The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of 51 newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today. In this particular report we cover a headset design that will allow the ear pad to fold back when you want to hear someone talking to you or just want to take a break from your music. The new headphones will also be able to swivel and fold inward for easier storage. Each of the pivot joints includes a detent hinge for locking into a plurality of rotational positions.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the headphone; FIG. 6 is a perspective view of one of the arm members rotated and slid away relative to the headband; FIGS. 8 A-B are side views of the headphone of FIG. 1 being worn by a person, with one of the earphone units shown swiveled toward the back of the person's head; FIG. 7 is front view of the headphone of FIG. 1 with the earphones folded in the space underneath the headband.

Apple's granted patent was originally a Beats invention filed in 2010.

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