Earpiece

• US 8,630,436 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2008
• Issued: 01/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Freebit
• Original Assignee: Freebit
• Inventors: Berg, Richard Steenfeldt
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Huyen D
• Application Number:
  US12/600,795
• Publication Number:
  US 20100278364A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,055 Days
• Field of Search: 381/322, 381/324, 381/328, 381/370, 381/371, 381/374, 381/375, 381/376, 381/380, 181/128, 181/129, 181/130, 181/135, 379/420.02, 379/420.03, 455/575.1, 455/575.2
• US Class Current: 381/380
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/105 Earpiece supports, e.g. ear hooks for stereophonic headphones H04R5/0335
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1091 Details not provided for in groups H04R1/1008 - H04R1/1083
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/107 Monophonic and stereophonic headphones with microphone for two-way hands free communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/025 In the ear hearing aids [ITE] hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/033 Headphones for stereophonic communication details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10

Abstract

An ear unit for stably fitting in an ear includes a first surface facing inwardly toward the ear, a second, opposite surface facing outwardly from the ear and an outer circumferential surface formed between the first and second surfaces. The outer circumferential surface is shaped as a decremental curve. The distance between the ends of the decremental curve is approximately equal to the distance between a first cavity formed under the tragus of the ear and second cavity covered by the lower node of the antihelix of the ear. The first surface is provided with a curvature that provides a contact surface that substantially conforms to the concha, providing an improved attachment, thereby enabling the ear unit to fit closely against the concha when the ear unit is positioned into the ear.

Claims

1. An ear unit for stably fitting in an ear having an antihelix, a crus of helix, a tragus and a concha surrounded by the antihelix, comprising:

a first surface facing inwardly toward the concha of the ear;

a second, opposite surface facing outwardly from the concha of the ear; and

an outer circumferential surface and an opposite, inner circumferential surface formed between the first and second surfaces, wherein;

said outer circumferential surface is shaped as a decremental curve that curves in a first direction, in that said decremental curve corresponds to the antihelix of the ear with a surface shaped in such a way that the decremental curve falls along the inner part of the antihelix and is partly positioned under the antitragus,

the distance between the ends of the decremental curve is approximately equal to the distance between a first cavity formed under the tragus of the ear and second cavity covered by the lower node of the antihelix of the ear, the upper part of the curve projecting in underneath a flap covering the lower part of the second cavity, and

said first surface includes a contact surface that substantially conforms to the concha, said contact surface including a curved portion curving in a second direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction, providing an improved attachment, thereby enabling the ear unit to fit closely against the concha when the ear unit is positioned into the ear, and

wherein the curved portion extends radially an entire distance from the inner circumferential surface to the outer circumferential surface, and is aligned with an extension of the crus of helix when the ear unit is positioned in the ear.

2. The ear unit according to claim 1, further comprising a part extending downwards, the transition between said part and the ear unit is formed in such a way that it aligns along the intertragic notch of the ear.

3. The ear unit according to claim 2, further comprising at least one unit from the group comprising ear phone and microphone.

4. The ear unit according to claim 1, further comprising at least one unit from the group comprising ear phone and microphone.

5. The ear unit according to claim 1, further comprising a unit from the group of:

a wireless communication unit for use with a mobile piece, and

a wired communication unit for use with a music system.

6. The ear unit according to claim 1, wherein said ear unit is operated together with at least a second ear unit to form a stereo effect.

7. The ear unit according to claim 1, wherein a distance between the first surface and the second surface varies along the contact surface.

8. An ear unit for stably fitting in an ear having an antihelix, a crus of helix, a tragus and a concha surrounded by the antihelix, comprising:

a first surface facing inwardly toward the concha of the ear;

a second, opposite surface facing outwardly from the concha of the ear; and

an outer circumferential surface and an opposite, inner circumferential surface formed between the first and second surfaces, wherein;

said outer circumferential surface is shaped as a decremental curve, in that said decremental curve corresponds to the antihelix of the ear with a surface shaped in such a way that the decremental curve falls along the inner part of the antihelix and is partly positioned under the antitragus,

the distance between the ends of the decremental curve is approximately equal to the distance between a first cavity formed under the tragus of the ear and second cavity covered by the lower node of the antihelix of the ear, the upper part of the curve projecting in underneath a flap covering the lower part of the second cavity, and

said first surface includes a contact surface that substantially conforms to the concha, said contact surface including a curved portion curving in a direction toward and away from the second surface, providing an improved attachment, thereby enabling the ear unit to fit closely against the concha when the ear unit is positioned into the ear, and

wherein the curved portion extends radially an entire distance from the inner circumferential surface to the outer circumferential surface, and is aligned with an extension of the crus of helix when the ear unit is positioned in the ear.

9. An ear unit for stably fitting in an ear having an antihelix, a crus of helix, a tragus and a concha surrounded by the antihelix, comprising:

a first surface facing inwardly toward the concha of the ear;

a second, opposite surface facing outwardly from the concha of the ear; and

an outer circumferential surface and an opposite, inner circumferential surface formed between the first and second surfaces, wherein;

said outer circumferential surface is shaped as a decremental curve, in that said decremental curve corresponds to the antihelix of the ear with a surface shaped in such a way that the decremental curve falls along the inner part of the antihelix and is partly positioned under the antitragus,

the distance between the ends of the decremental curve is approximately equal to the distance between a first cavity formed under the tragus of the ear and second cavity covered by the lower node of the antihelix of the ear, the upper part of the curve projecting in underneath a flap covering the lower part of the second cavity, and

said first surface includes a contact surface that substantially conforms to the concha, said contact surface having at least a concave portion configured to be recessed toward the second surface, providing an improved attachment, thereby enabling the ear unit to fit closely against the concha when the ear unit is positioned into the ear, and

wherein the concave portion extends radially an entire distance from the inner circumferential surface to the outer circumferential surface, and is aligned with an extension of the crus of helix when the ear unit is positioned in the ear.

10. An ear unit for stably fitting in an ear having an antihelix, a crus of helix, a tragus and a concha surrounded by the antihelix, the ear unit comprising an outer periphery and an opposite, inner periphery, wherein the outer periphery of the ear unit is shaped as a decremental curve that curves in a first direction, said decremental curve being configured to correspond to the antihelix of the ear and fall along the inner part of the antihelix, and being partly positioned under antitragus of the ear, wherein a distance between the ends of the decremental curve is approximately equal to a distance between a first cavity formed under the tragus of the ear and a second cavity covered by a lower node of the antihelix of the ear, and an upper part of the decremental curve projects in underneath a flap covering a lower part of the second cavity,

wherein the ear unit comprises a contact surface contacting and facing inwardly toward the concha of the ear, and said contact surface substantially conforms to the concha and has a curved portion curving in a second direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction, thereby enabling the ear unit to fit closely against the concha when the ear unit is positioned into the ear, and

wherein the curved portion extends radially an entire distance from the inner periphery to the outer periphery, and is aligned with an extension of the crus of helix when the ear unit is positioned in the ear.