Stable neckband connecting left and right headset capsules

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10728668-B2
Application number	US-201816125585-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 7, 2018
Priority date	Sep 7, 2018
Publication date	Jul 28, 2020
Grant date	Jul 28, 2020

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for headset neckbands and earloops are described. In one example, a neckband for use with a headset is described. The neckband includes a first neckband end for coupling with a left earloop and a second neckband end for coupling with a right earloop. The neckband includes a neckband length along an x-axis between the first neckband end and the second neckband end. The neckband length has a variable height in a y-axis direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A neckband for use with a headset worn on a user head, the user head referenced by an x-axis in a width direction from ear-to-ear, a y-axis in a height direction from head-to-toe, and a z-axis in a depth direction from face-to-occiput, the neckband comprising:
a first neckband end for coupling with a left earloop, the left earloop comprising a left behind-the-ear segment, wherein the first neckband end and the left behind-the-ear segment form a permanently fixed first acute angle in a y-z plane;
a second neckband end for coupling with a right earloop, the right earloop comprising a right behind-the-ear segment, wherein the second neckband end and the right behind-the-ear segment form a permanently fixed second acute angle in the y-z plane; and
a neckband length along the x-axis between the first neckband end and the second neckband end, wherein the neckband length has a variable height in a y-axis direction, and wherein the neckband length is arranged at a raised angle from face-to-occiput of the user head with respect to the z-axis in the y-z plane when the headset is worn on the user head.

2. The neckband of claim 1 , wherein the variable height is at a minimum height at a midpoint of the neckband length.

3. The neckband of claim 1 , wherein the variable height decreases from a maximum height at the first neckband end and the second neckband end to a minimum height at a midpoint of the neckband length.

4. The neckband of claim 1 , wherein the first neckband end comprises a first plastic substrate and the second neckband end comprises a second plastic substrate.

5. The neckband of claim 1 , wherein the neckband length comprise an oval cross-section in the y-z plane.

6. The neckband of claim 5 , wherein the oval cross-section is entirely filled with a physical material.

7. The neckband of claim 1 , wherein the neckband length comprises an electrical cable at a neckband center, a fabric material wrapping the electrical cable, and a silicone material exterior.

8. The neckband of claim 1 , wherein the neckband length is approximately 250-255 mm.

9. A headset for wearing on a user head, the user head referenced by an x-axis in a width direction from ear-to-ear, a y-axis in a height direction from head-to-toe and a z-axis in a depth direction from face-to-occiput, the headset comprising:
a left capsule, wherein the left capsule comprises a left speaker arranged to output sound into a left ear when the headset is worn;
a left earloop extending from the left capsule, the left earloop comprising:
a left capsule connector segment coupled to the left capsule;
a left apex segment having an adaptive left apex curvature arranged to rest on a left apex of the left ear; and
a left behind-the-ear segment having an adaptive left behind-the-ear curvature arranged to curve behind the left ear, wherein the adaptive left apex curvature and the adaptive left behind-the-ear curvature exert a left resilient gripping tension behind the left ear;

a right capsule, wherein the right capsule comprises a right speaker arranged to output sound into a right ear when the headset is worn;
a right earloop extending from the right capsule, the right earloop comprising:
a right capsule connector segment coupled to the right capsule;
a right apex segment having an adaptive right apex curvature arranged to rest on a right apex of the right ear; and
a right behind-the-ear segment having an adaptive right behind-the-ear curvature arranged to curve behind the right ear, wherein the adaptive right apex curvature and the adaptive right behind-the-ear curvature exert a right resilient gripping tension behind the right ear; and

a neckband integrated with the left earloop and the right earloop, wherein the neckband comprises:
a first neckband end coupled to the left behind-the-ear segment, wherein the first neckband end and the left behind-the-ear segment of the left earloop form a permanently fixed first acute angle in a y-z plane;
a second neckband end coupled to the right behind-the-ear segment, wherein the second neckband end and the right behind-the-ear segment of the right earloop form a permanently fixed second acute angle in the y-z plane; and
a neckband length along the x-axis between the first neckband end and the second neckband end, wherein the neckband length has a variable height in a y-axis direction, and wherein the neckband length is arranged at a raised angle from face-to-occiput of the user head with respect to the z-axis in the y-z plane when the headset is worn on the user head.

10. The headset of claim 9 , wherein the variable height is at a minimum height at a midpoint of the neckband length.

11. The headset of claim 9 , wherein the variable height decreases from a maximum height at the first neckband end and the second neckband end to a minimum height at a midpoint of the neckband length.

12. The headset of claim 9 , wherein the first neckband end comprises a first plastic substrate and the second neckband end comprises a second plastic substrate.

13. The headset of claim 9 , wherein the neckband length comprise an oval cross-section in the y-z plane.

14. The headset of claim 13 , wherein the oval cross-section is entirely filled with a physical material.

15. The headset of claim 9 , wherein the neckband length comprises an electrical cable at a neckband center, a fabric material wrapping the electrical cable, and a silicone material exterior.

16. The headset of claim 9 , wherein the neckband length is approximately 250-255 mm.

Assignees

• Plantronics

Inventors

• Mainini Matthew J
• Bailey Chase Patrick
• Wang Bowman

Classifications

• H04R5/0335 Primary

  Earpiece support, e.g. headbands or neckrests (for monophonic headphones H04R1/105) · CPC title

• H04R1/1016

  Earpieces of the intra-aural type · CPC title