US4420657A — Adjustable headset

Claim 1

Independent Claim 314 words

A lightweight, adjustable headset for use with a communication device comprising: a generally cylindrical housing with one end thereof including a sound port; a receiver element disposed within the housing for converting electrical signals into sound waves audible to the user; a microphone boom, with the boom being generally L-shaped, with one end of the boom being fixed to the end of the housing opposed to the sound port; a microphone element, connected to the free end of the boom for converting sound waves into electrical signals; wire means providing discrete connections between the communications device and the microphone and receiver elements respectively; support means for holding said housing in a selected position relative to the head of the user, with the support means being defined by a U-shaped wire band connected to the housing and having dimensions substantially corresponding to the user's head; and cylindrical cushion means, with one end thereof being affixed to the end of the housing having the sound port and configured to rest against the user's ear, said cushion means including a channel aligned with said sound port, said cushion means further including an elongated hollow plug mounted in said channel to permit sound to pass from the housing to the user's ear, with the cushion means having a diameter greater than the diameter of the auditory canal of the user's ear such that the sound port of the housing is spaced away from the auditory canal of the ear thereby reducing the likelihood of infection and permitting dissipation of sound surges, and wherein the diameter of the cushion means is small enough to enable the cushion means to be received within the outer perimeter of the user's earlap whereby the cushion means functions as a load bearing support and as a pivot point to permit the adjustment of the position of the headset relative to the user's head.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 314 words

A lightweight, adjustable headset for use with a communication device comprising: a generally cylindrical housing with one end thereof including a sound port; a receiver element disposed within the housing for converting electrical signals into sound waves audible to the user; a microphone boom, with the boom being generally L-shaped, with one end of the boom being fixed to the end of the housing opposed to the sound port; a microphone element, connected to the free end of the boom for converting sound waves into electrical signals; wire means providing discrete connections between the communications device and the microphone and receiver elements respectively; support means for holding said housing in a selected position relative to the head of the user, with the support means being defined by a U-shaped wire band connected to the housing and having dimensions substantially corresponding to the user's head; and cylindrical cushion means, with one end thereof being affixed to the end of the housing having the sound port and configured to rest against the user's ear, said cushion means including a channel aligned with said sound port, said cushion means further including an elongated hollow plug mounted in said channel to permit sound to pass from the housing to the user's ear, with the cushion means having a diameter greater than the diameter of the auditory canal of the user's ear such that the sound port of the housing is spaced away from the auditory canal of the ear thereby reducing the likelihood of infection and permitting dissipation of sound surges, and wherein the diameter of the cushion means is small enough to enable the cushion means to be received within the outer perimeter of the user's earlap whereby the cushion means functions as a load bearing support and as a pivot point to permit the adjustment of the position of the headset relative to the user's head.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 18 words

An adjustable headset as recited in claim 1 wherein said cushion means is formed from a compressible material.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 41 words

An adjustable headset as recited in claim 1 wherein the cushion means is replaceably mounted to said housing such that when the headset is transferred to another user, the cushion means may be readily replaced thereby reducing the likelihood of infection.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 29 words

An adjustable headset as recited in claim 3 wherein said cushion means includes a snap ring connectible to a flange projecting from said housing to define said replaceable mounting.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 76 words

An adjustable headset as recited in claim 1 wherein said housing includes a circumferential groove disposed intermediate its distal ends on the exterior surface thereof, and wherein said wire band includes a circular bracket member slidably engaged within the groove of the housing, with the slidable mounting pemitting the rotational movement of the wire band relative to the housing such that the position of the headset can be adjusted thereby maximizing sound transfer and wearer comfort.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 62 words

A lightweight adjustable headset as recited in claim 1 wherein the microphone boom is generally cylindrical in cross-section and is slidably mounted within a channel formed in said housing, said channel being cylindrical in cross-section and extending in a radial direction, with the slidable mounting of said boom permitting both a rotational and translational movement of the boom relative to the housing.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 23 words

An adjustable headset as recited in claim 6 further including a generally cylindrical, soft plastic liner disposed within the channel surrounding the boom.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 72 words

An adjustable headset as recited in claim 1 wherein the wire means includes a plurality of individual wires, with all the wires being encased in a plastic sheath extending from the housing to the communication device, with the wire means further including an intermediate flexible metal sheath disposed within the plastic sheath and surrounding all the wires thereby shielding the wires from radio frequency interference while simultaneously strengthening and protecting the wires.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 18 words

An adjustable headset as recieted in claim 8 wherein the flexible metal sheath is formed from tinned copper.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 54 words

An adjustable headset as recited in claim 2 wherein said sound boom is generally L-shaped having a circular cross section, with one end of the boom being slidably mounted within a channel formed in said housing in a manner to permit both the rotational and translational movement of the boom relative to the housing.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 39 words

An adjustable headset as recited in claim 1 wherein said cushion means is replaceably mounted to said housing, with said cushion means including a snap ring connectable to a flange projecting from said housing to define said replaceable mounting.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 215 words

An improved clip for use with a headset to enable the headset to be connected to eyeglass temples of various thicknesses, said clip comprising: bracket means for connecting said clip to said headset; and an L-shaped spring member having first and second connected arms, the first arm being connected to said bracket means and extending outwardly therefrom away from the headset, with the second arm being disposed at an acute angle relative to the first arm such that the free end thereof is biased inwardly towards the headset, and with the second arm including two outer braces and a central intermediate brace, the central intermediate brace being connected only to the free end of the second arm and disposed at an acute angle relative to the plane of the second arm such that the free end of the central brace is biased inwardly towards the headset whereby when the headset is mounted to the eyeglasses of the user, the temple is inserted between the second arm and the headset, such that a relatively thin temple is securely gripped between the central brace and the housing, while a relatively thicker temple will tend to deflect the central brace into coplanar relationship with the outer braces and be gripped between the entire second arm and the headset.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 215 words

An improved clip for use with a headset to enable the headset to be connected to eyeglass temples of various thicknesses, said clip comprising: bracket means for connecting said clip to said headset; and an L-shaped spring member having first and second connected arms, the first arm being connected to said bracket means and extending outwardly therefrom away from the headset, with the second arm being disposed at an acute angle relative to the first arm such that the free end thereof is biased inwardly towards the headset, and with the second arm including two outer braces and a central intermediate brace, the central intermediate brace being connected only to the free end of the second arm and disposed at an acute angle relative to the plane of the second arm such that the free end of the central brace is biased inwardly towards the headset whereby when the headset is mounted to the eyeglasses of the user, the temple is inserted between the second arm and the headset, such that a relatively thin temple is securely gripped between the central brace and the housing, while a relatively thicker temple will tend to deflect the central brace into coplanar relationship with the outer braces and be gripped between the entire second arm and the headset.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 51 words

An adjustable headset as recited in claim 12 wherein the second arm further includes a pair of stop pins formed on the outer braces adjacent to the first arm and extending towards the headset, the stop pins acting to locate and stabilize the position of the temple relative to the clip.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 40 words

An adjustable headset as recited in claim 12 wherein the free end of the second arm is defined by a rail member that is flared outwardly away from the headset to facilitate the mounting of clip on an eyeglass temple.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 119 words

A lightweight adjustable headset for use with a communication device comprising: a housing including a sound port; a receiver element disposed within the housing for converting electrical signals into sound waves audible to the user; a microphone element for converting sound waves into electrical signals; an elongated sound boom connected to said housing and extending towards the mouth of the user; wire means providing discrete connections between the communications device and the microphone and receiver elements, respectively; support means for holding said housing in a selected position relative to the head of the user, with the support means being defined by a U-shaped wire band connected to the housing and having dimensions substantially corresponding to the user's head; and

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 119 words

A lightweight adjustable headset for use with a communication device comprising: a housing including a sound port; a receiver element disposed within the housing for converting electrical signals into sound waves audible to the user; a microphone element for converting sound waves into electrical signals; an elongated sound boom connected to said housing and extending towards the mouth of the user; wire means providing discrete connections between the communications device and the microphone and receiver elements, respectively; support means for holding said housing in a selected position relative to the head of the user, with the support means being defined by a U-shaped wire band connected to the housing and having dimensions substantially corresponding to the user's head; and

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 53 words

cushion means affixed to the end of the housing having the sound port and configured to rest against the user's ear, said cushion means including a channel aligned with said sound port, said cushion means further including an elongated hollow plug mounted in said channel for transmitting sound directly to the user's ear.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 53 words

cushion means affixed to the end of the housing having the sound port and configured to rest against the user's ear, said cushion means including a channel aligned with said sound port, said cushion means further including an elongated hollow plug mounted in said channel for transmitting sound directly to the user's ear.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 37 words

An adjustable headset as recited in claim 15 wherein the exterior surface of said housing includes a circumferential groove, and wherein said wire band includes a circular bracket member slidably engaged with the groove of the housing.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 39 words

An adjustable headset as recited in claim 15 wherein said cushion means is larger than the diameter of the auditory canal of the user's ear and small enough to be received within the outer perimeter of the user's earlap.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 22 words

An adjustable headset as recited in claim 15 wherein said microphone element is affixed to the free end of said sound boom.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1986-12-12	1987-06-13	1987-12-13	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1990-12-12	1991-06-13	1991-12-13	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1994-12-12	1995-06-13	1995-12-13	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Adjustable headset

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