Ear canal speaker system method and apparatus

• US 7,889,881 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2006
• Issued: 02/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chris Ostrowski
• Original Assignee: Chris Ostrowski
• Inventors: Ostrowski, Chris
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz; Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROBINSON, RYAN C
• Application Number:
  US11/380,087
• Publication Number:
  US 20070253587A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,757 Days
• Field of Search: 381328-329, 381379-380, 181/130
• US Class Current: 381/329
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1058 Manufacture or assembly

Abstract

An earpiece adapted to transmit acoustic sound into an year, the earpiece having a flexible ear canal engagement member that is adapted to be repositioned longitudinally inwardly by way of some form of an extension member. When the extension member is released, the member contracts to a first position, thereby increasing a portion of its cross-sectional diameter at some portion thereof to engage the ear canal of a user'"'"'s ear to securely fit the device to the user'"'"'s ear.

Claims

1. An ear insertable earphone device having a longitudinal axis adapted to be inserted into the ear canal of an individual, the device comprising,

a) a base member, the base member having an inner and an outer surface,

b) an extension member movably attached to the base member, the extension member having a longitudinally inward portion, and adapted to be repositioned along the longitudinal axis relative to the base member,

c) wherein the extension member repositions as a rigid unitary structure,

d) a flexible ear canal engagement member having an outer surface adapted to engage the ear canal, the flexible ear canal engagement member having a longitudinally inward portion that is attached to the longitudinally inward portion of the extension member and a longitudinally outward portion that is attached to the base member,

e) a speaker member to transmit sound to the interior ear canal,

f) whereby when the extension member which is adapted to be positioned in a first position, the longitudinally inward portion of the extension member is adapted to be repositioned with respect to the base member to a second position to reduce the cross-sectional size of the flexible ear canal engagement member, to be positioned in an ear canal.

2. The ear insertable acoustic device as recited in claim 1 where the extension member is adapted to extend from the first position in the longitudinally outward direction to the second position.

3. The ear insertable acoustic device as recited in claim 1 where the speaker member is attached to the base member.

4. The ear insertable acoustic device as recited in claim 3 where the speaker device is adapted to transmit sound to a chamber defined by an inner surface of the flexible ear canal engagement member.

5. The ear insertable acoustic device as recited in claim 4 where the chamber is in communication to a surface defining an opening in the longitudinally inward portion of the extension member.

6. The ear insertable acoustic device as recited in claim 1 where the speaker member is attached to the longitudinally inward portion of the extension member.

7. The ear insertable acoustic device as recited in claim 1 where the speaker member is attached to a second speaker member of a second ear insertable device via a wire which is adapted to convey electrical signals to both of the speaker members.

8. The ear insertable earphone device as recited in claim 1 where the thickness of the wall of the flexible ear canal engagement member varies from one longitudinal end to the other.

9. The ear insertable earphone device as recited in claim 1 where the outer surface of the wall of the flexible ear canal engagement member further comprises an area forming ridges.

10. The ear insertable earphone device as recited in claim 1 where the flexible ear canal engagement member is composed of a material containing silicone.

11. The ear insertable acoustic device as recited in claim 9 where the extension member is adapted to rotate around a longitudinal axis from the first position to the second position.

12. The ear insertable acoustic device as recited in claim 1 where the extension member is generally a pair of rods with the longitudinal axis of the rods substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the ear insertable acoustic device.

13. An acoustic apparatus comprising:

a) a base member, the base member having an inner and an outer surface,

b) a rigid extension member movably attached to the base member, the extension member having a longitudinally inward portion, and adapted to be linearly repositioned along the longitudinal axis relative to the base member,

c) a flexible ear canal engagement member having an outer surface adapted to engage the ear canal, the flexible ear canal engagement member having a longitudinally inward portion that is attached to the longitudinally inward portion of the extension member and a longitudinally outward portion that is attached to the base member,

d) a speaker member to transmit sound to the interior ear canal,

e) whereby when the extension member which is adapted to be positioned in a first position, the longitudinally inward portion of the extension member is adapted to be repositioned linearly with respect to the base member to a second position to reduce the cross-sectional size of the flexible ear canal engagement member, to be positioned in an ear canal,

f) a connection means coupled to the speaker member, and

g) an electronic sound signal device configured to provide an acoustic signal to the connection means.