Compliant constrained headband spring
AssigneeBose Corporation
InventorsEric M. Wallace, Michael J. Monahan, Derek James Butland
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A compliant constrained headband spring for audio headphones includes a headband spring element and a stiffness enhancing element coupled to the headband spring element. The compliant constrained headband spring exhibits a first stiffness in an open position and a second stiffness greater than the first stiffness when closed beyond a predetermined point.
Claims17
A compliant constrained headband spring of a headband for audio headphones, the compliant constrained headband spring comprising:
- a headband spring element;
- and
- a stiffness enhancing element coupled to a retainer block coupled to the headband spring element and disposed on the headband spring element in at least a central region of the headband spring element, a terminal end of the stiffness enhancing element disposed within a groove in the retainer block and comprising a portion with a cross-sectional area greater than a cross-sectional area of a central portion of the stiffness enhancing element, the terminal end of the stiffness enhancing element configured to travel through the groove as the compliant constrained headband spring is opened and/or closed, the compliant constrained headband spring exhibiting a first stiffness in an open position and a second stiffness greater than the first stiffness when closed beyond a predefined point at which terminal ends of the headband spring element are at a predefined distance from one another.
A compliant constrained headband spring of a headband for audio headphones, the compliant constrained headband spring comprising:
- a headband spring element;
- a stiffness enhancing element coupled to a retainer block coupled to the headband spring element and disposed on the headband spring element in at least a central region of the headband spring element, the compliant constrained headband spring exhibiting a first stiffness in an open position and a second stiffness greater than the first stiffness when closed beyond a predefined point at which terminal ends of the headband spring element are at a predefined distance from one another;
- and
- a feature to adjust an effective length of the stiffness enhancing element, the feature comprising a threaded screw disposed in the retainer block that engages threads on a terminal end of the stiffness enhancing element.
A compliant constrained headband spring of a headband for audio headphones, the compliant constrained headband spring comprising:
- a headband spring element;
- a stiffness enhancing element coupled to a retainer block coupled to the headband spring element and disposed on the headband spring element in at least a central region of the headband spring element, the compliant constrained headband spring exhibiting a first stiffness in an open position and a second stiffness greater than the first stiffness when closed beyond a predefined point at which terminal ends of the headband spring element are at a predefined distance from one another;
- and
- a feature to adjust an effective length of the stiffness enhancing element, the feature comprising a plurality of apertures defined in the headband spring element at different distances from a center portion of the headband spring element, the plurality of apertures configured to releasably retain a base of the retainer block.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.