Magnetic retention of earbud within cavity

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10225637-B2
Application number	US-201615273691-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 22, 2016
Priority date	Sep 30, 2015
Publication date	Mar 5, 2019
Grant date	Mar 5, 2019

Abstract

A case for an earbud includes a receiving cavity sized and shaped to accept the earbud within the receiving cavity. The case includes one or more housing magnetic components configured to magnetically attract and secure the earbud within the receiving cavity.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A listening device system comprising:
an earbud comprising an ear interface portion having a generally convex shaped lower surface that has a curved profile in a first and a second plane that are orthogonal to each other, and a generally elliptical profile in a third plane that is orthogonal to the first and second planes;
a case for the earbud comprising:
a receiving cavity sized and shaped to accept the earbud, wherein a first portion of the receiving cavity is sized and shaped to receive the lower surface;
a plurality of housing magnetic components positioned adjacent one another and located proximate the first portion of the receiving cavity, wherein each housing magnetic component has a contoured top surface that is positioned to form a portion of a concave surface having one or more discontinuities, wherein the concave surface substantially matches the generally convex shaped lower surface of the earbud and wherein the plurality of housing magnetic components are configured to magnetically secure the earbud into the receiving cavity; and
a lid operable between an open position in which the receiving cavity is exposed and a closed position in which the lid covers the receiving cavity.

2. The listening device system of claim 1 wherein the case is configured to store a pair of earbuds and the earbud is a first earbud wherein:
the receiving cavity includes a first receiving cavity sized and shaped to accept the first earbud in the pair of earbuds, and a second receiving cavity sized and shaped to accept a second earbud in the pair of earbuds.

3. The listening device system of claim 2 wherein the plurality of housing magnetic components includes a first magnetic component positioned and configured to magnetically attract a speaker magnet in the first earbud and includes a second magnetic component positioned and configured to magnetically attract a speaker magnet in the second earbud.

4. The listening device system of claim 2 wherein the plurality of housing magnetic components includes a first magnetic component positioned and configured to magnetically attract a magnetic plate disposed in an ear portion of the first earbud and includes a second magnetic component positioned and configured to magnetically attract a magnetic plate disposed in an ear portion of the second earbud.

5. The listening device system of claim 4 wherein the plurality of housing magnetic components includes a first set of magnetic components that form a first Halbach array to increase attractive forces for the first earbud and includes a second set of magnetic components that form a second Halbach array to increase attractive forces for the second earbud.

6. The listening device system of claim 5 wherein the first and second Halbach arrays are configured to attract the first and the second earbuds into respective cavities and magnetically retain them within the respective cavities until they are removed by a user.

7. The listening device system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of housing magnetic components are configured to hold the earbud in contact with an electrical connector disposed within the case.

8. The listening device system of claim 1 wherein the earbud includes a stem portion attached to the ear interface portion.

9. The listening device system of claim 1 wherein the earbud further comprises a driver unit that includes a diaphragm, an earbud magnet and a voice coil, and wherein the earbud magnet is operatively coupled to the voice coil to move the diaphragm in response to electrical signals.

10. The listening device system of claim 1 wherein the earbud comprises a magnetic retention component that comprises a plate of magnetic material.

11. A wireless listening system comprising:
(i) a pair of wireless earbuds, each wireless earbud comprising:
a housing that includes an ear interface portion having a generally convex shaped lower surface that has a curved profile in a first and a second plane that are orthogonal to each other, and a generally elliptical profile in a third plane that is orthogonal to the first and second planes;
a directional sound port formed within the housing;
a speaker assembly disposed within the housing and including a driver unit comprising a first magnet, a diaphragm and a voice coil, and wherein the first magnet is operatively coupled to the voice coil to move the diaphragm in response to electrical signals, the driver unit aligned to emit sound from the directional sound port; and
a magnetic retention component, separate from the speaker assembly; and
(ii) a storage case for the pair of wireless earbuds, the storage case comprising:
a pair of receiving cavities sized and shaped to accept the pair of earbuds, each cavity having a first portion that is sized and shaped to receive the lower surface of each respective earbud;
a plurality of housing magnetic components, for each cavity of the pair of cavities, each plurality of housing magnetic components disposed within the case and positioned adjacent one another and located proximate the first portion of each respective receiving cavity, wherein each plurality of housing magnetic components has a contoured top surface that is positioned to form a portion of a concave surface having one or more discontinuities, wherein the concave surface substantially matches the generally convex shaped lower surface of each respective earbud and wherein each plurality of housing magnetic components is configured to magnetically secure each respective earbud into each respective receiving cavity;
and
a lid operable between an open position in which the pair of receiving cavities are exposed and a closed position in which the lid covers the pair of receiving cavities.

12. The wireless listening system of claim 11 wherein the plurality of housing magnetic components includes a first magnetic component positioned and configured to magnetically attract a speaker magnet in a first earbud of the pair of earbuds and a second magnetic component positioned and configured to magnetically attract a speaker magnet in the second earbud of the pair of earbuds.

13. The wireless listening system of claim 12 wherein the plurality of housing magnetic components further includes a third magnetic component positioned and configured to magnetically attract a magnetic plate disposed in the ear interface portion of the first earbud and a fourth magnetic component positioned and configured to magnetically attract a magnetic plate disposed in the ear portion of the second earbud.

14. The wireless listening system of claim 11 wherein the plurality of housing magnetic components includes a plurality of magnets arranged to form a Halbach array.

15. The wireless listening system of claim 11 wherein the magnetic retention component comprises a plate of magnetic material.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Panecki Lee M
• Albonico Marcus
• Yang Shannon X
• Chawan Arun D
• Stiehl Kurt
• Wagman Daniel C
• Zörkendörfer Rico L
• Cousins Benjamin A
• Strongwater Daniel Max
• Jol Eric S

Classifications

• H04R2201/105

  Manufacture of mono- or stereophonic headphone components · CPC title

• H02J7/42

  with electronic devices having internal batteries, e.g. mobile phones · CPC title

• H02J7/731

  specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries (H02J7/751 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A45C11/00 Primary

  Receptacles for purposes not provided for in groups A45C1/00-A45C9/00 (specially adapted for toiletry or cosmetic equipment A45D29/20, A45D44/18; travelling sewing kits A45F3/48) · CPC title

• H02J7/70

  characterised by the mechanical construction · CPC title