IP Library Patent Application 12797886
Patent Application
App. No. 12/797,886

IN-EAR HEADPHONES

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
12/797,886
Abstract

An earphone is disclosed that is used in connection with reproducing audio sounds that are supplied from an audio-frequency source. The earphone includes a housing that includes a boot assembly positioned in the housing. A first audio driver is positioned in the boot assembly such that a first output of the first audio driver is in acoustic communication with a mixing chamber. A second audio driver is also positioned in the boot assembly such that a second output of the second audio driver is in acoustic communication with a chamber in the boot assembly. A tubular needle is positioned in the boot assembly having a first end in acoustic communication with the chamber and a second end in acoustic communication with the mixing chamber.

Claims (58)

1 . An apparatus, comprising:

a chassis defining a chamber and a combining chamber;

a first audio driver positioned in at least a portion of said chassis, said first audio driver having a first output in audio communication with said chamber;

a tube having a first end in audio communication with said chamber and a second end in audio communication with said combining chamber; and

a second audio driver positioned in at least a portion of said chassis, said second audio driver having a second output in audio communication with said combining chamber.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , where said chassis comprises a first boot connected with a second boot.

3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , where said tube extends through a first aperture in said first boot to said chamber and a second aperture in said second boot such that said second end is in audio communication with said combining chamber.

4 . The apparatus of claim 2 , where said first and second boots comprise a shock absorbent material.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an acoustic damper in audio communication with said combining chamber.

6 . The apparatus of claim 5 , where at least a portion of said acoustic damper is positioned in a nozzle.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a nozzle in communication with said combining chamber.

8 . The apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising an ear bud connected with an end of said nozzle.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , where said tube includes an acoustic passageway running through said tube.

10 . The apparatus of claim 9 , where said acoustic passageway has a diameter of about 0.33 millimeters.

11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , where said tube has an outside diameter of about 0.7 millimeters.

12 . The apparatus of claim 10 , where said tube has a length of about 4-4.5 millimeters.

13 . The apparatus of claim 10 , where said tube is configured to have a crossover point of about 1.0-1.5 kHz.

14 . An apparatus, comprising:

a first audio driver having a first output in audio communication with a chamber;

a tube having a first end in audio communication with said chamber and a second end in audio communication with a combining chamber; and

a second audio driver having a second output in audio communication with said combining chamber.

15 . The apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising a boot assembly defining said chamber.

16 . The apparatus of claim 15 , further comprising a housing defining at least a portion of said combining chamber and enclosing said boot assembly.

17 . The apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising a housing having an extension protruding outwardly from a portion of said housing.

18 . The apparatus of claim 17 , further comprising a hook assembly protruding outwardly from said housing extension.

19 . The apparatus of claim 18 , where said hook assembly includes a flexible wire.

20 . The apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising a housing forming at least a portion of said combining chamber, where said housing includes an aperture for receiving said second end of said tube and a port in communication with said combining chamber.

21 . The apparatus of claim 14 , where said combining chamber is in audio communication with an acoustic damper.

22 . A method of manufacturing an audio device for an ear, comprising:

arranging a first audio driver such that a first audio output is in audio communication with a chamber;

placing a tube in audio communication with said chamber and a combining chamber; and

arranging a second audio driver such that a second audio output is in audio communication with said combining chamber.

23 . The method of claim 22 , where said first audio driver and said second audio driver are secured in a boot assembly.

24 . The method of claim 22 , where said first output comprises a spout and said first audio driver is positioned in a boot defining said chamber such that an opening of said spout is sealed in said chamber.

25 . The method of claim 22 , further comprising forming said combining chamber in a housing of said audio device.

26 . The method of claim 22 , further comprising placing an acoustic damper in audio communication with said combining chamber.

27 . The method of claim 22 , where said tube is tuned to roll off frequencies above approximately 1.0-1.5 KHz.

28 . The method of claim 22 , further comprising connecting a low pass crossover to said first audio driver and a high pass crossover to said second audio driver.

29 . An audio device for an ear, comprising:

a first audio driver positioned in a body in a first orientation having a first output positioned in an acoustic channel; and

a combining chamber connected with an end of said acoustic channel; and

a second audio driver positioned in said body in a second orientation in relation to said first audio driver having a second output connected with said combining chamber.

30 . The audio device of claim 29 , further comprising at least one cylinder positioned in said acoustic channel.

31 . The audio device of claim 29 , further comprising at least one acoustic damper positioned in said acoustic channel.

32 . The audio device of claim 29 , further comprising at least one baffle positioned in said acoustic channel.

33 . The audio device of claim 29 , further comprising at least one constriction member positioned in said acoustic channel.

34 . An earphone, comprising:

a housing;

a boot assembly positioned in said housing;

a first audio driver positioned in said boot assembly such that a first output of said first audio driver is in audio communication with a chamber in said boot assembly;

a second audio driver positioned in said boot assembly such that a second output of said second audio driver is in audio communication with a combining chamber in said boot assembly; and

a tube positioned in said boot assembly having a first end in audio communication with said chamber and a second end in audio communication with said combining chamber.

35 . The earphone of claim 34 , further comprising an acoustic damper in audio communication with said combining chamber.

36 . The earphone of claim 34 , where said housing includes a nozzle protruding outwardly from a surface of said housing and a detachable ear tip is connected to an end of said nozzle.

37 . The earphone of claim 34 , where said tube is configured to act as a low pass filter.

38 . The earphone of claim 37 , where said low pass filter passes audio frequencies as a function of a length of said tube and a diameter of an aperture running through said tube.

39 . The earphone of claim 34 , further comprising a low pass crossover connected with a first input of said first audio driver and a high pass crossover connected with a second input of said second audio driver.

40 . The earphone of claim 34 , where said first audio driver comprises a dual balanced armature.

Assignments (5)
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 19, 2012
From: KLIPSCH GROUP, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 027884/0342 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 14, 2012
From: WELLS FARGO CAPITAL FINANCE, LLC
To: VOXX INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION; AUDIOVOX ELECTRONICS CORPORATION; CODE SYSTEMS, INC.; KLIPSH GROUP INC.; TECHNUITY, INC.
Reel/Frame 027864/0905 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 7, 2011
From: AUDIOVOX CORPORATION; AUDIOVOX ELECTRONICS CORPORATION; CODE SYSTEMS, INC.; KLIPSCH GROUP, INC.; TECHNUITY, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO CAPITAL FINANCE, LLC, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 026587/0906 →
MERGER Recorded Jul 15, 2010
From: KLIPSCH, LLC
To: KLIPSCH GROUP, INC.
Reel/Frame 024686/0209 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 10, 2010
From: BLANCHARD, MARK A.; GESWEIN, BRADLEY C.
To: KLIPSCH, LLC
Reel/Frame 024516/0806 →