Earset assembly

• US 7,925,038 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2009
• Issued: 04/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2004
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation (Dolby Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation (Dolby Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Nguyen, Thanh Q., Saleh, Donald R., Taenzer, Jon C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ni; Suhan
• Application Number:
  US12/534,079
• Publication Number:
  US 20100061583A1
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• Field of Search: 381/322, 381/324, 381326-330, 381/361, 381/367, 381370-372, 381374-375, 381/379, 381380-382, 379/430
• US Class Current: 381/381
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/00 Deaf-aid sets , i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception electrical stimulation of auditory nerves to promote the auditory function A61N1/36038; optical stimulation of auditory nerves to promote the auditory function A61N5/0622

Abstract

A wired or wireless earset assembly comprises an earset housing having a curved portion configured to fit to the top of an ear, a speaker driver contained in a speaker housing, a flexible tube having a first extension so as to be coupled with at least a part of the curved portion of the earset housing and a second extension coupled with the speaker housing, a rotatable cap containing a bud coupled with the speaker driver, a sound delivery port in the bud, a circuitry for processing an input signal in the case, and a wire in the flexible tube connecting the circuitry and the speaker driver. The structure of the assembly allows a user to wear it with great comfort and high quality acoustic performance for an extended period, enables the assembly to fit to both right and left ears by a simple rotation of the cap, and increases ease of manufacturability.

Claims

1. An earset assembly comprising:

(a) an earpiece housing;

(b) an elastic neck member shapeable for cooperation with an ear of a user and comprising a speaker housing and a microphone housing, the neck member being configured to connect to said earpiece housing; and

(c) a stiffening member configured to retain a shape of the elastic neck member.

2. An earset assembly according to claim 1, wherein said neck member substantially forms a U-shape to cooperate with said ear.

3. An earset assembly according to claim 1, wherein said neck member includes a substantially U-shaped portion to connect to said housing.

4. An earset sound delivery assembly according to claim 1, wherein the neck member is bonded to the housing by ultrasonic welding.

5. An earset sound delivery assembly according to claim 1, wherein said earpiece housing comprises an antenna.

6. An earset assembly according to claim 1, wherein the material of the neck member is elastic material.

7. An earset assembly according to claim 1, wherein the material of the neck member is rubber.

8. An earset assembly according to claim 1, wherein the material of the neck member is silicone rubber.

9. An earset sound delivery assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a battery contained in the housing.

10. An earset assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a microphone contained in said neck member.