Ear attachment apparatus

• US 10,045,114 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2016
• Issued: 08/07/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Human Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Human Incorporated
• Inventors: Willis, Benjamin S., Kwon, Dae Il
• Primary Examiner(s): Eason, Matthew
• Assistant Examiner(s): Diaz, Sabrina
• Application Number:
  US15/365,784
• Publication Number:
  US 20170245037A1
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• Field of Search: 381 72, 381330, 381371, 381374, 381381
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1008 Earpieces of the supra-aural or circum-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/105 Earpiece supports, e.g. ear hooks for stereophonic headphones H04R5/0335

Abstract

Various embodiments provide for an improved attachment apparatus for attaching the attachment apparatus to an ear of a user. In some embodiments, the attachment apparatus may include an attachment body that defines an opening configured to enable at least a portion of a user'"'"'s ear to pass through the opening when the attachment apparatus is coupled to the user. In such embodiments, the attachment body may prevent an anterior portion of the ear from passing through the opening and may receive, from an interaction with the anterior portion of the ear, a force that biases the first attachment portion in a direction away from a median plane of the user. In some embodiments, the attachment body may secure the attachment apparatus to the ear of the user while the first attachment portion is biased away from the median plane of the user.

Claims

1. An attachment apparatus for coupling to an ear of a user, the attachment apparatus comprising:

an attachment body comprising a first attachment portion and a second attachment portion and defining an opening that is configured to enable at least a portion of the ear of the user to pass through the opening when coupling the attachment apparatus to the ear,

wherein;

the first attachment portion is configured to prevent an anterior portion of the ear from passing through the opening and to receive, from an interaction with the anterior portion of the ear, a force that biases the first attachment portion in a direction away from a median plane of the user,

the force received on the first attachment portion causes the second attachment portion to bias in a direction towards the median plane of the user, and

the attachment body is further configured to secure the attachment apparatus to the ear of the user while the first attachment portion is biased away from the median plane of the user.

2. The attachment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first attachment portion is further configured to protrude at least partially into the opening such that the first attachment portion limits rotation of the attachment apparatus while the attachment apparatus is secured to the ear.

3. The attachment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first attachment portion is defined at least partially in reference to a line passing between a point on a first recess of the attachment body and a point on a second recess of the attachment body.

4. The attachment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the attachment body is further configured to define, at least partially, a cavity that accommodates the first attachment portion while the first attachment portion is biased away from the median plane of the user.

5. An attachment apparatus for coupling to an ear of a user, the attachment apparatus comprising:

an attachment body, the attachment body defining an opening that is configured to enable a portion of the ear of the user to pass through the opening when coupling the attachment apparatus to the ear; and

a frame coupled to the attachment body,

wherein;

the attachment body and the frame are each configured to transition from a resting configuration to a deformed configuration in response to a tensile force applied to the attachment body, and

when the tensile force is removed from the attachment body, the frame is configured to bias the attachment body toward the resting configuration from the deformed configuration.

6. The attachment apparatus of claim 5, wherein the frame is coupled to the attachment body to extend along at least a portion of a perimeter portion of the attachment body surrounding the opening.

7. The attachment apparatus of claim 5, wherein:

the attachment body comprises a first attachment portion and a second attachment portion;

the frame is configured to secure the attachment apparatus to the ear such that the first attachment portion receives, from an interaction with an anterior portion of the ear, a force that biases the first attachment portion in a direction away from a median plane of the user, and

the force received on the first attachment portion causes the second attachment portion to press against the user.

8. The attachment apparatus of claim 5, wherein:

the frame is configured to secure the attachment apparatus to the ear such that a portion of the frame receives, from an interaction with an anterior portion of the ear, a force that biases the portion of the frame in a direction away from a median plane of the user.

9. The attachment apparatus of claim 8, wherein the force received on the portion of the frame causes a portion of the attachment body to press against the user.

10. The attachment apparatus of claim 5, wherein:

the frame comprises a first frame portion and a second frame portion;

the first frame portion is configured to secure the attachment apparatus to an upper root portion of the ear; and

the second frame portion is configured to secure the attachment apparatus to a lower root portion of the ear.

11. The attachment apparatus of claim 10, wherein the frame is further configured to apply a compressive force to the ear between a point on the first frame portion and a point on the second frame portion while the attachment body is in the resting configuration.

12. An attachment apparatus for coupling to an ear of a user, the attachment apparatus comprising:

an attachment body, the attachment body defining an opening that is configured to enable at least a portion of the ear of the user to pass through the opening when coupling the attachment apparatus to the ear; and

a frame coupled to the attachment body and comprising a first frame portion,

wherein;

the first frame portion of the frame is configured to have a thickness greater than a space between a back surface of the posterior portion of the ear and the head of the user behind the ear with the ear in a non-displaced condition,

the first frame portion of the frame is configured to displace the posterior portion of the ear in a direction away from a median plane of the user while the attachment apparatus is secured to the ear, and

displacement of the posterior portion of the ear by the first frame portion biases an anterior portion of the attachment body into engagement with the user.

13. The attachment apparatus of claim 12, wherein the frame is coupled to the attachment body to extend along at least a portion of a perimeter of the opening.

14. The attachment apparatus of claim 12, wherein:

the frame body further comprises a second frame portion;

the frame is configured to secure the attachment apparatus to the ear such that the second frame portion of the attachment body receives a force from an interaction with the ear that urges the second frame portion away from a median plane of the user, and

the force received on the second frame portion biases a portion of the attachment body into engagement with the user.

15. The attachment apparatus of claim 12, wherein the anterior portion of the attachment body engages with the user while the attachment body is secured to an upper portion of the ear and to a lower portion of the ear.

16. The attachment apparatus of claim 12, wherein:

the first frame portion of the frame comprises a midsection that physically contacts a back surface of the posterior portion of the ear; and

the midsection curves away from the head of the user behind the ear and towards the back surface of the ear such that the midsection displaces the posterior portion of the ear in the direction away from the median plane of the user.

17. The attachment apparatus of claim 12, wherein:

at least a portion of the attachment body is configured to transition from a resting configuration to a deformed configuration in response to receiving a tensile force on the attachment body, and

the frame is configured to bias the attachment body toward the resting configuration while the attachment body is in the deformed configuration.