US20070256946A1 - Carrying case for headphones - Google Patents

Abstract

A carrying case for headphones includes first and second opposed shell shaped, molded plastic case members hinged along one side and connected on the opposite side by means of magnetic material. Overlapping peripheral walls of the case members and projecting tabs facilitate separation of the magnetically closed case.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• In a principal aspect the present invention relates to a carrying case for audio headphones.
• The use of headphones by audiophiles is a well known expedient. Headphones are used in many commercial and other environments. For example, headphones are used in recording studios, in retail outlets for sampling audio recorded products and for recreational listening. Headphones have been used by travelers and by persons who are walking, bicycling, or otherwise moving about with some type of audio playing device.
• Headphones come in various types and sizes. They may be as simple as earplugs which fit into the channels of the ear of the listener. Alternatively, more sophisticated headphones include ear covers with speakers that fit over the ears and are connected by a bridging section that fits over the top of the head of the user. Headphones are often used in work environments.
• A version of headphones incorporates circuitry designed to eliminate background noise and enhance the listening experience. The growth of the use of headphones thus has prompted the development of carrying cases for such headphones. A carrying case is desirable to protect a headphone when it is not in use and to protect the wires and other component parts of a headphone not in use. Thus, there has developed a need for improved carrying cases for headphones which are compact, yet rugged and serviceable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• Briefly, the present invention comprises a carrying case for headphones which includes a lower molded polymeric shell and an upper molded polymeric shell hinged to the lower shell so that the shells may be folded about the hinge to enclose a headphone storage space between the shells. Within that space, a headphone, along with lead wires and a bridging section, may be placed safely and conveniently. Each shell preferably includes an upstanding, generally straight wall section of a peripheral, outer wall surrounding a recess. The straight wall is joined to generally arcuate side walls and an arcuate front wall. The front wall includes a land with a magnetic material recessed in the land. The case members or the shells are substantially mirror images of one another, however, the upper or top case member or shell preferably includes a peripheral wall which overlaps the lower wall, at least in part. The lands which include the recessed magnetic material are aligned and provide a means for maintaining the case in a closed position. Outwardly projecting tabs in the arcuate front wall may be engaged manually and twisted or torqued to open the closed case by overcoming the force of the magnetic material which holds the case members or shells in a closed position. The interior of the case is designed to receive a set of headphones and to slightly compress those headphones in order to retain them snuggly in a safe condition within the case. Additionally, the interior of one of the case members includes at least one molded socket retaining pocket for a lead wire pin connector. Headphones typically include a lead wire with a single pin connector to connect the headphone with an audio output source. However, various types of audio outputs are available and thus it is appropriate to store a pin connection adapter within the carrying case. The carrying case shell members or case members are typically made from a molded plastic or polymeric material and thus are generally rigid. Preferably, at least one of the outer surfaces of the carrying case is planar or generally flat.
• Thus, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved carrying case for a headphone.
• Another object of the invention is to provide a carrying case for a headphone which is rugged, economical, easily adaptable to store various types and sizes of headphones, and which is easy to use.
• Another object of the invention is to provide a carrying case for headphones which is lightweight and which includes an interior fabricated to avoid abrading or damaging a headphone which is stored within the case.
• Another object of the invention is to provide a headphone with a hinge connection that enables a bottom and top shell shaped case member to be opened and which further includes a magnetic material closure mechanism wherein the magnetic material is maintained flush with a peripheral wall associated with each of the upper and lower case members so that the peripheral edges of the case member will not catch or damage any of the component parts of the headphone.
• These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
• In the detailed description which follows, reference will be made to the drawing comprised of the following figures:
• FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an embodiment of the carrying case of the invention in the closed or storage position;
• FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the embodiment ofFIG. 1 depicting the carrying case in the open position;
• FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the carrying case ofFIG. 1;
• FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the carrying case depicted inFIG. 2;
• FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the carrying case ofFIG. 1;
• FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross sectional view of a side section of the carrying case ofFIG. 5;
• FIG. 7 is a front elevation of the carrying case ofFIG. 1;
• FIG. 8 is a side cross sectional view of the carrying case depicted inFIG. 7;
• FIG. 9 is an isometric view of the carrying case ofFIG. 1 as depicted from the underside or lower side thereof;
• FIG. 10 is an isometric cross sectional view of a side of the carrying case ofFIG. 9;
• FIG. 11 is an isometric view of the embodiment ofFIG. 1 as viewed from the underside of the embodiment;
• FIG. 12 is a side elevation of the embodiment ofFIG. 1 depicting the vertical height of the case in the closed condition;
• FIG. 13 is a side elevation of a typical headphone indicating the vertical height thereof and indicating the feature of compressibility thereof when placed within a case as depicted inFIG. 12; and
• FIG. 14 is a plan view of the headphone ofFIG. 13.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
• The figures depict an embodiment of the carrying case of the invention. In the embodiment depicted, the carrying case includes a first or lower shell20 and a second orupper shell22. Theshells20 and22 are generally mirror images of one another, but do have variations in detail. Thus, referring toFIG. 2, the first or lower shell20 includes aperipheral wall24 surrounding a molded recess orinterior26. Thewall24 includes ahinge section28 which is a generallystraight line section26 adapted to cooperate with one ormore hinge members30. Typically, eachhinge member30 is an over center acting hinge which maintains the case in a closed condition such as depicted inFIG. 1 or an open condition as depicted inFIG. 2.
• Theperipheral wall24 further includes a generally arcuatefront wall section32, a firstside wall section34 and an opposite, secondside wall section36. Theside wall sections34 and36 are generally arcuate and extend from the generally straight line,hinge wall section28 to connect with the generally arcuatefront wall section32. Thetop surface38 ofwall24 is flat. A flat, coplanar land40 is positioned at the midpoint of thefront wall section32. The land40 includesmagnetic material42 such as magnets embedded therein flush with the level of thesurface38 forming thewall24.
• The second or upper shell orcase member22 includes a congruent,peripheral wall50 with aflat surface52 and an expandedland54 with recessedmagnetic material56. Theperipheral wall50 of the upper or second shell orcase member22 includes astraight wall section66 which is attached by thehinge30 to thestraight wall section28 of the lower case member20 and opposed arcuate wall sections.
• An internal recess section60 ofsecond shell22 in combination with therecess section26 of first shell20 defines an interior compartment into which headphones, such as headphones80 inFIG. 13, can be fitted when the case is in the closed condition as depicted inFIG. 12. The interior of theupper case member22 further includes a moldedpocket64 in recess section60 adapted to receive a pin connector. That is, typically headphones, such as headphones80 inFIG. 13, will include a lead wire82 with asingle pin connector84 at the end of the lead wire82. Thepin connector84 is designed to fit within a socket of an audio source device. However, many audio source devices require a double pin connector. Thus, the moldedsection64 depicted inFIG. 2 can retain a double pin connector adapter which can engage with thesingle pin connector84 depicted inFIG. 13 and thereby enable use of the lead wire82 with a two pin connection. In other words, the case includes features which enable storage of ancillary elements and fixtures associated with a headphone set.
• The lower case member20 and theupper case member22 are not the exact physical duplications. For example, as depicted inFIGS. 5 and 11 the lower or first case member20 include a flat bottom surface21. Theupper case member22 has a bulbousforward end23 adapted to receive headphones and, more particularly, the ear covers88 as depicted inFIG. 13. That is, ear covers88 typically include a molded plastic housing90 and a peripheral, elastomericcompressible section92. As depicted inFIG. 14 the headphones also typically include the bridging section81 connecting first andsecond cover sections83 and85. Each of thecover sections83 and85 includecompressible material92. Thecompressible material92 is fitted into the case substantially in a manner aligning the ear protectors or covers with the patterns as depicted inFIG. 4; namely, the patterns33 and35. The bridging section then fits around a molded retention element37. The compressibility of thematerial92 enables the dimension of the headphones as depicted inFIG. 13 to be compressed and fitted within the closed case as depicted inFIG. 12. Thus, the headphones are held snuggly within the case by virtue of utilizing the compressibility associated with thecompressible material92. Of course, since thelands38 and52 are generally flush, the headphones are protected.
• As a desirable feature of the construction, however, thesurface52 associated with the second orupper case member22 overlaps or extends over the edge, at least in part, of thesurface38 associated with the lower case or first case member20. This feature extends around the side walls and arcuate front wall as depicted inFIGS. 6, 8 and10. Such overlapping provides an additional means for the user of the case to grip theupper case member22 and move it in opposition to the magnetic force holding thecase members20 and22 together for access to the interior thereof.
• Another feature of the invention, however, is the inclusion of projecting tabs such as tab74 for theupper case member22 and tab76 for the lower case member20. The tabs74,76 are offset with respect to the center of the arcuate front wall of therespective case members20 and22. By applying a twisting motion manually to the tabs74,76 thecase members20 and22 may be separated by overcoming a magnetic force holding thosecase members20,22 together.
• Various figures illustrate the case construction. Referring toFIG. 8, theupper case22 includes a polymeric moldedouter layer77 and an interior cushion layer79. Similarly, lower case20 includes a polymeric layer which is a hard shellpolymeric material73 and aninterior cushion layer75. This provides another means for functionally protecting headphones retained within the case.
• Various alternative constructions are within the scope of the invention. The invention is to be limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereof.

Claims (7)

1. A carrying case for a headphone, said headphone including a first and a second ear speaker and an arcuate bridge connected to said first and second ear speakers, and further including a speaker lead wire with a plug for attachment to an audio source socket, said plug including a connector pin, said case comprising in combination:

a first lower, polymeric, molded case member generally in the form of a shell with a central recess, a peripheral wall extending about the central recess, said wall having a generally straight hinge section, an arcuate front wall section opposite the straight hinge section with first and second arcuate side wall sections connecting the hinge section to the arcuate front wall section and a flat circumferential top edge surface;

an inwardly extending land generally at the midpoint of the arcuate front wall section with a magnetic material embedded therein generally flush with the surface of the land, said land and the edge surface of the peripheral wall being generally coplanar,

a second, upper, polymeric molded case member comprising a generally mirror image of the first case member, said first and second case members joined by a hinge in the hinge wall sections thereof and maintainable in a closed position by the respective magnetic material with the edge surface of the peripheral walls in generally flush contact,

said first and second case members including respectively a first and a second edge projection tab generally off center of the midpoint of the arcuate front wall section, said first and second tabs providing a manual torsion release element;

said second case member peripheral edge wall surface at least in part extending peripherally outwardly over the peripheral edge wall surface at least in part of the first case member; and

an interior socket molded into the inside wall of a case member for retention of a pin socket adapter.

2. The case ofclaim 1 wherein the first case member has a generally flat bottom surface.

3. The case ofclaim 1 including a headphone retained within the case.

4. The case ofclaim 3 wherein the headphone is in part compressible and said first and second case members compress the headphone within the closed case, and said magnet material retains the case members in the closed position.

5. The case ofclaim 1, wherein the second case member peripheral edge surface projects outwardly over the first case member peripheral edge surface along the arcuate wall section and first and second side wall sections of said first case member.

6. A carrying case for a headphone, said headphone including a first and a second ear cover speaker and an arcuate bridge connected to said first and second ear cover speakers, and further including a speaker lead wire with a plug for attachment to an audio source socket, said plug including a pin connector, said case comprising in combination:

a first lower, polymeric, molded case member generally in the form of a shell with a central recess, a peripheral wall extending about the central recess, said wall having a generally straight hinge section, an arcuate front wall section opposite the straight hinge section, first and second arcuate side wall sections connecting the hinge section to the arcuate front wall section, and a flat circumferential top edge surface;

an inwardly extending land generally at the midpoint of the arcuate wall section with a magnetic material embedded therein generally flush with the surface of the land, said land and the edge surface of the peripheral wall being generally coplanar,

a second, upper polymeric molded case member comprising a generally mirror image of the first case member, said first and second case members joined by a hinge in the hinge wall sections thereof and maintainable in a closed position by the respective magnetic material with the edge surface of the peripheral walls in generally flush contact,

said first and second case members each including respectively a first and a second edge projection tab generally off center of the midpoint of the arcuate front wall section, said first and second tabs providing a manual torsion release element;

said second case member peripheral edge wall surface extending peripherally along the side wall sections and front wall section outwardly over the peripheral edge wall surface of the first case member.

7. A carrying case for a headphone, said headphone including a first and a second ear cover speaker and an arcuate bridge connected to said first and second ear cover speakers, and further including a speaker lead wire with a plug for attachment to an audio source socket, said case comprising in combination:

a first lower, polymeric molded case member generally in the form of a shell with a central recess, a peripheral wall about the central recess, said wall having a generally straight hinge section, an arcuate front wall section opposite the straight hinge section first and second arcuate side wall sections connecting the hinge section to the arcuate front wall section, and a flat circumferential top edge surface;

an inwardly extending land generally at the midpoint of the arcuate front wall section with a magnet embedded therein flush with the surface of the land, said land and the edge surface of the peripheral wall being generally coplanar,

a second, upper polymeric molded case member comprising a generally mirror image of the first case member, said first and second case members joined by a hinge in the hinge wall sections thereof and maintainable in a closed position by the respective magnets with the edge surfaces of the peripheral walls in flush contact,

said first and second case members each including respectively a first and a second edge projection tab generally off center of the midpoint of the arcuate front wall section, said tabs providing a manual torsion release element; and

said second case member peripheral edge wall surface at least in part extending peripherally outwardly over at least in part of the peripheral edge wall surface of the first case.

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