Patent ID: 9282390
Filing Date: 2016-03-08
CPC Classification: H04R

Claim Text:
1. A multi-piece dual mode headphone and with each piece molded of resilient polymeric material for insertion into an ear canal, including: a molded elongated member having a nose end and an open rear end and a channel extending through the interior of the molded elongated member from the open rear end to the nose end, a molded insert member formed with a base portion and a hollow rod portion and with the hollow rod portion seated within the open rear end of the molded elongated member and extending into the channel of the elongated member and with the base portion extending out from the open rear end of the elongated member and serving as a handle for aiding insertion of the headphone into an ear canal, a small speaker for transmitting sound energy, the molded insert member additionally including a recess chamber for receiving and supporting the small speaker to direct the sound energy through the hollow rod portion and toward the channel in the elongated member, the molded insert member also including the base portion including a first opening leading to the hollow rod portion and with the first opening and the hollow rod portion together forming a passageway through the insert member to the channel extending through the interior of the molded elongated member, the molded insert member further including a molded cap member and with the cap member including a plug portion having a size complementary to the first opening of the base member wherein the insertion of the plug portion into the first opening of the base portion seals off the first opening and with positioning of the cap member providing for the headphone being in a first mode of operation where the passageway through the insert member to the channel extending through the interior of the elongated member is open and a second mode of operation where the passageway through the insert member to the channel extending through the interior of the molded elongated member is closed, and the elongated member composed of a resilient polymer material having a relatively low Shore A Durometer hardness value and the insert member composed of a resilient polymeric material having a relatively high Shore A Durometer hardness value so that the insert member forms a handle of greater stiffness to enable the elongated member to be more easily inserted into the ear canal and allows the cap member to be easily switched between the two modes of operation of the headphone with one hand without removing the headphone from the ear canal.