Earpiece for a telephone headset

• US 4,864,610 A
• Filed: 02/27/1987
• Issued: 09/05/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ACS Wireless Incorporated (Alaska Communications Systems Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: ACS Communications, Inc. (Black Box Ltd.)
• Inventors: Stevens, Toni R.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): Byrd, Danita R.
• Application Number:
  US07/019,748
• Time in Patent Office: 921 Days
• Field of Search: 379/430, 379/431, 381/25, 381/74, 381/187, 381/183, 381/67, 181/130, 181/131, 181/135, 181/132, 181/20, 128/864, 128/867
• US Class Current: 379/431
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/05 specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
• 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 1/1075 Mountings of transducers in earphones or headphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/345 for loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/107 Monophonic and stereophonic headphones with microphone for two-way hands free communication

Abstract

An earpiece for use with a post-auricle communication headset is disclosed. The headset includes a capsule to which a microphone boom and the earpiece are affixed. The earpiece is composed of a flexible sound tube terminating in a sound tip surrounded by a conically shaped ear cushion. The sound tube includes an acoustically sealed swivel joint functioning to facilitate the secure positioning of the ear cushion in the user'"'"'s ear. The cushion is composed of a compressible foam material and is configured so that the sound tip is not in contact with the user'"'"'s ear thereby reducing irritation and dissipating sound surges.

Claims

1. An earpiece for use with a communication device comprising:

a flexible sound tubs with one end thereof acoustically coupled to a communication device and with the other end terminating in a sound tip; and

a conically shaped ear cushion formed from a compressible foam material mounted around said tip, with the distal end of said cushion tapering to a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the entrance to the auditory canal of a user'"'"'s ear, and the proximal end of said cushion having a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the cavum concha of the user'"'"'s ear, whereby said ear cushion will tend to self-center in the user'"'"'s ear, with the sound tip being maintained near the entrance to the auditory canal without force or pressure, said ear cushion being supported only by cartilage of the outer ear.

2. An earpiece as recited in claim 1 wherein said ear cushion is constructed to dissipate sound.

3. An earpiece as recited in claim 2 wherein the distal end of said ear cushion projects beyond the distal end of said sound tip thus preventing contact between the sound tip and the entrance to the auditory canal of the user'"'"'s ear, thereby reducing the likelihood of infection and permitting dissipation of sound surges.

4. An earpiece as recited in claim 1 wherein said sound tube includes an acoustically sealed swivel joint, said swivel joint facilitating the secure positioning of said earpiece for each individual user.

5. An earpiece as recited in claim 1 wherein said sound tip is a hollow, separate element connected to said sound tube, said tip permitting sound to pass from the sound tube to the user'"'"'s ear canal.

6. An earpiece as recited in claim 1 wherein said sound tip includes a circular washer formed on the proximal end thereof to inhibit movement of said ear cushion relative to said sound tip.

7. An earpiece as recited in claim 1 wherein one end of said sound tube includes means for attachment to a compatible communication device.

8. A communication headset comprising:

a post-auricle capsule;

a receiver element housed in said capsule for converting a electrical signals into sound waves audible to the user;

a microphone element for converting sound waves into electrical signals;

an elongated sound boom connected to said capsule and extending towards the mouth of the user;

an earpiece acoustically coupled to said capsule, said earpiece including a flexible sound tube with one end thereof acoustically coupled to said receiver element and the other end terminating in a sound tip, said sound tip surrounded by a conically shaped ear cushion formed from a compressible foam material with the distal end of said cushion tapering to a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the entrance the auditory canal of a user'"'"'s ear, and the proximal end of said cushion having a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the cavum concha of the user'"'"'s ear, whereby said ear cushion will tend to self-center in the user'"'"'s outer ear, with the sound tip being maintained near the entrance to the auditory canal without force or pressure, said ear cushion being supported only by the cartilage of the outer ear.

9. A communication headset as recited in claim 8 wherein said ear cushion is constructed to dissipate sound.

10. A communication headset as recited in claim 9 wherein the distal end of said ear cushion projects beyond the distal end of said sound tip thus presenting contact between the sound tip and the entrance to the auditory canal of the user'"'"'s ear, thereby reducing the likelihood of infection and permitting dissipation of sound surges.

11. A communication headset as recited in claim 8 wherein said sound tube includes an acoustically sealed swivel joint, said swivel joint facilitating the secure positioning of said earpiece for each individual user.

12. A communication headset as recited in claim 8 wherein said sound tip is a hollow, separate element connected to said sound tube, said tip permitting sound to pass from the sound tube to the user'"'"'s ear canal.

13. A communication headset as recited in claim 8 wherein said sound tip includes a circular washer formed on the proximal end thereof to inhibit movement of said ear cushion relative to said sound tip.

14. A communication headset as recited in claim 8 wherein one end of said sound tube includes means for attachment to a compatible communication device.