GB2209925A - Head band - Google Patents

Abstract

A head band for mounting earpieces of a radio receiver comprises a continuous band or loop (12) of an elasticated strip material having a restricted amount of resilient yield with wiring (14) interconnecting the earpieces (11) which wiring follows a sinusoidal path so on stretching of the material the wiring merely straightens. The earpieces can contain electronic circuitry and batteries or these can be contained in a separate pod on the nape of the wearer's neck.

Description

KNEAD BAND FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention concerns a head band for a radio receiver which head band mounts at least ear pieces of the radio receiver.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INTENTION In British Patent Applications 8629861 and 8721853 there is described a radio receiver to be worn on the head of the user. It was originally envisaged that the receiver would be embedded in the latex of a swimming cap, with an ear piece over each ear. However when swimming caps are pulled off and on, the cap is stretched and connecting wiring between the ear pieces is at risk of becoming open circuited. The aim cf the present invention is to protect the wiring against being damaged by being stretched.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a head band for a radio receiver having two ear pieces connected together by wiring,characterised in that the ear pieces are mounted on a band having a limited amount of resilient give with the wiring also being mounted on that band but in a sinuous manner so that as the band is stretched to its limit the wiring merely becomes straighter.

The elastic material used as waist bands etc. in dress-making is suitable for the band. Whilst it stretches it seems to have a maximum amount of stretch.

The band can be embedded in the latex of a swimming cap or used by itelf.

If the entire receiver with its aerial is to be carried by the band, the aerial is preferably spaced from the rest of the wiring to minimise any screening of the aerial by the said rest of the wiring.

Conveniently the aerial is a loop aerial since this see:ns to give a better performance than a mere single pick up wire; it is thought that the wearer's head tends to screen a pick-up wire and that this is not as severe with a loop aerial.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figurelisaschematic perspective view of a head band, Figure 2is an exploded perspective view of ear pieces used in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of a swimming cap for use with the head band of Figure 1 and Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of another head band with parts broken away.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Figure 1 shows two ear pieces 11 mounted on a band 12 of elastomeric material,such as a suitable plastics reinforced in such a way that the band will stretch elastically but only to a limited extent, dress-making "elastic" has suitable properties in that it elastically stretches but then comes against a limit of extension.

Embedded in or mounted on the band there is a single or multiple turn loop aerial 13 with other wiring 14 interconnecting the ear pieces formed in spaced apart serpentine manner, that is the aerial and the other wiring are spaced apart transversely of the band so the other wiring does not screen the aerial from receiving a signal and both the aerial and the other wiring whilst extending around the band generally snake from side to side of their general path so that when the band is stretched the aerial and the other wiring merely tend to straighten whilst maintaining their spacing from each other. The ear pieces are connected as necessary to the other wiring and the aerial by generous leads.

As shown in Figure 2, one ear piece contains electronic circuitry 15 and a sound emitting transducer 16 and the other another sound emitting transducer 17 and a battery pack 18, in each case contained in a waterproof housing each consisting of two parts 19 and 20.

A rubber or other padding 21 for the ear can be clipped or bonded to each part 19, the parts 19 being the parts closer to the wearer's ears in use. The outer parts 20 would have terminals 22 integrally and sealingly moulded into them for coneection to the leads and would have attachments 23 for the band preferably permitting the ear pieces to be adjusted to the wearer. The two parts of each housing form a water-tight seal with each other by being permanently bonded to each other or by being inherently water-proof as by being a tight push-fit or by being screwed together with a seal between them.

If tbe two parts of the housing containing the batteries are separable and then reconnectable in a sealing manner then access could be gained to enable the batteries to be replaced or recharged. Alternatively it the housing is not separable terminals or a connector could be moulded into the part 20 of the housing containing the batteries. Any terminals should be protected against corrosion, except for the battery charging terminals which could be gold plated the other terminals do not need constant access once they have been connected and could be protected by a coat of suitable varnish.

A switch could be provided to activate the electronics.

Such a switch could be a pressure switch, a capacitance switch which could sense when the cap was being worn and switch on the electronics merely as a result of the cap being worn, or could be a switch actuated by a pulse applied to a terminal before a training session.

The head band described above can be worn as a separate article under a swim cap in which case it is preferable that the cap be modified by bulges or pockets 24 to receive the ear pieces, or could be embedded between two layers of latex forming a swim cap.

The aerial and the other wiring are each embedded in or mounted on the band so as to be capable of the relative motion necessary to straighten in relation to the band as by being attached only at intervals or by being enclosed in turned over edges of the band.

The embodiment of Figure 4 differs in that to give a less protuberant appearance of the ear pieces, the ear pieces contain only the transducers with the electronic circuitry and batteries are contained in a separate pod 25 received in a pocket formed between two layers (the inner layer is partly broken away to show the wiring) of the head band. The aerial and the wiring have to enter the pod and the wiring has to enter the earpieces and it is thought that it is better for the wiring and aerial to enter the pod and earpieces through holes in casings for those components and to seal the holes by grommets or other sealing arrangements (possibly by means of an extruded sealant. This is preferred since some people object to exposed terminals in a wet environment notwithstanding the low voltages involved.

This form of sealing and connection can be used in the earlier embodiment.

It is preferred to use some form of screening around the wiring such as a braided metal sheaf. It is thought that having the ear pieces adjustable or the band is unnecessary and can lead to problems when having the wiring and aerial enter through holes.

In each of the embodiments, the band is formed as a continuous loop or band.

Where a separate pod is used, this should be disposed for preference t be located on the wearer's back of the neck.

Claims (5)

1. A head band for a radio receiver having two ear pieces connected together by wiring, characterised in that the ear pieces (11) are mounted on a band (12, having a limited amount of resilient give with the wiring (14) also being mounted on that band but in a sinuous manner so that as the band is stretched to its limit the wiring merely becomes straighter.

2. A head band according to claim 1 wherein the head band also contains a loop aerial (13) also mounted on the band (12) in a similar sinuous manner.

3. A head band according to claim 2 wherein the aerial is spaced from the wiring on opposite edges of the band.

4. Ahead band substantially as herein described with reference to ligure 1 or figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.

5. Ahead band according to any one of the preceding claims when used with a bathing cap having suitable bulges or pockets to receive the ear pieces.