Earpiece

• US 8,976,995 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2013
• Issued: 03/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Freebit
• Original Assignee: Freebit
• Inventors: Berg, Richard Steenfeldt
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Huyen D
• Application Number:
  US14/109,565
• Publication Number:
  US 20140105431A1
• Time in Patent Office: 448 Days
• Field of Search: 381/322, 381/324, 381/328, 381/370, 381/371, 381/374, 381/375, 381/376, 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 tragus and a concha surrounded by the antihelix, wherein said ear unit is shaped as a decremental curve, said decremental curve being configured to correspond to the antihelix of the ear with a surface shaped in such a way that the decremental curve falls along an inner part of the antihelix and is partly positioned under the antitragus, wherein the decremental curve comprises two ends, a distance between the two ends being 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 wherein, when the ear unit is positioned in the ear, the ear unit is provided with a curvature conforming to an inner surface of the concha, and

wherein the curvature extends to an outer circumferential surface of the ear unit, the outer circumferential surface contacting an inner circumferential surface of the antihelix 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 1, further comprising at least one unit from the group comprising ear phone and microphone.

4. The ear unit according to claim 2, 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 the ear unit further comprises a first surface facing the concha and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the first surface includes a contact surface, contacting the concha, to provide the curvature, and a distance between the first surface and the second surface varies along the contact surface.

8. The ear unit according to claim 1, wherein the curvature is aligned with an extension of a crus of helix of the ear when the ear unit is positioned in the ear.

9. The ear unit according to claim 1, wherein the curvature is formed independently of a shape of an ear canal of the ear.

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

a first contact surface contacting an inner circumferential surface of the antihelix, said first contact surface being shaped as a decremental curve conforming to the inner part of the antihelix, wherein the decremental curve comprises two ends, a distance between the two ends being 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

a second contact surface contacting the concha, the second contact surface being provided with a curvature in a direction orthogonal to a normal of the first contact surface and configured to conform to an inner surface of the concha, thereby enabling the ear unit to fit closely against the concha when the ear unit is positioned into the ear,

wherein the curvature extends to an outer periphery of the first contact surface.

11. The ear unit according to claim 10, wherein the curvature is aligned with an extension of a crus of helix of the ear when the ear unit is positioned in the ear.

12. The ear unit according to claim 10, wherein the curvature is formed independently of a shape of an ear canal of the ear.

13. An ear unit for stably fitting in an ear having an antihelix, a tragus and a concha surrounded by the antihelix, wherein said ear unit is shaped as a decremental curve, said decremental curve being configured to correspond to the antihelix of the ear with a surface shaped in such a way that the decremental curve falls along an inner part of the antihelix and is partly positioned under the antitragus, wherein the decremental curve comprises two ends, a distance between the two ends being 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 wherein, when the ear unit is positioned in the ear, the ear unit is provided with a curvature conforming to an inner surface of the concha, said curvature being orthogonal to the decrimental curve.