Attachment apparatus

• US 9,807,493 B1
• Filed: 04/21/2017
• Issued: 10/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2016
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Human Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Human Incorporated
• Inventors: Willis, Benjamin S., Jossem, Adam Abraham, Minarsch, Stephen John, Kwon, Dae Il, Quaglia, Francesca Alyssum, Martin, Lea
• Primary Examiner(s): Etesam, Amir
• Application Number:
  US15/494,112
• Publication Number:
  US 20170311067A1
• Time in Patent Office: 193 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2200/0508 Portable audio devices, e.g. walkman, discman, radio, MP3 player, headphones
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/00 Holders or carriers for hand articles; Holders or carriers for use while travelling or camping
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1008 Earpieces of the supra-aural or circum-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/105 Earpiece supports, e.g. ear hooks for stereophonic headphones H04R5/0335
• 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

Abstract

Various embodiments provide for an improved attachment apparatus for attaching the attachment apparatus to an ear of a user using a hook body. The hooking body may be secured to the user'"'"'s ear, such as in response to receiving a deforming force from the user that causes the hooking body to deform in conformity with at least a portion of the root of the user'"'"'s ear. In some embodiments, the hooking body may be coupled to the attachment body via the bridging member of the attachment body. Accordingly, the hooking body may be configured to secured the attachment apparatus to the user'"'"'s ear. In some embodiments, a sealing body may be coupled to the plate member of the attachment body, and the cover body may form at least a partial acoustic seal around the user'"'"'s ear while the hooking body is secured to the attachment apparatus to the ear.

Claims

1. An attachment apparatus for coupling to an ear of a user, comprising:

an attachment body comprising a plate member and a bridging member;

an engaging portion coupled to a mid-ear portion of the plate member; and

a hooking body coupled to the bridging member,

wherein;

the engaging portion is configured to protrude from the mid-ear portion of the plate member in a direction towards the hooking body,

the engaging portion and the hooking body are configured to define a first space suitable for receiving an interior portion of the ear,

the plate member and the hooking body are configured to define a second space suitable for receiving a posterior portion of the ear, and

while the attachment apparatus is secured to the ear of the user;

the bridging member is configured to engage a root of an upper portion of the ear,

the hooking body is configured to engage a root of the posterior portion of the ear positioned in the second space,

the engaging portion is configured to protrude into the interior portion of the ear and to engage the interior portion of the ear proximal to the hooking body, and

the hooking body and the engaging portion are collectively configured to apply a compressive force to at least part of the interior portion of the ear positioned in the first space.

2. The attachment apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the attachment apparatus further comprises a sealing body coupled to the plate member; and

the sealing body is configured to define a chamber suitable for encapsulating the hooking body and at least a portion of the ear while the attachment apparatus is secured to the ear.

3. The attachment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the attachment apparatus further comprises a speaker system coupled to a side of the mid-ear portion of the plate member that does not face a median plane of the user.

4. The attachment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the engaging portion is configured to:

receive a force from an anterior portion of the ear while the posterior portion of the ear is passing through the second space, and

move in a direction towards the plate member in response to receiving the force from the anterior portion of the ear.

5. The attachment apparatus of claim 4, wherein:

the force received by the engaging portion from the anterior portion of the ear is removed or substantially reduced when at least a majority of the posterior portion of the ear passes through the second space; and

the engaging portion is configured to move into engagement with the interior portion of the ear in proximity to the hooking body when the force is removed or substantially reduced.

6. An attachment apparatus for coupling to an ear of a user, comprising:

an attachment body comprising a first engaging portion; and

a hooking body coupled to the attachment body,

wherein;

the first engaging portion and the hooking body are configured to define a first space suitable for receiving an interior portion of the ear,

the attachment body and the hooking body are configured to define a second space suitable for receiving a posterior portion of the ear,

the hooking body and the first engaging portion are collectively configured to secure the attachment apparatus to at least part of the interior portion of the ear positioned in the first space, and

the hooking body is configured to secure the attachment apparatus to at least part of the posterior portion of the ear that is positioned in the second space.

7. The attachment apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first engaging portion is configured to protrude from the attachment body in a direction towards the hooking body that intersects with a directional plane of the attachment body.

8. The attachment apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first engaging portion is configured to:

engage a surface of the interior portion of the ear proximal to the hooking body; and

not to engage a surface of the interior portion of the ear distal to the hooking body.

9. The attachment apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first engaging portion and the hooking body are collectively configured to apply a compressive force to at least part of the interior portion of the ear positioned in the first space.

10. The attachment apparatus of claim 6, wherein:

the hooking body is configured to move between an initial configuration and a deformed configuration in response to receiving an external force;

the external force causes the hooking body to move in a direction towards the first engaging portion; and

a dimension of the first space defined by the hooking body and the first engaging portion is smaller while the hooking body is configured in the deformed configuration than while the hooking body is configured in the initial configuration.

11. The attachment apparatus of claim 6, wherein:

the attachment apparatus comprises a second engaging portion;

the first engaging portion is configured to protrude in a first direction that intersects with a directional plane of the plate member;

the second engaging portion is configured to protrude in a second direction that intersects with the directional plane of the plate member; and

the first direction is distinct from the second direction.

12. The attachment apparatus of claim 6, wherein:

the attachment apparatus comprises a second engaging portion;

the first engaging portion is configured to engage a first portion of the interior portion of the ear; and

the second engaging portion is configured to engage a second portion of the interior portion of the ear distinct from the first portion of the interior portion of the ear.

13. The attachment apparatus of claim 6, wherein, when the attachment apparatus is secured to the ear:

the first engaging portion is configured to at least partially restrict movement of the attachment apparatus in a first direction;

the hooking body is configured to at least partially restrict movement of the attachment apparatus in a second direction;

the first direction is at least substantially parallel to a directional plane of the attachment body; and

the second direction is at least substantially perpendicular to the directional plane of the attachment body.

14. The attachment apparatus of claim 6, wherein:

while the attachment apparatus is secured to the ear, at least one of an anterior portion or the interior portion of the ear may engage with and cause the first engaging portion to move in a direction towards the attachment body; and

while displaced in the direction towards the attachment body, the first engaging portion urges the attachment apparatus away from the ear, causing the hooking body to one of engage or further engage the posterior portion of the ear.

15. The attachment apparatus of claim 6, wherein:

while the attachment apparatus is secured to the ear, at least one of an anterior portion or the interior portion of the ear may engage with and cause the first engaging portion to move in a direction towards the attachment body; and

while displaced in the direction towards the attachment body, the first engaging portion causes the attachment apparatus to pivot towards a face of the user.

16. The attachment apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first engaging portion is configured to define an opening, and the opening is configured to enable sound to pass through the opening.

17. The attachment apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a speaker system coupled to the attachment body and configured to output sound through the opening of the first engaging portion, wherein the speaker system is coupled to a side of the attachment body facing away from a median plane of the user, and wherein the first engaging portion is coupled to a side of the attachment body facing the median plane of the user.

18. The attachment apparatus of claim 6, wherein:

the first engaging portion is configured to transition between an initial configuration and a displaced configuration in response to receiving an external force; and

the first engaging portion receives the external force from an anterior portion of the ear while the posterior portion of the ear is passing through the second space.

19. The attachment apparatus of claim 18, wherein, when the first engaging portion is configured in the displaced configuration:

the first engaging portion is configured to urge the attachment apparatus in a direction away from the median plane of the user; and

the hooking body is configured to at least partially restrict movement of the attachment apparatus in the direction.

20. The attachment apparatus of claim 18, wherein

the force received by the first engaging portion from the anterior portion of the ear is removed or at least partially reduced when at least a majority of the posterior portion of the ear passes through the second space;

and

the first engaging portion is configured to move into engagement with at least part of the interior portion positioned in the first space when the force is removed.

21. The attachment apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first engaging portion is configured to at least partially restrict movement of the attachment apparatus while the attachment apparatus is secured to the ear by engaging the interior portion of the ear.

22. The attachment apparatus of claim 21, wherein the movement that is restricted is at least one of:

a rotational movement of the attachment apparatus around a first directional axis at least substantially perpendicular to a median plane of the user;

or

a linear movement of the attachment apparatus in at least one of a second directional axis and a third directional axis distinct from the second directional axis, wherein the second directional axis and the third directional axis are at least substantially parallel to the median plane of the user.

23. A system comprising:

a first attachment apparatus comprising;

an attachment body comprising an engaging portion; and

a hooking body coupled to the attachment body,

wherein;

the engaging portion and the hooking body are configured to define a first space suitable for receiving an interior portion of the ear,

the attachment body and the hooking body are configured to define a second space suitable for receiving a posterior portion of the ear,

the hooking body and the engaging portion are collectively configured to secure the attachment apparatus to at least part of the interior portion of the ear positioned in the first space, and

the hooking body is configured to secure the attachment apparatus to at least part of the posterior portion of the ear that is positioned in the second space.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the first attachment apparatus further comprises a compliant member coupled to the engaging portion.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein, while the first attachment apparatus is secured to the ear of the user, the compliant member engages and is deformed to a first extent by a force received from at least a part of the interior portion of the ear positioned in the first space.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein, the compliant member is configured to at least substantially conform to a shape of at least part of the interior portion of the ear positioned in the first space in response to receiving the force.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein:

the compliant member is configured to transfer a portion of the force received from at least part of the interior portion of the ear to the engaging portion;

the engaging portion is configured to deform to a second extent by the portion of the force received from the compliant member force; and

the first extent to which the compliant member deforms is greater than the second extent to which the engaging portion deforms.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein an elasticity of the compliant member is greater than an elasticity of the engaging portion.

29. The system of claim 23, further comprising a second attachment apparatus configured as a mirror image of the first attachment apparatus.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein:

the first attachment apparatus further comprises a first coupling device; and

the second attachment apparatus comprises a second coupling device configured to couple to the first coupling device.