Eartip Notch and Conical Seal for Ear Canal Fit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional earphone eartips struggle to fit diverse ear shapes, leading to inadequate sealing and discomfort, particularly for users with larger or irregular ear canals, which affects the effectiveness of conversation enhancement and active noise reduction functions.
Innovation Solution
The eartip features a conical sealing structure with specific dimensions and a notch for improved coupling, allowing it to conform to various ear shapes without excessive radial pressure, ensuring a secure and comfortable fit by adjusting to the ear canal's geometry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional eartip designs are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but sealing effectiveness deteriorates for diverse ear shapes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by defining specific dimensional ratios for the conical sealing structure. The wall thickness is set to 0.5-2.0mm, the cone angle is 15-45 degrees, and the length-to-diameter ratio is 2:1 to 5:1. These precise parameter specifications enable the eartip to effectively seal diverse ear canal shapes while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standardized production processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs curvature by采用 a conical sealing structure with a smooth, continuous surface. The conical geometry with its gradual tapering provides optimal contact with the ear canal walls, distributing pressure evenly and achieving effective sealing. The curved surface also facilitates easy insertion and removal without causing discomfort or damage to the ear canal.
2Manufacturing precision
If eartip size is increased to fit larger ear canals, then fit accuracy improves, but comfort deteriorates due to excessive radial pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction through precise parameter control. The wall thickness is optimized to 0.5-2.0mm, which provides sufficient structural integrity for accurate fitting while maintaining flexibility to avoid excessive pressure. The cone angle of 15-45 degrees and length-to-diameter ratio of 2:1 to 5:1 are specifically tuned to achieve proper contact pressure distribution, ensuring both accurate fit and comfort across different ear canal sizes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes a flexible sealing structure with controlled wall thickness (0.5-2.0mm). This thin but flexible wall can conform to the unique geometry of each user's ear canal while maintaining sufficient strength. The flexibility allows the eartip to adapt to larger ear canals without exerting excessive radial pressure, thereby maintaining comfort while achieving accurate fit.
3Reliability
If conical sealing structure is used, then sealing performance improves, but adaptability to different ear shapes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enhances adaptability while maintaining sealing performance by providing a range of dimensional parameters. The wall thickness varies from 0.5-2.0mm, cone angle from 15-45 degrees, and length-to-diameter ratio from 2:1 to 5:1. This parameter variation allows the same conical design to accommodate diverse ear canal geometries, from narrow to wide, short to long, while maintaining effective sealing through the optimized geometric relationship between these dimensions.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2~5D
AI summary
Various implementations include an eartip for an earphone earpiece. The eartip can be configured to reliably fit a plurality of ear shapes. The eartip can have a body and a sealing; structure defined by a set of dimensions that are configured to seal the ear canal of one or more users, in certain implementations, a notch in the body permits flexion of the body during coupling or decoupling of the body from the mount and provides sufficient hoop stress around the mount to retain the eartip on the mount during use of the earphone earpiece.