Ear cup with bone conduction microphone

• US 8,130,985 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2007
• Issued: 03/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Emilsson, Niklas
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Ha Tran T
• Assistant Examiner(s): KLEIN, JORDAN M
• Application Number:
  US12/303,497
• Publication Number:
  US 20090252352A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,734 Days
• Field of Search: 381/151, 381/380, 381/72, 381/326, 381/370, 381/371, 381374-379
• US Class Current: 381/151
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1008 Earpieces of the supra-aural or circum-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1058 Manufacture or assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/46 Special adaptations for use as contact microphones, e.g. on musical instrument, on stethoscope throat mountings H04R1/14

Abstract

An ear cup with a bone conduction function comprising a cup (1), a sealing ring (3) and a microphone capsule (5). The cup (1) has an edge (2) on which the sealing ring (3) is disposed. The microphone capsule (5) is disposed in a retainer body (4). The retainer body (4) has an anchorage portion (6) with which the retainer body (4) and its anchorage portion (6) are secured interiorly in the cup. The retainer body (4) has a substantially planar surface for abutment and sealing against the wearer'"'"'s head in the position of use. In the position of use, the retainer body (4) is located between the sealing ring (3) and the wearer'"'"'s head, and the retainer body (4) is wholly or partly pressed into the sealing ring (3).

Claims

1. An ear cup with a bone conduction microphone, and comprising:

a cup, a sealing ring which is dismountable and secured on the cup and which is intended to form a seal against the wearer'"'"'s head around the wearer'"'"'s ear, and a microphone capsule for cooperation with the wearer'"'"'s head immediately in front of the wearer'"'"'s ear, wherein the microphone capsule is disposed in a retainer body which has an anchorage portion for anchorage interiorly in the ear cup, and that the retainer body has a position of use where it is located between the sealing ring and the wearer'"'"'s head, and the retainer body is also wholly or partly pressed into the sealing ring when the ear cup is worn pressed against the head of the wearer.

2. The ear cup as claimed in claim 1, wherein the retainer body has a recess in which the microphone capsule is disposed, and that the microphone capsule and the side of the recess facing towards the wearer in the position of use are covered by a foil-thin, flexible partition.

3. The ear cup as claimed in claim 2, wherein the distance between the inside of the partition and the inside of the bottom wall substantially corresponds to the extent of the microphone capsule in the same direction.

4. The ear cup as claimed in claim 1, wherein the retainer body has a recess in which the microphone capsule is disposed, and that the recess has a bottom wall which, in the position of use, is turned to face towards the sealing ring and which consists of a foil-thin, flexible material.

5. The ear cup as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the retainer body has its surface facing towards the sealing ring, in the position of use, arched with a central portion outwardly bulging in the sealing ring and thin peripheral portions.

6. The ear cup as claimed in claim 5, wherein the recess with the microphone capsule is disposed centrally in the outwardly bulging central portion.

7. The ear cup as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the microphone capsule is, in the position of use, separate and discrete from all hard or rigid parts of the cup and that it is pressed against the wearer'"'"'s head under the action of forces created by elastic deformation of the material of the sealing ring.