Adjustable shape earphone
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An adjustable earphone, comprising:
- a housing having a first side and a second side;
a resilient cushion attached to the first side of the housing, the resilient cushion having a compact shape and an opening;
at least one cantilever arm protruding from the first side of the housing, wherein at least part of the cantilever arm is located within the opening of the resilient cushion;
a dial rotatably mounted in the housing, wherein at least part of the dial extends from the second side of the housing, wherein the dial includes threads; and
an actuator comprising a first portion and a second portion, the second portion having threads, wherein the actuator is slidably mounted in the housing, wherein the actuator threads operably engage the dial threads such that rotation of the dial in a first direction translates the first portion of the rigid actuator into contact with the cantilever arm;
wherein the first portion of the actuator is configured to bend the cantilever arm into the resilient cushion as the actuator contacts the arm, wherein the cantilever arm is configured to force the resilient cushion to have an expanded shape as the cantilever arm bends into the cushion.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This disclosure relates to an adjustable ear insert, such as an earbud style earphone, that may be inserted in a user'"'"'s ear canal in a compact configuration and adjusted by a user to expand and fit snugly against the ear canal.
33 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An adjustable earphone, comprising:
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a housing having a first side and a second side; a resilient cushion attached to the first side of the housing, the resilient cushion having a compact shape and an opening; at least one cantilever arm protruding from the first side of the housing, wherein at least part of the cantilever arm is located within the opening of the resilient cushion; a dial rotatably mounted in the housing, wherein at least part of the dial extends from the second side of the housing, wherein the dial includes threads; and an actuator comprising a first portion and a second portion, the second portion having threads, wherein the actuator is slidably mounted in the housing, wherein the actuator threads operably engage the dial threads such that rotation of the dial in a first direction translates the first portion of the rigid actuator into contact with the cantilever arm; wherein the first portion of the actuator is configured to bend the cantilever arm into the resilient cushion as the actuator contacts the arm, wherein the cantilever arm is configured to force the resilient cushion to have an expanded shape as the cantilever arm bends into the cushion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An adjustable earphone, comprising:
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a housing having a first side and a second side, wherein the first side of the housing is configured to attach to a cushion; at least one cantilever arm protruding from the first side of the housing, wherein at least part of the cantilever arm is configured to be located within an opening of the cushion when the cushion is attached to the housing; a dial rotatably mounted in the housing, wherein at least part of the dial extends from the second side of the housing, wherein the dial includes threads; and an actuator comprising a first portion and a second portion, the second portion having threads, wherein the actuator is slidably mounted in the housing, wherein the actuator threads operably engage the dial threads such that rotation of the dial in a first direction translates the first portion of the rigid actuator into contact with the cantilever arm; wherein the first portion of the actuator is configured to bend the cantilever arm as the actuator contacts the arm. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An adjustable earphone, comprising:
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a housing; an ear canal portion adjacent to the housing, the ear canal portion having a first shape; and an adjustment assembly operably coupled to the housing such that actuation of the adjustment assembly causes the ear canal portion to have at least a second shape without external force being applied to or removed from the ear canal portion, wherein at least part of the adjustment assembly is accessible to and operable by a user when the ear canal portion is inserted in the user'"'"'s ear canal; wherein the adjustment assembly comprises a control member accessible to a user and an expansion assembly operably coupled to the control member, wherein the control member is configured to actuate the expansion assembly such that the ear canal portion has at least a second shape when the expansion assembly is actuated; and wherein the expansion assembly comprises a rotatable actuator having lobes. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification