IP Library Granted Patent US 9,106,996
Granted Patent B2
US 9,106,996 · App. 14/214,395 · Granted Aug 11, 2015

Earphones

Inventors: Seth D. Burgett (Glen Carbon, IL); Aaron Gorga (St. Louis, MO); Effrosini A. Karayiannis (St. Louis, MO)
Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
H04R1/105H04R1/1066H04R1/1016H04R5/0335
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,106,996
App. No.
14/214,395
Granted
Aug 11, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

An earphone includes a generally conical housing having generally circular front face adapted to be seated in the concha of the user's ear. The housing tapers away from the front face toward the rear of the housing. A speaker is disposed in the housing. A first resilient portion is disposed on the sidewall of the housing to form a first contact surface. A second resilient portion is disposed on the sidewall of the housing, opposite from the first resilient portion. The second resilient portion extends sufficiently circumferentially around the housing to form second and third contact surfaces disposed on opposite sides of the wire guide. The first, second, and third contact surfaces allow the housing to be grasped between the thumb and two fingers of the user to facilitate insertion of the front portion of the housing into the user's ear.

Claims (26)

1. An earphone, comprising:

a generally conical housing having a generally circular front face, adapted to be seated in the concha of the user's ear, the housing tapering away from the front face toward the rear of the housing;

a speaker disposed in the housing;

a first resilient portion on the sidewall of the housing, forming a first contact surface; and

a second resilient portion on the sidewall of the housing, opposite from the first resilient portion, the second resilient portion extending sufficiently circumferentially around the housing to form second and third contact surfaces,

wherein the second and third contact surfaces are joined to form a v-shaped notch configured to receive a portion of the user's ear; and

wherein the first, second, and third contact surfaces are substantially equally spaced around the circumference of the housing to permit the housing to be grasped by the resilient portions between the thumb and two fingers of the user to facilitate insertion of the front portion of the housing into the user's ear.

2. The earphone according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second resilient portions are shaped so that the remaining visible portion of the housing, when viewed from the rear side, is generally Y-shaped.

3. The earphone according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second resilient portions are visually distinguishable from the remainder of the housing.

4. The earphone according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second resilient portions are visually distinguishable from each other.

5. The earphone according to claim 4 , wherein the first and second resilient portions are colored differently.

6. The earphone according to claim 1 , wherein the housing and the first and second resilient portions are co-molded.

7. An earphone, comprising:

a generally conical housing having generally circular front face adapted to be seated in the concha of the user's ear, the housing tapering away from the front face toward the rear of the housing, and a wire guide extending from the rear of the housing, generally transversely to the axis of the housing;

a speaker disposed in the housing;

a first resilient portion on the sidewall of the housing, opposite from the wire guide forming a first contact surface;

a second resilient portion on the sidewall of the housing, opposite from the first resilient portion, the second resilient portion extending sufficiently circumferentially around the housing to form second and third contact surfaces disposed on opposite sides of the wire guided;

wherein the second and third contact surfaces are joined to form a v-shaped notch configured to receive a portion of the user's ear; and

wherein the first, second, and third contact surfaces are configured to allow the housing to be grasped between the thumb and two fingers of the user to facilitate insertion of the front portion of the housing into the user's ear.

8. The earphone according to claim 7 , wherein the second resilient portion extends over adjacent opposing surfaces of the wire guide, forming a generally v-shaped notch that receives a portion of the user's ear when the earphone is seated in the concha of the user's ear.

9. The earphone according to claim 8 , wherein the second resilient portion is more resilient than the first resilient portion.

10. The earphone according to claim 7 , wherein the first and second resilient portions are shaped so that the remaining visible portion of the housing, when viewed from the rear side, is generally Y-shaped.

11. The earphone according to claim 7 , wherein the first and second resilient portions are visually distinguishable from the remainder of the housing.

12. The earphone according to claim 7 , wherein the first and second resilient portions are visually distinguishable from each other.

13. The earphone according to claim 12 , wherein the first and second resilient portions are colored differently.

14. The earphone according to claim 7 , wherein the housing and the first and second resilient portions are co-molded.

Assignments (3)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 4, 2017
From: BREAKWATER STRUCTURED GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES FUND, L.P.
To: VERTO MEDICAL SOLUTIONS, LLC
Reel/Frame 041244/0310 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 22, 2015
From: VERTO MEDICAL SOLUTIONS, LLC
To: HARMAN INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRIES, INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 034803/0391 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 9, 2014
From: BURGETT, SETH D.; GORGA, AARON; KARAYIANNIS, EFFROSINI A.
To: VERTO MEDICAL SOLUTIONS, LLC
Reel/Frame 032862/0980 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61781111 · Mar 14, 2013
Related Publication 20140270315A1 · Sep 18, 2014