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Description  |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to personal listening devices, such as sound stereo
devices.
Devices for conveying sound exclusively to a single listener usually
involve headphones. These headphones extend above the head of the listener
and press individual phones against the head of the listener so that the
latter not only feels pressure, but the non-realistic impression of the
sound occurring at the center of the head. The headphones are also close
to the ears of the listener, so that loud sounds can cause deafness.
Moreover, the headphones cover, sometimes completely, both ears of the
listener and, hence, obstruct external surrounding sounds. Thus, persons
walking or exercising in the streets with headphones invite the
possibility of a traffic accident because it may be impossible precisely
to recognize other sounds while listening to the headphones. For example,
while driving an automobile, an alarm signal from another automobile
cannot be heard, so that judgment and reflexes may be delayed and
accidents may occur.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 100,220/78 discloses a
muffler-type personal audio device. This device encloses a pair of
speakers in a casing in the shape of and decorated as a muffler. The
casing may be in the form of leather, cloth, or the like and appear to be
a muffler or scarf. Coil-like connector cables connected to each speaker
pass from one end of the support member and a portable radio apparatus is
connected to the cables. This devices spaces the sound from the ears of
the listener while leaving the ears uncovered, thereby lessening the
disadvantages of headphones.
However, muffler-type devices may be unpleasant during the summertime or
when worn in the tropics, when perspiration may cause the casing to adhere
to the body. The device may thus become unsanitary with perspiration and
result in skin irritations. Moreover, the casing around the neck
interferes with some of the listener's movement and may not be suitable
for exercise while listening.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to eliminate the above-described
disadvantages of the conventional device.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a personal audio
device for reproducing a permeable, sanitary and natural audible sound by
directly placing a pair of speakers on the shoulder of a listener.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a personal audio
device which can eliminate an unpleasant feeling and unsanitary
conditions, which, when wearing, can prevent a listener from moving and
can show a good appearance.
According to the present invention, there is provided a personal audio
device comprising a pair of speakers, a cable connected to the speakers,
an audio apparatus connected to the cable, and a coupling member for
mechanically coupling the speakers. The coupling member and the cable of
the speakers being annularly constructed and the speakers being able to be
placed on the shoulder of a listener. A connection member is provided to
the cable for electrically connecting an output circuit of the audio
apparatus to the cable. The audio apparatus is a radio receiver, a
cassette tape recorder or a cassette tape recorder with a radio receiver.
The audio apparatus is suspended from the pair of speakers by a cable. An
antenna is assembled in the coupling member.
According to the present invention, there is also provided a personal audio
device comprising a holster type supporting body mounted on both shoulders
of a listener, an audio apparatus connected to the supporting body, and a
speaker provided on the upper portion of the supporting body fitting the
shoulders of the listener. The supporting body consists of a flexible
belt. The audio apparatus is connected to the portion of the supporting
body corresponding to the side of said listener.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing one embodiment of a personal audio
device according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a front view for explaining the applied state of the device shown
in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view showing a second embodiment of a personal
audio device according to the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram for explaining the device shown in FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a schematic plan diagram showing a third embodiment of a personal
audio device according to the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram for explaining the device shown in FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram showing a fourth embodiment of a personal audio
device according to the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a fifth embodiment of a personal audio
device according to the present invention;
FIGS. 9a and 9b show the condition of wearing the personal audio device
shown in FIG. 8 to a litener, in which FIG. 9a shows a front view and FIG.
9b shows a rear view; and
FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram for explaining a sixth embodiment of the audio
apparatus used in the device shown in FIG. 8.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
In the drawings, the same reference characters designate the same or
corresponding parts throughout the several views. FIG. 1 shows an
embodiment of a personal audio device according to the present invention.
In FIG. 1, a pair of speakers 1 and 2 are accommodated in separate cases.
Cables 3 and 4 are connected to the speakers 1 and 2, respectively. The
cables 3, 4 are connected to a connector cable 6, which is formed into a
coil to be extended to a predetermined length, through a connecting
portion 5. The end of the connector cable 6 is provided with a connection
member, such as a plug 7 in the illustrated example, for receiving an
audio signal from an audio apparatus. The speakers 1 and 2 are also
coupled by coupling members, for example decoration chains 8 and 9, in
order to mount them on both the shoulders of a listener as shown in FIG.
2, thereby forming annular loop together with the cables 3 and 4. A hook
10 couples the chains 8 and 9.
When using this device, a pair of speakers 1 and 2 are mounted near the
ears on both shoulders of a listener so as to eliminate an oppressive
sensation the phones being fastened to the head such as when using a
headphone, to transmit the sound through the air and the body so that a
good audio sound close to a natural sound can be reproduced, and to
prevent difficulties with hearing caused by high volume.
If the device is connected to a portable audio apparatus, such as a small
radio receiver 11 as shown in FIG. 2, the sound can be heard and
surrounding sounds such as an alarm signal can simultaneously be heard
even while listening to music. Hence, interference with walking or driving
such as an automobile or the like can considerably be mitigated as
compared with a headphone.
As the annular portion is composed of the chains 8 and 9 and the cables 3
and 4, the device is well permeable as compared with the muffler type
personal audio device, hard to stain but sanitary, and does not prevent
perspiration even in a humid atmosphere, so that there is no umpleasant
feeling caused by wearing the device nor anxiety of a skin disease.
Moreover, cables 3 and 4, the connector cable 6, or the like may be made
fashionable by covering with a casing decorated to look like a pendant.
A second embodiment is explained with reference to FIG. 3. In FIG. 3, a
pair of cables 23 and 24 are connected to respective speakers 21 and 22.
An audio apparatus, such as an FM radio receiver 25 in the illustrated
example is connected to the cables 23 and 24. The FM radio receiver 25 is
provided with a main switch 26, a tuning scale 27 and left and right
volumes 28 and 29 on one disc surface, while a tuning dial 30 is provided
on the side surface of the radio receiver. In this case, an electric
circuit is formed to connect a direct current source 31 to the FM radio
receiver 25 and to an antenna 32 as shown in FIG. 4. This antenna 32 is
wound around a coupling member for coupling the speakers 21 and 22, for
example one decoration chain 33 of decoration chain 33 and 34.
According to such a construction, an effect similar to the above can be
obtained, and the audio apparatus, the FM radio receiver 25 in this case,
is used as a personal ornament, so that it is unnecessary to consider
where to put the FM radio receiver 25.
A third embodiment shown in FIG. 5, involves connecting a superminiature
cassette tape recorder 41 instead of the FM radio receiver 25 to cables 42
and 43 connected to a pair of speakers 21 and 22. In this case, the cables
42 and 43 are meshed into a chain for covering vinyl tubes 44 and 45 as
decoration. The superminiature cassette tape recorder 41 is provided with
a cassette chamber portion 46 and an operating portion 47 for each
operating mode (recording, reproducing, fast feed, rewinding, etc.) on one
disc surface and left and right volumes 48 and 49 on the side surface.
Moreover, an electric circuit in this case is formed to connect the
cassette chamber portion 46 to a cassette player 50 connected to the
speakers 21 and 22 as shown in FIG. 6, and to connect a direct current
source 51 to these members 50 and 46. On the other hand, the fourth
embodiment shown in FIG. 7, uses a cassette tape recorder 63, in which a
cassette chamber portion 62 is connected to a cassette tape player 61, is
connected to an FM radio receiver 65 having an antenna 64 and a pair of
speakers 67 and 68 are connected to the cassette tape recorder with an FM
radio receiver driven by a direct current source 66.
According to this construction, an effect similar to those of each
embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 can be obtained, and design can be
improved by meshing the cables 42 and 43 into a chain. Moreover, the
device becomes decorative by covering respective lead wires 42 and 43 with
the vinyl tube 44 and 45, and the cables 42 and 43 are effectively
protected.
A fifth embodiment of the present embodiment is explained with reference to
FIG. 8.
In FIG. 8, a flexible supporting body 71 worn by a listener is formed into
a holster of the type used for carrying a pistol by two belts 111 and 112
composed, for example, of leather, artificial leather or the like. That
is, the supporting body 71 is provided with one belt 111 formed into an
annular shape and secured to the other annular belt 112 crossed at the
center of the belt 111. In this case, the belts 111 and 112 can be
adjusted in their lengths by adjusting members 121 and 122.
The body 71 is put on both shoulders of a listener in the manner shown in
FIGS. 9a and 9b, and the belt portion 111 on the side of the listener is
provided with an audio apparatus 73 and the belt portions 111 and 112 of
both the shoulders of the litener are provided with speakers 74 and 75,
respectively. In this case, wiring (not shown) between the audio apparatus
73 and speakers 74 and 75 is applied along the surface or the inside of
the belts 111 and 112. Moreover, the audio apparatus 73 may be a tape
recorder, a tape recorder with a radio receiver or the like. In the case
of a radio receiver, in the same manner as in FIG. 4, the audio apparatus
73 is composed of a radio receiver 76(25) and a battery 77(31) is
connected to the speakers 74 and 75. Moreover, in the case of a tape
recorder, as in FIG. 6, the tape recorder is composed of a tape cassette
driving portion 78(46), a recording and reproducing amplifier system
79(50) and the amplifier system 79(50) is connected to the speakers 74 and
75. Moreover, in case of a tape recorder with a radio receiver, as shown
in FIG. 10, the tape recorder is composed of a radio receiver 81, a tape
cassette driving portion 82, a recording and reproducing amplifier system
83 and a battery 84, and the amplifier system 83 is connected to the
speakers 74 and 75.
According to the above construction, when a listener wears the supporting
body 71 in the manner shown in FIGS. 9a and 9b, the audio apparatus 73 is
positioned on the side of the listener and the speakers 74 and 75 are
positioned on both shoulders of the listener.
Under such conditions, if the audio apparatus 73 is operated, a sound
source signal is supplied to the speakers 74 and 75 through a wiring, and
personal audio sound can be enjoyed from the speakers 74 and 75 on both
the shoulder of the listener.
In this case, the supporting body 71 is constructed as a holster type, so
that it never gives an unpleasant feeling in summertime nor insanitation
caused by stains such as perspiration as compared to a conventional
flexible body wound around the neck. Moreover, a listener who puts on the
supporting body 71 has nothing to prevent the listener's movement, which
is very advantageous for enjoying audio listening during exercise.
Moreover, the external appearance is better than that of the conventional
flexible body wound around the neck.
In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments
but can be modified without departing from the scope of the invention. For
example, in the above embodiments, the speakers are provided on both
shoulders of the supporting body 71, but the speakers can be provided on
one shoulder. Moreover, in the above embodiment, the audio apparatus 73 is
positioned on one side of the listener, but a battery in the audio
apparatus can be separated and positioned on the other side of the
listener. Moreover, the audio apparatus 73 can be positioned at any
optional place of the body 71 for improving the external appearance.
Moreover, in the above embodiments, the supporting body 71 is constructed
with two belts 111 and 112, but it may be constructed with one belt.
As described above, the present invention can provide a personal audio
device which is permeable, sanitary and reproducible of a natural audio
sound by directly mounting a pair of speakers on the shoulders of a
listener.
The present invention can provide a personal audio device which can
eliminate an unpleasant feeling and unsanitary condition when being worn,
removes hindrance of movement of a listener, and presents a good external
appearance.
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