Wingtip Anchor Earbud Design for Secure Fit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing portable audio devices, particularly wireless earbuds, face challenges with secure anchoring in users' ears, especially during active use, due to varying ear sizes and shapes, leading to frequent dislodging and discomfort, and require multiple anchoring components which can be cumbersome to select and manage.
Innovation Solution
A wingtip anchor design that extends from the device housing, accommodating a wide range of ear sizes and shapes by engaging the lower concha and upper concha, providing a secure fit and integrating a multifunction button for actuation without dislodging, with a flexible and angled structure to accommodate ear anatomy and user interaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional earbuds use multiple sizes and shapes of anchoring components to accommodate differing ear sizes and shapes, then adaptability to different ear anatomies is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate due to time-consuming selection and interchange processes
Solution Approach 1:
The wingtip anchor is designed as a universal anchoring component that can accommodate various ear sizes and shapes through its geometric design featuring a curved surface that conforms to different concha anatomies. The anchor integrates multiple functions including mechanical anchoring, user interface interaction, and indicator display, eliminating the need for multiple specialized components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the anchoring function with the user interface button and indicator light into a single integrated wingtip anchor assembly. This merging of functions reduces the total number of components while maintaining all necessary capabilities, directly addressing the complexity issue.
2Adaptability or versatility
If wireless earbuds include user interface features such as tapping or squeezing an antenna portion, then functionality is improved, but stability deteriorates as these actions may cause the earbud to dislodge from the user's ear
Solution Approach 1:
The user interface interaction surface is extended onto the lateral surface of the wingtip anchor, which is oriented perpendicular to the ear canal axis. This dimensional reorientation allows users to interact with the device through side-to-side or front-to-back motions rather than pulling motions that would dislodge the earbud from the ear canal.
3Adaptability or versatility
If earbuds are designed to be bulkier and heavier to include wireless components and user interface features, then functionality is improved, but stability deteriorates making them more prone to being dislodged and falling out of the user's ear
Solution Approach 1:
The wingtip anchor features a curved surface geometry that conforms to the natural curvature of the concha and extends into the ear canal at an optimized angle. This curved design distributes the weight of the wireless earbud components more effectively across the ear structure, improving stability despite the increased mass from wireless functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
Portable ear-worn acoustic devices having a wingtip anchor for improved anchoring for active users and to accommodate a wide range of ear sizes and shapes are provided herein. Such acoustic devices an include an earbud device body and a wingtip anchor that extends from an outer face of the device body. The wingtip anchor can include a base portion and a protruding portion that extends upwards and is angled or curved inwardly so as to engage the upper concha of the ear. The wingtip anchor can be flexible so that engagement of a distal portion of the anchor exerts an inwardly directed spring force on the device body to maintain the earbud device body within the ear. Such acoustic devices can further include a multi-function button that is integrated with the wingtip anchor such that the base portion of the wingtip anchor is a faceplate for the multi-function button.