Cap-Mounted Earpiece Bracket with Pivot and Spring Bias
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cell phone earpiece mounts are uncomfortable and unsightly, often forcing the earpiece into the auditory meatus, leading to instability and social awkwardness, as they are not easily removable or adjustable for different user preferences.
Innovation Solution
A pivotable earpiece bracket that attaches to a cap, allowing the earpiece to swing into and out of position, with a spring bias for comfort and adjustable length, and a locking mechanism for secure attachment to various earpieces, enabling convenient use and storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a C-shaped mount wraps around the auricle to hold the earpiece, then the earpiece is securely positioned, but it becomes uncomfortable and unsightly for extended wear
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the earpiece mounting function from the auricle (ear structure) and relocates it to the cap (headgear). The bracket attaches to the cap and positions the earpiece over the ear canal rather than wrapping around the auricle, eliminating the uncomfortable and unsightly C-shaped mount while maintaining positioning stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The cap serves as an intermediary structure between the user's head and the earpiece. By attaching the bracket to the cap rather than directly to the ear, the system provides a comfortable interface (cap) that mediates the connection between the earpiece and the user's anatomy, allowing easy removal and repositioning.
2Ease of operation
If the earpiece is held in the tragus for convenience, then it is easily accessible, but it creates social awkwardness and is unclear who is talking
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket is designed to be dynamically repositionable. The earpiece can be easily moved between the operational position (over the ear canal during conversation) and a retracted position (against the cap when not in use). This dynamic positioning allows the user to transition smoothly between social interaction modes without the permanent visual presence of an earpiece in the tragus.
3Reliability
If the bracket forces the earpiece into the auditory meatus, then it achieves stable placement, but it causes irritation and discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of forcing the earpiece into the auditory meatus (inward pressure), the bracket positions the earpiece over the ear canal and allows the user to gently urge it into place at their discretion. This inverted approach gives the user control over the insertion force, preventing the harmful effect of forced insertion while maintaining stable placement.
4Device complexity
If the bracket is fixed in length, then it has simple construction, but it cannot adapt to different cap styles and ear positions
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket incorporates an adjustable length mechanism that allows the user to modify the distance between the cap attachment point and the earpiece. This dynamic adjustment capability enables adaptation to different cap styles, head sizes, and ear positions while maintaining relatively simple construction through the use of expandable or telescoping elements.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The bracket provides a comfortable and stable hands-free solution for extended use, minimizing irritation and social distractions, while being adaptable to different cap styles and earpiece sizes, ensuring easy attachment and removal.
Implementation Method 1
The earpiece speaker portion is held near the ear at the external auditory meatus under spring bias in the attachment of the bracket to the cap
Implementation Method 2
The bracket also has a locking mechanism that locks the bracket onto the neck of a wireless earpiece using compliant force and friction
Data Source
AI summary
An earpiece bracket that conveniently attaches to a cap worn by a user with length adjustment such that the distance between the cap to the earpiece is adjustable in the bracket. The attachment is pivotable so the bracket may swing the earpiece into and out of its operational position. In use, the earpiece depends in the bracket from the cap into an operational position with the speaker portion of the earpiece urged against the user's ear at the external auditory meatus. The earpiece swings into place during use and away from the ear when not use. The earpiece speaker portion is held against ear at the external auditory meatus under spring bias in the attachment of the bracket to the cap.