Eartips for in-ear listening devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11523205-B2
Application number	US-202117234441-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 19, 2021
Priority date	Mar 25, 2019
Publication date	Dec 6, 2022
Grant date	Dec 6, 2022

Abstract

Embodiments describe an eartip including an eartip body having an attachment end and an interfacing end opposite from the attachment end, and including an inner eartip body and an outer eartip body. The inner eartip body has a sidewall that extends between the interfacing end and the attachment end, and includes a groove formed in an outer surface of the sidewall. The outer eartip body is sized and shaped to be inserted into an ear canal and extends from the interfacing end toward the attachment end of the eartip.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An eartip comprising:
an eartip body having an attachment end and an ear interfacing end opposite from the attachment end, the eartip body formed from a compliant material and comprising:
an inner eartip body having a sidewall that defines a sound channel extending through the eartip body between the ear interfacing end and the attachment end; and
an outer eartip body integrally formed with the inner eartip body at the ear interfacing end and extending towards the attachment end around at least a portion of and in a spaced apart relationship with the inner eartip body defining a deflection zone between the inner and outer eartip bodies, wherein the outer eartip body is sized and shaped to be inserted into an ear canal;
a flange having a first end extending around and directly attached to the inner eartip body and a second end that extends into the deflection zone toward the outer eartip body;
a rigid frame having a frame sidewall that defines a frame channel through the rigid frame and aligned with the sound channel, the rigid frame including an upper portion coupled to the inner eartip body sidewall and a lower portion below the upper portion where an inner surface of frame sidewall defines first and second recesses protruding into the rigid frame and positioned at opposite ends of the frame channel within the lower portion; and
a mesh coupled to the rigid frame and extending across the frame channel.

2. The eartip of claim 1 wherein the flange extends around and is directly attached to an entire circumference of the inner eartip body.

3. The eartip of claim 2 wherein the flange extends away from the inner eartip body at a downward angle towards a distal end of the outer eartip body.

4. The eartip of claim 2 wherein the flange extends away from the inner eartip body at an upward angle towards the ear interfacing end of the eartip body.

5. The eartip of claim 1 wherein the flange is a first flange and the eartip further comprises a second flange spaced apart from the first flange such that the second flange is positioned between the first flange and the ear interfacing end.

6. The eartip of claim 5 wherein each of the first and second flanges extend around and are directly attached to an entire circumference of the inner eartip body.

7. The eartip of claim 1 wherein the outer eartip body extends around a circumference of the inner eartip body.

8. The eartip of claim 1 wherein an outer perimeter of inner eartip body has a first diameter near the ear interfacing end and a second diameter, greater than the first diameter, near the attachment end.

9. The eartip of claim 1 wherein the mesh comprises an interlaced network of wire that allows sound to propogate through but prevents debris from passing through.

10. The eartip of claim 1 wherein the mesh comprises a soft, porous fabric that allows sound to propagate through but prevents debris from passing through.

11. The eartip of claim 1 wherein the frame channel formed through the rigid frame has an oval-shaped cross-section.

12. The eartip of claim 11 wherein the oval-shaped channel in the rigid frame has a first oval-shaped opening at an upper surface of the upper portion and a second oval-shaped opening, larger than the first oval-shaped opening, at a lower surface of the lower portion.

13. The eartip of claim 1 wherein the eartip body and rigid frame are formed as a monolithic component.

14. A detachable eartip comprising:
an eartip body having an attachment end and an ear interfacing end opposite from the attachment end, the eartip body formed from a compliant material and comprising:
an inner eartip body having a sidewall that defines a sound channel extending through the eartip body between the ear interfacing end and the attachment end; and
an outer eartip body integrally formed with the inner eartip body at the ear interfacing end and extending towards the attachment end around at least a portion of and in a spaced apart relationship with the inner eartip body defining a deflection zone between the inner and outer eartip bodies, wherein the outer eartip body is sized and shaped to be inserted into an ear canal;
a flange having a first end extending around and directly attached to the inner eartip body and a second end that extends into the deflection zone toward the outer eartip body; and
a rigid frame coupled to the attachment end of the eartip body, the rigid frame having a frame sidewall that defines a channel through the rigid frame aligned with the sound channel and an attachment structure configured to removably couple the detachable eartip to a housing of an in-ear headphone.

15. The detachable eartip of claim 14 further comprising a mesh coupled to the rigid frame and extending across the sound channel.

16. The eartip of claim 14 wherein the flange extends around and is directly attached to an entire circumference of the inner eartip body.

17. The eartip of claim 14 wherein the flange extends away from the inner eartip body at a downward angle towards a distal end of the outer eartip body.

18. The eartip of claim 14 wherein the flange is a first flange and the eartip further comprises a second flange spaced apart from the first flange such that the second flange is positioned between the first flange and the ear interfacing end.

19. The eartip of claim 14 wherein each of the first and second flanges extend around and are directly attached to an entire circumference of the inner eartip body.

20. A detachable eartip comprising:
an eartip body having an attachment end and an ear interfacing end opposite from the attachment end, the eartip body formed from a compliant material and comprising:
an inner eartip body having a sidewall that defines a sound channel extending through the eartip body between the ear interfacing end and the attachment end; and
an outer eartip body integrally formed with the inner eartip body at the ear interfacing end and extending towards the attachment end around at least a portion of and in a spaced apart relationship with the inner eartip body defining a deflection zone between the inner and outer eartip bodies, wherein the outer eartip body is sized and shaped to be inserted into an ear canal;
a flange having a first end extending around and directly attached to the inner eartip body and a second end that extends into the deflection zone toward the outer eartip body; and
a rigid frame having a frame sidewall that defines a first opening at a top surface of the rigid frame and a second opening, larger than the first opening, at a bottom surface of the rigid frame, wherein:
the frame sidewall defines a frame channel through the rigid frame extending from the first opening to the second opening and axially aligned with the sound channel;
the rigid frame includes an upper portion adjacent the first opening and coupled to the inner eartip body sidewall, and a lower portion adjacent the second opening; and

an inner surface of frame sidewall defines first and second recesses protruding into the rigid frame and positioned 180 degrees apart from each other within the lower portion enabling the detachable eartip to be removably attached to a housing of an in-ear headphone.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Hatfield Dustin A
• Aoyagi Shota
• Emmott Timothy E
• Huwe Ethan L
• Lerner Mitchell R
• Mcintosh Sean T
• Tsai Yi-Fang D
• Della Rosa Jason C
• Sheppard Patrick W
• Parker Samuel G
• Feathers David J
• Twehues Brian R
• Strongwater Daniel

Classifications

• H04R1/1016 Primary

  Earpieces of the intra-aural type · CPC title

• H04R1/1058

  Manufacture or assembly · CPC title

• H04R2460/11

  Aspects relating to vents, e.g. shape, orientation, acoustic properties in ear tips of hearing devices to prevent occlusion · CPC title

• H04R1/023

  Screens for loudspeakers · CPC title