Adjustable Headphone Neck Band

1 . Bone conduction headphones, comprising:

a transducer configured to convert an electrically provided audio signal into mechanical vibrations;

a neck band comprising a curved base section and two leg sections extending from the curved base section, providing a substantially U-shaped space to accommodate a listener's head between the two leg sections,

wherein the transducer is disposed on the neck band at a distal end of one of the leg sections, and

wherein the neck band applies a clamping force on the listener's head, the clamping force establishing a mechanical interface for transmission of the mechanical vibrations from the transducer to a cranial bone of the listener's head; and

a clamping force adjuster enabling an adjustment of the clamping force of the neck band.

2 . The bone conduction headphones of claim 1 , wherein the clamping force adjuster comprises a removable stiffening brace installable on the neck band to increase the clamping force.

3 . The bone conduction headphones of claim 2 , wherein the removable stiffening brace is over-curved in comparison to the neck band, causing a decrease of an aperture of the substantially U-shaped space.

4 . The bone conduction headphones of claim 2 , wherein the removable stiffening brace increases a stiffness of the neck band.

5 . The bone conduction headphones of claim 2 , wherein the removable stiffening brace comprises a shell partially enclosing the neck band.

6 . The bone conduction headphones of claim 1 , wherein the clamping force adjuster comprises a tension cable causing an increase of the clamping force when pulled,

the tension cable comprising a first end affixed to the neck band on an interior of the U-shape, and a second end configured to be pulled by the listener,

wherein pulling the second end increases a curvature of the neck band causing a decrease of an aperture of the substantially U-shaped space.

7 . The bone conduction headphones of claim 6 ,

wherein the neck band further comprises a cable passthrough for the tension cable.

8 . The bone conduction headphones of claim 4 , wherein the neck band comprises a cutout forming a pivot point configured to facilitate the increase of the curvature of the neck band.

9 . The bone conduction headphones of claim 1 ,

wherein the neck band comprises:

a casing forming the curved base section; and

two sliding cores, disposed in the casing, the two sliding cores forming the two leg sections; and

wherein operation of the clamping force adjuster causes:

an increase of an aperture of the substantially U-shaped space when the two sliding cores slide into the casing, and

a decrease of the aperture of the substantially U-shaped space when the two sliding cores slide out of the casing.

10 . The bone conduction headphones of claim 9 , wherein the two sliding cores are at least partially curved.

11 . The bone conduction headphones of claim 9 , wherein the clamping force adjuster comprises a tension cable affixed to the two sliding cores, causing the sliding of the sliding cores into the casing when pulled by the listener.

12 . The bone conduction headphones of claim 1 ,

wherein the neck band comprises two halves with an overlap at the curved base section of the U-shape, each half forming one of the two legs,

wherein operation of the clamping force adjuster causes:

an increase of an aperture of the substantially U-shaped space when the overlap of the two halves increases, and

a decrease of the aperture of the substantially U-shaped space when the overlap of the two halves decreases.

13 . The bone conduction headphones of claim 12 , wherein the clamping force adjuster comprises a rack and pinion gear to control the overlap of the two halves of the neck band.

14 . The bone conduction headphones of claim 1 , wherein the clamping force adjuster comprises a tension cable causing a decrease of the clamping force when pulled,

the tension cable comprising a first end affixed to the neck band on an exterior of the U-shape, and a second end configured to be pulled by the listener,

wherein pulling the second end decreases a curvature of the neck band causing an increase of an aperture of the substantially U-shaped space.

15 . The bone conduction headphones of claim 14 , wherein the neck band comprises a cutout forming a pivot point configured to facilitate the decrease of the curvature of the neck band.

16 . A clamping force adjuster for bone conduction headphones, comprising:

a removable stiffening brace installable on a neck band of the bone conduction headphones to increase a clamping force applied on a listener's head by the neck band.

17 . The clamping force adjuster of claim 16 , wherein the removable stiffening brace is over-curved in comparison to the neck band to increase the clamping force.

18 . The clamping force adjuster of claim 16 , wherein the removable stiffening brace increases a stiffness of the neck band.

19 . The clamping force adjuster of claim 16 , wherein the removable stiffening brace comprises a shell partially enclosing the neck band.

20 . A method for adjusting a fit of bone conduction headphones, comprising:

receiving, from a listener and by a clamping force adjuster of the bone conduction headphones, an adjustment input; and

based on the adjustment input, adjusting spring-like characteristics of a neckband of the bone conduction headphones to modulate a clamping force of the neck band,

wherein the neck band establishes a substantially U-shaped space to accommodate a head of the listener, the neck band applying the clamping force to the head to establish a mechanical interface for transmission of mechanical vibrations from a transducer of the bone conduction headphones to a cranial bone of the head.