Ear-Supported Audio Device with Outer Ear Speaker
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional earbuds can cause hearing damage and discomfort by inserting directly into the ear, forcing wax into the eardrum, and headphones are cumbersome and block ambient sounds.
Innovation Solution
An ear-supported audio device with a cylindrical housing that suspends from the outer ear's helix, featuring a speaker on the interior side of the outer wall and an ear receiving slot, allowing ambient sound passage and preventing direct ear canal insertion, with adjustable and removable components for comfort and ease of use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If earbuds insert directly into the ear canal, then sound delivery is effective, but hearing damage occurs and wax is forced into the eardrum
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the speaker from the ear canal insertion position and relocates it to the outer ear support structure. The speaker is mounted on the interior side of the outer wall, positioned to deliver sound to the ear without requiring insertion into the ear canal, thereby eliminating the harmful effects while maintaining sound delivery effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The device introduces an intermediary structure (the housing supporting the speaker on the outer ear) between the sound source and the ear canal. This intermediary arrangement allows sound to reach the ear without direct contact with the ear canal, preventing wax impaction and hearing damage while maintaining audio delivery
2Stability of the object's composition
If headphones press against the head and ears to secure fit, then stability is improved, but comfort deteriorates and ambient sound is blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the audio delivery function from the ear canal area and places it on the outer ear support structure. The housing is designed to rest on the outer ear (pinna) without pressing into the ear canal or head, providing stability through strategic contact points while leaving the ear canal open for ambient sound and preventing discomfort from pressure
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of pressing against the head and ears to achieve stability (as with traditional headphones), this device inverts the approach by supporting the device on the outer ear structure without insertion or pressure. The housing rests on the pinna, providing stability through support rather than compression, thereby maintaining comfort and ambient sound awareness
3Stability of the object's composition
If traditional headphones are designed for secure fit, then stability is improved, but device complexity and storage difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device is designed as a compact, self-contained unit that supports on the outer ear without requiring large headbands or complex structures. The housing contains the speaker and is configured to rest on the pinna, creating a simple, compact form factor that is easy to store while maintaining stability through strategic support points on the ear structure
Data Source
AI summary
An ear supported audio device may comprise a cylindrical device housing configured hang from a top helix of a user's ear, the device housing including an inner wall, an outer wall, and a side wall extending between the inner wall and the outer wall. A speaker is attached to an interior side of the outer wall of the device housing, and a cutout forming an ear receiving slot is provided within the inner wall and bottom portion of the side wall. In one embodiment, a speaker pad may be provided on a side of the speaker facing the user's ear to block frequency for user comfort and ear health.