Ear-Clip Ear Hook Geometry for Helix Bypass and Stable Fit

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Solution Overview

Problem

Ear-clip earphones often squeeze the user's helix due to varying ear sizes, compromising comfort and suitability for different users.

Innovation Solution

The ear hook of the ear-clip earphone is designed with a specific symmetry plane and projection geometry, ensuring a distance of 16 mm-20 mm between feature points to bypass the helix, accommodating various ear sizes and preventing interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the ear-clip earphone uses a conventional ear hook design, then it can be clamped to the user's helix, but it squeezes the user's helix causing discomfort and reducing suitability for different ear sizes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesuitability for different ear sizesVSAvoidwearing comfort
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by defining specific geometric parameters for the ear hook's inner contour curve, including the distance between feature points (16mm-20mm) and curvature radius (4mm-8mm). These parameter optimizations allow the ear hook to adapt to different ear sizes while maintaining comfort by preventing excessive squeezing pressure on the helix.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies spheroidality by designing the ear hook's inner contour curve with a specific curvature radius (4mm-8mm) that matches the natural curvature of the human helix. This curved design allows the ear hook to follow the contour of the ear rather than imposing a rigid shape, thereby reducing pressure points and improving wearing comfort across different ear types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Ease of operation

If the ear hook is designed with a specific curvature to bypass the helix, then wearing comfort is improved, but the structural complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewearing comfortVSAvoidear hook geometry complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves the complexity issue by establishing specific parameter ranges for the ear hook's geometric features. By defining the inner contour curve with a curvature radius of 4mm-8mm and controlling the distance between feature points within 16mm-20mm, the design achieves comfortable wear while maintaining manufacturability through standardized geometric parameters rather than complex free-form designs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4648437A1Ear-clip earphone
Publication Date: 2025.11.12 SHENZHEN SHOKZ CO LTD
  • EP4648437A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4648437A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4648437A1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to an ear-clip earphone (10) comprising: a sound production portion (11), an abutting portion (12), and an ear hook (13). The ear hook (13) is configured to bypass an antihelix (105) and a helix (107) of the user, and connect the sound production portion (11) and the abutting portion (12). The ear hook (13) has a first symmetry plane (S1). The housing forms a first projection (11') on the first symmetry plane (S1), the abutting portion (12) forms a second projection (12') on the first symmetry plane (S1), and the ear hook (13) forms a third projection (13') on the first symmetry plane (S1). The first projection (11') and the second projection (12') have a shortest connecting line (O1O2) or a common tangent point between them. The midpoint of the shortest connecting line (O1O2) or the common tangent point is taken as the first feature point (O), and a point on the inner contour curve of the third projection (13') that is farthest from the first feature point (O) is taken as a second feature point (C). By designing a distance between the first feature point (O) and the second feature point (C), the ear hook (13) is able to bypass the ears of a large proportion of the user population, and is applicable to users with different ear sizes, and at the same time, the ear hook (13) is of a suitable size to avoid the problem of unstable clamping.