IP Library Granted Patent US 12,317,022
Granted Patent B2
US 12,317,022 · App. 18/674,812 · Granted May 27, 2025

Raised feature on earbud body

Inventors: Richmond Andrew Real (Uxbridge, MA); Colin Taylor Mosgrove (Needham, MA)
Assignee: Bose Corporation
H04R1/1016H04R1/1025H04R1/1058
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,317,022
App. No.
18/674,812
Filed
May 24, 2024
Granted
May 27, 2025
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2694
USPC
381/380
Abstract

Aspects describe a raised feature to help a user remove an in-ear audio output device from a case. Aspects describe a device comprising an earbud housing shaped to fit in a concha of an ear of a wearer of the device, and a body coupled to the earbud housing, the body extending away from an ear canal of the wearer and oriented outside of the ear when the device is worn, the body comprising a top cap comprising a flat external portion and a raised feature proximate to a concha cymba of the wearer and external to the ear when the device is worn.

Claims (34)

1. An in-ear audio output device, comprising:

an earbud housing shaped to fit in a concha of an ear of a wearer of the device;

a body coupled to the earbud housing, the body extending away from an ear canal of the wearer and oriented outside of the ear when the device is worn, the body comprising a top cap comprising a top end oriented towards a helix of the wearer and a bottom end opposite the top end; and

a raised feature disposed on the top end of the top cap, the raised feature being proximate to a concha cymba of the wearer and external to the ear when the device is worn.

2. The in-ear audio output device of claim 1 , wherein the raised feature is crescent shaped.

3. The in-ear audio output device of claim 2 , wherein:

the raised feature comprises a first point on a first end of the crescent shaped feature, a second point on a second end of the crescent shaped feature, and a middle portion between the first point and the second point; and

the middle portion extends further from a flat external portion of the body as compared to the first point and the second point.

4. The in-ear audio output device of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the raised feature is at least 0.6 mm in height from a flat external portion.

5. The in-ear audio output device of claim 1 , wherein the raised feature is less than or equal to 1 mm in height from the flat external portion.

6. The in-ear audio output device of claim 1 , wherein a bottom portion of the raised feature is contoured to a shape of a human finger.

7. The in-ear audio output device of claim 1 , further comprising a removably attached stability feature disposed on an external surface of the earbud housing.

8. An in-ear audio output device, comprising:

an earbud housing shaped to fit in a concha of an ear of a wearer of the device; and

a body coupled to the earbud housing, the body extending away from an ear canal of the wearer and oriented outside of the ear when the device is worn, the body comprising a top cap comprising a flat external portion and a raised feature proximate to a concha cymba of the wearer and external to the ear when the device is worn, wherein the raised feature comprises a first point on a first end of the raised feature, a second point on a second end of the raised feature, and a middle portion between the first point and the second point, and wherein the middle portion extends further from the flat external portion of the body as compared to the first point and the second point.

9. The in-ear audio output device of claim 8 , wherein the raised feature is crescent shaped.

10. The in-ear audio output device of claim 8 , wherein the middle portion of the raised feature is at least 0.6 mm in height from a flat external portion.

11. The in-ear audio output device of claim 8 , wherein the raised feature is less than or equal to 1 mm in height from a flat external portion.

12. The in-ear audio output device of claim 8 , wherein a bottom portion of the raised feature is contoured to a shape of a human finger.

13. The in-ear audio output device of claim 8 , further comprising a removably attached stability feature disposed on an external surface of the earbud housing.

14. A system comprising:

an in-ear audio output device comprising:

an earbud housing shaped to fit in a concha of an ear of a wearer of the device;

a body coupled to the earbud housing, the body extending away from an ear canal of the wearer and oriented outside of the ear when the device is worn, the body comprising a top cap comprising a top end oriented towards a helix of the wearer and a bottom end opposite the top end; and

a raised feature disposed on the top end of the top cap, the raised feature being proximate to a concha cymba of the wearer and external to the ear when the device is worn.

15. The system of claim 14 , further comprising a charging case comprising a case bottom, a case top, and a hinge configured to allow the case top to pivot open and closed relative to the case bottom, wherein the raised feature protrudes from the case bottom when the in-ear audio output device is seated in the charging case.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the case top pivots relative to the case bottom to a closed position and encases the raised feature when the in-ear audio output device is seated in the charging case.

17. The system of claim 14 , wherein:

the raised feature is crescent shaped;

the raised feature comprises a first point on a first end of the crescent shaped feature, a second point on a second end of the crescent shaped feature, and a middle portion between the first point and the second point; and

the middle portion extends further from the flat external portion of the body as compared to the first point and the second point.

18. The system of claim 14 , wherein the raised feature is less than or equal to 1 mm in height from a flat external portion.

19. The system of claim 14 , wherein a bottom portion of the raised feature is contoured to a shape of a human finger.

20. The system of claim 14 , further comprising a removably attached stability feature disposed on an external surface of the earbud housing.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 28, 2025
From: BOSE CORPORATION
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 070438/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 30, 2024
From: REAL, RICHMOND ANDREW; MOSGROVE, COLIN TAYLOR
To: BOSE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 067562/0367 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 17662277 · May 6, 2022
Related Publication 20240314481A1 · Sep 19, 2024
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