Earbud Retainer With Hinged Arm for Concha Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing earbud retention mechanisms often compromise between comfort and security, with tight fits providing high retention but reducing comfort, and soft designs being comfortable but lacking retention, especially under pressure from headwear or during rest.
Innovation Solution
A retainer system with an arm extending from the earbud that contacts the concha of the ear, featuring a hinge element with a restoring force to maintain secure retention while allowing flexible movement and comfort, even under pressure or during rest.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a tight fit retention mechanism is used to increase retention security, then retention security is improved, but comfort deteriorates due to extra contact surfaces and pressure on the ear
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer incorporates a hinge element that allows dynamic adjustment of the arm's position. The arm can hinge away from the concha when pressure is applied (such as from headwear or during rest), and the hinge element provides a restoring force to return the arm to its retentive position. This dynamic capability allows the retention mechanism to adapt to varying conditions while maintaining both security and comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge element changes the mechanical parameter of the retainer system by introducing flexibility and movement capability. This allows the arm to adjust its contact force with the concha based on external conditions, maintaining retention security while reducing uncomfortable pressure during activities like wearing headwear or sleeping.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a soft minimalistic earbud design is used to improve comfort, then comfort is improved, but retention capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer is segmented into distinct functional components: an arm for contacting the concha, a hinge element for enabling movement, and a restoring force mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the arm provides retention contact while the hinge element ensures comfort by allowing movement, separating the retention function from the comfort function.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If no external force or pressure is placed on the ear to maintain comfort, then comfort is improved, but retention security deteriorates when headwear or during rest
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge element is pre-configured to resist hinging away from the concha with a restoring force. This preliminary anti-action counteracts the tendency of the arm to move away under pressure, ensuring that the earbud maintains retention security even when external forces such as headwear or sleeping pressure are applied. The restoring force is already in place to oppose any displacement.
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 retainer system effectively balances comfort and security by providing a snug fit without excessive pressure, maintaining retention even when pressure is applied, such as during headwear use or rest, and allowing for easy installation and removal.
Implementation Method 1
The hinge element resists hinging away from the concha with a restoring force, such that when the earbud is seating in the ear the arm pushes off of the concha and/or an interior surface of an anti-helix of the ear to apply force toward (i) a front portion of the earbud and/or (ii) an ear tip of the earbud
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are a method, a device, and/or a system of secure and/or comfortable retention of an earbud through a retainer contacting the concha of the ear. In one embodiment, a retainer for an earbud includes an arm extending at least partially from an aft portion of the earbud and configured to contact a concha of the ear when the earbud is seated in an ear, and a hinge element that is configured to permit at least a first portion of the arm to hinge away from the concha. The hinge element resists hinging away from the concha with a restoring force, such that when the earbud is seating in the ear the arm pushes from the concha and/or an interior surface of an anti-helix of the ear to apply force toward a front portion of the earbud and/or an ear tip of the earbud, to comfortably retain the earbud.