WO1993001775A1

WO1993001775A1 - Apparatus for emphasising sounds

Info

Publication number: WO1993001775A1
Application number: PCT/GB1992/001377
Authority: WO
Inventors: Derek Hicks
Original assignee: Derek Hicks
Priority date: 1991-07-25
Filing date: 1992-07-24
Publication date: 1993-02-04
Also published as: GB9116090D0; AU2362092A

Abstract

Apparatus for emphasising sounds is described. The apparatus includes a member (1) having a concave surface (2) which defines two adjacent openings (8). The plane defined by each opening is at an angle to the other opening so that when the apparatus is put on an ear of a user so that the ear projects into one opening, sound waves entering the other opening (8) are reflected from the concave surface (2) towards the first opening and into the ear.

Description

"Apparatus for Emphasising Sounds"

The invention relates to apparatus for emphasising sounds and in particular, apparatus which helps to filter out background noise.

Sometimes, people cannot pay full attention to what they are doing, for example, listening to music, playing sports, or watching sporting events because of the background noise. This is due to people's ears normally receiving both the signal of interest and the background noise in all directions at the same time, without special noise filters.

According to the present invention, apparatus for emphasising sounds comprises a member having a concave surface which defines first and second adjacent openings, the plane defined by each opening being at an angle to the other, whereby the apparatus may be put on an ear of a user so that the ear projects into the first opening and sound waves entering the second opening are reflected from the concave surface towards the first opening and into the ear.

Preferably, the angle is approximately a right angle and typically, the second opening is directed in a generally forwards direction when the apparatus is placed on the ear of the user.

Typically, the member is in the form of a sheet of material which may be formed from a metal, a plastic, a foam material, paper or any other suitable material.

Typically, the apparatus comprises a pair of such members.

Preferably, the concave surface is defined by a locus of points which are all substantially the same distance from a given, imaginary point. Alternatively, the surface could be formed from a portion of an ellipsoid, or be plurality of abutting planar surfaces which together define a generally concave surface which may be a portion of a polyhedron. Preferably, the or each member defines a surface which is generally one quarter of the inside surface of a spherical shell.

In one example of the invention, the apparatus includes a strap, the pair of members being connected one at each end of the strap so as to form a head set similar to a pair of headphones.

In a second example of the invention, the apparatus further comprises a head-band which can be put horizontally on and around the head of the user. Preferably, there is a connecting portion on each member to connect each member to the head-band. The connecting portion may detachably connect each member to the head-band. In a third example of the invention, the apparatus may be included into a hat, such as a baseball cap so that the apparatus depends from the lower edge of the hat.

In the above examples the apparatus may also include a neck-band to provide further securement of the apparatus onto a user.

In a fourth example of the invention, the apparatus may further comprise retaining means attached to the or each member which engages with the ear of the user to retain the apparatus on the ear. This could be provided by the inherent resiliency of the member which could enable it to be "clipped" into place on the ear of a user.

Examples of apparatus for emphasising sounds in accordance with the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a member which forms part of a first example of the apparatus; Fig. 2 shows the apparatus of Fig. 1 in use; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a member which forms part of a second example of the apparatus; Fig. 4 shows the apparatus of Fig. 3 in use; Fig. 5 illustrates the principal of operation of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 to 4; Figs. 6A and 6B show respectively, a front view and a side view of a third example of the apparatus; Fig. 7 is a schematic exploded diagram showing a fixing system for fixing the adjustment straps to the members 1, shown in Figs. 6A and 6B; Figs. 8A and 8B show a front view and side view, respectively of a fourth example of the apparatus; Figs. 9A and 9B show a front view and side view respectively of a fifth example of the apparatus; Figs. 10A and 10B show a side elevation and a front elevation respectively of a sixth example of the apparatus; and, Figs. 11A to 11D show a side elevation, front elevation, plan and sectional plan, respectively of a seventh example of the apparatus.

Referring to Fig. 1, a member 1 is shown which has a concave inner surface 2. A mounting hole 3 is provided externally on the member 1. In the example shown the surface 2 is defined by the inner surface of a quarter segment of a spherical shell. That is, the surface 2 is defined by a locus of points which are all equidistant from a centre. The member 1 has two edges 20, 21 which are at approximately 90° to each other. One edge 21 has a strip of padding 9 attached to it. As shown in Fig. 2, two members 1 are connected by a head strap 4 so as to form a head set similar to a pair of headphones. In this embodiment, the strap 4 has engaging lugs 22 which engage with the holes 3.

In use, a user can put one member 1 of the apparatus on each ear by placing the padding 9 against the skin around the ear, so that the edge 20 and the head of the user define an opening 8 which faces generally forwards. Hence, a signal of interest to the user will enter the opening 8 and is reflected by the inner surface 2 into the ear, and at the same time, the member 1 will keep away the background noise from other directions. Such apparatus for emphasising sounds could be used by an audience in a concert hall or theatre, the opening 8 and inner surface 1 assisting the audience to collect the signal of interest from the stage, and prevent or reduce the noise from behind or other areas. This principle is shown in Fig. 5.

Figs. 3 and 4 show a second example of the apparatus for emphasising sounds as a head-set which comprises a ring-formed head band 6 and a connecting item 5 on each member 1. In use, the ring-formed head band 6 could be put horizontally on the head of a user, the members are connected with the strap 6 by the recess 7 in the connecting item 5. Each member may be moved along the strap 6 so as to choose the proper position.

Figs. 6A and 6B show a modification to the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In Figs. 6A and 6B the members 1 are interconnected by a head strap 4 and two head adjustment straps 10, 11. The adjustment straps 10, 11 are provided with ratchet notches 12 which co-operate with a corresponding ratchet mechanism (not shown) within the headband 4. This enables the height of the headband 4 to be adjusted relative to the members 1 for users with different sized heads. The adjustment straps 10, 11 are connected to the members 1 at their uppersides by means of split rivets 13 which co-operative with a recess formed in a connector 14 which is formed on the outside surface of each member 1.

Fig. 7 shows an exploded view of the fixing system shown in Figs. 6A and 6B in which the split rivet 13 has a lug shoulder 18 formed at its lower end and a split 19 in its lower end to enable flexing of the shoulders 18 relative to the main body and top of the rivet 13. The rivet 13 secures the adjustment strap 16 to the connector 14 by passing through a hole 25 in the adjustment strap 10. In order to pass through the hole 25 in the adjustment strap 10 the shoulders 18 may flex towards each other due to the split 19 in the rivet 13. After passing through the hole 25 in the adjustment strap 10 the shoulders 18 then engage in a recess 26 within the connector 14 to secure the adjustment strap 10 to the member 1.

Similar connectors 14 are formed on the bottom side of each member 1 to enable a neck strap 15 and neck adjustment straps 16, 17 to be coupled to the members l by means of a split rivet 13. The neck adjustment straps 16, 17 also have ratchet notches 12 formed onto their surface which engage with a ratchet mechanism (not shown) within the neck strap 15. This enables the neck strap 15 to be adjusted to suit different users.

The addition of the neck strap 15 has the advantage of providing a more secure fit of the members 1 on a user.

A modification of the apparatus shown in Figs. 3 and 4 is shown in Figs. 8A and 8B. In Figs. 8A and 8B the apparatus is similar to the apparatus shown in Figs. 6A and 6B except that the head strap 4 and head adjustment straps 10, 11 have been replaced by two headbands 30 which are interconnected by two head band adjustment straps 31, 32 which are connected to the member 1 by the split riveting system shown in Fig. 7 and described above. As with the head strap 4, the head bands 30 may be adjusted by means of ratchet notches 12 on the head band adjustment straps 31, 32 which co-operate with ratchet mechanisms in the headbands 30. Figs. 9A and 9B show a moulded helmet 40 which has the members 1 moulded into the helmet 40 and padding 41 around the inside of the members 1, within the helmet 42. An aperture 42 is formed in the helmet adjacent each member 1 and padding 41 to permit sound to be reflected from each member 1 into the ear of a user.

Figs. 10A and 10B show a member 1 which has been moulded into a sheet of material 45 and which is provided with two fixing apertures 46. The device shown in Figs. 10A and 10B enables the members 1 to be retrofitted to an existing piece of headwear, such as a sports helmet or to enable the members 1 to be detachably connected to a piece of headwear, for example to enable them to be easily replaced or to enable them to be used with the piece of headwear when desired.

Figs. 11A to 11D show a modified member 51 which incorporates an insulation layer 52 which covers the exterior surface of relatively ridged inner member 53. The insulation 52 extends around the edge of the member 51 to additionally provide the padded section 9 which sits adjacent to the ear. The insulation 52 may be provided in order to help damp out extraneous sounds from behind or to the side of a user to help a user concentrate on the sounds emanating from the direction in which a user is facing.

In addition, the member 1 could be incorporated into other retaining devices, for example, it could be included into a hat, such as a baseball cap. This may be used for sports to cut out the background noise for both participants of the sports and spectators. This enables both competitors and spectators to pay full attention to the respective sport.

The invention could also be used for hunting, military applications, and rescue operations to enable the user to concentrate fully on what he is doing.

Modifications and improvements may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. Apparatus for emphasising sound comprising a member having a concave surface which defines first and second adjacent openings, the plane defined by each opening being at an angle to the other, whereby the apparatus may be put on an ear of a user, so that the ear projects into the first opening and sound entering the second opening is reflected from the concave surface towards the first opening and into the ear.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the concave surface is defined by a locus of points which are all substantially the same distance from a given imaginary point.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the concave surface is formed from a portion of an ellipsoid.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the concave surface is provided by a plurality of abutting planer surfaces which together define a generally concave surface.

5. Apparatus according to Claim 4, wherein the concave surface is a portion of a polyhedron.

6. Apparatus according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the angle is approximately a right angle.

7. Apparatus according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the second opening is directed generally towards the direction in which a user is facing when the apparatus is placed on the ear of the user.

8. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the member is formed from a sheet of material.

9. Apparatus for emphasising sound comprising two members, each member being in accordance with any of Claims 1 to 8.

10. Apparatus according to Claim 9, wherein the apparatus includes a strap, the pair of members being connected one at each end of the strap to form a headset such that one member is placed on each ear of a user.

11. Apparatus according to Claim 10, wherein the apparatus includes two straps at an angle to each other.

12. Apparatus according to Claim 9, further including a hat, each member being attached to the hat so that when the hat is worn by a user the members are positioned adjacent each ear of the user.