Headset with a retractable speaker portion
AssigneePlantronics, Inc.
InventorsEric R. Bradford, Jay Wilson, Claude Zellweger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An earbud headset, a handset including the same, and methods of operating the headset and handset are provided. In one embodiment, an earbud headset includes a speaker portion that is retractable into and extendable from a base portion, thereby allowing for a thin profile form factor. Advantageously, the earbud headset allows for more convenient storage and/or integration with a handset such that a user may carry the handset and headset much like a single item.
Claims27
An earbud headset, comprising:
- a base portion;
- an earbud speaker portion for transmitting sound;
- and
- a neck portion including a diaphragm operably coupled to the base portion and the earbud speaker portion, wherein the diaphragm is configured to extend from or retract into the base portion to move the earbud speaker portion away from or toward the base portion, and further wherein the diaphragm includes a finger cavity adjacent the speaker portion in an extended configuration.
An earbud headset, comprising:
- a base portion;
- an earbud speaker portion for transmitting sound;
- and
- a neck portion including a post operably coupled to the base portion and the earbud speaker portion, wherein the post is configured to extend from or retract into the base portion to move the earbud speaker portion away from or toward the base portion along an arcuate path.
An earbud headset, comprising:
- a base portion;
- an earbud speaker portion for transmitting sound;
- and
- a neck portion including a telescoping post operably coupled to the base portion and the speaker portion, wherein the telescoping post is configured to extend from or retract into the base portion along a direction substantially perpendicular to a lengthwise plane of the base portion.
A method of operating an earbud headset, comprising:
- providing an earbud headset including:
- a base portion,
- an earbud speaker portion for transmitting sound, and
- a neck portion including a diaphragm coupled to the base portion and the speaker portion, wherein the diaphragm is configured to extend from or retract into the base portion;
- extending the diaphragm from the base portion to move the speaker portion away from the base portion, leaving the diaphragm with a finger cavity adjacent the speaker portion in an extended configuration;
- and
- placing the speaker portion in a user's ear.
A method of operating an earbud headset, comprising:
- providing an earbud headset including:
- a base portion,
- an earbud speaker portion for transmitting sound, and
- a neck portion including a post coupled to the base portion and the speaker portion, wherein the post is configured to extend from or retract into the base portion;
- extending the speaker portion from the base portion along an arcuate path;
- and
- placing the speaker portion in a user's ear.
A method of operating an earbud headset, comprising:
- providing an earbud headset including:
- a base portion,
- an earbud speaker portion for transmitting sound, and
- a neck portion including a telescoping post coupled to the base portion and the speaker portion, wherein the telescoping post is configured to extend from or retract into the base portion;
- extending the speaker portion from the base portion by telescoping the telescoping post along a direction substantially perpendicular to a lengthwise plane of the base portion;
- and
- placing the speaker portion in a user's ear.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.