115
`United States Patent
`5,960,094
`[11] Patent Number:
`
`[45] Date of Patent: Sep. 28, 1999
`Jensen et al.
`
`US005960094.A
`
`[54]
`
`[75]
`
`COMMUNICATIONS HEADSET
`
`Inventors: Wolfgang Jensen; James Robertson,
`both of Aptos, Calif.
`
`Assignee: GN Netcom, Inc., Scotts Valley, Calif.
`
`Appl. No.: 08/590,744
`
`Filed:
`
`Jan. 24, 1996
`
`soooVI futySec|=
`
`5 637 759 Al
`4/1990) Franceeects HO4R 1/10
`
`Tint. C18 eoccccscccccsseescsssesessseessssecessnseeeeees HO4R 25/00
`3332 496 Al
`3/1985 Germany...
`.. HO4R 1/10
`
`3723 809 Al=1/1989) Germany... eres HO4R 25/00
`US. Che oe
`. 381/381; 381/374; 381/375
`
`0399145
`10/1942
`Italy .
`Field of Search .....0.0.0.0ccccecee 381/168, 169,
`286185
`3/1928 United Kingdom .
`381/183, 187, 68.7, 370, 371, 374, 375,
`WO 95/15044
`6/1995) WIPO wo.eeeeeessseeeeeeee HO4M1/05
`379, 381, 71.6, 330, FOR 149, FOR 150;
`379/430, 455/90
`
`5,117,464
`5,210,792
`5,260,997
`5,298,692
`5,410,608
`5,414,769
`5,450,496
`5,655,026
`
`5/1992 Jones et al. eee 381/183
`5/1993 Kajihara......
`.. 379/430
`11/1993 Gattey et al.
`379/430
`.
`3/1994 Ikedaet al.
`181/135
`4/1995 Luceyetal. ....
`381/169
`5/1995 Gattey etal.
`...
`379/430
`
`9/1995 Burris et al.
`....
`.. 381/187
`8/1997 Peters et al. oc ccceceteereee 381/187
`
`
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`Primary Examiner—Huyen Le
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Limbach & Limbach L.L.P.
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`Acommunications headset has an earpiece housing thatrests
`on top of the ear and which also has a receiver assembly
`coupled to the earpiece housing. The receiver assembly is
`rotatable between a position at which the receiver assembly
`is against
`the ear and a position at which the receiver
`assembly is rotated away from the ear, thereby allowing a
`user of the headset to wear the headset comfortably even at
`times whenthe headsetis not in use for communication. The
`receiver assembly is biased toward the ear, thereby acous-
`tically coupling the receiver assemblyreliably and snugly to
`the ear when the receiver assemblyis at the position against
`the ear. When the receiver assemblyis at the position rotated
`away from the ear, the receiver assembly is held securely in
`that position.
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4/1906 ‘Vurmer oe eceeeeeeeeeeereee 179/156
`817,457
`6/1926 Harman.
`1,587,643
`6/1949 White occ eeeeee 179/182
`2,474,135
`4/1959 Erickson ...
`wee 179/107
`2,882,348
`5/1960 Herrmann .....
`wee 179/107
`2,938,083
`4/1969 Bryantetal.
`ws. 179/156
`3,440,365
`9/1970 Geib ..........
`3,527,901
`w 179/156
`3,548,118 12/1970 Hutchings .
`wee 179/107
`3,665,122
`S/1972 Weiss ....
`. 179/156
`3,692,958
`9/1972 Dymoke
`wee 179/156
`3,862,378
`1/1975 Norris ...
`wee 179/156
`4,020,297
`4/1977 Brodie.......
`we 179/156
`4,273,969
`6/1981 Foleyet al.
`we 179/156
`4,420,657 12/1983 Larkin ...........
`wv 381/187
`4,893,344
`1/1990 Tragardh et al
`381/187
`4,917,504
`4/1990 Scott et al.
`....
`5,035,005
`7/1991 HUNG oes ccseseeeeeseecene caren 2/209
`
`we. 179/107
`
`
`
`Bose v. Koss
`
`15 Claims, 7 Drawing Sheets
`
`Bose Exhibit 1034
`
`

`

`Sep. 28, 1999
`
`Sheet 1 of 7
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`U.S. Patent
`
`5,960,094
`
`222
`
`222
`
`226
`
`fc
`
`304a
`
`304b
`
`226
`
`302b
`
`302a
`
`302a
`
`302b
`
`FIG. 3A
`
`FIG. 3B
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 28, 1999
`
`Sheet 2 of 7
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`5,960,094
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 28, 1999
`
`Sheet 3 of 7
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`5,960,094
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sheet 4 of 7
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`Sep. 28, 1999
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`5,960,094
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 28, 1999
`
`Sheet 5 of 7
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`80gehSSSDISYR
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`5,960,094
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`ole
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`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 28, 1999
`
`Sheet 6 of 7
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`5,960,094
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 28, 1999
`
`Sheet 7 of 7
`
`5,960,094
`
`410
`
`404
`
`FIG. 11
`
`

`

`5,960,094
`
`1
`COMMUNICATIONS HEADSET
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`The present invention relates to communication headsets
`and, in particular, to a communication headset which rests
`stably on one ear of a user and is configured such that a
`receiver assembly of the headset may be coupled snugly to
`the earor, alternately, the receiver assembly may be securely
`held in a position rotated away from the ear.
`BACKGROUND
`
`As communication headsets have evolved,the trend is for
`manufacturers to make the headsets smaller while attempt-
`ing to increase performance, comfort, and ease of use.
`There are many small, high-performance headsets avail-
`able to today’s consumer, but many of these small headsets
`do not rest both stably and comfortably on the user’s head,
`with the receiver of the headset reliably acoustically coupled
`to the user’s car. In addition, many headscts are not com-
`fortable enough for the user to wear when the headset is
`temporarily not in use (e.g., between incoming telephone
`calls when the user is a switchboard operator). In particular,
`to better hear, between calls, what is happening in the room
`or to converse with another person, it is not unusual for a
`user
`to remove the receiver
`from his or her ear.
`
`Conventionally, this requires the user to completely remove
`the headset from his or her head. Then, when the headset is
`again required (e.g., to answer a new incoming telephone
`call), the user must once again don the headset.
`SUMMARY
`
`2
`FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the communications
`headset of FIG. 1 with the earpiece assembly swung 180
`degrees from its position in FIG. 5 and with the microphone
`boom swung, in the opposite direction.
`FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the communications
`
`headsct of FIG. 1 with the carpicce assembly rotated from
`FIG. 5 to a position against the opposite ear.
`FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the microphone boom assem-
`bly of the communications headset of FIG. 1.
`FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view, across the line 9—9 in
`FIG. 8, of the microphone boom assembly of the commu-
`nications headset of FIG. 1.
`FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional detailed view of the micro-
`phone boom assembly of the communications headset of
`FIG. 1 at its interface to the receiver assembly.
`FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the microphone boom
`assembly.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`The limitations of the detailed embodiments below are
`
`provided for example only, with the scope of the invention
`set forth by the appended claims. In the preferred and
`alternate embodiments which follow, and in the accompa-
`nying drawings,
`like reference numbers refer to similar
`structures.
`
`FIG. 1 (assembled side elevational view) and FIG. 2
`(exploded side elevational view) show a preferred embodi-
`ment of a communications headset 100 in accordance with
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`the present invention. An earpiece housing 102 is designed
`to rest on top of a user’s ear. A retainer 108, attached to the
`earpiece housing 102 bya retainer pivot 110, may be rotated
`Broadly stated, the present invention, to be described in
`up against the bottom of the ear to stabilize the headset 100
`greaterdetail below,is directed to a communications headset
`on the user’s head. Sucharetainer is disclosed in U.S. Pat.
`35
`whichhas an earpiece housingthat rests on top of the ear and
`No. 5,414,769 to Gattey et al. and assigned evenly herewith.
`which also has a receiver assembly coupled to the earpiece
`A receiver assembly 104, located over the user’s ear, is
`housing.
`coupled to the earpiece housing 102 by a coupling assembly
`the
`In accordance with one aspect of the invention,
`106. The receiver assembly 104 houses a receiver element
`receiver assembly is rotatable between a stable position at
`202 between a receiver assembly first half 104@ and a
`whichthe receiver assembly rests against the ear and a stable
`receiver assembly second half 104b. The receiver element
`position at which the receiver assembly is rotated away from
`202 produces sound to be directed into the user’s ear. The
`the ear, thereby allowing a user of the headset to wear the
`receiver element 202 is snap-fitted into place in the receiver
`headset comfortably evenat times when the headsetis not in
`assembly 104 by a receiver cover 204. A gasket 206 is
`use for communication.
`provided between the receiver cover 204 and the receiver
`assembly first half 104a@ to acoustically scal the recciver
`assembly 104, thus ensuring that most of the sound produced
`by the receiver element 102 is directed to the user’s ear via
`the acoustic port holes 208 formed in the receiver cover 204.
`A printed circuit board 210 is provided within the receiver
`assembly for providing electronic control functions of the
`communications headset 100.
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the
`receiver assembly is biased toward the ear, thereby acous-
`tically coupling the receiver assembly reliably and snugly to
`the ear when the receiver assemblyis at the position against
`the ear. When the receiver assemblyis at the position rotated
`away from the ear, the receiver assembly is held securely in
`that position as well.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is an assembled side elevational view of a com-
`munications headset in accordance with an embodiment of
`
`55
`
`the present invention.
`FIG. 2 is an exploded side elevational view of the headset
`of FIG. 1.
`
`FIGS. 3a and 35 illustrate in detail the relationship of the
`paddle-shaped end of the shaft to the spring housed within
`the carpicce housing.
`FIG. 4 illustrates in detail the coupling assembly and, for
`clarity of illustration, without the receiver assembly.
`FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the communications
`headset of FIG. 1 with the earpiece assembly rotated away
`from the ear.
`
`60
`
`65
`
`The coupling assembly 106 is configured such that the
`receiver assembly 104 is rotatable, with respect
`to the
`earpiece housing 102, in the direction shown by arrow A.
`Specifically, the receiver assembly 104 is rotatable from the
`position shownin FIG.1, at which the receiver assembly is
`against the ear, to a position at which the receiver assembly
`104 is rotated away from the ear (e.g., al least 90 degrees
`away from the ear as shownin FIG.5). As can be seen with
`reference to FIG. 2, the coupling assembly 106 includes a
`shaft 220 which is formed in a paddle shape at one end 222.
`The paddle-shaped end 222 of the shaft 220 is coupled to a
`spring 223 provided within the earpiece housing 102.
`A swivel assembly 224 is formed at the other end of the
`shaft 220, and the receiver assembly 104 is attached to the
`coupling assembly 106 by the swivel assembly 224. The
`
`

`

`5,960,094
`
`3
`details of the swivel assembly 224 will be discussed later in
`this disclosure with particular reference to FIG. 4. However,
`it is sufficient for now to note that swivel assembly 224
`attaches the receiver assembly 104 to the coupling assembly
`106 in a mannersuch that the receiver assembly 104 cannot
`rotate, with respect
`to the swivel assembly 224,
`in the
`direction shown by the arrow A.
`Referring now to FIGS. 3a and 35, the spring 223 and the
`paddle-shaped end 222 of the shaft 220 are shown in
`cross-section. The spring 223 includes opposing sidewalls
`302a and 302b. Referring first to FIG. 3a, when the receiver
`assembly 104 is in the position against the ear (FIG. 1), the
`paddle-shaped end 222 of the shaft 220 conforms to the
`sidewalls 302a and 3025 ofthe spring 223. Significantly, the
`spring force stored in the sidewalls 302¢ and 3025 of the
`spring 223 acts on the paddle-shaped end 222 of the shaft
`220 to bias the receiver assembly 104 into position against
`the ear. This ensures that
`the receiver assembly 104 is
`coupled snugly and reliably against the ear.
`Referring now to FIG. 3b, when the receiver assembly
`104is in the position rotated away fromthe ear (FIG. 5), the
`paddle-shaped end 222 of the shaft 220 rests in detents 304a
`and 3046, formed in sidewalls 302a and 302b,respectively.
`Inthis position, the spring force stored in the sidewalls 302a
`and 3026 of the spring 223 causesthe detents 304a@ and 3045
`formed in sidewalls 302a and 302b to push against the
`paddle-shaped end 222 of the shaft 220, thus holding the
`receiver assembly 104 securely at the position rotated away
`from the ear.
`
`Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2 the swivel assembly 224
`is now discussed. The swivel assembly 224 is configured to
`allow for limited movementof the receiver assembly 104 in
`the directions shown bybi-directional arrow B, thus allow-
`ing the user to adjust the angle of the receiver assembly 104
`to match the angle of the user’s ear. Specifically, the two
`halves 104a and 1046 of receiver assembly 104 are snap-
`fitted around a swivel post 226, and the swivel post 226 is
`attached to a swivel ball 228 by a swivel shaft 227. The
`swivel ball 228 is captured between a swivel housing 225
`and a swivel cover 230. The “elbow” shape of the coupling
`assembly 106 serves to offset
`the receiver assembly 104
`from the earpiece housing 106, thus providing greater free-
`dom of angular adjustment.
`FIG. 4 shows the swivel assembly 224 in greater detail
`and in its assembled form. For clarity of illustration, the
`swivel assembly 224 is shownin FIG. 4 without the receiver
`assembly 104 fitted to the swivel post 226. As shownin FIG.
`4, the swivel shaft 227 is configured for movementwithin an
`oblong aperture 232 formed between the swivel housing 225
`and the swivel cover 230. Since the oblong aperture 232 has
`“minor” sides (i.c., shorter sides) whose length is only
`slightly larger than the diameter of the swivel shaft 227, the
`movement of the swivel shaft 227 is constrained to be only
`in the directions shownbythe arrow B. In addition, when the
`swivel shaft 227 abuts either minor side of the oblong
`aperture 232, movement of the swivel shaft 227 in the
`directions shown bybi-directional arrow B is stopped.
`Referring again to FIG. 2, a friction element 234, con-
`figured with convex spherical friction bumps 236, is cap-
`tured between the swivel housing 225 and the swivel cover
`230 along with the swivel ball 228. Frictional contact of the
`sphericalfriction bumps 236 to the swivel ball 228 provides
`someresistance of movement of the swivel shaft 227 along
`the oblong aperture 232 to hold the swivel shaft 227 in place
`once the angle of the receiver assembly 104 along
`bi-directional arrow B has been adjusted by the user.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`30
`
`35
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`4
`Referring still to FIG. 2, a microphone boom assembly
`112 is rotatably mounted,at its proximal end,to the receiver
`assembly 104 for rotation in a planeparallel to the side of the
`user’s head when the receiver assembly 104 is against the
`ear(i.e., in the directions shown by bi-directional arrow C in
`FIGS. 1 and 2). The microphone boom assembly 112
`includes a microphone boom housing 114 and a microphone
`boom cover 116. A microphone boom tip 118is located at a
`distal end of the microphone boom assembly 112. The
`details of the microphone boom assembly 112 are shown in
`FIGS. 8 and 9.
`
`The microphone boom housing 114, microphone boom
`cover 116 and microphone boom tip 118 are configured to
`house a microphone 212 whichis positioned near the user’s
`mouthto pick up his or her voice. Internal wiring (e.g., wires
`312 in FIG. 9) connects the microphone 212 and receiver
`element 202 to a cable 115. Other wires (not shown) connect
`the receiver element 202 to the cable 115. The cable 115 in
`turn connects the headset 100 to external communications
`equipment (not shown).
`The microphone boom cover 116 is snap-fitted to the
`microphone boom cover 116, capturing the microphone 212.
`In particular, a deformable strap 907 (which is also shownin
`FIG. 2) is snapped-fitted into a recess portion 909 of the
`microphone boom cover. Pins 301, formedin either or both
`of the microphone boom housing 114 or the microphone
`boom cover 116, aid in the correct alignment of the micro-
`phone boom housing 114 with respect to the microphone
`boom housing 114 when the microphone boom assembly
`112 is assembled. The microphone boom tip 118, formed
`from rubber,
`is easily slid and snapped onto the thus-
`assembled microphone boom housing 114 and microphone
`boom cover 116.
`
`The microphone boom tip 118 forms a front acoustic
`chamber 902. A rear acoustic chamber 904 is also partially
`formed from the distal ends of the microphone boom hous-
`ing 114 and the microphone boom cover 116. Vent slots 906
`are provided in the microphone boom cover 116 for venting
`the rear acoustic chamber 904. In addition to forming the
`front acoustic chamber 904 the microphone boom tip 118
`provides an acoustic seal around the microphone 212 to
`acoustically separate the front acoustic chamber 902 from
`the rear acoustic chamber 904.
`
`Asound port 308 formed in the rubber microphone boom
`tip 118 provides an acoustical interface to the front acoustic
`chamber 902. The sound port 308, which faces forward
`(rather than towards the user’s mouth) when the communi-
`cation headset 100 is worn by a user, receives acoustic
`signals from the wearer’s mouth. The microphone 212
`generateselectrical signals which correspondto the received
`acoustical signals. The rear acoustic chamber 904 and the
`vent slots 906 provide a noise-cancellation effect, acousti-
`cally cancelling environmental noise from the electrical
`signals generated by the microphone.
`As discussed above, microphone boom assembly 112 is
`rotatably mounted at its proximal end to the receiver assem-
`bly 104 for rotation in a plane parallel to the side of the
`user’s head when the receiver assembly 104 is against the
`ear. The details of this mounting are now discussed with
`reference to FIGS. 10 and 11, but they can also be sccn in
`the exploded view of FIG. 2. FIG. 10 showsthe receiver
`assembly 104 and microphone boom assembly 112 in cross-
`section. A pivot post 402, formed at the proximal end of the
`microphone boom assembly 112, is captured between the
`receiver assemblyfirst half 104a and the receiver assembly
`second half 104d by a pivot plug 408. This can also be seen
`
`

`

`5,960,094
`
`6
`second end of the arm is substantially noncon-
`forming to the opposing sidewall portions of the
`spring whenthe arm isnotin the first arm position,
`the spring thereby coupling the receiver assembly
`snugly to the ear when the arm is in the first arm
`position so that the receiver assembly is against
`the ear.
`2. The communications headset of claim 1, wherein at
`least one of the sidewall portions of the spring has a detent
`portion formed therein and the second end of the arm is
`substantially conforming to the detent portion of the spring
`when the arm is in the second arm position to thereby
`securely hold the reeciver assembly to be in position when
`the receiver assembly is at the position rotated at least 90
`degrees away from the ear.
`3. A communications headset to be worn on an ear of a
`
`10
`
`5
`in FIG. 11, which is a perspective view. Referring again to
`FIG. 10, the pivot plug 404 is captured in a housing 409
`which is formed as part of the receiver assemblyfirst half
`104a and the receiver assembly second half 1045. Forclarity
`of illustration, the housing 409 is not shown in FIG. 11.
`The proximal end of the microphone boom assembly 112
`is rounded,and the outer circumference of the proximal end
`is formed with a series of spaced-apart detents 404. The
`pivot plug 408 includes a projecting deformable rubber
`portion 406 on which a bump 410 is formed. As the
`microphone boom assembly 112 is rotated by the user in the
`directions shown by arrow C (which corresponds to the
`arrowC in FIGS. 1 and 2), the bump 410 causes the rubber
`portion 406 to deform. The spring energy stored within the
`rubber portion 406 provides a frictional contact to the spaces
`between the detents 404 on the outer circumference of the
`microphone boom assembly 112 proximal end. When the
`microphone boom assembly 112 is rotated to a position at
`which the bump 410 correspondsto one of the detents 404,
`the spring energy stored within the deformable rubber por-
`tion 406 of the pivot plug 404 secures the bump 410 into the
`corresponding detent 404. Stops 412 formed in the receiver
`assembly first half 104¢@ and second half 1046 limit the
`rotation of the microphone boom assembly 112.
`FIG. 1 shows the communications headset 100 configured
`for use on the right ear (i.c., in a position at which the
`receiver assembly is against the right ear). The communi-
`cations headset 100 can be easily reconfigured for use on the
`left ear. To reconfigure the communications headset 100 for
`usc on the left car, the reeciver assembly 104isfirst rotated
`up, in the direction shown byarrow A,to the position shown
`by dotted line E in FIG. 5. Notably, when the receiver
`assembly 104 is rotated up as shown in FIG.5, the swivel
`ball 228 allows for the receiver assembly 104 to be rotated
`360 degrees in the plane which contains the receiver assem-
`bly 104. From the position shown in FIG. 5, the receiver
`assembly 104 is swung 180 degrees in the direction shown
`by arrow D, to the position indicated by dotted line E (FIG.
`6). After the receiver assembly 104 is swung tothe position
`indicated by the dotted line E, the microphone boom assem-
`bly 112 is swungin the opposite direction, in the direction
`shownbythe arrow F. Finally, the receiver assembly 104 is
`swung back down into a position at which the receiver
`assembly is against theleft ear.
`Whatis claimedis:
`1. A communications headset to be worn on an ear of a
`
`user, comprising:
`an earpiece housing that rests on top of the ear;
`a receiver assembly;
`coupling means for coupling the receiver assembly to the
`earpiece housing such that the receiver assembly is
`rotatable between a position at which the receiver
`asscmbly is against the car and an away-from-the-car
`position at which the receiver assembly is rotated at
`least 90 degrees away from the ear;
`biasing means for biasing the receiver assembly toward
`the ear when the receiver assembly is at other than the
`away-from-the ear position, the biasing means thereby
`coupling the receiver assembly snugly to the ear when
`the receiver assembly is at the position against the ear;
`securing, means for, when the receiver assembly is moved
`to the away-from-the-ear position, automatically
`engaging the coupling means such that the receiver
`assembly is securely held in the away-from-the-ear
`position; and
`the microphone boom having a
`a microphone boom,
`proximal end anda distal end, the proximal end being
`coupled to the receiver assembly, the distal end housing
`therein a microphone element for converting acoustic
`signals into electrical signals.
`4. The communications headset of claim 3, wherein the
`microphone boom is coupled to the receiver assembly for
`rotation, when the receiver assembly is at
`the position
`against the ear, in a plane parallel to the side of the user’s
`head.
`5. A communications headset
`user, comprising:
`comprising:
`an earpiece housing that rests on top of the ear;
`an earpiece housing that rests on top of the ear;
`a receiver assembly; and
`a receiver assembly;
`coupling means for coupling the receiver assembly to the
`coupling means for coupling the receiver assembly to the
`earpiece housing such that the receiver assembly is
`earpiece housing such that the receiver assembly is
`rotatable between a position at which the receiver
`rotatable between a position at which the receiver
`assemblyis against the ear and a position at which the
`assembly is against the ear and a position at which the
`receiver assembly is rotated at least 90 degrees away
`receiver assembly is rotated away from the car; and
`from the ear, wherein the coupling means includes:
`biasing means for biasing the receiver assembly toward
`an arm havinga first end and a second end,the receiver
`the ear, the biasing means thereby coupling the receiver
`assembly being attached to the first end of the arm
`assembly snugly to the ear when the receiver assembly
`and the second end ofthe arm being rotatable within
`is at the position against the ear,
`the earpiece housing betweena first arm position, so
`wherein the coupling means includes:
`that the recciver assembly is at the position against
`
`the ear, and a second arm position, so that an arm havingafirst end and a second end,the receiverthe
`
`receiver assembly is at
`the away-from-the-ear
`assembly being attached to the first end of the arm
`position,
`and the second endof the arm being rotatable within
`and further comprising:
`the earpiece housing between a first arm position, so
`the spring
`a spring within the earpiece housing,
`that the receiver assembly is at the position against
`having opposing sidewall portions, wherein the
`the ear, and a second arm position, so that
`the
`
`20
`
`25
`
`35
`
`45
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`to be worn on an ear,
`
`

`

`5,960,094
`
`the position rotated away
`
`7
`receiver assembly is at
`from the ear; and
`the biasing meansincludes:
`the spring
`a spring within the earpiece housing,
`having opposing sidewall portions, wherein the
`second end of the arm is substantially noncon-
`forming to the opposing sidewall portions of the
`spring whenthe arm is not in the first arm position,
`the spring thereby coupling the receiver assembly
`snugly to the ear when the arm is in the first arm
`position so that the receiver assembly is against
`the ear.
`6. The communications headsct of claim 5, whercin at
`least one of the sidewall portions of the spring has a detent
`portion formed therein and the second end of the arm is
`substantially conforming to the detent portion of the spring
`when the arm is in the second arm position to thereby
`securely hold the receiver assembly to be in position when
`the receiver assembly is at the position rotated away from
`the ear.
`7. A communications headset to be worn on an ear of a
`user, comprising:
`an earpiece housing that rests on top of the ear;
`a receiver assembly;
`coupling means for coupling the receiver assembly to the
`carpicce housing such that the recciver asscmbly is
`rotatable betweena first position at which the receiver
`assembly is against the ear and a second position at
`which the receiver assembly is rotated away from the
`ear;
`
`biasing means for biasing the receiver assembly toward
`the ear when the receiver assembly is betweenthefirst
`position and the second position but not when the
`receiver assembly is at the second position, the biasing
`means thereby causing the receiver assembly to be
`coupled snugly to the ear; and
`a microphone boom,
`the microphone boom having a
`proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being
`coupled to the receiver assembly, the distal end housing
`therein a microphone element for converting acoustic
`signals into electrical signals.
`8. The communications headset of claim 7, wherein the
`microphone boom is coupled to the receiver assembly for
`rotation, when the receiver assembly is at
`the position
`against the ear, in a plane parallel to the side of the user’s
`head.
`9. A communications hcadsct
`comprising:
`an earpiece housing that rests on top of the ear;
`a receiver assembly;
`coupling means for coupling the receiver assembly to the
`earpiece housing such that the receiver assembly is
`rotatable between a position at which the receiver
`assemblyis against the ear and a position at which the
`receiver assembly is rotated away from the ear; and
`securing means for securely holding the receiver assem-
`bly to be in position when the receiver assembly is at
`the position rotated away from the ear
`whercin the coupling means includes:
`an arm havinga first end and a second end,the receiver
`assembly being attached to the first end of the arm
`and the second end ofthe arm being rotatable within
`the earpiece housing betweena first arm position, so
`
`to be worn on an car,
`
`8
`that the receiver assembly is at the position against
`the ear, and a second arm position, so that
`the
`receiver assembly is at the position rotated away
`from the ear,
`and wherein the securing means includes
`the spring
`a spring within the earpiece housing,
`having opposing sidewall portions, wherein at
`least one of the sidewall portions of the spring has
`a detent portion formed therein and the second end
`of the arm is substantially conforming to the
`detent portion of the spring whenthe arm is in the
`second arm position to thereby securely hold the
`receiver assembly to be in position when the
`receiver assembly is at the position rotated away
`from the ear.
`10. The communications headsct of claim 9, and further
`comprising:
`the microphone boom having a
`a microphone boom,
`proximal end anda distal end, the proximal end being
`coupled to the receiver assembly, the distal end housing
`therein a microphone element for converting acoustic
`signals into electrical signals.
`11. The communications headset of claim 10, wherein the
`microphone boom is coupled to the receiver assembly for
`rotation, when the receiver assembly is at
`the position
`against the ear, in a plane parallel to the side of the user’s
`head.
`12. A microphone boom assembly, comprising:
`a microphone having a proximal cnd and a distal cnd;
`a microphone boom housing having a proximal end and a
`distal end;
`a microphone boom cover having a proximal end and a
`distal end, the microphone boom cover coupled to the
`microphone boom housing such that the distal end of
`the microphone boom housing and the distal end of the
`microphone boom cover together capture the micro-
`phoneand form a rear acoustic chamberat the proximal
`end of the microphone; and
`a pliable microphone boom tip which forms a front
`acoustic chamber and which is coupled to the micro-
`phone boom cover, the microphone boom housing and
`the microphone so as to acoustically isolate the front
`acoustic chamber from the rear acoustic chamber.
`13. ‘The microphone boom assembly of claim 12, further
`including a first aperture through the distal end of the
`microphone boom cover into the first acoustic cavity and a
`second aperture through at least one of either the micro-
`phone boom coveror the microphone boom housinginto the
`second acoustic cavity.
`14. The microphone boom assembly of claim 12, wherein
`the microphone boom tip is coupled to the microphone
`boom housing, the microphone boom cover and the micro-
`phone by being snap-fitted to the microphone boom cover.
`15. The microphone boom assembly of claim 14, wherein
`the microphone boomtip includesa pliable strap portion and
`wherein the microphone boom cover includes a recess
`portion, wherein the microphone boom tip is snap-fitted to
`the microphone boom housing, the microphone boom cover
`and the microphone by the pliable strap portion of the
`microphone boom tip being snap fitted into the recess
`portion of the microphone boom cover.
`
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