Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02612400 2007-11-26
HEADSET WITH MAGNETIC BREAKAWAY SWITCH
PERMITTING REMOVAL AND REINSTALLATION OF AN EARPHONE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to headsets, and more specifically, to
a headset in which one of a pair of earphones can be conveniently removed for
temporary storage and reinstalled when required.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Headsets are widely used in connection with playback of audio
recordings and receipt of radio transmissions. A typical headset comprises a
pair of
earphones, a plug adapted to receive left and right audio signals and a
reference
signal from a playback device, and cables in a Y-configuration that couple the
earphones to the plug. There are circumstances in which a user may not want to
occupy both ears with both left and right audio signals. For example, many
individuals like to listen to music on a portable playback device while
jogging but
need to be aware of traffic noises to avoid mishaps. In such circumstances,
only a
single earphone may be used, and it would be desirable to provide a convenient
way
to handle the unused earphone that does not leave the earphone dangling and
does
not require the earphone and associated cable to be tied off or otherwise
attached to
a user's clothing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect, the invention provides a headset comprising a plug
adapted to receive a first audio signal, a second audio signal and a reference
signal.
The headset also comprises first and second earphones, and first and second
housings. A first pair of electrical contacts are mounted to the first
housing, and a
second pair of electrical contacts, to the second housing, the housings having
a
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CA 02612400 2007-11-26
predetermined relative orientation in which the first pair of contacts engages
the
second pair of contacts for signal transfer between the pairs of contacts. A
length of
cable couples the plug to the first housing and conveys the various signals to
the
first housing, and the first pair of contacts is coupled to the length of
cable such that
the second signal and the reference signal are applied to the first pair of
contacts.
Another length of cable couples the first earphone to the first housing for
application of the first signal and the reference signal to the first
earphone. Another
length of cable couples the second earphone to the second pair of contacts for
application of the second signal and the reference signal to the second
earphone
when the pairs of contacts are engaged with one another for signal transfer.
Magnetic materials are located in the first and second housings and oriented
such
that housings are urged toward one another when in the predetermined
orientation.
This arrangement effectively defines a magnetic breakaway switch that permits
the
second earphone to be removed from the headset by physically separating the
housings and to be reinstalled by bringing the housing sections into proximity
in
substantially the predetermined orientation.
Various aspects of the invention will be apparent from a description
below of preferred embodiments, and will be more specifically defined in the
appended claims. For the purposes of claim interpretation, the term "headset"
refers to a headset in which there is no headband joining earphones.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be better understood with reference to drawings
in which:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a headset embodying the invention;
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CA 02612400 2007-11-26
Fig. 2 is an expanded view of the area designated 2 in fig. 1 and
containing two housings associated with the headset;
Fig. 3 is a view along lines 3-3 of fig. 2 showing the interior of one
housing associated with the headset;
Fig. 4 is a view along lines 4-4 of fig. 2 showing the interior of the
other housing associated with the headset;
Fig. 5 is a view along lines 5-5 of fig. 2 further detailing a socket
associated with the one housing;
Fig. 6 is a view along lines 6-6 of fig. 2 further detailing a plug
associated with the other housing;
Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing the plug received in the socket;
Fig. 8 is a view along line 8 of fig. 2 further detailing the socket
associated with the one housing and showing the position of electrical
contacts;
and,
Fig. 9 is a schematic representation of the headset.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Reference is made to fig. 1, which illustrates a headset 10
embodying the invention. The headset 10 comprises first and second earphones
12,
14 and a conventional plug 16 adapted to receive a first audio signal intended
for
the first earphone 12, a second audio signal intended for the second earphone
14,
and a common reference signal (ground). The headset 10 also comprises first
and
second housings 18, 20, which cooperate to define a breakaway switch that
permits
physical separation of the second earphone 14 from the headset 10 when not
required and simple reinstallation afterwards.
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A length of input cable 22, which extends between the plug 16 and
the first housing, comprises three signal lines 24, 26, 28 (shown in fig. 9)
that
convey the three signals applied to the plug to the first housing. A length of
output
cable 30, which extends between the first housing and the first earphone 12,
comprises two signal lines 32, 34 (shown in fig. 9) that apply the first
signal and
the reference signal to the first earphone 12. Another length of output cable
36,
which extends between the second housing and the second earphone 14, comprises
two signal lines 38, 40 (shown in fig. 9) that serve to apply the second
signal and
the reference signal to the second earphone 14 when the first and second
housing
are joined in a predetermined relative orientation (shown in fig. 7).
The housings 18, 20 are configured to transfer the second signal and
the reference signal therebetween. To that end, the first housing comprises a
socket
42 in which a first pair of electrical contacts 44 are mounted and coupled to
the
signal lines 26, 28 (shown in fig. 9) associated with the length of input
cable 22.
The second housing comprises a hollow plug 46 to which are mounted a second
pair of electrical contacts 48 coupled by the signal lines 38, 40 (shown in
fig. 9) to
the second earphone 14. The plug 16 has a trapezoidal cross-section transverse
to its
length (as apparent in fig. 2) and the socket 42 has a complementary
trapezoidal
cross-section, ensuring that the plug 16 is received in the socket 42 only in
a single
orientation. In that orientation, the electrical contacts 44 within the socket
42 mate
with the electrical contacts 48 on the exterior of the plug 46 to transfer the
second
audio signal and the reference signal.
Magnetic materials are installed in both housings 18, 20. These
include a bar magnet 50 mounted in the hollow interior of the plug 16, and
presenting a north pole adjacent to the tip of the plug 16. An annular magnet
52 is
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located around the socket 42 and presents a south pole at the operative face
of the
first housing. The magnets 50, 52 cause the housings 18, 20 to be drawn
together
when proximate to one another and resist separation of the plug 16 from the
socket
42.
It should be appreciated that a particular embodiment of the
invention has been described and that modifications may be made therein
without
necessarily departing from the scope of the appended claims.
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