Earmold device

• US 6,122,388 A
• Filed: 11/26/1997
• Issued: 09/19/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Earcandies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Earcandies, LLC
• Inventors: Feldman, Mark W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Harvey, Dionne N.
• Application Number:
  US08/978,537
• Time in Patent Office: 1,028 Days
• Field of Search: 381/322, 381/328, 381/361, 381/376, 381/380, 381/381, 381/382, 381/329, 381/312, 381/324, 381/355
• US Class Current: 381/322
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/09 Non-occlusive ear tips, i.e. leaving the ear canal open, for both custom and non-custom tips H04R2460/11 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/604 of acoustic or vibrational transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/652 Ear tips; Ear moulds hybrid ear moulds or post-processing thereof for their customisation H04R25/659

Abstract

An earmold device is disclosed for wearing in a user'"'"'s ear, and is adapted to receive a communications device. The earmold device includes a distal side, a proximal side, and a circumferential wall. The distal side includes a cavity for receiving a communications device. The proximal side includes a crus helicis protrusion for engagement between the upper base region of the antihelix and the crus helicis of a user'"'"'s ear. The circumferential wall region is in communication with the distal and proximal sides. The wall region includes an antihelix engaging portion for engagement with the area of the antihelix of a user'"'"'s ear, and a tragus engaging portion for engagement with the area of the tragus of a user'"'"'s ear. The earmold is securable within a user'"'"'s ear by the antihelix and tragus engaging portions of the wall region.

Claims

1. An earmold device for wearing in a user'"'"'s ear and adapted to receive a communications device, said earmold device comprising:

a distal side including a cavity for receiving a communications device therein;

a proximal side including a crus helicis protrusion for engagement between the upper base region of the antihelix and the crus helicis of a user'"'"'s ear; and

a circumferential wall region in communication with said distal and proximal sides, said circumferential wall region including an antihelix engaging portion for engagement with the area of the antihelix of a user'"'"'s ear, and a tragus engaging portion for engagement with the area of the tragus of a user'"'"'s ear, said earmold being solely securable within a user'"'"'s ear by said crus helicis protrusion and said antihelix and tragus engaging portions of said wall region.

2. An earmold device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said proximal side of said earmold device further includes an auditory canal protrusion extending toward the auditory canal of a user.

3. An earmold device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said auditory canal protrusion includes a sound channel for channeling sound from said communication device into the auditory canal of a user.

4. An earmold device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said auditory canal protrusion is sized to non-sealingly fit within the opening of the user'"'"'s auditory canal.

5. An earmold device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said distal side of said device further includes a sound cavity adjacent said cavity for receiving a communications device.

6. An earmold device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said device permits fluid from within the auditory canal of a user'"'"'s ear to drain into the concha of a user'"'"'s ear.

7. An earmold device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said device permits fluid from within the concha of a user'"'"'s ear to drain along the heel of a user'"'"'s ear.

8. An earmold device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cavity is defined by an annular flange for engaging a communications device.