Adjustable In-Ear Earphone Ball Joint Design
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional in-ear earphones with plug types often fall out due to varying ear canal angles and do not fit perfectly, leading to discomfort and degraded sound quality from ambient noise.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable in-ear earphone design featuring a shell with a first engaging portion and a sound output device with a second engaging portion, allowing angular adjustments to fit individual ear canals without affecting sound output direction, using materials like POM and ABS for durability and comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the earphone uses a fixed plug type design, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but it cannot adapt to different ear canal angles and may fall out
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the sound output device movable relative to the shell through a ball joint connection. The sound output device can rotate and adjust to different angles within the ear canal while maintaining a stable connection. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the earphone to adapt to individual ear canal angles without requiring multiple fixed designs, thus improving adaptability while keeping the overall structure relatively simple.
2Ease of operation
If the speaker is located outside the canal, then the structure is simplified, but the weight causes discomfort with tilted angles after long time use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent relocates the speaker from outside the canal to inside the sound output device that extends into the ear canal. This dynamic positioning allows the speaker to be closer to the eardrum for better sound transmission while the adjustable angle design ensures the weight is distributed in a way that maintains comfort during prolonged use. The ball joint connection enables the sound output device to tilt and adapt to the user's ear shape, preventing discomfort from fixed angled weight distribution.
3Reliability
If the earplug type is used, then the size is small and portability is good, but it may fall out due to varying ear canal angles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the compact earplug design with a dynamic adjustment mechanism. The sound output device can rotate and adjust its angle relative to the shell through the ball joint connection, allowing it to adapt to different ear canal angles and shapes. This ensures the earphone remains stable and secure in the ear canal while maintaining compatibility with various user ear shapes, thus improving both reliability and adaptability.
4Manufacturing precision
If the sound output device is fixed at an angle, then the manufacturing precision is easier to control, but it cannot fit individual user ear canals perfectly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a ball joint connection that allows the sound output device to rotate and adjust to different angular positions. This dynamic mechanism enables the device to fit individual user ear canals perfectly by allowing angular adjustment after manufacturing, while the manufacturing process itself remains relatively simple and consistent. The ball joint provides a standardized interface that is easy to manufacture while enabling post-manufacturing angular adjustment for individual fit.
Data Source
AI summary
An in-ear earphone includes a shell and a sound output device. The shell has a first engaging portion. The sound output device has a sound tunnel, a second engaging portion and a speaker. The speaker is disposed between the sound tunnel and the second engaging portion coaxially with the sound tunnel. The second engaging portion is movably engaged with the first engaging portion. The angle between the shell and the sound output device is adjustable so that the sound tunnel can be suitably plugged into individual user's ear canals.