (4) connecting the sound-emitting unit to the headband (2) such that the sound-emitting unit is rotatable around a rotation axis along an up-down direction; and at least one adjuster (5) configured to adjust a rotation range of the sound-emitting unit.