Conformable Eartips with Ribs for Reduced Ear Canal Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing eartips often cause discomfort due to unyielding materials and designs that require the ear canal to conform to the eartip, leading to pressure and difficulty in achieving a comfortable, hermetic seal, which can result in external sound isolation issues.
Innovation Solution
Conformable sealing eartips with ribs formed on the interior surface of one or more flanges, made from a low-durometer elastomer, allowing for comfortable adaptation to the ear canal while maintaining a seal with a thin, flexible design that minimizes pressure and enhances sound isolation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing eartips use unyielding materials and designs to create a hermetic seal, then sound isolation is improved, but user comfort deteriorates due to pressure on the ear canal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter by using low-durometer (softer) elastomer material for the eartip body and flanges. This softer material can deform and conform to the ear canal wall, creating a hermetic seal without applying excessive pressure, thus resolving the contradiction between sound isolation and user comfort
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of requiring the ear canal to conform to a rigid eartip shape, the patent inverts the approach by making the eartip material soft and compliant, allowing the eartip to conform to the ear canal. This reversal of the conforming relationship eliminates pressure-related discomfort while maintaining sealing effectiveness
2Strength
If eartip material is made less yielding to maintain shape, then structural integrity is improved, but comfort deteriorates due to pressure applied to the ear canal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent selects specific low-durometer elastomer material parameters that provide sufficient structural integrity for the eartip to maintain its basic shape and function, while being soft enough to conform to the ear canal without applying excessive pressure. The material hardness is optimized to balance these two requirements
3Reliability
If eartip design requires deep insertion to create a seal, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but user comfort deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material compliance parameter to allow the eartip to create an effective seal at shallower insertion depths. The soft, compliant material can deform to match the ear canal geometry closer to the entrance, eliminating the need for deep insertion while maintaining sealing effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The eartip design incorporates dynamic compliance through the elastomer material that allows the flanges to deform and adapt to the ear canal wall at various insertion depths. This dynamic adaptation enables effective sealing without requiring the eartip to be pushed deep into the ear canal
4Stability of the object's composition
If eartip flanges have unyielding edges to maintain seal position, then sealing stability is improved, but comfort deteriorates as edges settle into the ear canal wall
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter of the flanges to use the same low-durometer elastomer, making the flange edges soft and compliant. These softened edges can gently conform to the ear canal wall without causing discomfort, while the overall flange structure maintains sealing stability through its geometric design
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 eartips provide a comfortable fit with reduced pressure on the ear canal, achieving effective sound isolation with shallower insertion depths and minimizing the likelihood of flange folding, thus maintaining a consistent seal and reducing discomfort.
Implementation Method 1
The particular characteristics of the material used, such as durometer or density, have a significant impact on the ability of the eartip to conform to the individual ear canal
Implementation Method 2
foam eartips are typically compressed before insertion. Once inserted, the foam eartip attempts to recover to its pre-compressed shape, which applies pressure to the ear canal
Data Source
AI summary
Conformable sealing eartips having ribs formed on an interior surface of one or more eartip flanges are provided. The eartip may include a body and one or more flanges. The body may include an ear insertion end, an earphone insertion end opposite the ear insertion end, and a central opening extending between the ear insertion end and the earphone insertion end to form an inner sound channel through the body. The one or more flanges may extend from the body and may include an outer sealing surface and an inner surface. At least one of the one or more flanges may include a plurality of ribs protruding from the inner surface of the at least one of the one or more flanges.