Moldable earpiece system
An earpiece including an external surface having a first fixed configuration disposable within the outer ear and having a passage adapted for retention of an in ear device, the earpiece heatable to achieve a moldable condition which allows reconfiguration of the external surface by engagement with the outer ear to dispose the external surface in a second fixed configuration in greater conformity to the outer ear.
1. A kit for a moldable earpiece, comprising:
an earpiece having first fixed configuration having an earpiece passage open between an earpiece first side and an earpiece second side, said earpiece heatable to achieve a moldable condition which allows reconfiguration of an external surface of said earpiece by engagement with an auricle of an ear;
a conduit insertable into said passage of said earpiece, said conduit having a conduit external surface which upon insertion of said conduit into said passage of said earpiece engages said earpiece in said first fixed configuration and an internal surface defining a conduit passage, said earpiece having said conduit inserted into said earpiece passage heatable to achieve said moldable condition, said earpiece in said moldable condition engaged with said auricle of said ear coolable to dispose said external surface of said earpiece in a second fixed configuration, said conduit internal surface retaining configuration of said conduit passage.
2. The moldable earpiece of claim 1 , wherein said conduit passage defined by said conduit internal surface aligns with an ear canal of said ear.
3. The moldable earpiece of claim 1 , wherein said conduit comprises an elastomer layer.
4. The moldable earpiece of claim 3 , wherein said conduit comprises a flexible elastomer insert.
5. The moldable earpiece of claim 1 , wherein said earpiece maintains said external surface in said first fixed configuration or said second fixed configuration at a temperature below about 40° C. (110° F.) and maintains said earpiece in said moldable condition at a temperature of above about 40° C. (about 110° F.) to about 65° C. (150° F.).
6. The moldable earpiece of claim 5 , wherein said earpiece comprises an amount of polycaprolactone polymer having a number average molecular weight of between about 37,000 grams per mole and about 80,000 grams per mole.
7. The moldable earpiece of claim 1 , wherein said earpiece achieves said moldable condition by heating said earpiece for a period of time within a heated enclosure maintained at about 70° C. (160° F.).
8. The moldable earpiece of claim 1 , wherein said earpiece achieves said moldable condition by exposure of said earpiece for a period of time to an amount of microwave radiation.
9. The moldable earpiece of claim 1 , wherein said earpiece achieves said moldable condition by disposal in an amount of liquid having temperature of between above 40° C. (about 110° F.) to about 65° C. (150° F.).
10. The moldable earpiece of claim 9 , wherein said earpiece achieves said moldable condition disposed in an amount of liquid, said earpiece disposed in said amount of liquid exposed to an amount of microwave radiation.
11. The moldable earpiece of claim 10 , wherein said amount of liquid comprises an amount of water.
12. The moldable earpiece of claim 1 , further comprising an in-ear device retained by said conduit inserted into said earpiece passage is selected from the group consisting of: earphones, earplugs, earbuds, ear tips, ear tubes, ear sealing ballons, and in-ear hearing aids.
13. The moldable earpiece of claim 12 , wherein said in-ear device is selected from the group consisting of: earphones, earplugs, earbuds, ear tips, ear tubes, ear sealing ballons, and in-ear hearing aids.
14. The moldable earpiece of claim 13 , wherein said in-ear device is part of an apparatus selected from the group consisting of: headsets, head phones, telephones, blue tooth headphones, wireless headphones, and hearing aids.