Electrically conductive eartips

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11779285-B2
Application number	US-201916509942-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 12, 2019
Priority date	Jul 12, 2019
Publication date	Oct 10, 2023
Grant date	Oct 10, 2023

Abstract

An eartip includes a first portion that defines a cavity for receiving an earbud and an aperture. The eartip also includes a second portion that overlies the aperture and is formed of an electrically conductive material. An electrically conductive plug has a first end disposed within the aperture and a second end is coupled to the second portion to provide an electrically conductive path between the second portion and the cavity.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An eartip comprising:
a first portion defining a cavity for receiving an earbud and an aperture; and
a second portion overlying the aperture and formed of an electrically conductive material, and
an electrically conductive plug having a first end disposed within the aperture and a second end coupled to the second portion to provide an electrically conductive path between the second portion and the cavity,
wherein the electrically conductive plug comprises a shaft that extends from the first end to a head at the second end, and wherein the head overhangs the shaft, and
wherein the electrically conductive plug is configured such that the first end sits substantially flush with a first surface of the first portion of the eartip and such that a bottom surface of the head rests against the first portion.

2. The eartip of claim 1 , wherein the first portion is not electrically conductive.

3. The eartip of claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive material comprises an elastomer and electrically conductive particles suspended in the elastomer.

4. The eartip of claim 3 , wherein the electrically conductive material comprises an elastomer and an electrically conductive coating on a surface of the elastomer.

5. The eartip of claim 4 , wherein the second portion comprises between 2.5% and 6% of the electrically conductive particles by weight.

6. The eartip of claim 1 , wherein the eartip is formed in a two-shot molding process in which the first portion is formed in a first molding portion and the second portion is molded directly on top of the first portion in a second molding operation.

7. The eartip of claim 1 , wherein the first portion is formed of a first elastomer having a first durometer, and wherein the second portion is formed of a second, electrically conductive elastomer having a second durometer that is softer than the first durometer.

8. An in-ear earpiece comprising:
an earbud comprising:
a transducer, and
an electrically conductive pin;

an eartip comprising:
a first portion defining a cavity for receiving the earbud and an aperture, and
a second portion overlying the aperture and formed of an electrically conductive material; and

an electrically conductive plug having a first end disposed within the aperture and a second end coupled to the second portion to provide an electrically conductive path between the second portion and the electrically conductive pin,
wherein the electrically conductive plug comprises a shaft that extends from the first end to a head at the second end, and wherein the head overhangs the shaft, and
wherein the electrically conductive plug is configured such that the first end sits substantially flush with a first surface of the first portion of the eartip and such that a bottom surface of the head rests against the first portion.

9. The in-ear earpiece of claim 8 , wherein the electrically conductive pin comprises a pogo pin.

10. The in-ear earpiece of claim 8 , wherein the electrically conductive material comprises an elastomer and electrically conductive particles suspended in the elastomer.

11. The in-ear earpiece of claim 10 , wherein the elastomer comprises silicone.

12. The in-ear earpiece of claim 11 , wherein the second portion comprises between 2.5% and 6% of the electrically conductive particles by weight.

13. The in-ear earpiece of claim 8 , wherein the first portion is formed of a first elastomer having a first durometer, and wherein the second portion is formed of a second, electrically conductive elastomer having a second durometer that is softer than the first durometer.

14. An in-ear earpiece comprising:
an earbud comprising:
a transducer, and
an electrically conductive pin; and

an eartip comprising:
a first portion defining an aperture and a cavity for receiving the earbud such that the aperture is coaxially arranged with the electrically conductive pin, and
a second portion overlying the aperture, the second portion being formed of an electrically conductive material; and

an electrically conductive plug having a first end disposed within the aperture and a second end coupled to the second portion to provide an electrically conductive path such that the second portion is electrically coupled to the electrically conductive pin,
wherein the electrically conductive plug comprises a shaft that extends from the first end to a head at the second end, and wherein the head overhangs the shaft, and
wherein the electrically conductive plug is configured such that the first end sits substantially flush with a first surface of the first portion of the eartip and such that a bottom surface of the head rests against the first portion.

15. The eartip of claim 14 , wherein the electrically conductive pin comprises a pogo pin.

16. The eartip of claim 14 , wherein the second portion covers the second end of the electrically conductive plug such that no portion of the electrically conductive plug comes into direct contact with a subject's skin during use.

17. An eartip comprising:
a first portion defining a cavity for receiving an earbud and an aperture;
a second portion overlying the aperture and formed of an electrically conductive material; and
an electrically conductive plug having a first end disposed within the aperture and a second end coupled to the second portion to provide an electrically conductive path between the second portion and the cavity;
wherein the electrically conductive plug comprises a shaft that extends from the first end to a head at the second end,
wherein the head overhangs the shaft,
wherein the electrically conductive plug is configured such that the first end sits substantially flush with a first surface of the first portion of the eartip and such that a bottom surface of the head rests against the first portion, and
wherein the second portion is molded around the first portion and the electrically conductive plug such that the second portion contacts a top surface and a peripheral side edge of the head of the electrically conductive plug.

18. An eartip comprising:
a first portion defining a cavity for receiving an earbud and an aperture; and
a second portion overlaying the aperture and formed of an electrically conductive material; and
an electrically conductive plug having a first end disposed within the aperture and a second end coupled to the second portion to provide an electrically conductive path between the second portion and the cavity;
wherein the electrically conductive plug comprises a shaft that extends from the first end to a head at the second end,
wherein the head overhangs the shaft,
wherein the electrically conductive plug is configured such that the first end sits substantially flush with a first surface of the first portion of the eartip and such that a bottom surface of the head rests against the first portion; and
wherein the first surface of the first portion defines the cavity.

Assignees

• Bose Corp

Inventors

• Jin paul
• Lee Daniel K
• Hanson Caitlin
• Davies Benjamin N
• Colburn Ethan

Classifications

• A61B5/742 Primary

  using visual displays (displays for heart-related electrical signals, e.g. ECG, A61B5/339) · CPC title

• A61B5/7405

  using sound · CPC title

• A61B5/7455

  characterised by tactile indication, e.g. vibration or electrical stimulation · CPC title

• A61B5/6831

  Straps, bands or harnesses · CPC title

• H04R1/1016 Primary

  Earpieces of the intra-aural type · CPC title