Earpiece for a mobile device

• US 10,178,210 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2017
• Issued: 01/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thunderhill Investments, LLC
• Original Assignee: Thunderhill Investments, LLC
• Inventors: Kirschman, David Louis
• Primary Examiner(s): West, Lewis
• Application Number:
  US15/472,715
• Publication Number:
  US 20180139313A1
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: 455557, 4555752, 4555756
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/08 Non-electric sound-amplifying devices, e.g. non-electric megaphones amplifying by horns G10K11/02; amplifying by focusing G10K11/26
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0254 comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0258 for a headset device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/035 Improving the acoustic characteristics by means of constructional features of the housing, e.g. ribs, walls, resonating chambers or cavities
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/05 specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/185 Improving the rigidity of the casing or resistance to shocks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6058 involving the use of a headset accessory device connected to the portable telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/105 Earpiece supports, e.g. ear hooks for stereophonic headphones H04R5/0335
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1058 Manufacture or assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/2811 for loudspeaker transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/11 Transducers incorporated or for use in hand-held devices, e.g. mobile phones, PDA's, camera's

Abstract

Various embodiments of an earpiece for a mobile device. The earpiece is detachably mounted to the mobile device and provides sound amplification for a user.

Claims

1. An earpiece for use with a mobile device, said earpiece comprising:

an earpiece body having a sound entrance, a sound exit and at least one internal aperture coupling said sound entrance and said sound exit;

said earpiece body being integrally or monolithically formed in a case for said mobile device so that said sound entrance becomes operatively associated with a speaker of said mobile device so that a user can position said sound exit in or near said user'"'"'s ear;

wherein said mobile device comprises at least one integral or internal microphone that said user can speak into so that said user can position said mobile device next to said user'"'"'s head and cause said sound exit of said earpiece body to become situated in or near said user'"'"'s ear and said at least one integral or internal microphone of said mobile device becomes positioned in a speaking position in operative relationship with said user'"'"'s mouth so that said user can speak directly into said at least one integral or internal microphone while said sound exit of said earpiece body is situated in or near said user'"'"'s ear.

2. The earpiece as recited in claim 1 wherein said sound exit defines a protrusion or earpiece tip.

3. The earpiece as recited in claim 2 wherein said protrusion or earpiece tip comprises a protrusion shape that is adapted to complement said user'"'"'s ear anatomy.

4. The earpiece as recited in claim 2 wherein said protrusion or earpiece tip comprises a protrusion support post integrally formed in said earpiece body and said protrusion or earpiece tip that is removable from said earpiece body that defines a protrusion shape, said protrusion or earpiece tip being adapted to be removably mounted on said protrusion support post.

5. The earpiece as recited in claim 4 wherein said protrusion support post protrudes from a surface of said mobile device to complement an anatomy of said user'"'"'s ear.

6. The earpiece as recited in claim 1 wherein said earpiece body comprises a mounting clip for mounting on said mobile device, said mounting clip being adapted to be situated between said mobile device and said case for said mobile device to facilitate stabilizing or holding said earpiece in a predetermined position on said mobile device.

7. The earpiece as recited in claim 6 wherein said mounting clip is generally U-shaped and has a first wall having an aperture that defines said sound entrance.

8. The earpiece as recited in claim 7 wherein said mounting clip is generally U-shaped and has a second wall that generally opposes said first wall and a joining portion that joins said first and second walls, said first and second walls being flexible and elastic to permit said mounting clip to retain said earpiece body in operative relationship with a speaker of said mobile device.

9. The earpiece as recited in claim 6 wherein said mobile device comprises a first end and a speaker associated with said first end, said mounting clip being adapted and sized to engage and be mounted on said first end.

10. The earpiece as recited in claim 1 wherein said at least one internal aperture and said sound exit are configured to provide passive sound amplification.

11. The earpiece as recited in claim 1 wherein said earpiece has an active sound amplifier.

12. The earpiece as recited in claim 1 wherein said mobile device is a mobile telephone and said earpiece comprises a mechanical mount defining a clip for mounting on said mobile device.

13. The earpiece as recited in claim 1 wherein said earpiece body comprises at least one wing for providing support when said earpiece is mounted on said mobile device.

14. The earpiece as recited in claim 1 wherein said earpiece body has an aperture for permitting a camera or a sensor or other feature on said mobile device to function without interference with said earpiece body.

15. The earpiece as recited in claim 1 wherein said earpiece has at least one of an amplifier or a wireless system.

16. The earpiece as recited in claim 1 wherein said earpiece comprises a plurality of wings for facilitating stabilization of said earpiece.

17. The earpiece as recited in claim 1 wherein said earpiece body has a wall having an aperture that becomes aligned with a component of said mobile device when said earpiece is mounted thereon.