Earphone socket

July 2, 1946.

J. VOLKMANN

EARPHONE SOCKET

Filed June 19, 1944

2,403,418

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Patented July 2, 1946

2,403,418

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,403,418

EARPHONE SOCKET

John Volkmann, Cambridge, Mass., assignor to the United States of America, as represented by Hie Secretary of War

Application June 19,1944, Serial No. 541,007

Claims.

This invention relates to earphone sockets and more especially to an earphone socket adapted for use in conjunction with steel helmets of the type utilized for military equipment.

An object of the invention is to improve earphone sockets and to devise an enclosure member for surrounding an ear and providing a receptacle for earphones with a view to excluding ambient noise and improving speech communication. Another object of the invention is to devise an earphone socket which may be conveniently worn in conjunction with a steel army helmet. Another object of the invention is to provide an earphone socket which may be held in sealed relation against the head without discomfort. Still another object is to provide a simple, cheap and efficient earphone socxet.

The nature of the invention and its objects will be more fully understood from the following description of the drawing and discussion relating thereto.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation and partial cross section diagrammatically illustrating the earphone socket of the invention arranged in contiguous relation to the head and an army helmet;

Fig. 2 is a cross section taken on the line 2—2 of Mg. 1;

Mg. 3 is an elevational view illustrating the inner side of the earphone socket;

Mg. 4 is a cross section taken on the line 4--4 of Mg. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view in side elevation; and

Fig. 6 is an end elevational view of the socket member.

The earphone socket of the invention includes an elliptical-shaped enclosure for an ear, divided into two compartments by a partition or wall. The enclosure includes a relatively thick body portion, tapered to provide beveled outer sides, within which is received an earphone member. The socket is further formed with an inner rolled edge which is shaped to fit about an ear and seal against the side of the head at points immediately adjacent to the ear, to provide an acoustic sealing effect.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, in Figs. 1 and 2 I have illustrated the earphone socket of the invention generally denoted by the letter S, interposed between a head 2 and a helmet 4, and further surrounding the ear 6. It is intended that the earphone socket be supported by a head band of some suitable type and a preferred form of head band consists of the head (Cl. 179—182) band described and claimed in my copending application, Ser. No. 541,008, filed June 19, 1944.

The socket member is preferably formed of rubber, soft plastic or other compliant material 5 and includes an elliptical-shaped enclosure formed with a relatively thick body portion 8 (Mg. 4). The enclosure is divided into inner and outer compartments by means of a partition or wall 10, which extends between the sides of 10 the socket member and is formed with an aperture II. The body portion 8 is recessed to provide a groove 12 and a flange 14 which defines an opening in the outer side of the socket through which an earphone 16 may be inserted, 15 with a rim IT of the earphone being snapped into the groove 12. The earphone socket is provided with slots 15 through which electrical conductors may be passed and connected to the earphone.

The relatively thick body portion 8 is of a tapering construction, presenting beveled outer sides 18 which extend all the way around the earphone opening, as may be more clearly observed from an inspection of Figs. 1, 2 and 4 of 25 the drawing. The beveled surfaces 18 are designed to permit the earphone socket to be arranged about the ear 6 in a position such that the helmet 4 may be disposed over the head in the usual manner without appreciably contact30 ing the earphone socket and tending to press this member against the head. As may be observed in Fig. 1, the tapered construction, resulting in the beveled surfaces, eliminates enough of the body portion 8 to allow the helmet to pass down 35 around the outer face of the socket without interference.

At its inner side, the earphone socket presents a thin rolled edge 20 which is sharply curved over Upon itself to provide a compliant element ⁴⁰ by means of which the earphone socket may be resiliently urged against the head without developing excessive pressure or discomfort. The rolled edge 20 also passed over and around the ear 6, as has been diagrammatically illustrated ⁴⁵ in Mg. 2, thus presenting a sound-excluding body at all points around the ear to exclude ambient noise.

It is advisable to arrange the inner face of the earphone 16 as closely as possible to the ear ca⁶⁰ nal 22 without actually forcing the socket against the outer ear and pressing this member back against the head. In order to accomplish this result, it has been found desirable to support the earphone in a slightly offset position, such as ⁸⁸ that indicated in Fig. 2.

9,408,418

By so arranging the earphone in an offset position, the forward edge of the earphone is held closely adjacent to the side of the head just in front of the ear canal, while the rear edge of theearphone is maintained against the head but in 5 a relatively greater spaced relation with respect to the head. The result of this positioning is to cause the earphone to assume a position closely corresponding to the offset position which is naturally assumed by the ear 6. In other words, 10 the face of the earphone is brought into a position where it is closely adjacent to the ear canal 22, and yet the ear · is not compacted against the head. Without the offset arrangement described, proper location of the earphone in re- 16 lation to the ear canal can only be obtained by forcing the earphone against the ear S and pressing the ear against the side of the head. This soon causes discomfort and in addition prevents the face of the earphone from being located as 20 close to the opening of the ear canal as is desired.

One suitable means of obtaining the offset positioning of the earphone and socket with respect to the ear consists in spacing the rolled edge 20 away from the partition 10 a greater distance at 25 the rear side of the socket .than at the front side, as has been illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6. By so doing, the contacting surface of the rolled edge is caused to lie in a plane which is angular with respect to a plane passing through the face of 30 the earphone 10 and the desired amount of offset is afforded. It may be desired to obtain the offset relation by other means as by varying the shape of the body portion-of the socket so that the earphone is held in a different position, or ³⁸other constructions than the rolled edge described may be resorted to for obtaining offset positioning.

The socket member affords an efficient, and compact means for supporting an earphone in ⁴⁰a position such that a steel helmet and other types of headgear for use in tanks and the like may be worn thereover. The side of the socket and the rolled edge combine to provide both a sound insulating and sealing means for exclud- ** ing ambient noise. The rolled edge further eliminates discomfort and naturally assumes a cor- rect position about the ear, thus facilitating installation. The device is of relatively light weight and generally constitutes a simple, cheap and efficient earphone socket.

While I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, it should be understood that various changes and modifications may be resorted to, in keeping with the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.