Headphones with a curved mesh headband

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12096175-B2
Application number	US-202318212133-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 20, 2023
Priority date	Sep 16, 2020
Publication date	Sep 17, 2024
Grant date	Sep 17, 2024

Abstract

This disclosure includes several different features suitable for use in circumaural and supra-aural headphones designs. Designs that enhance user comfort and improve user control of the headphones are discussed. Various sensor configurations and electronic component positions are also discussed. User convenience features that include detachable cushions and automatically detecting the donning and doffing of headphones are also discussed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. Headphones, comprising:
a left earpiece;
a right earpiece; and
a headband assembly extending between the left and right earpieces, the headband assembly comprising:
a frame having first and second opposing segments (arms 1216 ) extending between left and right frame ends and defining a central opening of the headband assembly;
a leaf spring extending along a length of the frame within each of the first and second opposing segments, the leaf spring configured to hold a curved shape of the frame; and
a mesh material extending across the central opening between the first and second opposing segments and having a U-shaped cross-section between the first and second opposing segments;
wherein a channel is formed along a bottom surface of the first and second opposing segments.

2. The headphones set forth in claim 1 wherein the headband assembly further comprises a first telescoping member coupled between the left frame end and the left earpiece and a second telescoping member coupled between the right frame end and the right earpiece, wherein each of the first and second telescoping members telescopes into and out of the frame allowing the headphones to be resized.

3. The headphones set forth in claim 1 wherein the channel has an internal t-shaped geometry.

4. The headphones set forth in claim 1 wherein the mesh material is part of a mesh assembly that includes a locking feature overmolded around an edge of the mesh material.

5. The headphones set forth in claim 4 wherein the channel forms a closed loop along a bottom surface of the frame extending fully around an outer periphery of the central opening of the headband and the locking feature of the mesh assembly fits within the channel.

6. The headphones set forth in claim 1 wherein the headband assembly further includes a signal cable routed within frame between the left and right earpieces.

7. The headphones set forth in claim 6 wherein the signal cable is configured to synchronize operation of left and right earpieces.

8. The headphones set forth in claim 1 wherein the first and second opposing segments each have a circular cross-section.

9. The headphones set forth in claim 1 wherein the mesh material is formed from nylon, PET, monoelastic or bielastic woven fabrics, or polyether-polyurea copolymer.

10. The headphones set forth in claim 1 wherein the leaf spring is embedded within a layer of plastic material.

11. The headphones set forth in claim 1 wherein the leaf spring is embedded within a first layer of plastic material having a first hardness and a second layer of plastic material having a second hardness, softer than the first hardness, surrounds the first layer.

12. The headphones set forth in claim 11 wherein a channel is formed along a bottom surface of the frame extending fully around an outer periphery of the central opening of the headband.

13. The headphones set forth in claim 12 wherein the mesh material is part of a mesh assembly that includes a locking feature overmolded around an edge of the mesh material and wherein the locking fits within the channel.

14. Headphones, comprising:
a left earpiece including a first audio driver;
a right earpiece including a second audio driver; and
a headband assembly extending between the left and right earpieces, the headband assembly comprising:
a frame having first and second opposing segments extending between left and right frame ends and defining a central opening of the headband assembly;
a channel formed along a bottom surface of the first and second opposing segments;
a leaf spring extending along a length of the frame within each of the first and second opposing segments, the leaf spring configured to hold a curved shape of the frame;
a first telescoping member coupled between the left frame end and the left earpiece and a second telescoping member coupled between the right frame end and the right earpiece, wherein each of the first and second telescoping members telescopes into and out of the frame allowing the headphones to be resized; and
a mesh material coupled to the channel and extending across the central opening between the first and second opposing segments, the mesh material forming a U-shaped cross-section between the first and second opposing segments;
wherein the mesh material is part of a mesh assembly that includes a locking feature overmolded around an edge of the mesh material.

15. The headphones set forth in claim 14 wherein the headband assembly further includes a signal cable routed within frame between the left and right earpieces.

16. The headphones set forth in claim 14 wherein the channel forms a closed loop along a bottom surface of the frame extending fully around an outer periphery of the central opening of the headband and the locking feature of the mesh assembly fits within the channel.

17. The headphones set forth in claim 14 wherein the mesh material is formed from nylon, PET, monoelastic or bielastic woven fabrics, or polyether-polyurea copolymer.

18. Headphones, comprising:
a left earpiece including a first audio driver;
a right earpiece including a second audio driver; and
a headband assembly extending between the left and right earpieces, the headband assembly comprising:
a frame having first and second opposing segments extending between left and right frame ends and defining a central opening of the headband assembly;
a channel formed along a bottom surface of the first and second opposing segments;
a leaf spring extending along a length of the frame within each of the first and second opposing segments, the leaf spring configured to hold a curved shape of the frame;
a first telescoping member coupled between the left frame end and the left earpiece and a second telescoping member coupled between the right frame end and the right earpiece, wherein each of the first and second telescoping members telescopes into and out of the frame allowing the headphones to be resized; and
a mesh material coupled to the channel and extending across the central opening between the first and second opposing segments, the mesh material forming a U-shaped cross-section between the first and second opposing segments;
wherein the leaf spring is embedded within a layer of plastic material.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Hatfield Dustin A
• Minerbi Michael B
• Whang Eugene Antony
• Shaffer Benjamin A
• Siahaan Edward
• Bloom Daniel R

Classifications

• H04R1/1075

  Mountings of transducers in earphones or headphones · CPC title

• H04R1/105

  Earpiece supports, e.g. ear hooks (for stereophonic headphones H04R5/0335) · CPC title

• H04R5/0335

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

• H04R1/1066

  Constructional aspects of the interconnection between earpiece and earpiece support (earpiece support for monophonic headphones H04R1/105; earpiece support for stereophonic headphones H04R5/0335) · CPC title

• H04R1/1008 Primary

  Earpieces of the supra-aural or circum-aural type · CPC title