Ear Bud Adapter with Visco-Elastic Foam for Noise Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ear buds lack effective noise isolation and secure positioning due to their open design and variability in human ear anatomy, leading to inconsistent sound quality and potential dislodging.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a headband coupled with visco-elastic foam ear pads that compress the tragus and antitragus to create a partially isolated auditory canal, providing gentle pressure and incorporating a speaker or microphone for enhanced sound quality and noise reduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If ear buds are designed as open air devices, then they are comfortable and easy to wear, but they do not provide isolation from ambient noise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an adapter as an intermediary device that attaches to the ear bud and extends into the ear canal. This adapter serves as a mediator between the open ear bud design and the need for noise isolation, providing a physical barrier against ambient noise while maintaining the comfort and ease of wear of the original ear bud design.
2Weight of moving object
If ear buds are made light weight and small size, then they are comfortable to wear, but they assume insecure position and may fall out of the ear canal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the ear bud device into another dimension by adding an adapter that protrudes deeper into the ear canal. This dimensional extension provides additional anchoring points and engagement features that prevent the lightweight ear bud from falling out, while the adapter itself is designed to be comfortable and not interfere with normal wearability.
3Weight of moving object
If ear buds are made light weight and small size, then they are comfortable to wear, but they provide suboptimal and inconsistent sound quality
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter is designed with pre-formed engagement features and positioning elements that ensure the ear bud transducer is consistently positioned at the optimal location in the ear canal before use. This preliminary configuration of the adapter ensures that regardless of variations in ear anatomy or user handling, the sound quality remains consistent and optimal.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If industrial ear muffs form a tight seal against the head, then they provide high level isolation from surrounding noise, but they are uncomfortable for prolonged wear and require excessive pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies noise isolation selectively only in the ear canal region where it is most needed for audio quality, rather than sealing the entire ear as industrial ear muffs do. The adapter provides local acoustic sealing at the transducer position and along the ear canal wall, while leaving the rest of the ear open and comfortable for prolonged wear without excessive pressure.
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 device effectively isolates ambient noise, secures the ear bud in place, and improves sound quality by utilizing the ear's natural contours for better acoustic performance.
Implementation Method 1
The ear pad being formed of a material for providing dampening of ambient sound and physiologic compression. For example, the pad can be formed of a visco-elastic foam having a thickness to provide noise reduction.
Implementation Method 2
the ear pad provides gentle compression of the tragus and antitragus creating a partially isolated chamber of the external auditory canal
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a device to enhance an ear bud including a headband coupled to one or more ear pads. The ear pad being formed of a material for providing dampening of ambient sound and physiologic compression. For example, the pad can be formed of a visco-elastic foam having a thickness to provide noise reduction and sufficient comfort by avoiding excessive compression on any one part of the ear. The headband and the ear pad provide a force for compressing the tragus and antitragus to partially isolate the ear bud in the external auditory canal.