In-ear speakers with detachable adapter

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a combination of an earphone and an adapter.

[0002] For the purposes of this document, an earphone is an electrically powered device designed to be attached directly to the outer part of a person's ear in such a way that it protrudes at least into the auricle, and which can generate controlled sound that is intended to be clearly perceived by the ear to which the device is attached. Typically, an earphone is connected, either by cable or wirelessly, to another device such as a telephone or a music player, and receives the information to be reproduced from this other device. A device comprising an earphone can also be a hearing aid, i.e., an assistive device that compensates for impaired hearing by amplifying ambient sounds in relevant frequency ranges directly at the ear canal.An earphone can also be part of a so-called "headset", i.e. a device which, in addition to a speaker, also contains a microphone and exchanges information, which means sound, in the form of electromagnetic signals via cable or wirelessly with a device located at a distance.

[0003] Key functional aspects of devices that include an earphone relate to their attachment to the human ear. Relevant prior art is presented here: US 2019 / 069063 A1 discloses an adapter for an earphone with a combination of a section designed to interact with the human ear and a section designed to interact with the earphone.

[0004] EP 1 355 508 B1 discloses an earphone and an attached adapter, which has a narrow channel through which, as intended, sound propagation from the earphone is restricted exclusively to the outer ear canal. The adapter is made of a rubber-elastic material. It is attached to the earphone by being slipped over it, thereby stretching elastically. Due to this elastic stretching around the earphone, the adapter is pressed against the earphone and held against relative displacement by friction. Optionally, the adapter has a protruding extension which, when in use, extends against an area of ​​the auricle and improves its retention on the ear.The adapter's retention mechanism on the earphone, achieved through elastic stretching, is disadvantageous because it doesn't ensure a precise fit. Furthermore, the rather undefined additional elastic deformation of the adapter material during attachment and removal quickly leads to fatigue, expansion, and tearing. Moreover, precisely attaching the adapter to the earphone requires a significant amount of dexterity, time, and attention.

[0005] EP 2 566 187 A2 discloses an adapter for an earphone, wherein the adapter has a projection which, when used as intended, extends to and rests against a point on the auricle located away from the entrance to the ear canal, thus improving its anchoring to the auricle. The adapter has a cup-shaped section which can be fitted over a portion of the earphone with slight elastic bending and engages with complementary recesses on the earphone by means of two detent projections. This achieves a positive-locking attachment of the adapter to the earphone, defined in all six degrees of freedom of conceivable relative movements between the earphone and the adapter. A disadvantage is that separate recesses are required on the earphone and that, due to the combination of high surface pressure and friction during attachment and removal, rapid and significant wear occurs.

[0006] Patent applications US 2018310089 A1, US 2014119589 A1, and US 2019261079 A1 each disclose an adapter for an earphone, which, like the adapter according to EP 2 566 187 A2, has a projection that, when used as intended, extends to and rests against a point on the auricle. As with the adapter according to EP 1 355 508 B1, the adapter is made of a rubber-elastic material which, when mounted, is stretched around the earphone and is deformed primarily by elastic deformation.

[0007] CN 206922980 U also shows an adapter for an earphone for improved fixation to the ear. The adapter is pivotally attached to the earphone around an axis, with two semicircularly curved extensions of the adapter engaging a tapered section of the earphone in a snug fit. The two extensions are only bent elastically during the attachment and removal of the adapter from the earphone.

[0008] US patent 4965838 discloses a ring-shaped enclosure for the circular sound-emitting surface of an earphone, designed to focus sound propagation. The enclosure features several hook-like curved tabs. When mounting the earphone to the adapter, it must be forced through an annular connecting area between the tabs, ensuring the earphone first reaches the bases of the tabs and then their tips; the reverse occurs during disassembly. The annular connecting area must be elastically stretched during both assembly and disassembly. This results in relatively difficult assembly and premature failure of the adapter.

[0009] US Patent 2005147269 A1 discloses an earphone and an attached adapter with a narrow channel designed to direct sound propagation away from the earphone exclusively into the external auditory canal. The adapter features a ring-shaped arrangement of short, wide projections which, when mounted, enclose a portion of the earphone and are subject to elastic bending stress against that area. The projections are curved towards the enclosed area and make maximum line contact with the earphone. This line contact results in very high surface pressure on the earphone's contact surface, leading to rapid and visible wear and damage.

[0010] The GB 2220819 A shows an earphone and an attached adapter. When attached, a circular area of ​​the earphone is enclosed by a ring-shaped area of ​​the adapter, with the adapter making contact at specific points in a specially designed groove within the earphone by means of short, elastically curved spring tabs. Due to the high surface pressure at the contact points, both components are quickly damaged during attachment and detachment, making this design only suitable for repeated attachment and detachment of the earphone and adapter to a very limited extent.

[0011] The object underlying the invention is to provide an adapter for an earphone that can be detachably connected to the earphone and supports the fixation of the earphone to the ear. This object is achieved by a combination with the features of claim 1. Compared to adapters already known, the new adapter is said to be superior in that it has the complete combination of the following advantages: The sound propagation away from the earphone is not (noticeably) affected by the adapter. The adapter is easily attached to the earphone with a simple movement, automatically moving into a precisely defined relative position and remaining there. The adapter is also easily removed from the earphone with a simple movement. No special geometry is required on the earphone to improve the adapter's retention. (That is, no locking recesses, protrusions, connector halves, etc., are needed on the earphone.) Numerous attachment and removal cycles will not cause any damage to either the adapter or the earphone.

[0012] To solve the problem, an adapter design is used which has the following features known from EP 2 566 187 A2: The adapter has a shell-like section which, when mounted, partially encompasses the surface of the earphone such that the earphone is positively locked to the adapter, thus preventing relative movement between the two in all six degrees of freedom. There are several contact areas between the adapter and earphone where they rest against each other under mutual pressure. This pressure force results from the elastic deformation of the adapter due to contact with the earphone. No part of the adapter extends into the volume outside the earphone from which lines connecting to the sound-emitting surface of the earphone could be conceivable, provided these lines run in air, are straight, and intersect the sound-emitting surface at a right angle.

[0013] In order for the adapter to fulfill its purpose of keeping the earphone better attached to the ear, it has a support extension and / or is made of a material with a high coefficient of friction against human skin – typically silicone – on those surface areas that come into contact with the human ear during intended use.

[0014] If the arrangement is mounted on the ear, the supporting process may extend between the near area of ​​the ear loudspeaker and an area of ​​the concave side of the auricle that is spaced away from the outer ear canal, and lies there under pressure due to elastic deformation.

[0015] The following additional features are proposed as a further development according to the invention: a The shell-like part of the adapter comprises at least two extensions – hereinafter referred to as "retaining extensions" – and a common connecting area of ​​the retaining extensions, wherein the retaining extensions project from the connecting area in the manner of peninsulas and, in the mounted state, lie flat against the earphone. b In the mounted state, the retaining extensions and their connecting area clamp a volume portion of the earphone from different sides and, relative to their orientation in an elastically relaxed state, are predominantly elastically prestressed by bending stress in the direction away from the center of the clamped volume portion. c To attach and remove the adapter, the retaining extensions are temporarily bent more elastically in the direction away from the center of the clamped volume portion due to their contact with the volume portion to be clamped.

[0016] The invention, including advantageous additional features, is illustrated and explained in more detail with reference to drawings of exemplary embodiments: Fig. 1 : shows in the left part a first combination according to the invention of an earphone and an adapter according to the invention in a separated state and in the right part this combination in a joined state. Fig. 2 : shows in the left part a second combination according to the invention of an earphone and an adapter according to the invention in a separated state and in the right part this combination in a joined state. Fig. 3 : shows in the upper part a third unclaimed combination of an earphone and an adapter according to the invention in a separated state and in the lower part this combination in a joined state. Fig. 4 : shows an adapter according to the invention alone for a fourth combination according to the invention. Fig. 5 Figure 1 shows a variant of the adapter according to the invention, consisting of two detachably connectable individual parts. Fig. 1 in exploded view (above) and in assembled state (below).

[0017] Parts with the same function are assigned the same position number in the different examples.

[0018] The sketched combinations according to the invention Fig. 1 Each consists of an ear speaker 1 and an adapter 2. The ear speaker 1 has a sound emitting surface 3 and several sensor surfaces 4.

[0019] The adapter 2 has a shell-like part 5, from the outside of which a support extension 6 projects. The shell-like part 5 comprises several retaining extensions 7 and a connecting area 8, the transition between the retaining extensions 7 and the connecting area 8 being typically gradual.

[0020] When assembled, the cup-shaped part 5 of the adapter 2 encompasses a volume of the earphone 1 from various sides, thus holding the earphone 1 securely in place. The retaining projections 7 lie flat against the earphone 1, specifically on convexly curved surfaces. The cup-shaped part 5 is not elastically relaxed, but rather slightly bent relative to its relaxed position, such that the retaining arms are pushed slightly further away from the center of the enclosed volume compared to the position of the relaxed cup-shaped part 5. This means that the retaining projections 7 are bent slightly away from the enclosed area by contact with the earphone 1. The resulting elastic restoring force holds the retaining projections 7 under pressure – and therefore without play – in a precisely predefined position against the earphone 1.Relative movement between earphone 1 and adapter 2 from this predefined position leads, via a first area, to an increasing elastic deformation of the shell-like part 5 and thus to a restoring force, by which, in the absence of other influences, the earphone 1 and the adapter 2 slide back relative to each other into the predefined ideal position relative to each other.

[0021] Ideally, the retaining projections 7 are shaped so that, when mounted and slightly bent outwards against the earphone 1, they make full contact with the earphone 1. This means that at least a large portion of their surface facing the earphone 1 is shaped and dimensioned identically to the corresponding surface area of ​​the earphone 1. Due to the resulting large contact area of ​​the retaining projections 7 with the adapter 2, the surface pressure – i.e., the force per unit area – at the contact surface between the retaining projections 7 and the surface of the adapter 2 is relatively low. Therefore, there is no risk of damage. Despite this low contact area, the large contact area still results in advantageously high static friction.

[0022] To mount the adapter 2 on the ear speaker 1, these two are moved towards each other in such a way that the ends of the retaining extensions facing away from the connection area 8 first touch the volume area of ​​the ear speaker 1 to be enclosed, then slide off the surface of this area, spreading apart slightly in the process, and finally close up again over this area so that they lie snugly against the surface of the area to be enclosed by the adapter 2.

[0023] By resting the retaining projections 7 against convex – i.e., outwardly curved – surface areas of the adapter 1, it is easily achieved that, during the relative movement required to connect and disconnect the adapter 2 from the earphone 1, they only need to be bent slightly more from their relaxed position than when mounted. This makes assembly and disassembly possible without requiring much force and reduces the risk of damage during these processes.

[0024] Due to contact with the earphone 1, the cup-shaped part 5 of the adapter 2 undergoes elastic deformation. The cup-shaped part 5 is dimensioned such that this deformation is predominantly bending and not predominantly stretching, as is the case with previously known adapters made of silicone-like material. By designing the required elastic deformation of the cup-shaped part 5 as bending, the direction of the elastic deformation, specifically the bending of the retaining projections 7, can be defined very precisely. This ensures that when adapter 2 and earphone 1 are joined, these two parts slide into and remain in a single, precisely defined, stable relative position. It also ensures that surface areas of the earphone 1, where this is desired, are not covered by any part of the adapter 2.In particular, this may affect the sound emission surface 3 and any sensor surfaces 4 and / or additional sound emission openings, as well as surface areas on or under which an antenna is located.

[0025] The supporting projection 6, which improves the retention on the ear, can be designed and function as in state-of-the-art constructions. It typically consists of a soft, elastic material with high friction against human skin, such as silicone. When used as intended, its free end projects onto a concave area of ​​the auricle, which is clearly separated from the ear canal.

[0026] According to the claimed invention, the shell-like part 5 and the supporting extension 6 consist of different materials, wherein the material of the supporting extension 6 has a lower modulus of elasticity than the material of the shell-like part 5.

[0027] According to an advantageous further development, the shell-like part 5 has a surface layer on its outer surface, the material of which has a lower modulus of elasticity than the underlying material of the shell-like part 5. More preferably, the material of this surface layer has a higher coefficient of friction with respect to human skin than the underlying material of the shell-like part 5.

[0028] According to an advantageous further development, the shell-like part 5 has, at least in some areas at its intended contact surface with the ear speaker 1, a surface coating which is elastically softer and / or has a higher coefficient of friction with respect to the surface of the ear speaker 1 than the material of the shell-like part 5 covered by this coating.

[0029] According to an advantageous further development, the support extension 6 and an outer coating of the shell-like part 5 consist of the same material and the support extension 6 and said coating are manufactured in a common manufacturing process.

[0030] According to an advantageous further development, the material of the support extension 6 extends partially to that side of the shell-like part 5 which is intended to contact the earphone 1, so that this material also comes into direct contact with the earphone 1. For example, the shell-like part 5 can be provided with a through-opening, and the material of the support extension 6 extends through this opening. The support extension 6 and the material extending to the inside of the shell-like part 5 can be applied and formed in a single manufacturing step. This design improves the stability of the adapter 2's mounting on the earphone 1 without hindering the desired attachment and removal.

[0031] Preferably, at least one of the retaining extensions 7 is longer than it is wide. Even more preferably, this is the case for all retaining extensions 7. That is, the length of the (imaginary) boundary line between a retaining extension 7 and the connection area 8 is shorter than the distance of this boundary line to the free end of the retaining extension. Compared to less slender designs of retaining extensions 7, the desired range of elastic deformability is thus more readily achievable, because a greater deformation path can be reached at the same elastic stress in the material.

[0032] In the exemplary execution according to Fig. 4 A flat permanent magnet 9 is attached to the cup-shaped part 5 of the adapter 2. As intended, this magnet interacts with a ferromagnetic part or the magnetic field of a coil in the earphone 1, thus achieving an additional – possibly even switchable – holding effect between the earphone 1 and the adapter 2.

[0033] In the exemplary embodiment of an adapter 2 according to the invention Fig. 5 The shell-like part 5 and the support extension 6 are detachably connectable. In the illustrated example of the detachable connection, a tapered connecting extension 11 projects from the surface 10 of the support extension 6, which, in the intended assembled state, rests against the outer surface of the shell-like part 5. The shell-like part 5 has an opening 12 on the surface area to be contacted by the support extension 6. In the connected state, the connecting extension 11 projects from the outside through the opening 12 into the volume enclosed by the shell-like part 5, and the lateral surface of the opening 12 rests against the tapered area of ​​the connecting extension 11.

[0034] The process of creating the connection between the shell-like part 5 and the supporting extension 6 can be carried out in several ways, and details of the components to be joined can be optimized accordingly. These details can be readily determined by relevant experts within the scope of their standard professional practice, which is why they will not be discussed further here. The following are examples of connection variants, without claiming to be exhaustive: The free end of the connecting extension 11, which is wider than the tapered section, is pushed through the opening 12 while simultaneously deforming itself. The supporting extension 6, with its free end leading, is pulled through the opening 12, except for the connecting extension 11, and is temporarily deformed at the end adjacent to the connecting extension 11. The cross-sectional shape of the free end of the connecting extension 11 deviates significantly from a circular shape. The cross-sectional area of ​​the opening 12 in the shell-like part 5 has at least approximately the same shape and size. To connect the two parts, the free end of the connecting extension 11 is pivoted relative to the shell-like part 5 so that it can be easily inserted through the opening 12.It is inserted through the opening 12 and then pivoted parallel to its cross-sectional plane so that the longitudinal directions of the cross-sectional surfaces of the connecting extension 11 and the opening 12 are no longer parallel to each other; preferably, they are then at right angles to each other. The lateral surface of the opening 12 is not annularly closed, but, like the shoreline of a bay, has one open side, thus forming a one-sided open enclosure. To anchor the supporting extension 6 to the shell-like part 5, the tapered section of the connecting extension 11 is pushed through the open side of the lateral surface of the opening 12, i.e., parallel to the surface of the opening 12 and not perpendicular to it, into the opening 12.

[0035] By preferably making the supporting extension 6 and thus also its connecting extension 11 from a soft elastic material such as typically silicone, the aforementioned connection methods and also the easily imaginable, complementary methods for releasing the connection are easily achievable.

[0036] The primarily based Fig. 5 The discussed design with a detachable connecting extension 6 offers the following advantages over the previously discussed designs of adapters 2: It allows a choice between differently designed support extensions 6, and the soft elastic material of the connecting extension 11, which preferably has a higher coefficient of friction than the material of the shell-like part 5, also rests against the earphone 1 when adapter 2 and earphone 1 are connected – as in Fig. 1shown – are connected as intended. The static friction between the material of the connecting extension 11 and the outer surface of the earphone 1 improves the static friction between the adapter 2 and the earphone 1. This additional static friction allows for a lower elastic bending prestress of the retaining extensions 7.

Claims

1. Combination of an earphone (1) and an adapter (2) detachably connected thereto, whereby the adapter (2) is to be detachably connected to an earphone (1) and serves to support the securing of the earphone (1) on a human ear in that it comprises a support projection (6), which, when used as intended, extends between the vicinity of the earphone (1) and an area of a concave side of an external ear which is spaced apart from the external auditory canal of the ear, wherein - the adapter (2) features a shell-like part (5), which, in the assembled state, covers the surface of the earphone (1) in some sections and thus holds the adapter (2) in a form-fitting manner against any relative movement with respect to the earphone (1), wherein - the adapter (2) and the earphone (1) rest against one another under mutual pressure on multiple contact surface areas, whereby the compression force is a result of elastic deformation of the adapter (2) due to its resting on the earphone (1), wherein - no part of the adapter (2) extends outside the earphone (1) into that volume region from which connecting lines to the sound emission surface of the earphone are conceivable, which run in air and in a straight line, and impinge on the sound emission surface at a right angle, - the shell-like part of the adapter (2) features at least two holding projections (7) and a connecting region (8) connecting these, whereby the holding projections (7) protrude from the connecting region (8) in a peninsula-like manner and rest flat against the earphone (1), wherein - the holding projections (7) and their connecting region (8) clasp a volume region of the earphone (1) from various sides are thereby predominantly pre-stressed elastically away from a centre of the clasped volume region by means of bending stress relative to an orientation in an elastically relaxed state, wherein - during the fitting and removal of the adapter, the holding projections (7) are temporarily further bent elastically in a direction away from the centre of the clasped volume region by resting on the volume region of the adapter (2) to be clasped, wherein - the shell-like part (5) and the support projection (6) are made from different materials from one another, whereby the material which makes up the support projection (6) demonstrates a lower elastic modulus than the material which makes up the shell-like part (5), characterised in that the support projection (6) is detachably connected to the shell-like part (5), whereby, when connected, a waisted connecting projection (11) of the support projection (6) extends through an opening (12) in the shell-like part (5) and an outer surface of the opening (12) rests against the waisted section of the connecting projection (11).

2. Combination according to claim 1, characterised in that the adapter (2) in the surface areas which, when used as intended, contact the human ear, feature a material which features higher coefficients of friction against human skin than a surface material of the earphone (1).

3. Combination according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the holding projections (7) rest directly on the earphone (1) with more than 20% of their surface which faces the earphone (1).

4. Combination according to claim 3, characterised in that the contact surfaces between the holding projections (7) and the earphone (1) are convexly curved.

5. Combination according to one of the claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the outside of the shell-like part (5) features a surface coating which offers a higher coefficient of friction to human skin than that of the material below this on the shell-like part (5) and / or its material features a lower elastic modulus than the material below this on the shell-like part (5).

6. Combination according to one of the claims 1 to 5, characterised in that at least one of the holding projections (7) has a length greater than its width.

7. Combination according to one of the claims 1 to 6, characterised in that a permanent magnet (9) is affixed to the shell-like part (5) of the adapter (2).