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Claims  |
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What is claimed is:
1. A headset, comprising a head band engageable over the head at least one
earpiece having a slot therethrough through which said band extends, and a
microphone arm having one end with a microphone thereon and an opposite
end with an engagement portion which is slidably engageable on said band.
2. A headset according to claim 1, wherein said microphone arm has an
annular end part with a portion having an opening therethrough engaged
over said band, said band and said annular end part having projection and
recess means for interengaging said microphone arm with said band.
3. A headset according to claim 2, wherein said portion comprises a ring in
said annular end part with a bore therethrough and said engagement means
comprises a projection extending into said ring bore.
4. A headset, according to claim 1, wherein said arm opposite end includes
a rotatable bushing having a hole therethrough through which said band
extends.
5. A headset, according to claim 4, wherein said band and its hole are of
rectangular construction and including catch means for interengaging said
band with said ring portion.
6. A headset, according to claim 4, wherein said bushing is made of a
resilient material.
7. A headset, according to claim 1, wherein said arm opposite end includes
a portion with an opening therethrough, said opening being bevelled
inwardly from each end to a central point, said band being flat, means in
the opening for pivotally supporting said band therein and holding it in
place at the location of the point between the bevelled ends, the surface
of said band being such that one side thereof will rest against a bevelled
surface adjacent one end of the opening and the opposite side will rest
against the bevelled surface on the opposite side of the opening.
8. A headset according to claim 7, said portion including a ring having a
hole therethrough rotatably mounted on the opposite portion of said arm
and having an opening through which said band extends and snap connection
means defined between the interior of the hole of said ring and said band
for pivotally supporting said band in said ring.
9. A headset, according to claim 8, wherein said snap connection means
comprises a recess in said band, said ring having a projection engageable
into said recess.
10. A headset, according to claim 8, wherein said band and said ring have
interengageable serrated portions.
11. A headset, according to claim 1, wherein said earpiece has a
cylindrical housing portion with a slot therethrough through which the
band extends, an additional securement band carried on said earpiece
housing shaped to permit engagement thereof by said engagement portion of
said arm. |
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Claims |
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Description |
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FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates in general to headsets and, in particular, to a new
and useful headphone including a microphone, in which the microphone is
carried on the end of an arm which is adjustable in various directions
relative to the headphone.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Headsets are well-known in a great variety of designs. The requirements
imposed on such devices are that they should be of a minimum weight, they
should include a wide adjustment range for the microphone, and be
resistant to rough handling. In general, the devices of the prior art
comply with these requirements as to the possibilities of adjustment and
the employed mechanisms. However, they are usually too heavy and
expensive, or they cannot withstand rough manipulation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a headset with a lightweight microphone arm
which is capable of withstanding rough handling and may be manufactured in
such a simple manner that its cost is also reduced in relation to the
headsets of the prior art.
To this end, in accordance with the invention, the microphone arm is
designed to be slidably engaged, by its end remote from the microphone, on
an extension which is provided on an earpiece or on the headband, and
preferably, on one of the ends of the latter.
In a development of the invention, the end portion of the microphone arm to
be engaged is thickened and has a passage opening inside of which
projections, catch-stops, or stops are provided which may match
corresponding elements provided on the extensions.
A particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention is one in which the
extensions are designed as cylindrical pins, the surface of which may be
provided with projections or recesses in the form of riffles or grooves
which are conformable to analogous elements provided inside of the passage
opening of the microphone arm.
The principal advantage obtained by the invention is that the microphone
arm can be disengaged from the one and engaged with the other side, so as
to extend, for example, not from the left, but from the right, toward the
mouth of the operator.
Since the microphone arm can be pivoted about two distinct axes at an angle
to each other and also be easily detached, the inventive headset,
including the microphone arm, occupies a very small space during storage
or transportation, which is also advantageous.
Another advantageous feature of the invention, is that a bushing may be
provided in the thickened end portion of the microphone arm, having inside
projections, catchstops, or stops which may correspond to conformable
elements on the extensions. The bushing may be made of a resilient
material.
A further advantage of the invention is that in case of a failure, the
microphone arm can be exchanged even by an inexperienced user.
The microphone arm may be equipped with a separate cable, but it is also
possible to unite all lines in once cable and to separate them only in the
area of the earpiece. It is further possible to provide a separate
cable-distributing box mounted, for example, on the outside of an earpiece
and comprising pull relief elements.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a headset which
comprises a head-encircling band having at least one earpiece with a slot
defined therethrough through which the band extends and including a
microphone arm having a microphone adjacent one end and an opposite end
with an engagement portion which is slidably engageable on the band.
A further object of the invention is to provide a headset which is simple
in design, rugged in construction and economical to manufacture.
The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are
pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to the forming a part
of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its
operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference
should be had to the accompanying drawing and descriptive matter in which
there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the Drawings:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an inventive headphone including a
microphone arm;
FIG. 2 shows the mounting of a cable-distributing box;
FIG. 3 is a detail showing the mounting of the microphone arm at the end of
the headband;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4--4 of FIG. 3; and
FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing another embodiment of the
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to the drawings in particular, the invention embodied therein
comprises a headset which includes a head-encircling band 4 which is of a
rectangular, flat construction and which has at least one earpiece 6
mounted thereon by engagement of the band ends 5 and 5a through respective
slots defined in cylindrical portions 6a and 6a' of the respective
earpieces 6 and 6'. In accordance with the invention, a microphone arm 1
having a microphone 2 at one end has an opposite end with engagement means
3 which engages over a free end 5 of the headband 4 or, alternatively, on
a free end of a separate band element 5' secured to the earpiece 6.
As shown in FIG. 1, the inventive headset may be equipped with a strap or
band 4 made, for example, in the form of a U-shaped flat strip or plastic.
Two earpieces 6 and 6' are provided with cylindrical housing parts 6a and
6a' which have flat slot passages therethrough for the band and they are
displaceable, in frictional contact, along the respective end portions 5
and 5a of the band 4. A microphone arm 1 is slidably engaged on one end
portion 5 of the band and carries a microphone 2 on its free end. The
electrical connection is established by means of a cable 7 comprising both
a pair of wires 9 for the earpieces 6 and a pair of wires 8 for the
microphone 2. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the pull is absorbed by wires
9, so that the microphone wires 8 remain relieved from tension.
FIG. 2 shows another embodiment in which a cable-distributing box 10 is
provided on the outside of earpiece 6, wherefrom, lines 8' and 9' lead to
the microphone 2 and the earpiece 6, respectively.
In FIG. 1, the headband end 5 carrying the microphone arm is designed as an
extension having a rectangular cross-section. The passage opening of a
rotatable clamping ring 3 of an annular thickened end portion 13 of
microphone arm 1 also has a rectangular cross-section. The ring 3 is
rotatable in end portion 13 and it has a bore which is tapered inwardly
from both sides to the middle, thereby, forming top and bottom stop
surfaces 12 and 12'0 against which the narrow surfaces of extension 5
apply, as shown in detail in FIG. 3. In addition, a catch pin 11 may be
provided, for example, in the shape of a conical projection on the inside
of the passage opening of clamping ring 3 or of thickened end 13 of
microphone arm 1, and a corresponding recess or bore 14, 14' may be
provided in extension 5, as shown in FIG. 4.
A band 5' may be secured to the cylindrical housing 6a holding a microphone
arm 1, if desired. Bore 14' functions in the same manner as bore 14.
The tapering of stop surfaces 12 is such that arm 1 does not extend from
the band plane perpendicularly, but forms an angle .alpha. with the
vertical, so as to get the microphone as accurately as possible in front
of the operator's mouth.
FIG. 1 also indicates in dotted lines the manner in which the microphone
arm, designated 1', upon disengagement, can be re-engaged on the band end
so as to extend, for example, not from the right, but from the left hand
side to the operator's mouth.
Since the microphone arm can be pivoted about the axes A, B or C, D, and
can also be easily detached, only a small space is required for the
headset during storage or transportation, which is a very important
advantage.
If wire straps are used, each end of the strap may be coated with plastic,
in the shape of an extension 5, 5', or such an extension may be provided
thereon.
In FIG. 4, the engagement of catch pin 11 into recess or bore 14 is shown.
FIG. 5 shows another embodiment for the clamping ring 3' which includes
ridges 16 protruding from the surface of a headband end 5". These engage
with corresponding ridges 18 in clamping ring 3'.
While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described
in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the
invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied
otherwise without departing from such principles.
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Description |
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