Ear bud or dome

Abstract

An ear bud or cone having multiple protruding, convex and soft elements which are configured to be deformed during insertion, extraction and operation in the ear canal of a person. The soft elements are cushion shaped and thus able to adapt to any shape of the ear canal without exerting excessive force to portions of the ear canal.

Claims

1. An ear bud or dome comprising, in a rest position thereof: a central portion comprising therein a channel defining a central, longitudinal axis, the central portion having a first end and a second end, a plurality of convex elements extending away from the central portion, a maximum distance being a largest distance, perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis, from the longitudinal axis to any portion of a convex element, where the convex elements are positioned so as to have, in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, a space between neighbouring convex elements, and where all first portions of the convex elements positioned at least 30% of the maximum distance from the longitudinal axis are soft and take up a total angle, seen from the longitudinal axis and when projected on to a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, of at least 120 degrees, and wherein all convex elements, when projected onto a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, take up a total angle of no more than 350 degrees.

2. The ear bud or dome according to claim 1, wherein all portions of the convex elements positioned: at longitudinal positions within a predetermined distance from the first end and at least 90% of the maximum distance from the longitudinal axis have a curvature radius of at least 10% of the maximum distance.

3. The ear bud or dome according to claim 1, wherein each convex element has, at longitudinal positions along the longitudinal axis of the first portions, in a cross section in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, have a contour which: when viewed from a position inside the cross section, is concave in all directions or if the convex element engages the central portion in the cross section, the contour, when viewed from a position inside the cross section, is concave in all directions not directed toward the central portion.

4. The ear bud or dome according to claim 1, wherein the convex elements comprise therein an enclosed space.

5. The ear bud or dome according to claim 1, wherein the convex elements are convex when viewed along the longitudinal axis from both directions.

6. The ear bud or dome according to claim 1, wherein the central portion has a first length along the longitudinal axis and a predetermined opening at an end thereof, the convex elements being positioned at least 10% of the first length from the end.

7. The ear bud or dome according to claim 1, wherein the convex elements are drop-shaped with a blunt end and a pointed end, the pointed ends being directed toward the first end of the central portion.

8. The ear bud or dome according to claim 1, wherein the convex elements form part of an outer element comprising a sleeve inside which the central portion is provided.

9. The ear bud or dome according to claim 1, wherein the first portions of the convex elements positioned at least 30% of the maximum distance from the longitudinal axis have a hardness of 40 Shore A or less.

10. The ear bud or dome according to claim 1, wherein the central portion has a first length along the longitudinal and wherein each convex element is attached to the central portion along a distance exceeding 10% of the first length.

11. The ear bud or dome according to claim 1, wherein each convex element takes up a total angle, seen from the longitudinal axis and when projected on to a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, of no more than 350 degrees.

12. The ear bud or cone according to claim 1, wherein the convex elements have air-impenetrable walls with a porous material inside.

13. The ear bud or dome according to claim 1, further comprising: a first wax preventing element in the channel and at a first longitudinal position and a second wax preventing element in the channel and at a second longitudinal position being different from the first longitudinal position.

14. The ear bud or dome according to claim 1, wherein the first wax preventing element is detachably attached to the central portion.

15. An ear bud or dome according to claim 1 further comprising an opening or channel extending from the channel to an outer opening positioned between two neighbouring convex elements.

16. An assembly of an ear bud or dome according to claim 1 and a receiver or an end of a tube provided in the channel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the following, preferred embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the drawing, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of an ear bud according to the invention,

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates a cross section of a second embodiment,

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment made of multiple elements,

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment with two convex elements,

(6) FIG. 5 illustrates further embodiments of the invention and

(7) FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment with bevelled convex elements,

(8) FIG. 7 illustrates another embodiment with bevelled elements,

(9) FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment with convex elements extending further down,

(10) FIG. 9 illustrates an embodiment with openings in the convex elements,

(11) FIGS. 10A-10D illustrate a dome introduced in an ear canal,

(12) FIG. 11 illustrates an embodiment with an opening into the central portion,

(13) FIG. 12 illustrates an embodiment with a channel,

(14) FIG. 13 illustrated another embodiment with a channel,

(15) FIG. 14 illustrates a third embodiment with a channel,

(16) FIG. 15 illustrates embodiments with further tip openings,

(17) FIG. 16 illustrates an ear bud or cone with two wax protection filters and

(18) FIG. 17 illustrates different types of wax protection filters.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(19) In FIG. 1, an ear bud or dome 10 is illustrated for use in fixing a receiver or sound tube in the ear canal of a person.

(20) Clearly, what is desired is an ear bud which is comfortable to wear, introduce and remove, while fulfilling the task of maintaining the receiver or sound tube securely in place during operation. Introduction/removal, however, requires that the ear bud is able to pass bending, winding and/or narrow portions of the ear canal while it should be able to remain in a desired position for extended periods of time without causing pain to the user.

(21) The ear bud has a central portion 12 with an opening 122 wherein a wax filter (grating) 121 is provided. From the central portion 12, four protruding, convex elements 14, 16, 18 and 20 extend. The convex elements are equally spaced around the circumference of the central portion. A space 22 is provided between each pair of convex elements, so that the convex elements may be deformed by compressing these toward the centre of the central portion 12, such as toward a central, longitudinal axis 123 thereof, where this deforming may result in an expansion of the convex element in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the deforming force.

(22) Thus, when this earbud is forced into and through an ear canal, the convex elements are able to deform and thus adapt to the shape and dimensions of the ear canal. The spaces 22 will allow the convex elements to deform instead of vastly increasing the pressure exerted to the ear canal walls. Also, the convex elements should be so soft that when the ear canal comprises a convex part exerting a compressive force to a portion of a convex element, the outer shape of the convex element may adapt to this convex part so that no local force exerted to the ear canal becomes excessive.

(23) Preferably, the convex elements have an overall hardness of no more than 40, 30 or even 20 Shore A. A hardnessor resilienceof this order may be obtained providing solid convex elements of a sufficiently soft material or providing a thinner wall of a harder material, where the convex element may be hollow or filled with a softer material, such as foam. A hollow convex element may comprise air or gas, such as at a pressure of up to 5 kPa, such as in the interval of 2-4 kPa.

(24) Suitable materials for the convex elements and central portion are, for example, LSR (Liquid Silicone Rubber) or TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomer).

(25) It is seen that the outer portions of the convex portions are curved and have no sharp edges or portions which may damage the ear canal. The outermost portions may be all portions further away from the central axis 123 than 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80% or even 90% of a radius of a circumscribed circle of the ear bud when projected on to a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 123. These outermost portions, at least, should have the above low hardness and, preferably also, have a curvature of at least 10%, such as at least 20%, such as at least 30%, such as at least 50%, of the radius of the circumscribed circle in order to not have too sharp elements pinching or damaging the ear canal.

(26) Seen from the side and from the top, the convex elements preferably have a smooth surface in order to allow a gentle introduction in the ear canal. Thus, preferably in all cross sections from the top portion of the convex elements to the longitudinal position where the convex elements extend the farthest from the longitudinal axis, the outer periphery of the convex elements preferably define a smooth curve, such as a curve with no curvature with a radius lower than 10%, such as no lower than 20%, such as no lower than 30%, such as no lower than 40%, such as no lower than 50% of a radius of a smallest circumscribing circle in that cross section.

(27) It is also seen that the convex portions are convex when seen along the longitudinal axis 123 from both directions. In the right illustration illustrating a cross-section of the ear bud 10, it is seen that the convex element 18 has a lower surface 181 being convex. This has the advantage that both introduction into and removal from the ear canal is performed without damaging the ear canal. In addition, the convex portions prevent the collecting of ear wax and other contaminants when introducing the ear bud into the ear canal or when removing it again.

(28) In the right illustration, two planes, A and B, both perpendicular to the elongate axis 123, are indicated with hatched lines. In the plane A, the cross section of the ear bud 10 comprises the central portion 12 whereas, in plane B, it does not.

(29) In FIG. 2, a cross section is illustrated of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in the plane A. It is seen that the central portion 12 is there as well as the convex elements, including the convex element 20.

(30) When the ear bud 10 is forced through the ear canal, the outer portions thereof will contact the ear canal and be elastically deformed. Thus, it is especially required that the outer portions are deformable. Therefore, the softness desired is especially of such parts. In FIG. 2, a circle with a radius 26 is illustrated, and the parts outside of the circle are the outermost parts.

(31) In FIG. 2, an angle 28 is illustrated which is the angle the outer portions of a single of the convex elements takes up seen from the longitudinal axis 123. This total angle for the outer portions of all convex elements preferably is rather large, such as larger than 80 degrees, such as larger than 90, 100, 120, 140, 160, or 180 degrees, as this is a measure for the surface area which potentially may be in contact with the ear canal. The larger the contact area, the lower a force is exerted to the ear canal per area (square mm), when the convex elements are as soft as desired.

(32) It is seen that the convex elements, in the cross section, are concave when viewed from any position within the convex elementsat least when viewed in any direction not toward the central portion.

(33) Thus, the convex elements have the shape of a cushion/balloon/drop (made of a soft material) which thereby is deformable to accommodate any shape of the ear canal.

(34) It is noted that in the plane B, the cross section would comprise only the convex elements and not the central portion. However, the overall shape of each convex element would be concave when viewed from any position inside each cross section. Another way of describing the cross section of each convex element in the plane B is that the convex hull of each cross section is identical to the cross section itself.

(35) Naturally, it may be desired to have the central portion 12 be made of a harder material than the convex elements, such as with a Shore A of 20-100, such as 40-60, as this may facilitate a better fixing of a receiver and/or tube thereto. Naturally, this fixing may be a gluing, but a clicking action is preferred.

(36) In FIG. 3, an ear bud 100 is illustrated provided as two separate portions, a central portion 112 and an outer portion 111 which forms four convex portions, one of which is convex portion 120. The outer portion 111 has a channel in which the central portion 112 may be provided and, for example, fastened by gluing, welding, snap fitting or the like.

(37) To the right in the illustration, a cross section of the assembled ear bud 100 is seen, where the central portion is green and the outer portion red.

(38) In this manner, the properties of the central portion 112 and the outer portion 111 and in particular the convex portions 120 may be tailored to obtain the desired product.

(39) It is noted that, in general, the convex elements may be made completely of the same material, or multiple materials may be used where a softer material is used in the outer parts and a harder material used in more central portions.

(40) In a preferred embodiment, referring again to FIG. 1, the opening 122 preferably is positioned further along the longitudinal axis 123 than any portions of the convex elements. A reason for this is that it is desired that the sound output of the opening 122 is not affected by the presence of the convex elements.

(41) Also, as ear wax has a tendency of moving along the surface of the ear canal and thus also of the ear bud 10/100, it is desirable that a distance exists from the convex elements contacting the ear canal wall and the opening 122.

(42) In fact, it may be desired that a distance, along the longitudinal axis, from the opening and to any portion of the convex elements, is no less than 10%, such as 15%, such as up to 50% of a total length, along the longitudinal axis, of the central portion or the channel therein.

(43) Another embodiment of an ear bud 200 may be seen in FIG. 4, where two convex elements 211 are seen, extending from the central portion 212.

(44) In FIG. 5, additional embodiments of the present ear bud may be seen. Of course, any number of convex elements may be used, and different sizes thereof may be used if desired. The convex elements may or may not be symmetrical around line through the longitudinal axis.

(45) The convex elements may be hollow, such open from the bottom thereof. The elements which are convex when viewed from above and the side thus, when viewed from the bottom, are concave. This has the advantage that deformation may be easier compared to more solid convex elements. Further advantages are seen further below.

(46) A number of other features may be incorporated if desired. The central portion may have therein a thread or ridges for engaging a receiver or sound tube. Alternatively, a receiver or sound tube may be e.g. glued to the central portion.

(47) One or more wax guards may be provided. One is illustrated in FIG. 1 at the opening 122. Instead or in addition, a wax guard may be provided further inside the channel (see FIG. 6). All wax guards may be removable attached so that they may be selected according to a user or be removed, cleaned and re-inserted.

(48) In addition, the uppermost (in the figures) portion of the central portion 12/112/112 may be detachable in order to e.g. provide different shapes of the opening. Thus, the central portion may be formed by two portions fixed to each other by a clicking action or gluing/welding or the like. A number of such front portions may be provided to tailor the central portion to the sound emitting properties required for a particular user.

(49) In FIG. 6, an embodiment is seen where the convex elements 211 have a more angled or bevelled and extend to in front of the central portion 212. When the soft convex elements extend to a position in front of the harder central portion, the introduction thereof may be more gentle, as even the tip is soft.

(50) In FIG. 7, the same angled/bevelled shape is seen for convex elements not extending in front of the central portion.

(51) In FIG. 8, the shape seen in FIG. 6 is seen but now for convex elements also extending further to the back (downward direction in the drawing) than the central portion, where the central portion and convex elements in FIGS. 6 and 7 extend to the same longitudinal position.

(52) In FIG. 9, an embodiment is seen wherein openings 213 are provided in the convex elements.

(53) As mentioned above, the convex elements 211 are configured to, even when provided in an ear canal (see further below), have openings between them so as to allow sound to pass between neighbouring convex elements and so as to not exert an excessive force to the ear canal. However, the openings 213 provide additional openings for sound to pass through the convex elements 211. In one embodiment, the convex elements 211 are hollow, as seen in FIG. 5, so that sound entering the opening 213 may pass through the ear bud and toward the outside of the ear.

(54) Another use of the openings 213 is to allow air or gas (vapour) to pass from the eardrum to the surroundings to allow pressure equalization or dehumidify the space between the eardrum and the dome.

(55) Additionally, the openings 213 tend to prevent buckling caused by the deformation of the convex elements during deformation. Buckling has a tendency of creating creases and thus a non-uniform force exertion to the ear canal.

(56) In FIGS. 10A-10D, a dome as that illustrated in FIG. 4 is introduced into different channels with typical dimensions of an ear canal. In FIG. 10A, the channel is circular in cross section with 10 mm diameter. In FIG. 10B, the channel is circular in diameter with 8 mm diameter. In FIGS. 10C and 10D the channel is oval and the ear bud rotated 90 in FIG. 10C compared to FIG. 10D.

(57) It is seen that irrespective of the dimensions and channel shape, the convex elements of the ear dome are dimensioned to not touch each other so that further compression is possible without exerting an excessive force to the ear canal wall. The openings thus provided may also be used by sound to pass the ear dome which may therefore be called open as opposed to so-called closed domes which prevent sound from passing there through.

(58) In FIG. 11, an ear dome is illustrated having an opening 214 in the central portion 212 at a position where no convex element is seen, i.e. in the space 22. As mentioned above, this space 22 is not closed even when the ear dome is positioned in an ear canal, so sound/gas form outside of the ear or inside of the ear may pass through this space.

(59) This opening 214 may be used for feeding sound to a microphone positioned in the central element 212. This microphone may then detect sound from outside of the ear or from inside of the ear.

(60) An alternative use of the opening 214 would be as a part of a venting channel or acoustic channel extending from outside of the central element to inside the central element for allowing sound to enter the central element. Then, a valve may be provided in this path, such as close to the opening 214 for blocking the path to prevent venting or sound from entering through the opening 214.

(61) Thus, in addition to any sound passage though the spaces 22, an additional sound passage may be created via the opening(s) 214, where a valve is provided for controlling the additional sound passage. Then, the acoustic properties of the sound transport from one side of the dome to the other side, typically from outside of the ear canal to between the dome and eardrum, may be controlled by the operation of the valve.

(62) Suitable valve types and sound channel dimensions may be seen in Applicant's co-pending applications filed on 16 Oct. 2017 with the titles A VALVE, A TRANSDUCER COMPRISING A VALVE, A HEARING DEVICE AND A METHOD, A SOUND CHANNEL WITH A VALVE AND A TRANSDUCER WITH THE SOUND CHANNEL and A PERSONAL HEARING DEVICE, the entireties of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

(63) Naturally, this opening may be covered by a wax filter in order to prolong the operative life of the microphone.

(64) In FIG. 12, an embodiment is illustrated having a channel 215 which is defined in a wall of the central element 212 or the convex element 211. The channel 215 extends from inside the convex element and opens into the back (lower in the illustration) end of the convex element in order to allow sound or gas to enter and exit the channel from this side of the convex element. The channel 215 opens into the central opening via an opening 216.

(65) In FIGS. 13 and 14, an alternative is illustrated wherein the convex element is hollow or concave (when seen from the back side) element as seen in FIG. 5 so that the channel 215 may extend therein. A portion of the channel 215 extends within the wall, but the opening 216 may alternatively extend directly from the central opening to the opening in the convex element.

(66) An opening 216 from inside the central element 212 into the channel 215 is formed so as to allow sound or gas entering the channel 215 to enter the central element 212 via the opening 216.

(67) In FIG. 13, the opening 216 is below a wax filter 121 and in FIG. 14, the opening is above the wax filter 121.

(68) In FIG. 15, two embodiments are seen where an additional channel 217 is provided at the tip of the central portion for increasing the overall opening from above (toward the eardrum) the dome to the channel therein. This is due to the danger of wax blocking the main opening, which would otherwise render the dome useless.

(69) The channel 217 may be provided from the outside to a position above (left illustration) a wax filter or below (right illustration) the wax filter (if present at all).

(70) Alternatively, the channel 215 may extend to an opening in the top side of the bud so as to guide sound output from a receiver through the top opening back to a microphone to generate a feedback of that sound. This may be used for controlling the operation of the receiver.

(71) In FIG. 16, a more generic type of ear bud or cone is seen having a central portion 320 with a central channel 325 and a cone or other resilient outwardly extending structure 310 for engaging the ear canal walls during operation. As usual, the channel 325 preferably has elements, such as ridges or a thread, for fastening therein a receiver and/or a sound tube.

(72) In the upper portion of the channel 325, a first wax protection element 330, such as a grating, is provided for preventing wax from reaching especially the receiver/tube fastened inside the channel 325. This first element 330 may be detachably attached, such as by a snap fit action, in the element 320.

(73) Further inside the channel 325, another wax protection element 340 is provided, as it has been found that the first element 330 may not, over time, be able to prevent wax from entering the channel 325. Due to its position, the second wax protection element 340 preferably is permanently fixed inside the channel 325. Embodiments may, however, be arrived at where the second element 340 is detachably attached in the element 320, such as if the outer portion, from the upper tip and to the second element 340, is detachable from the remainder of the central portion 320.

(74) The wax filters may be provided e.g. as flat discs with openings or gratings.

(75) In FIG. 17, two types of filters are illustrated. To the left, a plate-shaped grid 330 is illustrated which may be provided in the channel, such as in a ridge thereof, and which may easily be removed, cleaned and replaced.

(76) In the right illustration, a particular type of filter is illustrated which in a single element forms two filters. The filter 340 has an outer portion 342 from which two filters 344 and 346 extend each forming half-shells spanning the space of the outer portion. The filter may be assembled so that the outer portion may be fixed in a channel where the two half-shells then individually act as a filter. The filter 340 may be removed, disassembled, cleaned and re-assembled and re-introduced in the channel.

(77) Naturally, the outer portions 310 may be as those described with reference to the above figures. Alternatively, the known cone types may be used. The present type of cone may be blocking or open.