Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02243728 1998-07-22
FII"E: 2836.RTF
EARPHONE-MICROPHONE-EARMUFF ASSEMBLY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a type of earphone-microphone-earmuff
assembly. More particularly, the present invention relates to a type of
earphone-
microphone-earmuff assembly whose components can be used together, in various
combinations or individually.
Description of Related Art
Following the recent progress in consumer electronics, electrical products are
becoming more lightweight and miniaturized. Nowadays, people can carry various
kinds of mini-electronic products such as Walkmans and recorders around and
listen to
music through earphones wherever they go without interfering with other
people.
Recently, even mobile telephone technology has developed hands-free
communication
by employing earphones and a microphone.
On the other hand, harsh winter seasons in some places cause temperatures to
drop below freezing. Besides wearing very thick clothes, earmuffs are
sometimes
2o worn over the ears as a means of protection. At present, earmuffs and
earphones are
separately designed and no consideration has been made regarding their use
together.
Therefore, when both the earmuffs and earphones have to be used in wintertime,
the
simultaneous use is clumsy and inconvenient.
CA 02243728 1998-07-22
FIL, E: 2836.RTF
In light of the foregoing, there is a need to provide an earphone-microphone-
earmuff assembly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention is to provide an earphone-microphone-
earmuff assembly whose earphone and earmuff can be separated from each other
or
assembled together. Consequently, user can use the earphone or the earmuff
individually or else use the earphone and the earmuff together as a unit.
Furthermore,
a microphone can be added to the assembly, too.
1 o To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose
of the
invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the invention provides an
earphone-microphone-earmuff assembly. The assembly mainly comprises of a
mounting cap, an earphone and an earmuff. In addition, a microphone can be
mounted
next to the earphone.
The mounting cap has an external mounting structure and an internal mounting
structure. The external mounting structure of the mounting cap is used to form
a
mechanical connection with an earphone clamping bar. The earphone also has an
external mounting structure, and the earmuff has an external mounting
structure and an
internal mounting structure as well.
2o The mounting cap, the earphone and the earmuff can be assembled together in
the following ways:
1. The internal mounting structure of the mounting cap and the mounting
structure of the earphone are engaged when only the earphone is required.
2
CA 02243728 1998-07-22
FI1; E: 2836.RTF
2. The internal mounting structure of the mounting cap and the external
mounting structure of the earmuff are engaged when only the earmuff is
required.
3. The internal mounting structure of the mounting cap and the external
mounting structure of the earmuff are engaged. In addition, the internal
mounting
s structure of the earmuff and the mounting structure of the earphone are also
engaged.
Hence, the earphone and the earmuff can be used at the same time.
According to one embodiment of this invention, the external mounting structure
of the mounting cap is a ball joint and the terminal of the earphone clamping
bar is a
ball socket. After the ball joint and the ball socket are joined together, the
earphone-
microphone-earmuff assemblies can be adjusted to make any desired angle with
the
earphone clamping bar, to fit the facial curvature and ear shape of each
individual.
Moreover, the earphone clamping bar extends between the earphones, from the
back of
the ears and around the back of the head, in the vicinity of the occipital
ridge of the
skull.
The internal mounting structure of the mounting cap and the earmuff can be a
female Velcro tape, whereas the external mounting structure of the earmuff and
the
mounting structure of the earphone can be a male Velcro tape.
The earphone further includes a speaker and a speaker box. The speaker is
installed within the speaker box and is connected to an audio source through a
plug and
2o a wiring cable. The mounting structure of the earphone is fixed to the
exterior surface
of the speaker box. Furthermore, a portion of the speaker box that touches the
ear is
wrapped using cushioning material for extra comfort.
The earmuff further includes an inner flap and an earmuff warmer. The inner
flap is completely enclosed within the earmuff warmer.
3
CA 02243728 1998-07-22
FII;.E: 2836.RTF
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the
following detailed description are exemplary, and are intended to provide
further
explanation of the invention as claimed.
s BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of
the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this
specification. The
drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the
description,
serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings,
I o Fig. 1 is a sketch showing the components of an earphone-microphone-
earmuff
assembly according to one preferred embodiment of this invention;
Fig. 2 is a sketch showing the earphone clamping bar of an earphone-
microphone-earmuff assembly according to this invention;
Fig. 3 is a sketch showing an earphone-microphone-earmuff assembly mounted
15 onto an earphone clamping bar and the whole assembled unit worn by a user;
Fig. 4 is a sketch showing the plug and wiring cable running out of an
earphone-
microphone-earmuff assembly according to this invention;
Fig. 5 is a sketch showing a microphone mounted next to an earphone according
to this invention;
2o Fig. 6 is a sketch showing an ear cushion structure according to this
invention;
Fig. 7 is a sketch showing a complete assembly of the microphones, the
earphones and the earmuffs mounted onto an earphone clamping bar according to
this
invention; and
Fig. 8 is a sketch of the complete assembly as shown in Fig. 7 on a user's
head.
4
CA 02243728 1998-07-22
FILE: 2836.RTF
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of
the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the
description to refer to the same or like parts.
Fig. 1 is a sketch showing the components of an earphone-microphone-earmuff
assembly according to one preferred embodiment of this invention. The main
components of an earphone-microphone-earmuff assembly 100 include a mounting
cap
110, an earphone 130 and an earmuff 120.
1 o The mounting cap 110 has an arc-shaped external casing. The mounting cap
110 is a special component, serving as a connection to other components of the
earphone-microphone-earmuff assembly 100 as well as serving as a component for
connecting to an earphone clamping bar so that the whole unit can be worn by a
user.
An earphone clamping bar 210 is shown in Fig. 2. The mounting cap 110 has two
mounting structures. One mounting structure 111 of the mounting cap 110 is
located
outside the cap while the other mounting structure 112 is located inside the
cap. The
external mounting structure 111 of the mounting cap I 10 is capable of
connecting with
the pivot joint at one end of the earphone clamping bar 210.
Therefore, the mounting cap 110 has three rotational degrees of freedom. For
example, the external mounting structure I 11 can be a ball joint while the
pivot joint at
the end of an earphone clamping bar can be a ball socket (not shown in the
figure).
After the ball and socket are joined together, the entire earphone-microphone-
earmuff
assembly 100 can move in an up-down or left-right direction to fit the
particular head
shape and facial features of individual user.
5
CA 02243728 1998-07-22
FIIsE: 2836.RTF
The earphone clamping bar 210 has a design that is different from conventional
head-mounted earphones. Since every user has a different head shape, the head-
to-ear
length of each person may be different. Hence, the earphone clamping bar of a
conventional head-mounted earphone must have adjusting mechanism allowing
extension or retraction of its length. Fig. 3 is a sketch showing an earphone-
microphone-earmuff assembly 100 mounted onto an earphone clamping bar 210.
As shown in Fig. 3, the assembled unit is mounted onto a user's head so that
the
earphone clamping bar 210 runs around the back of head , in the vicinity of
the occipital
ridge of the skull. This design arrangement avoids disturbing a user's hair
when the
1 o assembly is worn. In addition, the shape and curvature of the earphone
clamping bar
210 is ergonomically designed to fit the shape around the back of the ear for
extra
comfort. Moreover, since the curvature of the back of heads does not vary too
much
from person to person, a single length earphone clamping bar 210 can be used
to fit
most individuals. Consequently, a length-adjusting mechanism for the earphone
clamping bar 210 is unnecessary.
The internal mounting structure of a mounting cap 110 can be engaged to an
earphone 130 or an earmuff 120. The earphone 130 and the earmuff 120 have
mounting structures for mutual engagement or for engagement with the mounting
cap
110. These mounting structures can be some kind of snap-in mechanism or a
piece of
2o Velcro magic tape. In general, Velcro magic tape can be divided into two
main types,
namely a male tape and a female tape. The male tape and the female tape stick
together.
Since the internal mounting structure 124 of the earmuff 120 may contact the
ear,
user's comfort will dictate the use of male/female type of Velcro tapes in
different
6
CA 02243728 1998-07-22
FILE: 2836.RTF
locations. For example, for better comfort, the internal mounting structure
112 of the
mounting cap 110 and the internal mounting structure 124 of the earmuff 120
use
female Velcro tapes. On the other hand, the mounting structure 133 of the
earphone
and the external mounting structure 123 of the earmuff use male Velcro tapes.
The earmuff 120 mainly includes a flexible arc-shaped inner flap 121 and an
earmuff warmer 122 completely enclosing the inner flap 121. The inner flap
provides
some degree of stiffness and flexibility to the earmuff warmer 122. Hence, the
earmuff warmer 122 is capable of covering user's ear snugly, keeping out cold
air and
shielding against noise. Outside the earmuff warmer 122, there are mounting
1 o structures 123 and 124. The mounting structure 123 is used for engaging
the mounting
cap 110, whereas the mounting structure 124 is used for engaging the earphone
130.
The earphone 130 mainly includes a speaker 132 installed inside a speaker box
131. On the backside of the speaker box 131, there is a mounting structure 133
capable of engaging with the mounting structure of the mounting cap 110 or the
earmuff
120. These mounting structures can be the aforementioned Velcro magic tapes.
Because one side of the speaker box 131 comes into contact with the user's
ear, that
side of the speaker box I 31 is wrapped to form an ear cushion 134 for
increased comfort.
In general, the ear cushion 134 is made of sponge.
Fig. 4 is a sketch showing the plug and wiring cable running out of an
earphone
2o microphone-earmuff assembly according to this invention. As shown in Fig.
4, the
speaker 132 has a wiring cable 135 and a plug 420. The plug 420 can be
connected to
any audio source such as hi-fi equipment, amplifiers or a mobile telephone.
Since
different equipment requires different plugs, shape of the plug can be
selected
accordingly.
CA 02243728 1998-07-22
FILE: 2836.RTF
Depending on user's need, the three main components of an earphone-
microphone-earmuff assembly 100 can be combined in different ways as follows:
1. When user only wishes to hear a radio broadcast or music through the
earphone, the mounting cap 110 and the earphone 130 are assembled together.
2. When the user only wishes to keep cold, damp air and noise out of the ear,
the
mounting cap 110 and the earmuff 120 are assembled together. In addition, when
the
earmuff 120 is used, the user can still place the usual in-ear type of
earphone into the
ear.
3. When the user wishes to simultaneously hear music, as well as keep cold
1 o damp air and noise out of his or her ears, the mounting cap 110 and the
earmuff 120 are
assembled first. This is followed by engaging the internal mounting structure
124 of
the earmuff 120 with the mounting structure 133 of the earphone 130.
Due to the popularity of multimedia systems, using a microphone for
conversational interaction while listening to a broadcast from an earphone is
quite
common. Therefore, it is often necessary to incorporate a microphone with an
earphone. Fig. 5 is a sketch showing a microphone 538 mounted on an earphone
530
according to this invention.
As mentioned before, the earphone 530 has a speaker box 531, with a speaker
532 is installed inside. On the backside of the speaker box 531, there is a
mounting
2o structure 533 for engaging with the aforementioned mounting structure of
the mounting
cap 110 or the earmuff 120. The mounting structure 533 can be a Velcro magic
tape.
Furthermore, one side of the speaker box 531 for contact with the ear has a
cushion 534
for increased comfort. The speaker 532 has a wiring cable 535, which connects
with
an external audio device. The microphone 538 has a slip ring 536 and a boom
537.
s
CA 02243728 1998-07-22
FILE: 2836.RTF
The slip ring 536 can slide into the collar of the speaker box 531, and hence
can rotate
relative to the speaker box 531 as well.
With this design, the user is free to choose between hanging the earphone and
the microphone on the left or right ear. Moreover, the microphone can be taken
apart
for easy storage. However, to prevent the microphone from turning over
360°, thereby
over-twisting the wiring cable, both the slip-ring 536 and the speaker box 531
have
stoppers (not shown in the figure) for limiting the angle of rotation. The
boom 537
also has a certain degree of flexibility so that the user can bend the boom to
the desired
angle and curvature. A conductive wire leading from the microphone 538 can
also run
Lo within the hollow interior of the boom 537. Finally, the conductive wire
from the
microphone 538 and the wiring cable 535 of the speaker 532 merge together
before
connecting with other external devices.
Sometimes, when an earphone is used, stereo functions are not always
necessary.
Therefore, only one earphone on one side is required. If that is the case, an
earphone
can be mounted on any one terminal of the earphone clamping bar, and then an
ear
cushion can be mounted onto the other side for extra comfort. Fig. 6 is a
sketch
showing an ear cushion structure 630 according to this invention. The ear
cushion 630
has an inner casing 631 for supporting an external cushioning pad 634. On the
backside of the inner casing 631, there is a mounting structure 633 capable of
engaging
2o with the aforementioned mounting structures of the mounting cap 110 and the
earmuff
120. Similarly, the mounting structure 633 can be a Velcro magic tape.
Fig. 7 is a sketch showing a complete assembly of an earphone with a
microphone 530 and an ear cushion 630 mounted onto an earphone clamping bar
210
according to this invention. The earphone 530 must first be combined with the
9
CA 02243728 1998-07-22
FILE: 2836.RTF
mounting cap 110 before the mounting cap 110 and the earphone clamping bar 210
are
snapped together. Similarly, the ear cushion 630 must first be combined with
the
mounting cap 110 before the mounting cap 110 and the earphone clamping bar 210
are
snapped together. Obviously, depending on the situation, an earmuff 120 can be
added
on as well.
As shown in Fig. 7, the earphone 530 is installed for hearing by the left ear
and
the ear cushion 630 is thereby installed on the right side. However, the user
can
reverse the arrangement by switching the earphone 530 and the ear cushion 630.
After
carrying out the switching between earphone and cushion, one can turn the
microphone
1 o around towards the mouth of the user. Furthermore, a user can choose to
use two
earphones simultaneously with the microphone attached to one of the earphones.
Fig.
8 is a sketch of the complete assembly as shown in Fig. 7 on a user's head.
The above embodiment of this invention illustrates that the earphone-
microphone-earmuff assembly uses a mounting cap for joining earphone and
earmuff
I5 together. Consequently, a user can choose between independently using
earphones or
earmuffs, or using them as a group. Alternatively, a user can choose to have a
single
earphone installed on one side for hearing, and then putting an ear cushion on
the other
side. Moreover, microphone can be mounted on the earphone whenever needed.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and
2o variations can be made to the structure of the present invention without
departing from
the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended
that the
present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention
provided they fall
within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.
t0
