SOUND REDUCTION HEADSET

CASQUE A REDUCTEUR DE VOLUME SONORE

English Abstract

Abstract of the Disclosure
An adjustable connector for connecting cups
of a sound reduction headset to a headband. The
connector includes an elastomeric slide that
frictionally is held to the inner of two parallel end
panels forming the terminal end portions of the
headband. The outer panel shields the inner panel from
the wearer's hair and thus serves to prevent the hair
from catching in the slide's operation.

Claims

What is claimed is:
1. In a sound reduction headset of the type
having a flexible headband adapted to overlie the
wearer s head and terminating in ends adapted for
disposition opposite the wearer's ears and each such
end in turn provided with an acoustical cup attached
thereto and having generally rotational movement with
respect to the end to which it is attached and adapted
to at least partially enclose the wearer's ear; the
improvement comprising, an adjustable connector means
for connecting the cups to the headband ends to which
they are respectively attached, said connector means
including a longitudinally oriented outer end panel
essentially forming the terminal end portion of each
headband end and a longitudinally oriented inner end
panel inwardly disposed from and generally parallel to
said outer panel, and a slide member attached to said
inner end panel and adapted for vertical adjustable
movement thereon, said slide member having a body in
contact with an inner surface of said inner end panel
and from which a connector element inwardly extends for
attaching said cup to said adjustable connector means,
said inner panel having a lateral extent materially
less than that of said outer end panel such that the
outer end panel essentially shields said connector
means from contact with the wearer s hair that may
contact and overlie the outside surface of said outer
end panel.
-10-

2. The improved sound reduction headset of
claim 1, said inner panel generally centrally superposed
with relation to said outer panel.
3. The improved sound reduction headset of
claim 2, including a longitudinal web disposed between said
inner and outer panels and rigidly connecting said panels
together, said web and said panels forming a pair of
longitudinally extending slots between said panels, said
slide having a pair of laterally opposed fingers forwardly
disposed from said slide body and adapted to at least
partially surround said inner panel by extending into said
slots.
4. The improved sound reduction headset of
claim 3, said slide being formed of a rigid, high friction
elastomeric material such that it requires forcible
movement for repositioning on said inner panel.
11

Description

~3~0~3
IMPROVED SOUND REDUCTION HEADSRT
Background and Obiects of the Invention
This invention relates t~ a sound reduction
headset and more particularly to an improved combination
adjustment and connector device whereby the acoustical cups of
such may be attached to the headband or other supporting
element.
Headsets oE this type are generally utilized in
various work or recreational environments where it is desirable
to reduce the sound entering one' 6 ears. The no~nal headset
includes a pair of acoustical cups which at least partially
encircle or surround one's ears and supporting mechanisms
whereby the acoustical cups may be maintained in the desired
position such as a headband which encircles the wearer's head
or a helmet or work hat from which a supporting member
~$~
~g ycc/~p -1-

13~)33
extends so as to attach the cups in the clesired position. As
used herein, the term headband includes not only the normal
structure in the form of a somewhat semi-circular or C-shaped
element but also structures which include an intermediate work
hat or helmet from which elements which ultimately position the
acoustical cups depend.
A recurrent pr~blem with such headsets is that the
mechanisms utilized to obtain vertical adjustment of the
acoustical cups so as to enable the headset to fit various sized
and shaped heads of people is that the wearer's hair when worn
long can contact such mechanisms and not only interfere with
their operation but also catch one's hair and cause irritation
or pain. In addition, sometimes it is sometimes necessary to
r~move the head gear q~lickly, and should one's hair be caught
in the adjustment mechanism, such would present difficulty in
achieving such result.
It is, accordingly, an object of the present
invention to present a sound reduction headset of the above
generally described type which includes a combination adjustable
connector means whereby the cups may be connected and supported
for easy adjustment with respect to the wearer's ears and head
yet be constructed in such a manner that the wearer's hair is
not normally contacted or caught in the operational mechanism
of such improved adjustable connector means.
ycc/~p ~ -2-

~3~ 3
A further object of the present invention is the
provision of an improved sound reduction headset which achieves
the immediately aforesaid goal yet is of simple, relatively low
cost construction, and easily operable.
These and other objects of the present invention
are accomplished by providing a sound reduction headset of the
type having a flexible headband adapted to overlie the wearer's
head and texminating in ends adapted for disposition opposite
the wearer's ears and wherein each end is in turn provided with
an acoustical cup attached thereto for generally swivable
movement with its respective end and adapted to at least
partially enclose the wearer's ear; the improvement comprising
an adjustable connector means for connecting the cups to their
respective headband ends, said connector means including a
longitudinally oriented outer end panel essentialIy forming the
terminal end portion of each headband end and a longitudinally
oriented inner end panel inwardly disposed from and generally
parallel to said outer panel, and a slide member attached to
said inner end panel and adapted for vertical adjustable
movement thereon, said slide member having a body in contact
with an inner surface of said inner end panel and from which a
connector element inwardly extends for attaching said cup to
said adjustable connector means, said inner panel of a lateral
extent materially less than that of said outer end panel such
that the outer end panel essentially shields said connector
means from
ycc/sp 3

~3~D33
contact with the wearer's hair that may contact and overlie the
outside surface of said outer end panel.
Other objects, features and advantages of the
invention shall become apparent as the description thereof
S proceeds when considered in connection with the accompanying
illustrative drawing.
ycc/sp 4_

~3~0033
Description of the Drawinq
In the drawing which illustrates the best mode
presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention:
Fig. 1 is an elevational view showing a sound
5reduction headset incorporating the prPsent invention positioned
upon a wearer with long hair;
Fig. 2 is a partial perspective view of one of the
end portions of the headband of Fig. 1 with the acoustical cup
removed for clarity;
10Fig. 3 is an elevational view taken from the
inside of the headband portion shown in Fig. 2 on an enlarged
scale and showing the acoustical cup in dotted lines; and
Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the
line 4-4 of Fig. 2 and shows in particular the manner in which
15the slide engages the inner panel portion of the headband end
shown in Fig.2.
ycc/sp -5-

~3~ 33
Description of the Preferred Embodiment
Turning now to the drawing and particularly
Fig. 1, a sound reduction headset 10 in which the
invention is utilized is shown in place upon a human
wearer. Such headset 10 includes a headband 12 having a
first portion 14 which partially encircles the head and
is supported thereon and a pair of side extensions 16
downwardly dependent therefrom. The overall construction
of the band 14 is semi-circular or C-shaped and includes
opposed terminal end portions 18 to which acoustical cups
20 are positioned for both vertical adjustment with
respect to the band ~4 and for relative rotation therewith
such that the cups may be comfortably and properly
positioned so as to envelop the ears of the wearer and
thus provide the desired sound protection.
It should also be pointed out that the
present invention as will hereinafter be more fully
explained may also relate to a sound producing device such
as a radio in which the acoustical cups 20 are provided
with sound but the overall nature of the device is still
that of protecting the ear from unwanted sounds from the
surrounding environment. Thus the term "sound reduction
headset" refers to device which accomplish such overall
objectives regardless of their specific purpose.
Generally the band 14 is formed as by
injection molding from a stiff yet flexible plastic
material and the ends 16 thereof outwardly flex ~rom a
more inward normal position to the position shown in
ycc/sp -6-

~3~1~t3133
Fig. 1 such that a modest inward force is applied to the
cups 20 so that they are maintained in an effectively firm
relationship to the sides of the wearer's head. Also the
cups 20 are normally provided with an interior lining 22
formed from a soft compressible material such as foam
rubber to better seal the ear from outside soundO As
previously indicated, the band portion of the headband may
also take the form of a helmet, work hat, or other
intermediate member from which the side extensions 16
lo depend.
The adjustable connector means 24 which is the
subject matter of the present invenkion is best shown by
reference to Fig. 2 in which it may be seen that an outer
generally flat panel 26 forms an extension or terminal end
portion of the headband ends 18. An inner panel 28 is
disposed parallel to and inwardly of the inner surface 30
of the outer panel ~6 and connected thereto by means of an
intermediate web 31 preferably extending along the entire
longitudinal extent of the inner panel 28 to provide
rigidity thereto. A slida 32, as hereinafter will be more
fully explained, is moved upwardly and downwardly on the
panel 28 to provide for vertical adjustment of the cups 20.
The inner panel 28 is generally flat and is of
a lateral extent materially less than that of the outer
panel 26 and is generally centrally positioned with respect
to the outer panel. Such positioning and extent, in
effect, shields the inner panel 28 from
ycc/~p -7-

~L30(~033
contact with the wearer ~ halr. Most adjustment
and acoustical cup supporting mechanisms w4ul d be
positloned on the outer panel 26 and thus ~e able to
catch the wearer s hair or otherwise interfere ~Ith the
operation of the adjustment and supporting device. In
the present device not onlY is the inner panel 2B
inwardly positioned with respect to the outer panel 26
but it is also of a substantially lesser width 50 a5 to
provide for protected or sheltered positioning of the
0 51 ide 3~ in the intended manner so as to reduce or
eliminate undesirable contact with the slide from the
wearer s hair.
Such slide 32 includes a body ~4 and a pair
of inwardly extending opposed fingærs 36 whlch are
adapted to extænd Into a pair of slot~ 38 coopæratIvæly
formed by the outer surface of the Inn~r pane1 289 thæ
web 31 and the inrer surface of the outer panel 26.
The 51 ide 32 is formed from 1 hard? yet flexible
elastomeric material such as rubber but is dimensioned
so as to rather tightly fit the Inner panel ~ 50 as to
partially en~elop such and provide the- necessary
friction such that the slide must be forciblY mo~ed
from one position to another. In this waY then
placement of the slide 32 with respect to the inner
panel 28 ~ærtically positions thæ cups 20 in th~
desirecl hæight relationship and such relationship is
assuredly maintained bY the aforesaid frIctional
forces.
The s1ide 32 ~lso inclucies a ~onnector
element 40 in the form of a post which inwardly

13~1Dal~3
upwardly extends fr~m the body ~4 ancl is pro~ided with
a circular recess 42 in which the eclges of an opening
21 40rmed in the outer shell of the acoustlcal cup are
adapted to extend and thus form the connection between
the slide 32 and the CUp5 20. A 1ead in ramp 44 as
well as a shelf 46 may be prouided on Qpposit2 sides of
the recess 4~ to facilitate such action. It should be
thus clear that the cup is not on1Y vertically
adjustable with respect to the terminal portion of the
headband 1~ by reason of its attachment to the slide 32
but it is also rotationally adjustaole thereto because
of the aforementioned connection between the opening 21
and the recess 42. ~ccordingly a usable Yet simplY
constructed connector device has been provided such
that the desired attachment of acoustical cups to the
headband of sound reducti~n headsets mar be provided
while simulSaneously reducing or eliminating the
prcblem of having the wearer s hair catching therein or
otherwise inter~ere with the desired obJects of the
present invention.
While there is shown and described herein
certain specific structure emQodying thi 5 invention it
will be manifest to thQse s~illed in .the art that
uarious modifications and rearrangements of the parts
maY be made without departing from the spirit and sc~pe
of the under1ying inventive concept and that the same
is not limited to the particular forms herein shown ard
described except insofar as indicated by the scope of
the appended claims.
.

Representative Drawing