Patent Application
20240073575
Traditional earplug style headphones have earbuds that slide over a hard plastic post attached to the earbud's body. This post usually contains a concentric rib that interfaces with the elastic ear tip. Each elastic ear tip has the same mating feature, so all sizes are retained consistently on the plastic earbud. The portion of the earbud that contacts the ear can cause occlusion in the user's ear, distorting sound and providing an uncomfortable experience. Retention is also an issue because the ear canal is often the sole mating surface for these devices. The retention scheme utilized in previous in-ear headsets exerts a large amount of force on pressure points in the ear canal, making them uncomfortable.
The fit achieved by in-ear monitors requires that each headset be custom-made, adding cost and time to the production process. These are not mass producible. Aviation and consumer headsets that do not use the earplug style tips use a flexible interface over a hard insert. This variation of the ear plug design can lead to unwanted occlusion and pressure points throughout the ear.
There is a need for an earbud that provides reliable retention while maintaining a low profile.
According to one aspect of the subject matter described in this disclosure, an insert assembly is provided. The insert assembly includes a sleeve configured to receive an insert. The sleeve includes an undercut feature resting on a mating surface on the outside of the insert. The insert having a concentric rib on its outer diameter. The mating surface provides friction between the sleeve and the insert by at least partial encapsulation of the sleeve using the undercut feature, retaining the insert within the sleeve. The mating surface includes a multi-level surface that interlocks the sleeve and the insert.
According to another aspect of the subject matter described in this disclosure, an earbud is provided. The earbud includes at least one interchangeable sleeve configured to be stretched over an insert providing consistent fits for multiple ear sizes. The at least one interchangeable sleeve has at least a first protruding section for retention of the insert in an ear of a user.
According to another aspect of the subject matter described in this disclosure, a method for forming an earbud is provided. The method includes providing a sleeve configured to receive an insert. The sleeve has an undercut feature resting on a mating surface on the outside of the insert. The insert includes a concentric rib on its outer diameter. Also, the method includes delivering, using the mating surface, friction between the sleeve and the insert. Moreover, the method includes retaining the insert within the sleeve by at least partially encapsulating the sleeve by the undercut feature. The mating surface comprises a multi-level surface that interlocks the sleeve and the insert.
Additional features and advantages of the present disclosure is described in, and will be apparent from, the detailed description of this disclosure.
The disclosure is illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals are used to refer to similar elements. It is emphasized that various features may not be drawn to scale and the dimensions of various features may be arbitrarily increased or reduced for clarity of discussion.
The figures and descriptions provided herein may have been simplified to illustrate aspects that are relevant for a clear understanding of the herein described devices, systems, and methods, while eliminating, for the purpose of clarity, other aspects that may be found in typical similar devices, systems, and methods. Those of ordinary skill may recognize that other elements and/or operations may be desirable and/or necessary to implement the devices, systems, and methods described herein. But because such elements and operations are well known in the art, and because they do not facilitate a better understanding of the present disclosure, a discussion of such elements and operations may not be provided herein. However, the present disclosure is deemed to inherently include all such elements, variations, and modifications to the described aspects that would be known to those of ordinary skill in the art.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. For example, as used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “including,” and “having,” are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed.
Although the terms first, second, third, etc., may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another element, component, region, layer or section. That is, terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms, when used herein, do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context.
This disclosure is directed to an intra-aural earbud for a hard insert. The intra-aural earbud is designed to be a well-retained but replaceable earbud on top of a hard insert. Moreover, the intra-aural earbud provides a comfortable interface between a hard insert and the user. The intra-aural earbud is configured to allow the user to apply the intra-aural earbud to the hard insert using a sleeve arrangement.
In some embodiments, the support mechanism is an ear hook with a plastically deformable inner core allowing a user to form the ear hook to fit his/her ear. This ear hook can also house electronics such as bone conduction sensors.
When hard insert 100 has been fully installed in sleeve 202, the undercut feature 208 rests on its mating flat surface 208 on the outside of hard insert 100. Flat surface 208 provides friction between hard insert 100 and sleeve 202 that, aided by the encapsulation of hard insert 100 by undercut feature 208, retains hard insert 100 within sleeve 202.
The concha cymba portion 230 can also be designed to maximize grip strength. Generally, a softer concha cymba portion 230 improves its grip once inserted into the ear, but higher compressibility results in a better fit. Concha cymba portion 230 does not provide the main forces that retain the assembly in the user's ear. Most retention is achieved through the combination of ear canal portion 226, sleeve 202, concha bowl portion 228, and concha cymba portion 230. The concha bowl portion 228 can be configured for an environment where maximizing grip strength is desired. Again, materials of different stiffness can be used to conform to idiosyncrasies of a variety of ear anatomies.
The intra-aural earbud 200 is designed to be interchangeable, ensuring fit for everyone. Sleeve 202 is preferably made with low durometer silicone coupled with a hard insert to avoid pressure points. In some embodiments, materials that perform similarly to silicone may be used. In some exemplary embodiments, sleeve 202 is made with high durometer silicone.
The disclosure described an intra-aural earbud having a sleeve used in conjunction with a hard insert. In some exemplary embodiments, the intra-aural earbud includes a low-durometer silicone sleeve that avoids pressure points. The advantages of the intra-aural earbud include reliable retention of a variety of sleeves (silicone ear interface) that fill the volume of the concha and the auditory canal while maintaining a low profile. Also, the sleeves are retained to ensure they remain on the hard insert. Moreover, the intra-aural earbud provides the user with a more comfortable experience. The flexibility of the sleeve offers a fit comparable to studio monitors without the need for custom forming. In addition, the sleeves are interchangeable to ensure fit for all people.
Reference in the specification to “one implementation” or “an implementation” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the implementation is included in at least one implementation of the disclosure. The appearances of the phrase “in one implementation,” “in some implementations,” “in one instance,” “in some instances,” “in one case,” “in some cases,” “in some exemplary embodiments,” “in one embodiment,” or “in some embodiments” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same implementation or embodiment.
Finally, the above descriptions of the implementations of the present disclosure have been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present disclosure to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. It is intended that the scope of the present disclosure be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by the claims of this application. As will be understood by those familiar with the art, the present disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Accordingly, the present disclosure is intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the present disclosure, which is set forth in the following claims.
