Quasi-triangular in-ear device

• US 8,776,801 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2010
• Issued: 07/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sonomax Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonomax Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: McIntosh, Ian
• Primary Examiner(s): Bianco, Patricia
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, CAMTU TRAN
• Application Number:
  US12/929,053
• Publication Number:
  US 20110155147A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,296 Days
• Field of Search: 128/864, 128/866, 181129-130, 181/135, 381/328, 381/380
• US Class Current: 128/864
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 11/08 internal, e.g. earplugs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 11/12 External mounting means
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1083 Reduction of ambient noise active noise reduction per se G10K11/175; protective devices for the ear, e.g. providing acoustic protection A61F11/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/77 Design aspects, e.g. CAD, of hearing aid tips, moulds or housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/09 Non-occlusive ear tips, i.e. leaving the ear canal open, for both custom and non-custom tips H04R2460/11 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/652 Ear tips; Ear moulds hybrid ear moulds or post-processing thereof for their customisation H04R25/659
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/656 Non-customized, universal ear tips, i.e. ear tips which are not specifically adapted to the size or shape of the ear or ear canal

Abstract

The in-ear device is shaped to fit a wearer'"'"'s ear morphology. The device includes a main body having at least three generally convex sides, an innermost face and an outermost face. A first side is shaped to fit the tragus of a wearer'"'"'s ear, and a second side is shaped to fit an antitragus of a wearer'"'"'s ear. At least three tips, generally rounded, join respective two adjacent sides. The main body is within an outer ear plane substantially perpendicular to an entrance of an ear canal of a wearer'"'"'s ear.

Claims

1. An in-ear device for fitting a wearer'"'"'s ear morphology, said device comprising a main body having three sides, an innermost face and an outermost face, a first side of said three sides being shaped for fitting the tragus of a wearer'"'"'s ear, a second side of said three sides being shaped for fitting an antitragus of a wearer'"'"'s ear, and three tips, wherein each of the three tips uniting respective two sides of said three sides, the main body being within an ear plane substantially perpendicular to an entrance of an ear canal of a wearer'"'"'s ear and having at least one longitudinal plane of symmetry between the first side of said three sides being shaped for fitting the tragus of a wearer'"'"'s ear and the second side of said three sides being shaped for fitting an antitragus of a wearer'"'"'s ear, the three sides generally equal to one another, said three sides forming the in-ear device with a quasi-triangular shape of the main body.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising an inner protrusion protruding outwardly from on the innermost face of the main body, wherein said inner protrusion is intended for being inserted in the ear canal of the wearer.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the inner protrusion is substantially for fitting with an ear canal of the wearer.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the inner protrusion of the main body has at least one longitudinal plane of symmetry, said plane of symmetry coinciding with the longitudinal plane of symmetry between the first side of said three sides being shaped for fitting the tragus of a wearer'"'"'s ear and the second side of said three sides being shaped for fitting an antitragus of a wearer'"'"'s ear.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the three tips of the main body are rounded.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the main body has three longitudinal planes of symmetry, each said longitudinal plane of symmetry being between two respective ones of said three sides adjacent to one another.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the three sides of the main body are convex.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the main body has an outer protrusion protruding outwardly from one of the tips of the main body and defining an external gripping element.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the shape of the gripping element is designed for fitting the helix of a wearer'"'"'s ear.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the main body has an outer protrusion protruding outwardly from the outermost face of the main body and defining an external gripping element.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the shape of the gripping element is designed for fitting the helix of a wearer'"'"'s ear.