Earphone assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9398365-B2
Application number	US-201414582041-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 23, 2014
Priority date	Mar 22, 2013
Publication date	Jul 19, 2016
Grant date	Jul 19, 2016

Abstract

This disclosure relates generally to waterproof electronic assemblies, such as earphones, earphone electronic controls, and waterproof connectors, as well as an apparatus for retaining an earpiece in the ear during physical movement and exercise. In various instances, the apparatus may include a thinned region a posterior arch and ribs to allow deformation of the earmold and facilitate securing of the earmold in the concha bowl of the ear. Electronic component assemblies described include electronic components, a cable, and a housing configured to house the electronic components. The housing also includes a cable aperture through which the cable extends, and a compression backstop extending into the interior of the housing. The electronic assembly may also include a gasket holder. The assembly also includes a gasket surrounding the cable, a compression wedge at least partially surrounding the circumference of the cable, and a crimp bead positioned proximate the compression backstop.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A connector assembly for providing a waterproof connection to an encasement for an electronic device, the waterproof connection providing access to a connection interface of the electronic device, the connector assembly comprising:
a connector body coupled with a cable, the cable to convey at least one of data and power between the connector body and the connection interface of the electronic device;
a transmission element coupled to the connector body, the transmission element to engage with the connection interface of the encased electronic device and enable conveyance of at least one of the data and power between the electronic device and the cable;
an outer sleeve surrounding a portion of the connector assembly and interfacing with the connector body, the outer sleeve to freely rotate around the connector body when the connector assembly is being connected to the encasement, and to secure the connector assembly to the encasement, the outer sleeve comprising
a distal end, a proximal end, an outer surface, and an inner surface, and
a securing region on the distal end of the outer sleeve, the securing region to secure the connector assembly with the encasement when the outer sleeve is rotated around the connector assembly;

an inner sealing interface on the inner surface of the outer sleeve and an inner gasket positioned proximate the inner sealing interface and around a circumference of the connector body to seal between the inner sealing interface and the connector body; and
an outer sealing interface proximate the securing region on the outer surface of the outer sleeve and an outer gasket positioned proximate the outer sealing interface and positioned around a circumference of the outer sealing interface, the outer gasket to seal the securing region with the encasement when the outer sleeve is engaged with the encasement.

2. The connector assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a first barrier element on an outer surface of the connector body and a second barrier element on the inner surface of the outer sleeve, the second barrier element to interface with the first barrier element and prevent removal of the outer sleeve from the connector body while allowing rotation of the outer sleeve around the connector body.

3. The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the securing region comprises threads to engage corresponding threads of the encasement when the connector assembly is engaged with the encasement.

4. The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the securing region comprises two or more bayonet arms to engage corresponding grooves of the encasement when the connector assembly is engaged with the encasement.

5. The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the securing region comprises two or more grooves to engage corresponding bayonet arms of the encasement when the connector assembly is engaged with the encasement.

6. The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the transmission element is a male pin.

7. The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the transmission element is a female socket.

8. The connector assembly of claim 2 , wherein the first barrier element is a ridge and the second barrier element is a groove.

9. The connector assembly of claim 2 , wherein the first barrier element is a groove and the second barrier element is a ridge.

10. A connector assembly for providing a waterproof connection to an encasement for an electronic device, the waterproof connection providing access to a connection interface of the electronic device, the connector assembly comprising:
a connector body coupled with a cable, the cable for conveying at least one of data and power between the connector body and the connection interface of the electronic device;
a transmission element attached to the connector body, the transmission element to engage with the connection interface of the encased electronic device and enable conveyance of at least one of the data and power between the electronic device and the cable;
a sleeve bearing having an outer surface and an inner surface rotatably interfaced with an external surface of the connector body;
an outer sleeve affixed to the outer surface of the sleeve bearing, the outer sleeve to freely rotate around the connector body when the connector assembly is being connected to the encasement, and to secure the connector assembly to the encasement, the outer sleeve comprising
a distal end, a proximal end, an outer surface, and an inner surface, and
a securing region on the distal end of the outer sleeve, the securing region to secure the connector assembly with the encasement when the outer sleeve is rotated;

a first barrier element on the external surface of the connector body and a second barrier element on the inner surface of the sleeve bearing, the second barrier element to interface with the first barrier element and prevent removal of the outer sleeve from the connector body while allowing rotation of the outer sleeve around the connector body;
an inner sealing interface on the inner surface of the outer sleeve and an inner gasket positioned proximate the inner sealing interface and around a circumference of the connector body to seal between the inner sealing interface and the connector body; and
an outer sealing interface proximate the securing region on the outer surface of the outer sleeve and an outer gasket positioned proximate the outer sealing interface and positioned around a circumference of the outer sealing interface, the outer gasket to seal the securing region with the encasement when the outer sleeve is engaged with the encasement.

11. The connector assembly of claim 10 , wherein the first barrier element is a ridge and the second barrier element is a groove.

12. The connector assembly of claim 10 , wherein the first barrier element is a groove and the second barrier element is a ridge.

13. The connector assembly of claim 10 , wherein the securing region comprises threads to engage corresponding threads of the encasement when the connector assembly is engaged with the encasement.

14. The connector assembly of claim 10 , wherein the securing region comprises two or more bayonet arms to engage corresponding grooves of the encasement when the connector assembly is engaged with the encasement.

15. The connector assembly of claim 10 , wherein the securing region comprises two or more grooves to engage corresponding bayonet arms of the encasement when the connector assembly is engaged with the encasement.

16. The connector assembly of claim 10 , wherein the transmission element is a male pin.

17. The connector assembly of claim 10 , wherein the transmission element is a female socket.

18. A connector assembly for providing a waterproof connection to an encasement for an electronic device, the waterproof connection providing access to a connection interface of the electronic device, the connector assembly comprising:
a connector body coupled with a cable, the cable to convey at least one of data and power between the connector body and the connection interface of the electronic device;
a transmission element attached to the connector body, the transmission element to engage with the connection interface of the encased electronic device and enable conveyance of at least one of data and power between the electronic device and the cable;
an outer sleeve coupled with an outer surface of the connector body, the outer sleeve able to slide an axial distance along the connector body and to freely rotate around the connector body when the connector assembly is being connected to the enc

Assignees

• Otter Products Llc

Inventors

• Liu feng song
• Bone Brian C
• Feng Feng
• Murrells Nicholas J

Classifications

• H04R1/1016

  Earpieces of the intra-aural type · CPC title

• H04R1/44

  Special adaptations for subaqueous use, e.g. for hydrophone · CPC title

• H01R24/58

  Contacts spaced along longitudinal axis of engagement · CPC title

• H04R1/1066 Primary

  Constructional aspects of the interconnection between earpiece and earpiece support (earpiece support for monophonic headphones H04R1/105; earpiece support for stereophonic headphones H04R5/0335) · CPC title

• H04R1/1033

  Cables or cables storage, e.g. cable reels (cord reels per se H02G11/02; arrangements for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of conductors or cables B65H75/34; extensible conductors or cables, e.g. self-coiling cords H01B7/06) · CPC title