Earpiece auditory devices having improved ear tips

• US 9,118,995 B1
• Filed: 03/26/2012
• Issued: 08/25/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hear-Wear Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Hear-Wear Technologies LLC
• Inventors: Feeley, Mike, Feeley, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Goins, Davetta W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ojo, Oyesola C
• Application Number:
  US13/430,493
• Time in Patent Office: 1,247 Days
• Field of Search: 381/380, 381/328, 381/322, 381/330, 381/381, 181/130, 181/135
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1058 Manufacture or assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1066 Constructional aspects of the interconnection between earpiece and earpiece support earpiece support for monophonic headphones H04R1/105; earpiece support for stereophonic headphones H04R5/0335
• 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 25/654 Ear wax retarders

Abstract

Systems, devices and methods relating to auditory devices having an ear tip with a neck portion configured to extend beyond the end of a speaker assembly when assembled are provided. Embodiments provide for an ear tip with enhanced flexibility for insertion and removal and while the ear tip is in use. Additionally, embodiments may provide for a fastening means that allows the ear tip to be easily detachable from a speaker assembly, while also providing sufficient securing force for the ear tip to secure the tip to the speaker assembly while the tip is subjected to forces resulting from insertion, removal or otherwise normal use of the auditory device.

Claims

1. An auditory device comprising:

a behind-the-ear component comprising sound processing circuitry;

a completely-in-canal (CIC) component including a speaker casing having a proximal end and a distal end, said speaker casing having an ear tip attachment means extending past the distal end, said attachment means including an extension having a reduced diameter with respect to said speaker casing and a snap portion disposed on said extension;

a connector configured to couple the behind-the-ear component to the completely-in-canal component; and

an ear tip having an extended neck portion comprising a proximal end and a distal end, and a user contact portion disposed on the distal end which is configured to contact a surface of an ear canal of a user, said ear tip configured to couple to said attachment means of said CIC device at an attachment point disposed in the inner surface of the extended neck portion at the proximal end, said ear tip further configured such that said extended neck portion extends substantially beyond the end of said attachment means when coupled to the ear tip at said attachment point, whereby the structure of the CIC does not inhibit the flexibility of the extended neck portion that extends beyond the attachment means.

2. The auditory device of claim 1 wherein said extended neck portion is configured to have flexibility such that the ear tip may bend when navigating the ear canal.

3. The auditory device of claim 2 wherein said attachment means is configured to maintain a secure attachment when experiencing pulling and torsion forces from bending of said extended neck.

4. The auditory device of claim 1 wherein said user contact portion comprises a mushroom tip.

5. The auditory device of claim 1 wherein said user contact portion is flexible for guidance through an ear canal upon insertion of said auditory device.

6. The auditory device of claim 1 wherein said ear tip is an open fit tip.

7. The auditory device of claim 1 wherein said ear tip is a closed fit tip.

8. The auditory device of claim 1 wherein said attachment means is a ball joint configured to snap fit with said ear tip.

9. The auditory device of claim 8 wherein said extended neck portion comprises an outer surface and an inner securing device disposed on the inner surface of the neck portion.

10. The auditory device of claim 9 wherein said inner securing device is formed by a separate ear tip securing device.

11. The auditory device of claim 9 wherein said inner securing device is molded within said neck portion.

12. The auditory device of claim 1 wherein the extended neck portion is configured to extend only partially over an edge of said distal end of said speaker casing.

13. The auditory device of claim 12 wherein the extension over said distal end creates a seal to assist in protecting the speaker from contamination.

25. The auditory device of claim 9 wherein the inner securing device is seated partially along the length of the extended neck portion such that a length of the extended neck potion extends beyond inner securing device toward the distal end of said CIC component.

26. The auditory device of claim 9 wherein the inner securing device further comprises a guard screen.

14. An ear tip comprising:

a hollow elongated neck portion defining an axial length and having a first and second end;

a tip portion formed on said first end, said tip portion configured to have limited flexibility to assist with the insertion of said tip within an ear canal; and

an attachment portion disposed within the inner surface of the second end of said hollow elongated neck portion, said attachment portion configured to mate with a corresponding attachment portion of a speaker assembly, said attachment portion disposed at a point proximate to said second end such that a substantial portion of said axial length of said elongated neck portion extends beyond said attachment portion toward said first end whereby the structure of the speaker assembly does not inhibit the flexibility of the extended neck portion that extends beyond the attachment means.

15. The ear tip of claim 14 wherein said axial length extending beyond said attachment portion is configured to have limited flexibility to assist with the insertion of said tip within an ear canal.

16. The ear tip of claim 14 wherein said second end is configured to extend partially over an attachment portion when engaged with said attachment portion.

17. The ear tip of claim 14 wherein said attachment portion is configured to facilitate a snap fit with a ball joint.

18. The ear tip of claim 14 wherein said attachment portion comprises a separate component part configured to be attached within said hollow neck portion.

19. The ear tip of claim 14 wherein the ear tip is configured to attach to a hearing aid device.

20. The ear tip of claim 14 wherein the ear tip is configured to attach to an audio headphone device.

21. The ear tip of claim 20 wherein the attachment location of the ear tip to an audio headphone device is within the ear canal when the device is inserted into a user'"'"'s ear.

22. A method for creating an ear tip, said method comprising:

forming an elongated hollow tube portion having a first end and a second end, said first end configured to be proximate to a speaker assembly and said second end configured to extend into a user'"'"'s ear canal;

disposing a speaker assembly attachment portion within said elongated hollow tube portion said speaker assembly attachment portion configured to mate with a corresponding attachment portion of a speaker assembly, said speaker assembly attachment portion placed proximate to said first end such that a substantial portion of said elongated hollow tube portion extends beyond said speaker assembly attachment portion whereby the structure of the speaker assembly does not inhibit the flexibility of the extended neck portion that extends beyond the attachment means;

forming, on said second end, a user contact portion configured to contact the surface of a user'"'"'s ear canal.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising configuring said ear tip to attach to a hearing aid device.

24. The method of claim 22 further comprising configuring said ear tip to attach to a personal audio headphone device.