Ear Tip Sealing Structure with Angled Nozzle and Frusto-Conical Seal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ear tips fail to provide a comfortable and effective seal within the ear canal, leading to issues with noise cancellation and bass performance due to inadequate sealing structures and pressure distribution.
Innovation Solution
The ear tip is designed with a body shaped to fit the lower concha, a nozzle angled upwards to position a feedback microphone closer to the ear canal, and a frusto-conical sealing structure with a constant thickness to ensure a secure fit and reduce buckling, combined with a retaining structure that applies pressure to the antihelix without excessive radial pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional sealing structure is used in the ear tip, then the manufacturing is simpler, but the seal effectiveness and noise cancellation performance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing structure is divided into multiple functional zones: a frustoconical outer surface for initial sealing, an angled interior surface for deep ear canal engagement, and a distal sealing portion with specific geometry. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific sealing function optimally, improving overall seal effectiveness while maintaining manufacturability through standardized multi-component construction
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the sealing structure have different geometric properties tailored to specific functions: the frustoconical portion provides radial sealing pressure, the angled interior surface provides axial engagement, and the distal portion provides tip sealing. This local optimization of geometry in different regions improves seal effectiveness without requiring the entire structure to be complex
2Reliability
If excessive radial pressure is applied to seal the ear canal, then the seal effectiveness improves, but the wearer comfort deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing structure applies pressure locally at specific contact points (frustoconical surface, angled interior surface, and distal sealing portion) rather than distributing pressure uniformly. This localized pressure application achieves effective sealing at the ear canal entrance while minimizing pressure on sensitive areas, improving both seal effectiveness and comfort
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of applying radial pressure from the outside in, the angled interior surface directs sealing force axially along the ear canal walls. This inverted approach to pressure application achieves sealing through axial engagement rather than radial compression, reducing discomfort while maintaining seal effectiveness
3Measurement precision
If the nozzle is positioned horizontally, then the manufacturing and assembly is simpler, but the feedback microphone positioning relative to the ear canal deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle is positioned at an asymmetric angle relative to the ear tip body, specifically oriented to align with the ear canal's natural angle. This asymmetric positioning places the feedback microphone optimally close to the ear canal entrance for accurate feedback capture, while the angle itself becomes a standardized design parameter that simplifies assembly to a single orientation step
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 1C~2A
Figure 2B~2C
AI summary
Aspects describe an earpiece with structure for positioning and retaining the earpiece and with structure for sealing against the entrance to the ear canal. According to aspects, the retaining structure has at least one substantially elliptical leg configured to follow the curve of the anti-helix and/or the cymba concha at the rear of the concha. The leg increases in thickness from a tip of the earpiece towards the body of the earpiece. The sealing structure is substantially frusto-conical and extends from a nozzle. The nozzle is angled to align with ear geometry. In an example, the sealing structure has a slight radius on an outer surface of the sealing structure. In another example, the sealing structure has a substantially constant thickness from the nozzle to the wide end of the sealing structure.