EP1509062A1

EP1509062A1 - Headphones with zipper

Info

Publication number: EP1509062A1
Application number: EP04300143A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Kam Keung Fung; Inez Ng; Michael Chan
Original assignee: Thomson Licensing SAS
Current assignee: Thomson Licensing SAS
Priority date: 2004-03-15
Filing date: 2004-03-15
Publication date: 2005-02-23

Abstract

Headphone apparatus having two earphones (2a, 2b) each connected to an audio device by two cords (3a, 3b). The first ends of the cords (3a, 3b) are each connected to one of the two earphones (2a, 2b). The second ends of the cords (3a, 3b) are connected to connector means (4) apt for connecting the earphones (2a, 2b) to the audio device. The headphone apparatus comprises a slider (5) slideable along the cords (3a, 3b) and thereby engaging or disengaging the two cords to each other or from each other, respectively.

Description

The present invention relates to a headphone apparatus and in particular to a headphone apparatus according to the preamble of claim 1.
The majority of portable audio devices are provided with small headphones that can be attached to the ears of a user. Portable audio devices are commonly used to listen to music when the user is travelling on a bus or a train. When the user arrives at his destination or when he has to change the bus, very frequently the portable audio device including the headphones are just put into a bag or a pocket. In this situation it is very likely that the two cords connecting the earphones entangle with each other so that the user has to detangle the cords before he can use the earphones with the portable audio device again. This situation is inconvenient for the user.
The problem of entanglement of wires or other elongated members is known in the art. In US 6,639,153 B2 a patient lead wire detangler is disclosed. The detangler comprises a collar which is slideable along the wires or cords. In this way the collar prevents entanglements and/or supports the user to detangle the cords or wires. The wires or other elongated members are not engaged with each other.
Taking this as a starting point it is desirable to suggest an improved headphone apparatus, which is at least less susceptible to entanglements of the cords connecting the earphones.
The invention proposes a headphone apparatus having two earphones each connected to an audio device by two cords. The first ends of the cords are each connected to one of the two earphones. The second ends of the cords are connected to a connector apt for connecting the earphones to the audio device. The headphone apparatus comprises a slider slideable along the cords and thereby engaging or disengaging the two cords to each other or from each other, respectively. The advantage of the inventive headphone is that the two cords of the earphones can be engaged with each other to form a single elongated member, which is much less susceptible to entanglements than two separate cables.
In one embodiment of the invention the slider engages the two cords in a positive connection. In this case it is preferred to provide the one cord with a recess and the other cord with a protrusion that can be engaged into the recess by the action by the slider. The advantage of this embodiment is that the engagement means can readily be moulded together with the insulation layer of the cords.
In another embodiment of the present invention the slider and the two cords form a zipper like arrangement.
Finally, it is also possible that the slider connects the two cables by a hook and loop fastener like a Velcro ® fastener.
In the drawing, an exemplary embodiment of present invention is illustrated. It shows

Fig. 1a: a schematic top view of the inventive headphone apparatus with separate cords;
Fig. 1b: the headphone apparatus of Fig. 1a with engaged cords;
Figs. 2a and 2b: a sectional view of the separate cords of Fig. 1a on a larger scale; and
Fig. 2c: a sectional view of the engaged cords of Fig. 1a on a larger scale.

Fig. 1a displays a headphone apparatus according to the present invention in a schematic top view. The headphone apparatus 1 comprises two earphones 2a, 2b connected via cords 3a, 3b with a connector 4. The connector 4 comprises a plurality of electrical contacts. In use of the headphone apparatus 1, the connector 4 is introduced in an audio device, which is not shown in the drawing. The arrangement allows to reproduce stereo signals for a user in the earphones 2a, 2b. A slider 5 is arranged on the cords 3a, 3b to slide along the cords between the connector 4 and the earphones 2a, 2b. When moving from the connector in the direction to the earphones the slider 5 engages the two separate cords 3a, 3b with each other. In Fig. 1a the slider 5 is in a position leaving a portion of the cords 3a, 3b disengaged from each other to allow a user to put the earphones 2a, 2b into his left and right ear, respectively.
In Fig. 1b the slider 5 is in a position very close to the earphones 2a, 2b and thereby engaging the cords 3a, 3b substantially along their entire length. In this position of the slider 5 it is impossible that the individual cords 3a, 3b entangle with each other.
Figs. 2a and 2 b show sectional views of the cords 3a, 3b along the lines A-A and B-B in Fig. 1a, respectively.
As can be seen in Fig. 2a, cord 3a comprises an insulation mantle 6 formed with a ledge 7 extending in the longitudinal direction of cord 3a. The ledge 7 is provided with a groove 8 having undercuts 9a, 9b.
Similarly, the cord 3b shown in Fig. 2b is provided with an insulation mantle 11 formed with a protrusion 12. The protrusion 12 has complementary undercuts 13a, 13b engageable with the undercuts 9a, 9b of the groove 8.
When sliding along the cords 3a, 3b in the direction towards the earphones 2a, 2b the slider is effective to widen the groove 8, approach the cords until the protrusion 12 is accommodated inside the groove 8 and, finally, to release the groove 8. In this way the slider creates a positive or form locking connection between the cords 3a, 3b.
To disengage the cords 3a, 3b from each other the slider is moved in the reverse direction towards the connector 4. During this travel the slider 5 widens the groove 8, moves the cords 3a, 3b away from each other until the protrusion 12 gets clear from the groove 8 and releases the groove 8.
It is also possible that the user simply pulls the earphones 2a, 2b apart to disengage the cords 3a, 3b. As the cords 3a, 3b depart from each other, beginning at the end adjacent to the earphones 2a, 2b, the slider 5 is simultaneously moved towards the connector 4.
Fig. 2c shows a sectional view of the engaged cords 3a, 3b along the line C-C shown in Fig. 1a.
A person skilled in the art will recognize that the positive engagement between the cords 3a, 3b can be replaced e.g. by a zipper like arrangement, by a hook and loop fastener (Velcro ®) or by any other engagement means allowing a simple and quick engagement and disengagement of the cords 3a, 3b.

Claims

Headphone apparatus having two earphones (2a, 2b) each connected to an audio device by two cords (3a, 3b), wherein the first ends of the cords (3a, 3b) are each connected to one of the two earphones (2a, 2b) and wherein the second ends of the cords (3a, 3b) are connected to connector means (4) apt for connecting the earphones (2a, 2b) to the audio device, characterized in that
the headphone apparatus comprises a slider (5) slideable along the cords (3a, 3b) and thereby engaging or disengaging the two cords to each other or from each other, respectively.
Headphone apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the slider (5) engages the two cords (3a, 3b) in a positive connection.
Headphone apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the one cord is provided with a groove (8) and the other cord (3b) is provided with a protrusion (12) that can be engaged the groove (8) by the action by the slider (5).
Headphone apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the slider (5) and the two cords (3a, 3b) form a zipper like arrangement.
Headphone apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the slider (5) connects the two cords (3a, 3b) by a hook and loop fastener.