The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 10, 2004
Filed:
Dec. 24, 2001
Peter Schmidt, Campbell, CA (US);
Jeff Jones, Los Altos, CA (US);
John Magnasco, San Jose, CA (US);
Joseph Myatt, En Cintas, CA (US);
Michael Wise, Los Altos, CA (US);
Hello Direct, Inc., San Jose, CA (US);
Abstract
A headset has one or two earpieces, an adjustable microphone boom, and a means for securing the headset to the user. The earpiece includes a speaker element for generating sound and a sound funneling device for funneling sound from the speaker element to an ear canal of the user. The sound funneling device rests within a concha and at the entrance of the ear canal for funneling sound and for stabilizing the earpiece against an ear of the user. In the preferred embodiment, the sound funneling device includes a first end which is open-ended and facing the speaker element, and a second end which includes one or more apertures and rests at the entrance of the ear canal. The first end has a circumference which is larger than a circumference of the second end which focuses the sound from the speaker element to the ear canal. A speaker cushion is configured to fit around the speaker element and the sound funneling device and preferably provides a means for coupling the speaker element to the sound funneling device. The speaker cushion is compressible to facilitate positioning the second end of the sound funneling device against the concha of the user's ear. A small speaker is mounted inside the speaker element. The headset is preferably secured to the user by a headband. The earpiece is coupled to the headband by a ball and socket joint integrally formed as part of the earpiece. The ball and socket design enables the earpiece to be easily maneuvered against the ear.