IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,609,417
Granted Patent B2
US 9,609,417 · App. 14/668,748 · Granted Mar 28, 2017

Headphone assembly

Inventors: Charles Krissman (Los Angeles, CA); Michael Craig Krisztal (Los Angeles, CA)
Assignee: The Ketchum Group
H04R1/1041H04R1/1008H04R1/1058H04R2201/023H04R2420/07H04R2430/01
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,609,417
App. No.
14/668,748
Granted
Mar 28, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A headphone assembly is provided that includes two earpieces coupled by a flexible connecting wire. Each earpiece includes a single large button disposed on a distal side of the earpiece, thereby enabling a wearer to operate the system, even without direct access thereto.

Claims (30)

1. A headphone assembly, comprising:

a first earpiece having a distal side and a proximal side, the first earpiece having a single button that controls the audio played, the single button positioned in a central region on the distal side, the single button sized to account for over 30 percent of the surface area of the distal side;

a second earpiece having a distal side and a proximal side, the second earpiece having a single button that controls audio played, the single button positioned in a central region on the distal side, the single button sized to account for over 30 percent of the surface area of the distal side; and

a wire extending between the first earpiece and the second earpiece that operatively couples the first earpiece and the second earpiece;

wherein the distal sides of both earpieces have a convex shape provided by a planar central area surrounded by a downwardly angled rim circumscribing the planar central area, wherein the single buttons of both earpieces are each define the planar central area, respectively.

2. The headphone assembly as defined in claim 1 , wherein the first and the second earpieces lack over ear attachments or in-ear attachments.

3. The headphone assembly as defined in claim 1 , wherein the single button of the first earpiece controls playback of audio and the single button of the second earpiece controls volume of the audio.

4. The headphone assembly as defined in claim 1 , wherein either the first earpiece or the second earpiece include a wireless communication assembly and a controller operative with a wireless device.

5. The headphone assembly as defined in claim 1 , wherein the single button of each earpiece accounts for over 40 percent of the surface area of the distal side.

6. The headphone assembly as defined in claim 1 , wherein the single button of each earpiece accounts for between 40 percent and 50 percent of the surface area of the distal side.

7. A headphone assembly, comprising:

a first earpiece having a distal side and a proximal side, the distal side having a convex shape including a central area surrounded by a downwardly angled rim circumscribing the central area, the first earpiece having a single button, the single button controls playback of audio, the single button sized to account for over 30 percent of the surface area of the distal side, the single button defines the planar central area of the first earpiece;

a second earpiece having a distal side and a proximal side, the distal side having a convex shape including a central area surrounded by a downwardly angled rim circumscribing the central area, the second earpiece having a single button, the single button defines the planar central area of the second earpiece, the single button sized to account for over 30 percent of the surface area of the distal side; and

a wire extending between the first earpiece and the second earpiece that operatively couples the first earpiece and the second earpiece, the wire incapable of holding the earpieces in place proximate to the ears of the wearer.

8. The headphone assembly as defined in claim 7 , wherein the single button of each earpiece accounts for between 40 percent and 50 percent of the surface area of the distal side.

9. The headphone assembly as defined in claim 7 , wherein the first and the second earpieces lack over ear attachments or in-ear attachments.

10. The headphone assembly as defined in claim 7 , wherein either the first earpiece or the second earpiece include a wireless communication assembly and a controller to operative with a wireless device.

11. The headphone assembly as defined in claim 7 , wherein the proximal sides of both earpieces have a convex shape provided by a planar central area surrounded by a downwardly angled rim circumscribing the planar central area.

12. The headphone assembly as defined in claim 11 , wherein the first earpiece and the second earpiece both include a sidewall disposed between the distal side and the proximal side, the sidewall having a plurality of planar segments.

13. A headphone assembly, comprising:

a first earpiece having a distal side and a proximal side, the distal side having a convex shape including a central area surrounded by a downwardly angled rim circumscribing the central area, the first earpiece having a single button for controlling audio, the single button defines the central area, the single button sized to account for over 30 percent of the surface area of the distal side;

a second earpiece having a distal side and a proximal side, the distal side having a convex shape including a central area surrounded by a downwardly angled rim circumscribing the central area, the second earpiece having a single button for controlling audio, the single button defines the central area, the single button sized to account for over 30 percent of the surface area of the distal side; and

a wire extending between the first earpiece and the second earpiece that operatively couples the first earpiece and the second earpiece, the wire incapable of holding the earpieces in place proximate to the ears of the wearer, wherein the first and the second earpieces lack over ear attachments or in-ear attachments, requiring the earpieces to be held proximate to the ears of a wearer by a separate headwear.

14. The headphone assembly as defined in claim 13 , wherein the first earpiece and the second earpiece both include a sidewall disposed between the distal side and the proximal side, the sidewall having a plurality of planar segments.

15. The headphone assembly as defined in claim 13 , wherein either the first earpiece or the second earpiece include a wireless communication assembly and a controller to operative with a wireless device.

16. The headphone assembly as defined in claim 15 , wherein the single button of the first earpiece controls playback of audio and the single button of the second earpiece controls volume.

17. The headphone assembly as defined in claim 16 , wherein the single button of each earpiece accounts for between 40 percent and 50 percent of the surface area of the distal side.

18. The headphone assembly as defined in claim 1 , wherein the first earpiece includes a sidewall disposed between the distal side and the proximal side, the sidewall having a plurality of planar segments.

19. The headphone assembly as defined in claim 1 , wherein the second earpiece includes a sidewall disposed between the distal side and the proximal side, the sidewall having a plurality of planar segments.

20. The headphone assembly as defined in claim 1 , wherein the first earpiece includes a sidewall disposed between the distal side and the proximal side, the sidewall having a plurality of planar segments.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 7, 2025
From: WEINBERG, JOEL B.
To: OUTDOOR TECHNOLOGY, LLC
Reel/Frame 073029/0306 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 15, 2020
From: THE KETCHUM GROUP, INC.
To: PROTEMPO US LIMITED
Reel/Frame 052675/0236 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 13736800 · Jan 8, 2013
Related Publication 20160014494A1 · Jan 14, 2016