Earphone

• US 4,403,120 A
• Filed: 06/29/1981
• Issued: 09/06/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pioneer Electronic Corporation (Pioneer Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Pioneer Electronic Corporation (Pioneer Corporation)
• Inventors: Yoshimi, Toshikazu
• Primary Examiner(s): Rubinson, G. Z.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lev, Robert
• Application Number:
  US06/278,036
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 179/182 R, 179/182 A, 179/107 R, 179/107 E, 179/107 H, 179/107 S, 181/130, 181/131, 181/132, 181/133, 181/129
• US Class Current: 381/380
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/225 for telephonic receivers

Abstract

A high performance and extremely compact earphone is disclosed. The earphone includes a speaker unit and a case in which the speaker unit is mounted. The earphone is attachable to a cavity of a conha defined by the tragus and a confronting projection of the pinna of the ear. The earphone has a specific physical configuration such that the earphone is firmly fitted to the ear cavity by the resiliency and friction of the ear.

Claims

1. An earphone comprising a case of circular cross-section having a diameter permitting said case to be frictionally held within a human ear cavity between the tragus and an opposing projection of the pinna and a speaker unit located within said case, said case having one end having at least one sound opening adapted to extend over the auditory meatus without extending therein and said case having a diameter adjacent said one end substantially equal to the diameter of the case adjacent a middle portion thereof with the diameter of the case adjacent the other end being gradually reduced.

2. An earphone as set forth in claim 1 wherein said case adjacent said other end is provided with a tapered surface adapted to be engaged by said tragus and said opposing projection of the pinna to retain said earphone in the proper position.

3. An earphone as set forth in claim 1 wherein said case adjacent said other end is provided with a rounded surface adapted to be engaged by said tragus and said opposing projection of the pinna to retain said earphone in the proper position.

4. An earphone as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a pad member of sound permeable material secured to said one end of said case.

5. An earphone as set forth in claim 1 further comprising sound absorbing material disposed within said case between said other end and said speaker unit.

6. An earphone as set forth in claim 1 wherein said one end of said case is provided an arcuate convex configuration and a pad member having a complementary configuration secured to said one end of said case.

7. An earphone as set forth in claim 1 wherein said speaker unit is provided a circular diaphragm and said sound opening is formed with a diameter less than the diameter of said diaphragm but greater than the diameter of the auditory meatus.

8. An earphone as set forth in claim 1 further comprising an extension protruding from said other end of said case and connecting means associated with said extension for detachably connecting said earphone to a connecting band.

9. An earphone as set forth in claim 8 wherein said extension is detachably connected to said case and further comprising means for supplying an electric signal through said extension when said extension is connected to said case.

10. An earphone as set forth in claim 1 further comprising an annular support frame disposed intermediate said case and said one end thereof for supporting said speaker unit within said case and means for coupling said annular frame to said case and said one end thereof so as to provide a smooth cylindrical outer surface for said case, said annular frame and said one end of said case.