Earpiece Retention Assembly with Pre-Formed Universal Ear Loop

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional earpiece retention devices are often custom-fitted to individual ears, limiting their use to one ear and requiring additional components or shaping specific to each ear, which can result in an uncomfortable fit.

Innovation Solution

A universal earpiece retention assembly featuring a cable portion pre-formed into an ear loop, which biases the earpiece toward the interior of the ear loop, allowing for comfortable retention in either ear without custom fitting or additional components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional earpiece retention devices are custom-fitted to individual ears, then the fit comfort is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase due to requiring additional components or shaping specific to each ear

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefit comfortVSAvoidadditional components or shaping

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cable portion is designed with a universal ear loop configuration that can be used with either the left or right ear, eliminating the need for different versions or custom fitting. The single design serves multiple ears and orientations through its flexible, pre-formed loop structure that adapts to different ear configurations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If conventional earpiece retention devices are custom-fitted to individual ears, then the retention effectiveness is improved, but the ease of manufacture deteriorates due to requiring custom fitting procedures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveretention effectivenessVSAvoidcustom fitting procedures

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The cable portion is pre-formed into the ear loop configuration during manufacturing, eliminating the need for custom fitting procedures after production. The preliminary shaping is done once during manufacturing, and the same pre-formed cable can be universally applied to different users without requiring additional customization steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If conventional earpiece retention devices use ear clips or shaping specific to a particular ear, then the retention effectiveness is improved, but the adaptability deteriorates by limiting use to one ear

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveretention effectivenessVSAvoiduse in either ear

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Reliability

If conventional earpiece retention devices use additional components or shaping, then the retention effectiveness is improved, but the ease of manufacture deteriorates due to increased manufacturing steps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveretention effectivenessVSAvoidmanufacturing steps

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The cable portion integrates the retention function directly into its pre-formed ear loop structure, combining what would traditionally require separate ear clips, shaping tools, or additional retention components into a single integrated element. This merging reduces the number of manufacturing steps and components while maintaining retention effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 universal earpiece retention assembly provides a comfortable and secure fit in either ear, allowing generic earpieces to be used without the need for custom fitting or additional components, thus overcoming the limitations of conventional earpiece retention devices.

Implementation Method 1

The cable portion may be configured to elastically bias the electronic earpiece into an orientation substantially parallel to the cable portion when the cable portion is looped over an ear

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

The elastic biasing force between the cable portion and the non-insertion end of the electronic earpiece may be configured to retain the electronic earpiece within the ear canal when the electronic earpiece is at least partially inserted into the ear canal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS12328541B2Earpiece retention assembly

Publication Date: 2025.06.10 N-EAR APS

AI summary

An earpiece retention assembly may include a cable portion pre-formed into an ear loop with a first end coupled to a non-insertion end of an earpiece. The cable portion may be configured to bias the earpiece toward the interior of the ear loop to define a default orientation.