Earbud Coupling With Tapered Elastomeric Sleeve
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable earbuds often fall out when the user moves and fail to effectively block environmental noise, necessitating a secure and noise-blocking solution that is cost-effective and easy to attach.
Innovation Solution
An earbud coupling system featuring a tapered sleeve of elastomeric material for secure attachment to the earbud and an in-ear mount that blocks noise, with interchangeable in-ear mounts made of soft foam or molded nonfoam elastomeric polymer, utilizing press fits or pin-and-slot connections for secure attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a common earbud is used without additional mounting structure, then the device remains simple and low cost, but it holds tenuously to the ear and falls out when the person moves
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling device nests multiple functional elements within a compact structure: the sleeve fits over the earbud, the in-ear mount inserts into the sleeve, and the blocking portion extends into the ear canal. This nested arrangement provides secure retention without requiring a large or complex external structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling device is divided into distinct functional segments: a sleeve for mounting to the earbud, an in-ear mount for insertion into the ear canal, and a blocking portion for noise isolation. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while maintaining overall simplicity.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a common earbud is used without additional mounting structure, then the device remains simple, but it fails to block environmental noise from entering the ear canal
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking portion of the in-ear mount is specifically designed to fit into the ear canal and block environmental noise, while other portions of the device maintain different properties for their respective functions (e.g., the sleeve for mounting, the shaft for connection). This local specialization of properties achieves noise blocking without requiring the entire device to be complex.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If an in-ear mount with delayed-recovery soft foam blocking portion is used, then noise blocking is effective, but it requires rolling the foam in fingers before insertion which is undesirable in some circumstances
Solution Approach 1:
The in-ear mount is pre-formed into its final shape during manufacturing, eliminating the need for the user to perform preliminary actions such as rolling foam. The mount is ready for immediate insertion, combining effective noise blocking with user convenience.
4Adaptability or versatility
If interchangeable in-ear mounts are provided, then a person can select different parts to suit preferences, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling device incorporates a universal mounting interface that can accommodate multiple types of in-ear mounts (foam, nonfoam, flanged, one-piece). This universal design enables adaptability and user selection while maintaining a simple, consistent coupling structure that does not become complex despite supporting multiple configurations.
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 earbud coupling system securely attaches to both the earbud and ear canal, effectively blocking environmental noise while allowing for easy interchange of in-ear mounts to suit individual preferences, ensuring stability during movement.
Implementation Method 1
The rear end of the sleeve can be forcefully expanded in diameter to fit around the earbud periphery
Implementation Method 2
An in-ear mount with a delayed-recovery soft foam blocking portion can be used. Such mount requires a person to roll the soft foam to a small diameter in the person's fingers before insertion into the ear canal
Data Source
AI summary
An earbud coupling has a rear portion forming an earbud mount (14) that easily attaches to a hemispherical earbud (12), and has a front portion forming an in-ear mount (16) that can be pressed into a person's ear canal to hold the coupling to the person while blocking environmental noise. The earbud mount includes a tapered elastomeric sleeve (50) with an internal groove (62) at its rear end. The earbud mount rear end can be expanded to fit around the periphery of the earbud front end to securely attach to the earbud. A plurality of different in-ear mounts or tips can be provided that each can be attached to the front end of the earbud mount, including an in-ear mount (100) that consists of a single integral elastomeric member with at least one flange (205). The earbud mount and in-ear mount can be connected by a shaft (130) with pair of projections (132) on one of the mounts that is inserted into a hole (136) with slots (140) of the other one and turned.