# US 2014/0193020 A1 · Headphone assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0193020 A1 - Document ID: US20140193020A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/736,800 - Filed: 2013-01-08 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-08 - Assignees: The Ketchum Group, Inc., dba, Outdoor Technology - Applicants: The Ketchum Group, Inc., Dba, Outdoor Technology - Inventors: Charles Krissman; Michael Craig Krisztal - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140193020A1 ## CPC - H04R 1/1041: {Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements (switches in general H01H)} - H04R 1/1008: {Earpieces of the supra-aural or circum-aural type} - H04R 1/1058: {Manufacture or assembly} - H04R 2201/023: Transducers incorporated in garment, rucksacks or the like - H04R 2420/07: Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones - H04R 2430/01: Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in sound systems - H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K) ## Abstract A headphone assembly is provided that includes two earpieces coupled by a flexible connecting wire. Each earpiece includes a single large button disposed on a distal side of the earpiece, thereby enabling a wearer to operate the system, even without direct access thereto. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A headphone assembly, comprising: a first earpiece having a distal side and a proximal side, the first earpiece having a single button positioned on the distal side, the single button sized to account for over 30 percent of the surface area of the distal side; a second earpiece having a distal side and a proximal side, the first earpiece having a single button positioned on the distal side, the single button sized to account for over 30 percent of the surface area of the distal side; and a wire extending between the first earpiece and the second earpiece that operatively couples the first earpiece and the second earpiece. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The headphone assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the first and the second earpieces lack over ear attachments or in-ear attachments. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The headphone assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the single button of the first earpiece controls playback of audio and the single button of the second earpiece controls volume. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The headphone assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the distal sides of both earpieces have a convex shape provided by a planar central area surrounded by a downwardly angled rim circumscribing the planar central area. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The headphone assembly as defined in claim 4, wherein the single buttons of both earpieces are each disposed on the respective central area. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The headphone assembly as defined in claim 4, wherein either the first earpiece or the second earpiece include a wireless communication assembly and a controller to operative with a wireless device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The headphone assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the single button of each earpiece accounts for over 40 percent of the surface area of the distal side. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The headphone assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the single button of each earpiece accounts for between 40 percent and 50 percent of the surface area of the distal side. ### Claim 9 A headphone assembly, comprising: a first earpiece having a distal side and a proximal side, the distal side having a convex shape including a central area surrounded by a downwardly angled rim circumscribing the central area, the first earpiece having a single button positioned in the central area, the single button sized to account for over 30 percent of the surface area of the distal side; a second earpiece having a distal side and a proximal side, the distal side having a convex shape including a central area surrounded by a downwardly angled rim circumscribing the central area, the first earpiece having a single button positioned in the central area, the single button sized to account for over 30 percent of the surface area of the distal side; and a wire extending between the first earpiece and the second earpiece that operatively couples the first earpiece and the second earpiece, the wire incapable of holding the earpieces in place proximate to the ears of the wearer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The headphone assembly as defined in claim 9, wherein the single button of each earpiece accounts for between 40 percent and 50 percent of the surface area of the distal side. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The headphone assembly as defined in claim 9, wherein the first and the second earpieces lack over ear attachments or in-ear attachments. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The headphone assembly as defined in claim 9, wherein the single button of the first earpiece controls playback of audio and the single button of the second earpiece controls volume. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The headphone assembly as defined in claim 9, wherein either the first earpiece or the second earpiece include a wireless communication assembly and a controller to operative with a wireless device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The headphone assembly as defined in claim 9, wherein the proximal sides of both earpieces have a convex shape provided by a planar central area surrounded by a downwardly angled rim circumscribing the planar central area. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The headphone assembly as defined in claim 14, wherein the first earpiece and the second earpiece both include a sidewall disposed between the distal side and the proximal side, the sidewall having a plurality of planar segments. ### Claim 16 A headphone assembly, comprising: a first earpiece having a distal side and a proximal side, the distal side having a convex shape including a central area surrounded by a downwardly angled rim circumscribing the central area, the first earpiece having a single button positioned in the central area, the single button sized to account for over 30 percent of the surface area of the distal side; a second earpiece having a distal side and a proximal side, the distal side having a convex shape including a central area surrounded by a downwardly angled rim circumscribing the central area, the first earpiece having a single button positioned in the central area, the single button sized to account for over 30 percent of the surface area of the distal side; and a wire extending between the first earpiece and the second earpiece that operatively couples the first earpiece and the second earpiece, the wire incapable of holding the earpieces in place proximate to the ears of the wearer, wherein the first and the second earpieces lack over ear attachments or in-ear attachments, requiring the earpieces to be held proximate to the ears of a wearer by a separate headwear. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The headphone assembly as defined in claim 16, wherein the first earpiece and the second earpiece both include a sidewall disposed between the distal side and the proximal side, the sidewall having a plurality of planar segments. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The headphone assembly as defined in claim 16, wherein either the first earpiece or the second earpiece include a wireless communication assembly and a controller to operative with a wireless device. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The headphone assembly as defined in claim 18, wherein the single button of the first earpiece controls playback of audio and the single button of the second earpiece controls volume. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The headphone assembly as defined in claim 19, wherein the single button of each earpiece accounts for between 40 percent and 50 percent of the surface area of the distal side.