US3900707A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Speaker apparatus
Assignee: HEAR MUFFS
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Filing: 1973-06-06
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Granted: 1975-08-19
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Expires: 1993-06-06
Abstract
Abstract Speaker apparatus adapted to be coupled electrically to a sound reproducing system for reproducing four separate sources of sound and adapted to be used within close proximity to the ears of the user, includes a first and second pair of oppositely-disposed spaced-apart members each having respective first and second chambers opening substantially toward one another, a first pair of spaced-apart cavities opening into the first chamber, a second pair of spaced-apart speaker cavities opening into the second chamber, a first pair of speaker units mounted within the first pair of cavities and positioned generally facing the second chamber, a second pair of speaker units mounted within the second pair of cavities and positioned generally facing the first chamber, and a pair of first and second baffles mounted at least partially within the respective first and second chambers, the first baffle member being disposed between one of the first pair of cavities and the opening of the first chamber, the second baffle member being disposed between one of the second pair of cavities and the opening of the chamber so that when the sound reproduction system energizes the speaker units, the sound emanating from the speaker units of each of the pairs of speaker units is caused to be out of phase with one another at the opening to the chambers. The first and second baffle members partially block one of the first and second pairs of cavities, respectively, to control the effective sound pressure level at the opening to the chambers. The baffle members also block to a lesser extent the other ones of the pairs of speaker cavities to produce the phase delay. A bleeder tube connects the first and second chambers in fluid communication to equalize the sound pressure levels therebetween so that the sound pressure levels and the phase relationships can more closely approximate the natural sound being reproduced.
Inventors
- 👤 Brian A Hanson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 20:06
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04R; H04R1/00; H04R1/10; H04R5/00; H04R5/033; H04R2205/00; H04R2205/022; H04R5/0335
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
408 words
Speaker apparatus adapted to be worn on the head of a user and adapted to be coupled to a sound reproducing system for causing sounds to be emitted from said apparatus, said speaker apparatus comprising: a first and second pair of oppositely-disposed spaced-apart members for engaging the head of the user over the ears of the user, said members each having respective first and second chambers including respective first and second openings facing substantially toward one another for receiving the ears of the user, said ears occupying first and second central portions of the respective first and second openings; means defining a first pair of spaced-apart front and rear cavities opening into said second chamber; means defining a second pair of spaced-apart front and rear cavities opening into said second chamber; a first pair of front and rear sound transmitting units mounted within said first pair of respective front and rear cavities and positioned with their front faces generally facing said first chamber; a second pair of front and rear sound transmitting units mounted within said second pair of respective front and rear cavities and positioned with their front faces generally facing said second chamber; conducting means adapted to couple each one of said sound transmitting units to the sound reproducing system; means defining a pair of longer rear acoustic paths extending in acoustic communication between the respective mid portions of the front faces of said rear transmitting units and the respective mid points of the first and second chambers for guiding sound emanating from the rear units therealong to the ears of the user when positioned within said first and second openings; and means defining a pair of shorter front acoustic paths extending in acoustic communication between the respectivE mid portions of the front faces of the respective front transmitting units and the respective mid points of the first and second central portions of the openings of said first and second chambers for guiding sound emanating from said front units therealong, to the ears of the user when positioned within said first and second openings, said longer rear acoustic paths being substantially greater in length than said shorter front acoustic paths to guide sound moving from said rear transmitting units energized by the system through greater distance to said first and said second openings than the distances through which sound moves from said front transmitting units energized by the system to said first and said second openings.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
408 words
Speaker apparatus adapted to be worn on the head of a user and adapted to be coupled to a sound reproducing system for causing sounds to be emitted from said apparatus, said speaker apparatus comprising: a first and second pair of oppositely-disposed spaced-apart members for engaging the head of the user over the ears of the user, said members each having respective first and second chambers including respective first and second openings facing substantially toward one another for receiving the ears of the user, said ears occupying first and second central portions of the respective first and second openings; means defining a first pair of spaced-apart front and rear cavities opening into said second chamber; means defining a second pair of spaced-apart front and rear cavities opening into said second chamber; a first pair of front and rear sound transmitting units mounted within said first pair of respective front and rear cavities and positioned with their front faces generally facing said first chamber; a second pair of front and rear sound transmitting units mounted within said second pair of respective front and rear cavities and positioned with their front faces generally facing said second chamber; conducting means adapted to couple each one of said sound transmitting units to the sound reproducing system; means defining a pair of longer rear acoustic paths extending in acoustic communication between the respective mid portions of the front faces of said rear transmitting units and the respective mid points of the first and second chambers for guiding sound emanating from the rear units therealong to the ears of the user when positioned within said first and second openings; and means defining a pair of shorter front acoustic paths extending in acoustic communication between the respectivE mid portions of the front faces of the respective front transmitting units and the respective mid points of the first and second central portions of the openings of said first and second chambers for guiding sound emanating from said front units therealong, to the ears of the user when positioned within said first and second openings, said longer rear acoustic paths being substantially greater in length than said shorter front acoustic paths to guide sound moving from said rear transmitting units energized by the system through greater distance to said first and said second openings than the distances through which sound moves from said front transmitting units energized by the system to said first and said second openings.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
Speaker apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first and second baffle means partially block the opening of the other one of said first pair of cavities and partially block the opening of the other one of said second pair of cavities, respectively, to reduce sound pressure intensities from the speaker units mounted therein.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
Speaker apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said first and second baffle means block said openings of the other ones of said first and second pairs of cavities to reduce sound pressure levels within the range of 30 percent to 40 percent of the effective sound levels of the speaker units mounted therein.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
Speaker apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said baffle means causes a 35 percent reduction of said effective sound pressure levels.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
Speaker apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said first and second baffle means partially block the opening of said one of said first pair of cavities and partially block the opening of said one of said second pair of cavities respectively to reduce the sound pressure intensities from the speaker units mounted therein.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
Speaker apparatus according to claim 1, further including a tube connecting said chambers in fluid communication.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
Speaker apparatus according to claim 1, further including a transverse member interconnecting said pair of spaced-apart members, said transverse member and said spacedapart member forming a U-shaped member composed of resilient material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
Speaker apparatus according to claim 7, further including spring means for urging resiliently said spaced-apart members together.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
101 words
Speaker apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means defining a pair of longer rear paths include first and second baffle means mounted at least partially within said first and said second chambers respectively for at least partially defining said pair of longer rear paths, said first baffle means being disposed between said rear one of said first pair of cavities and the central portion of said first opening of said first chamber, said second baffle means being disposed between said rear one of said second pair of cavities and the central portion of said second opening of said second chamber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
197 words
Speaker apparatus adapted to be energized by an independent sound signal system comprising: a member composed of soft resilient material having an elongated transverse block adapted to engage and extend across the back portion of the head of a user and having a pair of legs extending from the end portions of said block in a spaced-apart manner and able to be spread apart further by means of the resiliency of said rear portion to grip snugly the head of the user therebetween to at least partially support the assembly thereon and to fit over the ears of the user; means defining a pair of cavities in the ear-engaging portions of said legs having oppositely-disposed openings; a pair of speaker means mounted within said cavities having axes of sound extending through said openings when said assembly is in position over the ears of the user; wire means adapted to connect electrically said speaker means to the sound signal system for driving said speaker means; and spring means for biasing said legs inwardly, wherein Said member includes an internal groove therein, said spring means including a U-shaped spring clip mounted within the complementary internal groove in said member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
197 words
Speaker apparatus adapted to be energized by an independent sound signal system comprising: a member composed of soft resilient material having an elongated transverse block adapted to engage and extend across the back portion of the head of a user and having a pair of legs extending from the end portions of said block in a spaced-apart manner and able to be spread apart further by means of the resiliency of said rear portion to grip snugly the head of the user therebetween to at least partially support the assembly thereon and to fit over the ears of the user; means defining a pair of cavities in the ear-engaging portions of said legs having oppositely-disposed openings; a pair of speaker means mounted within said cavities having axes of sound extending through said openings when said assembly is in position over the ears of the user; wire means adapted to connect electrically said speaker means to the sound signal system for driving said speaker means; and spring means for biasing said legs inwardly, wherein Said member includes an internal groove therein, said spring means including a U-shaped spring clip mounted within the complementary internal groove in said member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
Speaker apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said spring means further includes a second U-shaped spring clip mounted within said internal groove.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-08-18 | 1979-02-17 | 1979-08-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-08-18 | 1983-02-17 | 1983-08-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-08-18 | 1987-02-17 | 1987-08-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |