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US 11,457,300 B2Granted
Support structure for earpiece cushion
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsDustin A. Hatfield, Michael B. Minerbi, Eugene Antony Whang, Benjamin A. Shaffer, Edward Siahaan, Daniel R. Bloom
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims25
Headphones, comprising:
- a headband assembly;
- and
- a first earpiece coupled to a first end of the headband assembly and a second earpiece coupled to a second end of the headband assembly, each of the first and second earpieces comprising an earpiece housing, an acoustic driver disposed within the earpiece housing and an earpiece cushion assembly coupled to the earpiece housing to cooperatively define a cavity sized to accommodate an ear of a user, the earpiece cushion assembly comprising:
- an annular earpiece cushion;
- and
- a support structure disposed between the annular earpiece cushion and the earpiece housing, the support structure comprising a plurality of cantilevered support members distributed along a periphery of the cavity and protruding laterally into the cavity towards a center region of the cavity.
3 more elements
Headphones, comprising:
- a headband assembly;
- and
- a first earpiece coupled to a first end of the headband assembly and a second earpiece coupled to a second end of the headband assembly, each of the first and second earpieces comprising an earpiece housing, an acoustic driver disposed within the earpiece housing and an earpiece cushion assembly coupled to the earpiece housing to cooperatively define a cavity sized to accommodate an ear of a user, the earpiece cushion assembly comprising:
- an annular earpiece cushion;
- a support structure disposed between the annular earpiece cushion and the earpiece housing, the support structure comprising cantilevered support members distributed along a periphery of the cavity and protruding into the cavity;
- and
- a protective cover that wraps around both the annular earpiece cushion and at least a portion of the support structure.
4 more elements
Headphones, comprising:
- a headband assembly;
- and
- a first earpiece coupled to a first end of the headband assembly and a second earpiece coupled to a second end of the headband assembly, each of the first and second earpieces comprising an earpiece housing, an acoustic driver disposed within the earpiece housing and an earpiece cushion assembly coupled to the earpiece housing to cooperatively define a cavity sized to accommodate an ear of a user, the earpiece cushion assembly comprising:
- a protective cover;
- an annular earpiece cushion;
- and
- a support structure disposed between the annular earpiece cushion and the earpiece housing, the support structure comprising cantilevered support members distributed along a periphery of the cavity and protruding into the cavity, one or more of the cantilevered support members being embedded within the protective cover.
4 more elements
Headphones, comprising:
- a headband assembly;
- a first earpiece coupled to a first end of the headband assembly and a second earpiece coupled to a second end of the headband assembly, each of the first and second earpieces comprising an earpiece housing, an acoustic driver disposed within the earpiece housing and an earpiece cushion assembly coupled to the earpiece housing to cooperatively define a cavity sized to accommodate an ear of a user, the earpiece cushion assembly comprising:
- an annular earpiece cushion;
- and
- a support structure disposed between the annular earpiece cushion and the earpiece housing, the support structure comprising cantilevered support members distributed along a periphery of the cavity and protruding into the cavity;
- and
- webbing coupling adjacent cantilevered support members together.
4 more elements
An earpiece suitable for use with over-ear headphones, the earpiece comprising:
- an earpiece housing;
- an earpiece cushion assembly coupled to the earpiece housing to cooperatively define a cavity sized to accommodate an ear of a user, the earpiece cushion assembly comprising an annular earpiece cushion and an annular support structure disposed between the annular earpiece cushion and the earpiece housing, the annular earpiece cushion comprising a cushion disposed within a protective cover and the annular support structure comprising a plurality of cantilevered support members distributed around the cavity and protruding laterally into a central opening defined by the annular support structure;
- and
- an acoustic driver.
1 more element
An earpiece suitable for use with over-ear headphones, the earpiece comprising:
- an earpiece housing;
- an earpiece cushion assembly coupled to the earpiece housing to cooperatively define a cavity sized to accommodate an ear of a user, the earpiece cushion assembly comprising an annular earpiece cushion, a protective cover, and a support structure disposed between the annular earpiece cushion and the earpiece housing, the support structure comprising cantilevered support members distributed around the cavity and protruding into the cavity, one or more of the cantilevered support members being embedded within the protective cover;
- and
- an acoustic driver.
1 more element
An earpiece suitable for use with over-ear headphones, the earpiece comprising:
- an earpiece housing;
- an earpiece cushion assembly coupled to the earpiece housing to cooperatively define a cavity sized to accommodate an ear of a user, the earpiece cushion assembly comprising an annular earpiece cushion and a support structure disposed between the annular earpiece cushion and the earpiece housing, the support structure comprising cantilevered support members distributed around the cavity and protruding into the cavity, a first one of the cantilevered support members having a different size or shape than a second one of the cantilevered support members;
- and
- an acoustic driver.
1 more element
An earpiece suitable for use with over-ear headphones, the earpiece comprising:
- an earpiece housing;
- an earpiece cushion assembly coupled to the earpiece housing to cooperatively define a cavity sized to accommodate an ear of a user, the earpiece cushion assembly comprising an annular earpiece cushion formed from open cell foam and a support structure disposed between the annular earpiece cushion and the earpiece housing, the support structure comprising cantilevered support members distributed around the cavity and protruding into the cavity;
- and
- an acoustic driver.
1 more element
Headphones, comprising:
- a first earpiece and a second earpiece, each of the earpieces comprising an earpiece housing, an acoustic driver disposed within the earpiece housing, and an earpiece cushion assembly coupled to the earpiece housing, wherein each earpiece cushion assembly comprises:
- an annular earpiece cushion defining a first central opening;
- and
- an annular support structure disposed between the annular earpiece cushion and the earpiece housing and defining a second central opening aligned with the first central opening of the annular earpiece cushion, the annular support structure comprising a plurality of cantilevered support members distributed around and supporting the annular earpiece cushion, wherein each cantilevered support member in the plurality of cantilevered support members protrudes laterally into the second central opening;
- and
- a headband assembly mechanically coupling the first and second earpieces.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.