Headphone system for hearing safety and ambient awareness
View Patent ↗A headphone system configured to deliver personal audio while preserving ambient awareness. The system includes a support worn on a user's head and at least one speaker module positioned spaced from the user's ear to maintain an open acoustic path for environmental sound. In some embodiments, a headband with a top portion and first and second arms secures the device, with supports having free ends that carry respective speaker modules. The modules may be oriented along the ear's line of hearing, may be spaced about 1-5 cm from the ear, and may include swivel joints to adjust orientation. Implementations may comprise two speaker modules and integration with a helmet in which the headband may be integrated and supports may attach. The system delivers audio while maintaining situational awareness and supporting hearing safety.
1 . A headphone system, comprising:
a headband configured to be worn on a head of a user, the headband comprising:
a top portion configured to extend around a crown region of the user's head, the top portion having a first end and a second end opposite the first end; and
a first arm extending from the first end and a second arm extending from the second end, the first arm and the second arm together being configured to secure the headband to the user's head;
a first support fixedly attached to the first arm and a second support fixedly attached to the second arm, each support comprising a free end distal to the respective arm; and
a first speaker module mounted to the free end of the first support and a second speaker module mounted to the free end of the second support;
wherein, when the headband is worn by the user, each speaker module is in a fixed position spaced apart from the user's head, is positioned to project sound along a directional axis that is aligned with a line of hearing of the user, and is configured to deliver audio to the user along the user's line of hearing while allowing ambient sound to reach the user's ear through an open acoustic path;
wherein, when the headband is worn by the user, each of the first speaker module and the second speaker module is configured to remain fixedly offset from the user's ears.
2 . The headphone system of claim 1 , wherein each speaker module is spaced between 1 centimeter and 5 centimeters from the user's ear.
3 . A headphone system, comprising:
a headband configured to be worn on a head of a user, the headband having a first arm and a second arm opposite the first arm, the first arm and the second arm together being configured to secure the headband to the user's head;
a first support fixedly coupled to the first arm and a second support fixedly coupled to the second arm; and
a first speaker module supported by the first support and a second speaker module supported by the second support;
wherein, when the headband is worn by the user, each speaker module is in a fixed position spaced apart from the user's head and is configured to deliver audio to the user along the user's line of hearing while allowing ambient sound to reach the user's ear through an open acoustic path;
wherein, when the headband is worn by the user, each of the first speaker module and the second speaker module is configured to remain offset from the user's ears.
4 . The headphone system of claim 3 , wherein the first support comprises a free end distal to the first arm and the second support comprises a free end distal to the second arm.
5 . The headphone system of claim 4 , wherein the first speaker module is positioned on the free end of the first support and the second speaker module is positioned on the free end of the second support.
6 . The headphone system of claim 3 , wherein each speaker module is positioned to project sound along a directional axis that is substantially aligned with the user's line of hearing.
7 . The headphone system of claim 3 , wherein each speaker module is spaced between 1 centimeter and 5 centimeters from the user's ear.
8 . A headphone system, comprising:
a first support configured to be worn on a head of a user; and
a first speaker module positioned on the first support;
wherein, when the first support is worn by the user, the first speaker module is spaced apart from the user's ear and is positioned to project sound along a directional axis that is aligned with a line of hearing of the user; and
wherein the first speaker module is configured to deliver audio to the user while allowing ambient sound to reach the user's ear through an open acoustic path;
wherein, when the first support is worn by the user, the first speaker module is configured to remain offset from the user's ear.
9 . The headphone system of claim 8 , wherein the first speaker module is spaced between 1 centimeter and 5 centimeters from the user's ear.
10 . The headphone system of claim 8 , further comprising a headband configured to be worn on the head of the user, wherein the first support is attached to the headband.
11 . The headphone system of claim 10 , wherein the first support comprises a free end distal to the headband.
12 . The headphone system of claim 11 , wherein the first speaker module is positioned on the free end of the first support.
13 . The headphone system of claim 10 , wherein the support is fixedly attached to the headband.
14 . The headphone system of claim 8 , further comprising a second support configured to be worn on the head of the user and a second speaker module positioned on the second support, wherein, when the second support is worn by the user, the second speaker module is spaced apart from the user's ear and is positioned to project sound along a directional axis that is aligned with a line of hearing of the user and wherein the second speaker module is configured to deliver audio to the user while allowing ambient sound to reach the user's ear through an open acoustic path.