Multilayer approach to hydrophobic and oleophobic system and method

• US 10,129,620 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2017
• Issued: 11/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bragi GmbH
• Original Assignee: Bragi GmbH
• Inventors: Boesen, Peter Vincent
• Primary Examiner(s): Ni, Suhan
• Application Number:
  US15/414,013
• Publication Number:
  US 20170214987A1
• Time in Patent Office: 658 Days
• Field of Search: 381322, 381324-325, 381328, 381330, 381380-381
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/023 Screens for loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type

Abstract

An earpiece may include an earpiece housing, an electronics package associated with the earpiece housing, a hydrophobic barrier on the earpiece, and an oleophobic barrier on the earpiece. The hydrophobic barrier may be applied directly to the electronics package. The oleophobic barrier may be distal to the electronics package. The oleophobic barrier may be an oleophobic nano-coating applied to a mesh or screen. The hydrophobic barrier may be distal to the electronics package. The oleophobic barrier may be distal to the hydrophobic barrier. The hydrophobic barrier may be a nano-coating applied directly to a mesh or screen. The oleophobic barrier may be a nano-coating applied directly to a mesh or screen.

Claims

1. An ear piece, the ear piece comprising:

an ear piece housing configured for insertion into an ear of a user;

an electronics package disposed within the ear piece housing;

wherein the electronics package is protected by at least a first and second layer of protective barriers;

the first layer of the protective barrier consisting of a hydrophobic barrier positioned to protect the electronics package disposed within the ear piece housing; and

the second layer of the protective barrier consisting of an oleophobic barrier positioned to protect the electronics package disposed within the ear piece housing;

wherein the oleophobic barrier is located distal to the electronics package disposed within the ear piece housing.

2. The ear piece of claim 1, wherein the oleophobic barrier comprises a mesh or screen.

3. The ear piece of claim 1, wherein the hydrophobic barrier comprises a hydrophobic nano-coating.

4. The ear piece of claim 3, wherein the oleophobic barrier is an oleophobic nano-coating.

5. The ear piece of claim 1, wherein the oleophobic barrier is located distal to the hydrophobic barrier.

6. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the hydrophobic barrier comprises a mesh or screen.

7. The wearable device of claim 1 further comprising a sleeve for fitting over a tip of the ear piece and wherein the oleophobic barrier is attached to the sleeve.

8. The wearable device of claim 7 wherein the oleophobic barrier comprises a mesh or screen.

9. The wearable device of claim 8 further comprising an oleophobic coating on the mesh or screen.

10. The wearable device of claim 9 wherein the hydrophobic barrier comprises a hydrophobic coating.

11. An ear piece, the ear piece comprising:

an ear piece housing configured for insertion into an ear of a user;

an electronics package disposed within the ear piece housing;

wherein the electronics package is protected by at least a first and second layer of protective barriers;

the first layer of the protective barrier comprising a hydrophobic barrier positioned to protect an electronics package disposed within the ear piece housing, the hydrophobic barrier consisting of a hydrophobic coating; and

the second layer of the protective barrier comprising an oleophobic barrier positioned to protect the electronics package disposed within the ear piece housing, the oleophobic barrier consisting of an oleophobic coating.

12. The ear piece of claim 11 wherein the hydrophobic coating is a hydrophobic nano-coating.

13. The ear piece of claim 12 wherein the oleophobic coating is an oleophobic nano-coating.

14. The ear piece of claim 11 wherein the hydrophobic barrier further comprises a mesh or screen with the hydrophobic coating on the mesh or screen.

15. The ear piece of claim 14 wherein the oleophobic barrier further comprises a mesh or screen with the oleophobic coating on the mesh or screen.