Headset with reversible earcup

Claim 1

A communications headset comprising; a resilient headband having a main headband portion positionable over or around the head of a wearer and terminating in depending and opposite end portions disposed adjacent or nearly adjacent the ears of the wearer; a communications cord disposed around said headband and further respectively mounting to the opposite end portions thereof a pair of earphone/earcup-yoke member-holding means respectively attached to the said headband-opposite end portions; a first earphone/earcup member receiving a first end portion of the communications cord and disposed in a supporting and rotatable relation to one of the said earphone/earcup-yoke member-holding means about pivot points centrally disposed on opposite sides of the circumference of said first earphone/earcup member for thereby accommodating one side of the specific head configuration thereto; a microphone mounted to, and providing for only a relatively limited or restrained rotation to said first earphone/earcup member and further positioned with its head adjusted adjacent or nearly adjacent to the wearer''s mouth; a second earphone/earcup member supported in the other of said earphone/earcup-yoke member-holding means similarly disposed about pivot points centrally disposed on opposite sides of the circumferences of said second earphone/earcup member; each of said earphone/earcup members having a first, main, relatively enlarged and toroidal-shaped cushioned element incorporated on its normally inwardly-facing side and normally disposed in an all-encompassing, sealed and first, headset-communicating position around and over the ears of the wearer; said yoke-member holding means for said second earphone/earcup member having a pair of relatively wide, spread-apart yoke arms respectively terminating at the said centrally-disposed, pivot points on each side of a somewhat reduced diameter and flat rear surface portion of said second earphone/earcup member and thus providing a sufficient clearance space to enable the complete reverse rotation of said second earphone/earcup member in a counterclockwise direction approximately 180* with the said first, main, relatively enlarged cushioned element being thereby removed from the appropriate ear and disposed both for an extended and relatively unrestrained rotation from said normally inwardly-facing and first, headset-communicating position with said first, main, relatively enlarged cushioned element sealed against the corresponding ear of the wearer to a second, outwardly-facing and non-headset-communicating position with the said first, relatively enlarged cushioned element facing away from, and the reduced size and flat rear surface-portion of said second earphone/earcup member now disposed against the head of the wearer to one side of and thereby completely exposing the said corresponding ear of the wearer to direct verbal communication with nearby personnel, while, simultaneously, insuring and thereby allowing the other earcup to remain against its corresponding ear for the monitoring of incoming messages over the headset through the appropriate end of the communications cord; a second communications cord-end portion integrally formed with said first communications cord-end portion and elongated for intercoNnection with said second earphone/earcup member through the circumference thereof specifically adjacent to a selected one of its pivot points to the corresponding yoke arm to thereby expressly provide clearance with, and thus ensure the said relatively unrestrained rotation of the second earphone/earcup member between its first, normallyinwardly facing position and its second outwardly-facing position away from the wearer''s ear; and a second, relatively enlarged, separate and flat padding element formed on and completely covering the flat rear surface portion of, and thus enabling the relatively comfortable positioning of and specifically accommodating the said second earphone/earcup member for substantially prolonged periods to the head of the wearer when in its second, non-headset-communicating position.