An earphone adapted to be worn in a user's ear has a body having a front face. There is a speaker in the front face of the body. A radially projecting brim surrounds the front face, the brim having an elongated shape configured fit in the concha of the user's ear, with portions of the rearward face of the brim engaged by the tragus and the antitragus of the user's ear.

BACKGROUND

This invention relates to earbuds and earphones and, in particular, to earbuds and earphones that securely but comfortable fit in the ear. Numerous attempts have been made to provide earbuds or earphones that securely, but comfortably engage the user's ear. There few things more annoying to a user of earbuds and earphones than having to constantly adjust and reseat the earbud or earphone, unless it is the discomfort to the sensitive parts of the ear caused by trying to wedge the earbud or earphone in place. While there are some successful designs, these designs are often complicated and expensive.

FIELD

Various embodiments of this invention provide an earbud or earphone that is adapted to be worn in a user's ear. A preferred embodiment of an earphone or earbud comprises a body having a front face. A speaker is disposed in the front face of the body. A radially projecting brim surrounds the front face. This brim can have an elongated shape configured fit in the concha of the user's ear, with portions of the rearward face of the brim engaged by the tragus and the antitragus of the user's ear.

The perimeter of the brim preferably has a compound shape, with a generally circular portion and a tapering tab portion with a blunt end adapted to extend into the user's ear beneath the tragus. The end of the tab portion of the perimeter of the brim is preferably generally straight. The brim preferably comprises a resilient material. In the preferred embodiment, the body has a groove therein behind the front face, and the brim comprises a hollow flat resilient element having forward and a rearward face, and an opening in the rearward face, the edge margins of which are configured to fit in the groove in the body. There is preferably also an opening in the forward face of the brim element for accommodating the speaker that is disposed in the front face. The opening in the rear face of the brim element is preferably generally oval, accommodating the generally oval shape of the body, and the opening in the forward face of the brim element is generally circular, accommodating the generally circular shape of the speaker.

The earphone preferably further comprising a stem extending from the body that is configured to extend between the tragus and antitragus when the brim is positioned in the concha of the user's ear, behind the tragus and antitragus. The stem preferably extends in a direction that is generally perpendicular to the direction of elongation of the elongated brim. The portion of the stem adapted to extend between the tragus and the antitragus preferably has a smooth, generally v-shaped profile to comfortably fit between and engage the tragus and the antitragus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A preferred embodiment of an earphone or earbud constructed according to the principles of this invention is indicated generally as20in the Figures. Earbud or earphone20comprises a body22having a front face24. The body22preferably has a generally oval or elliptical shape, and is preferably made of a smooth, hard plastic, or other suitable material. A speaker26is disposed in the front face24of the body22. A radially projecting brim30surrounds the front face24of the body22. This brim30can have an elongated shape configured fit in the concha of the user's ear, with portions of the rearward face32of the brim30(FIG. 8) engaged by the tragus and the antitragus of the user's ear.

The perimeter of the brim30preferably has a compound shape, with a generally circular portion34and a tapering tab portion36with a blunt end38adapted to extend into the user's ear beneath the tragus. The end38of the tab portion36of the perimeter of the brim30is preferably generally straight. The brim30preferably comprises a resilient material, such as a polymer foam.

In the preferred embodiment, the body22has a circumferential groove40therein behind the front face24, and the brim30comprises a hollow flat resilient element42having forward and rearward faces44and46, respectively, There is an opening48in the rearward face46of the element42, the edge margins of which are configured to fit in the groove in the body. There is preferably also an opening50in the forward face44of the brim element42for accommodating the speaker26that is disposed in the front face38of the body22. The opening48in the rear face of the brim element42is preferably generally oval, accommodating the generally oval shape of the body22, and the opening50in the forward face44of the brim element is generally circular, accommodating the generally circular shape of the speaker26.

The earphone20preferably further comprising a stem60extending from the body22that is configured to extend between the tragus and antitragus when the brim is positioned in the concha of the user's ear, behind the tragus and antitragus. The stem60is preferably formed integrally with the body22, and extends in a direction that is generally perpendicular to the direction of elongation of the elongated brim30. Alternatively the stem60could be a separate piece from the body. The stem60is adapted to extend between the tragus and the antitragus, when the body is in the concha of the user's ear. The stem60preferably has a smooth, generally v-shaped profile to comfortably fit between and engage the tragus and the antitragus. The stem can be made of the same material as the body, or it can be made of different material, for example a flexible or resilient material, or a material with a silky surface texture.

The stem60can accommodate a wire62leading to the speaker26in the body22. The wire62preferably contains at least two wires to provide a driving signal to the speaker26. A flexible boot64can be provided at the end of the stem60to prevent the wire62from bending too sharply as it leaves the stem.

OPERATION

In operation, the earbud or earphone20is quickly and easily inserted into the user's ear, with the blunt end of the tab oriented generally toward the tragus and the ear canal at the bottom of the concha. The blunt end distributes any force applied by the end over a greater surface are, reduce the pressure felt by the user. The forward face of the body22and brim30is seated in the concha, with the tragus and the antigragus engaging the back surface of the brim, and holding the body in place. The stem60extends downwardly from the body, fitting smoothly and snugly between the tragus and the antitragus.

The earbud or earphone20is thus held securely and comfortably in the user's ear, with the speaker26facing the user's concha, and directing sound down the user's ear canal.