Conformable ear tip with spout

• US 7,965,855 B1
• Filed: 03/29/2006
• Issued: 06/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Plantronics, Inc. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Ham, Soohyun
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz; Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROBINSON, RYAN C
• Application Number:
  US11/392,861
• Time in Patent Office: 1,910 Days
• Field of Search: 381/328, 381/380, 181/130, 181/135
• US Class Current: 381/380
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1091 Details not provided for in groups H04R1/1008 - H04R1/1083
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/105 Manufacture of mono- or stereophonic headphone components
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/107 Monophonic and stereophonic headphones with microphone for two-way hands free communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/109 Arrangements to adapt hands free headphones for use on both ears
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/11 Aspects relating to vents, e.g. shape, orientation, acoustic properties in ear tips of hearing devices to prevent occlusion
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/17 Hearing device specific tools used for storing or handling hearing devices or parts thereof, e.g. placement in the ear, replacement of cerumen barriers, repair, cleaning hearing devices

Abstract

Apparatuses and methods for delivering sound to ear canal are provided. The apparatus generally includes a compressible and resilient toroidal section having an inner side and an outer side. An aperture extends from the outer side to the inner side and the outer side has a well disposed within an inner side surface about the aperture. The apparatus further includes a compressible and resilient spout integrated with the toroidal section and extending away from the inner side. The spout includes a channel disposed within an inner spout surface and the channel is coupled to the well.

Claims

1. An apparatus for delivering sound to an ear canal comprising:

a compressible toroidal section having an inner side and an outer side, wherein an aperture extends from the outer side to the inner side and the inner side has a well disposed within an inner side surface about the aperture; and

a compressible spout integrated with the compressible toroidal section and extending away from the inner side, wherein the spout comprises a channel disposed within an inner spout surface and wherein the channel is coupled to the well.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the compressible toroidal section and compressible spout comprise an elastomer material, foam material, air-filled injection molded or cast material, or air filled elastomer material.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the compressible toroidal section and compressible spout comprise an elastomer material with a hardness of approximately 10 to 20 durometers.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the compressible toroidal section is hollow.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein upon depression of an outer spout surface to a use position, the channel is aligned over the aperture.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a connector with a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is disposed in the aperture at the outer side.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the connector comprises a plastic material.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the compressible toroidal section is overmolded to the first end.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the second end of the connector may be locked to a headset receiver in a first mated position for left ear use and a second mated position for right ear use.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the compressible toroidal section has a diameter of approximately 12 to 20 mm.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the compressible toroidal section has a height of approximately 11 to 13 mm.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the compressible toroidal section further comprises a porting aperture serving as a safety port from a user ear canal to an outside ambient air.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the aperture transmits sound received from a headset receiver.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the toroidal section has a diameter of approximately 16 mm and the well has a diameter of approximately 3 to 4 mm.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the toroidal section has a diameter of approximately 16 mm and the channel has a width of approximately 2 to 3 mm.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the toroidal section has a diameter of approximately 16 mm and the channel has a depth of approximately 2 to 3 mm.

17. An apparatus for delivering sound to an ear canal comprising:

a toroidal section having an inner side and an outer side for resting within and conforming to a user concha, wherein an aperture extends from the outer side to the inner side; and

a spout integrated with the toroidal section and extending away from the inner side, wherein the spout comprises a channel disposed on an inner spout surface.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the toroidal section and spout comprise an elastomer material, foam material, air-filled injection molded or cast material, or air filled elastomer material.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the toroidal section and spout comprise an elastomer material with a hardness of approximately 10 to 20 durometers.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the toroidal section is hollow.

21. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein upon depression of an outer spout surface to a use position, the channel is aligned over the aperture.

22. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a connector with a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is disposed in the aperture at the outer side.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the connector comprises a plastic material.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the toroidal section is overmolded to the first end.

25. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the second end of the connector may be locked to a headset receiver in a first mated position for left ear use and a second mated position for right ear use.

26. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the toroidal section has a diameter of approximately 12 to 20 mm.

27. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the toroidal section has a height of approximately 11 to 13 mm.

28. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the toroidal section further comprises a porting aperture serving as a safety port from a user ear canal to an outside ambient air.

29. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the aperture transmits sound received from a headset receiver.

30. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the toroidal section has a diameter of approximately 16 mm and the channel has a width of approximately 2 to 3 mm.

31. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the toroidal section has a diameter of approximately 16 mm and the channel has a depth of approximately 2 to 3 mm.

32. An apparatus for delivering sound to an ear canal comprising:

a toroidal means resting within and conforming to a user concha for delivering sound from a headset receiver to a user ear canal;

a spout means integrated with the toroidal means resting beneath a user tragus for securing the torodial means; and

an exterior channel means disposed on a surface of the spout means.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, further comprising a connector means for coupling the toroidal means to a headset receiver.

34. The apparatus of claim 32, further comprising a safety porting means serving for porting between the user ear canal and an outside ambient air.