Earpiece

• US 20160205456A1
• Filed: 03/23/2016
• Published: 07/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Freebit
• Original Assignee: Freebit
• Inventors: Berg, Richard Steenfeldt
• Granted Patent: US 10,812,886 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/105 Earpiece supports, e.g. ear hooks for stereophonic headphones H04R5/0335
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1091 Details not provided for in groups H04R1/1008 - H04R1/1083
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/107 Monophonic and stereophonic headphones with microphone for two-way hands free communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/025 In the ear hearing aids [ITE] hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/033 Headphones for stereophonic communication details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10

Abstract

An ear unit for stably fitting in an ear includes a first surface facing inwardly toward the ear, a second, opposite surface facing outwardly from the ear and an outer circumferential surface formed between the first and second surfaces. The outer circumferential surface is shaped as a decremental curve. The distance between the ends of the decremental curve is approximately equal to the distance between a first cavity formed under the tragus of the ear and second cavity covered by the lower node of the antihelix of the ear. The first surface is provided with a curvature that provides a contact surface that substantially conforms to the concha, providing an improved attachment, thereby enabling the ear unit to fit closely against the concha when the ear unit is positioned into the ear.

Claims

1. A positioning and retaining structure for an earphone, the positioning and retaining structure comprising an outer edge and an inner edge, each extending from a base to be coupled to the earphone and meeting at a tip distant from the base,

wherein the base comprises a cushion structure shaped to substantially fill the concha of a user when the earphone is worn in user'"'"'s ear,

the outer edge having differing radii of curvature along its length, including a first section at the base having a first radius of curvature and a second section near the tip having a second radius of curvature greater than the first radius of curvature, such that the outer edge is more-sharply curved near the base and less-sharply curved near the tip.

2. The positioning and retaining structure of claim 1, further comprising:

projection at the tip that fits under the base of the user'"'"'s helix when the earphone is worn.

3. A stability and comfort attachment structure for an earphone, comprising an outer edge and an inner edge, each extending from a base to be coupled to the earphone and meeting at a tip distant from the base,

wherein a part of the base is shaped to substantially fill in the concha of a user when the earphone is worn in the user'"'"'s ear,

the outer edge having differing radii of curvature along its length, including a first section at the base having a first radius of curvature and a second section near the tip having a second radius of curvature greater than the first radius of curvature, such that the outer edge is more-sharply curved near the base and less-sharply curved near the tip.

4. An ear unit for stable and comfortable attachment of an earphone, comprising:

a first surface and a second surface, each extending from a base to be coupled to the earphone and meeting at an end distant from the base,

wherein a part of the base is shaped to substantially fill in the concha of a user when the earphone is worn in the user'"'"'s ear,

the first surface having differing radii of curvature along its length thereby forming a decremental curve, wherein the first surface is more-sharply curved near the base and less-sharply curved near the end distant from the base.

5. The ear unit of claim 4, further comprising:

projection at the end that fits under the base of the user'"'"'s helix when the earphone is worn.