Granted Patent B2

US 8,611,969 · App. 13/198,308 · Granted Dec 17, 2013

Inventors: Richard C. Smith (Costa Mesa, CA); Diann Y. Smith (Costa Mesa, CA)

Assignee: SureFire, LLC

Abstract

Claims (59)

1. A device comprising:

an acoustic coupler adapted to attach an earpiece to a plurality of cable assemblies and provide acoustic communication between the earpiece and the plurality of cable assemblies, the acoustic coupler comprising:

an output port adapted to attach to the earpiece, and a plurality of input ports adapted to attach to acoustic portions of the cable assemblies;

wherein the cable assemblies are configured to facilitate communication from at least one transceiver to an eardrum;

wherein the earpiece is configured to be received in a concha of an ear and to be held in place by at least one anatomical structure of the concha; and

wherein: at least two of the input ports comprise elongated tubular portions; and the two input ports are adapted to be comfortably disposed upon two sides of a tragus of the ear while the earpiece is worn.

2. The device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a first cable assembly attached to a first one of the input ports of the acoustic coupler and comprising an electrical portion and an acoustic portion;

a speaker transducer in electrical communication with the electrical portion and in acoustic communication with the acoustic portion; and

a speaker housing within which the speaker transducer is disposed, wherein the speaker housing is formed of a substantially rigid material.

3. The device of claim 2 , further comprising:

a microphone transducer in electrical communication with the electrical portion;

a push-to-talk switch configured to facilitate use of the microphone transducer when actuated;

a microphone housing within which the microphone transducer is disposed; and

a buffer disposed intermediate the microphone transducer and the microphone housing, the buffer being configured to substantially surround the microphone transducer and to mitigate sound transmission therethrough.

4. The device of claim 1 , further comprising the earpiece, wherein the earpiece has no lower lobe.

5. The device of claim 1 , further comprising:

the earpiece; and

an extension extending from the earpiece and configured to extend into an ear canal.

6. The device of claim 2 , wherein the acoustic portion comprises a thin acoustic tube in acoustic communication with the speaker transducer and the earpiece and configured to be disposed substantially behind the ear.

7. The device of claim 6 , wherein the thin acoustic tube has an outer diameter of approximately 1.0 mm.

8. The device of claim 2 , further comprising a second cable assembly attached to a second one of the input ports of the acoustic coupler.

9. The device of claim 8 , wherein the second cable assembly is configured to electrically couple to at least one device selected from the group consisting of:

a two-way radio;

a cellular telephone; and

a music device.

10. The device of claim 3 , wherein the push-to-talk switch does not produce an audible sound when actuated.

11. The device of claim 3 , wherein the push-to-talk switch is configured to communicate wirelessly with the transceiver.

12. A method comprising: providing a first cable assembly configured to facilitate communication via a transceiver to an eardrum, the first cable assembly having an electrical portion and an acoustic portion;

attaching an acoustic coupler to the first cable assembly, wherein the acoustic coupler comprises an output port adapted to attach to an earpiece and a plurality of input ports, and wherein a first one of the plurality of input ports is adapted to attach to the acoustic portion;

attaching the earpiece to the output port of the acoustic coupler to place the earpiece in acoustic communication with the acoustic portion, wherein the earpiece is configured to be received in a concha of an ear and to be held in place by at least one anatomical structure of the concha; and

wherein: at least two of the input ports comprise elongated tubular portions; and the two input ports are adapted to be comfortably disposed upon two sides of a tragus of the ear while the earpiece is worn.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the earpiece has no lower lobe.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the earpiece has an extension extending therefrom and configured to extend into an ear canal.

15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

placing a speaker transducer in electrical communication with the electrical a portion and in acoustic communication the acoustic portion; and

wherein the acoustic portion comprises a thin acoustic tube in acoustic communication with the speaker transducer and the earpiece and configured to be disposed substantially behind the ear.

16. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

placing a speaker transducer in electrical communication with the electrical portion and in acoustic communication the acoustic portion;

placing a microphone transducer in electrical communication with the electrical portion; and

wherein the cable assembly comprises a sound limiting circuit in electrical communication with the speaker transducer, the sound limiting circuit being configured to limit a volume of sound produced by the speaker transducer.

17. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

providing a second cable assembly comprising a second electrical portion and a second acoustic portion; and

attaching the acoustic coupler to the second cable assembly, wherein a second one of the plurality of input ports is adapted to attach to the second acoustic portion.

18. The device of claim 1 , wherein:

at least one of the input and output ports comprises one or more barbs adapted to provide secure attachment to a corresponding earpiece or cable assembly.

19. The device of claim 1 , wherein:

the acoustic coupler comprises a body; and

each of the input and output ports are attached to the body and in acoustic communication with each other.

20. The device of claim 19 , wherein:

the body and the ports are formed separately;

the ports are attached to the body by, at least in part, inserting the ports into recesses formed in the body.

21. The device of claim 19 , wherein:

the body is substantially cylindrical;

the output port extends from a first substantially flat base surface of the body; and

a first one of the input ports extends from a substantially curved lateral surface of the body.

22. The device of claim 21 , wherein:

a second one of the input ports extends from a second substantially flat base surface of the body opposite the first substantially flat base surface;

at least one of the first and second input ports comprises a Hocks filter.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (23)