Asymmetric Ear Tip Stabilizer for Secure Fit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional earbud headsets are unstable and uncomfortable due to variations in ear shape and size, leading to poor sound quality and increased fatigue from external mechanical stabilizers that fail to maintain proper receiver placement.
Innovation Solution
A self-adjusting ear tip with an asymmetrically attached stabilizer tail and varying hardness materials, designed to fit securely and comfortably by bypassing the crus helix and engaging the cymba concha, providing enhanced stability and comfort without the need for external stabilizers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If external mechanical stabilizers (headband or ear hook) are used to hold the receiver in place, then the receiver placement stability is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the external mechanical stabilizer (headband or ear hook) from the system and integrates the stabilizing function directly into the ear tip itself through an asymmetric geometry design. The ear tip body includes a forwardly extending portion that engages the tragus and a stabilizing portion that engages the concha, eliminating the need for separate stabilizing components while maintaining receiver placement stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the stabilizing function with the ear tip body by integrating the forwardly extending portion and stabilizing portion directly into the ear tip structure. This merging of functions reduces the overall device complexity while achieving the same stabilizing effect that previously required separate external mechanical components.
2Stability of the object's composition
If external mechanical stabilizers are used to stabilize the headset, then the receiver placement is improved, but the size and weight of the headset increase causing user fatigue
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for heavy external mechanical stabilizers by extracting the stabilizing function and embedding it within the lightweight ear tip structure. The asymmetric ear tip design provides inherent stability without requiring additional weight-bearing components, thereby reducing overall headset weight and user fatigue.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the receiver is designed for minimally sized concha to ensure fit, then the adaptability to different ear sizes is improved, but the comfort for users with smaller concha deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different geometric characteristics to different portions of the ear tip to optimize both adaptability and comfort. The ear tip body has a general size suitable for minimal concha, while the forwardly extending portion and stabilizing portion have specific asymmetric geometries that adapt to individual ear anatomy (tragus and concha variations). This local differentiation allows the same ear tip design to accommodate various ear sizes and shapes while maintaining comfort through proper load distribution.
4Device complexity
If conventional ear bud headsets are used without asymmetric stabilizer, then the device simplicity is maintained, but the stability and sound quality deteriorate due to improper receiver placement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces asymmetric geometry into the ear tip design with a forwardly extending portion that engages the tragus and a stabilizing portion that engages the concha. This asymmetric configuration ensures proper receiver placement in front of the ear canal by leveraging the natural asymmetric anatomy of the ear, thereby improving sound quality and preventing audio leakage while maintaining device simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatuses for delivering sound to a user ear are disclosed. In one example, an apparatus for delivering sound to an ear canal includes a body dimensioned to fit in a cavum concha area of a user ear, and a stabilizer member extending from the body arranged to bypass contact with a crus helix and contact a concha area of the user ear.