Earpiece and earphone

There is provided an earpiece comprising: a main unit having a cylindrical shape having made therein a through hole that can allow sound to be transmitted therethrough; a cap portion that has a film-like shape which is formed to extend from all around a front-end surface, in a direction of making the through hole, of the main unit toward a rear-end surface side, and which covers at least a portion of the main unit on the front-end surface side, and in which space between the main unit and the cap portion expands as it goes toward the rear-end surface side; and at least one cutting portion formed in the cap portion so that the cap portion can deform in a direction of the main unit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an earpiece and an earphone.

2. Description of the Related Art

In recent years, portable audio playback apparatuses have widely proliferated. The audio playback apparatuses output audio from earphones, for example, and thereby provide the sound to users. For the earphones, various types are available and the taste of earphones often varies from user to user. As an example of the earphones, numbers of earphones, called earplug type (canal type), are commercialized in which an earpiece is attached to a front end of a sound conduit. However, the size of an ear canal varies from user to user. Thus, when the user places an earphone, if the size of an earpiece is small, there is more sound leakage, degrading sound quality. On the other hand, when the user places an earphone, if the size of an earpiece is large, it is difficult to put the earpiece in an ear canal, which may even cause pain in the ear canal. In view of this, in an earphone described in, for example, Japanese Patent No. 3815513, etc., earpieces of a plurality of sizes, such as S, M, and L, are sold in a package according to the size of an ear, to support users with different sizes of ear canals.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

However, when the user buys an earphone such as that described above, the user has to buy unnecessary earpieces of a plurality of sizes which may not be used, too, increasing the price of products. In view of this, earpieces are developed that can be applied to people with different sizes of ears, with one earpiece without attaching a plurality of types of earpieces. In this earpiece, each cap portion which abuts a user's ear is formed by a plurality of stages with different sizes, which enables to support the size of a user's ear canal. With such an earpiece, however, many users get an uncomfortable feeling in fit, e.g., stages that do not match the size of a user's ear canal press the user's ear canal, and thus earpieces with further improved fit are sought.

As shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-98290, there is also an earphone in which the outside diameter of an ear pad can be changed with a screw. However, even in this earphone, adjusting the ear pad to fit the size of an ear canal is troublesome for users. In addition, such an adjustment is not easy and when an optimal adjustment is not made after all, fit is not improved in reality.

In light of the foregoing, it is desirable to provide a novel and improved earpiece and earphone that can be easily placed and can improve fit for various users with different sizes of ear canales without preparing a plurality of sizes.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an earpiece comprising: a main unit having a cylindrical shape having made therein a through hole that can allow sound to be transmitted therethrough; a cap portion that has a film-like shape which is formed to extend from all around a front-end surface, in a direction of making the through hole, of the main unit toward a rear-end surface side, and which covers at least a portion of the main unit on the front-end surface side, and in which space between the main unit and the cap portion expands as it goes toward the rear-end surface side; and at least one cutting portion formed in the cap portion so that the cap portion can deform in a direction of the main unit.

At least two cutting portions may be formed from an end of the cap portion on the rear-end surface side toward the front-end surface side, and the cap portion may be divided into two or more cap pieces which are connected to each other on the front-end surface side.

In the at least one cutting portion may be formed an extension cap piece that is formed to extend from one of cap pieces divided by the cutting portion toward an other cap piece and that covers a part of the cutting portion, and

a thickness of the extension cap piece decreases as it goes farther away from the one cap piece, so that the extension cap piece overlaps the other cap piece when the cap portion deforms in the direction of the main unit.

The earpiece may further comprise a connecting film that is formed in the at least one cutting portion, to a thickness thinner than the cap portion and that connects two cap pieces divided by the cutting portion.

The earpiece connecting film may have a shape bending toward a side of the main unit between the two divided cap pieces.

The earpiece may further comprise a supporting portion between the main unit and the cap portion near a connecting location of the front-end surface of the main unit to the cap portion, the supporting portion supporting the cap portion.

The earpiece cap portion may have a multi-layer structure in which layers are stacked on top of each other in a thickness direction so as to be spaced apart from each other, and the cutting portion may be formed at different locations for the different layers.

The cutting portion may be formed in a portion of the cap portion between the rear-end surface side and the front-end surface side to make a through hole in the cap portion in the direction of making the through hole.

The cutting portions may be formed in a width in which space between the divided cap pieces expands as it goes toward the rear-end surface side.

The cutting portions may be formed in a length shorter than a length of the cap portion from the rear-end surface side to the front-end surface side.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an earphone comprising: a drive unit that originates sound; and an earpiece that transmits the sound originated from the drive unit into an ear canal while being inserted into an ear of a listener and thereby supporting the drive unit, wherein the earpiece includes: a main unit having a cylindrical shape having made therein a through hole that communicates between the drive unit and the ear canal; a cap portion that has a film-like shape which is formed to extend from all around a front-end surface, in a direction of making the through hole, of the main unit toward a rear-end surface side, and which covers at least a portion of the main unit on the front-end surface side, and in which space between the main unit and the cap portion expands as it goes toward the rear-end surface side; and at least one cutting portion formed in the cap portion so that the cap portion can deform in a direction of the main unit.

As described above, according to the present invention, an earpiece and an earphone can be easily placed and fit can be improved for various users with different sizes of ear canals without preparing a plurality of sizes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT

In an earpiece according to one embodiment of the present invention, a cap portion which abuts a user's ear canal upon placement deforms according to the shape of the user's ear canal, which enables the earpiece to be used easily and comfortably. To facilitate the understanding of effects, etc., of the earpiece, first, an earpiece according to related art will be described and then an example of an earphone to which earpieces according to embodiments of the present invention are applied will be described. Thereafter, the earpieces according to the embodiments of the present invention will be described. Then, finally, technical ideas of the embodiments are summarized and actions and effects obtained from the technical ideas will be briefly described. Specifically, in the following, description is made in the following order:

1. Earpiece according to related art

2. Example of an earphone to which earpieces according to embodiments of the present invention are applied

3. Embodiments of the present invention

<1. Earpiece According To Related Art>

First, an earpiece according to related art will be described with reference toFIGS. 15A to 16.FIGS. 15A to 15Dare explanatory diagrams for describing a configuration of an earpiece according to related art.FIG. 16is an explanatory diagram for describing a deformation state for when the earpiece according to the related art is placed.

Note that an earpiece10according to the related art shown inFIG. 15A, etc., is connected to a front end of an earphone, etc. When the earphone is used, the earpiece10is inserted into a user's ear canal and abuts the ear canal, whereby the earphone is supported by the ear canal. Note that, in the following description, description of the earphone is omitted and the earpiece10according to the related art will be described.

As shown inFIGS. 15A to 15D, the earpiece10in the related art has a main unit12and a cap portion14.

The main unit12has a substantially cylindrical shape having a through hole16made therein and introduces sound generated by an audio generating unit of the earphone to the user's ear canal. The cap portion14is formed to extend from a front-end surface (surface in an X-axis position direction) of the main unit12to the side of a rear-end surface (surface in an X-axis negative direction) so as to cover the main unit12, and is thereby formed in a cap-like shape covering the entire main unit12. When the earpiece10is inserted into the user's ear canal from a front-end surface direction, the cap portion14abuts a sidewall of the user's ear canal and thereby supports the main unit12and consequently supports the earphone connected to the main unit12.

That is, when the user places an earphone having the earpiece10according to the related art, sound originated from a drive unit of the earphone is transmitted to the main unit12of the earpiece10according to the related art. The transmitted sound is delivered to the ear canal through the through hole16of the main unit12. On the other hand, the cap portion14not only comes into contact with a user's ear and supports the earphone itself but also acts to improve the fit of the earpiece10to the user's ear.

Now, a state in which such an earpiece10according to the related art is placed in the user's ear canal will be described with reference toFIG. 16.FIG. 16shows a cross-sectional shape of the earpiece10on a plane vertical to an X-axis, together with an ear canal EH.

When the fit of the earpiece10to the user is considered, it is desirable that the entire rim of the cap portion14of the earpiece10be in contact with the ear canal EH so that a uniform pressure F is applied to the entire ear canal EH. However, in practice, the size of the ear canal EH varies from person to person. For example, there may be a case in which, as shown inFIG. 16, since the size of the ear canal EH does not match the size of the cap portion14, the cap portion14distorts. Hence, great pressures F′ may be locally applied to the ear canal EH being in contact with the cap portion14or there may be an area NF where no pressure is applied. As such, unbalancing may occur in pressure applied to the user's ear canal EH. Such unbalancing of pressure may significantly impair fit to the user. In addition, with such unbalancing, space SP may be created between the ear canal EH and the cap portion14, which may cause sound leakage. Such sound leakage possibly influences the quality of sound the user listens to. Accordingly, earpieces require an improvement in fit while such sound leakage is suppressed.

As a result of performing earnest development to improve fit, etc., of the earpiece according to the related art, etc., the inventors of the present invention have completed embodiments of the present invention. The embodiments of the present invention will be described below. Note that, as described above, before describing the embodiments, an example of an earphone to which earpieces according to the embodiments of the present invention are applied will be described with reference toFIGS. 1A to 1Cand2.

<2. Example of an Earphone to which Earpieces According to Embodiments of the Present Invention are Applied>

FIGS. 1A to 1Care explanatory diagrams for describing an example of an earphone to which earpieces according to embodiments of the present invention are applied.FIG. 2is an explanatory diagram for describing a state in which the earphones to which the earpieces according to the embodiments of the present invention are applied are placed. Note thatFIGS. 1A to 1Care projection views of an earphone1as seen from different directions andFIG. 1Ais a side view,FIG. 1Bis a rear view, andFIG. 1Cis a top view. Note also that earpieces according to the embodiments of the present invention are not limited in its application to an example of an earphone taken here and can be applied to earphones of various modes.

As shown inFIGS. 1A to 1C, the earphone1has an earpiece100, a sound conduit2, a housing3, a cord holding portion4, and a cord5.

The earpiece100is connected to a front end (Y-axis positive and X-axis positive directions) of the sound conduit2. As shown inFIG. 2, the earpiece100is inserted into a user's ear canal upon placement and abuts an inner wall of the ear canal, whereby the earphone1is allowed to maintain a state in which the earpiece100is inserted into the user's ear canal. At this time, the earpiece100, etc., according to the embodiments of the present invention have a configuration that enables to easily improve fit regardless of the size of a user's ear canal and a specific configuration will be described in detail in each embodiment.

While the sound conduit2has the earpiece100connected to the front end thereof, the housing3is connected to a rear end of the sound conduit2and a through hole that allows sound to be transmitted therethrough is provided between the two ends. The housing3contains therein a drive unit that originates sound. That is, sound originated from the drive unit contained in the housing3is transmitted in a front-end direction through the through hole of the sound conduit2and is further transmitted into the ear canal through the earpiece100. At this time, the sound conduit2is formed to extend inclined in the X-axis positive direction (forward of the user upon placement) with respect to an axis L1along which the housing3is formed. Therefore, when the user places the earphones1, as shown inFIG. 2, while the sound conduit2and the earpiece100of each earphone1are inserted into an ear canal, the housing3is located outside the ear canal near the ear canal. As a result, the containment space inside the housing3can be increased, enabling to improve the sound quality of sound originated from the drive unit.

Meanwhile, the cord holding portion4fixes the cord5which is connected to the drive unit and pulled out of the housing3, to the housing3, and is grasped by the user when the earphone1is handled.

The earphone1having such a configuration improves fit by disposing the sound conduit2on the outer side of a central position (axis L1) of the housing3. Namely, as described above, while the earpiece100is inserted into the ear canal, the housing3fits the shape of the ear near the ear canal, enabling to enhance fit. In addition, the fact that the earphone1is supported by the ear using not only the earpiece100but also the housing3results in enhancement of fit.

The shape of an earphone to which earpieces according to the embodiments of the present invention are applied is not limited to that described above and may be other shapes of earplug type (canal type) earphones. Note also that earpieces according to the embodiments which will be described below can be used not only as earphones but also as earplugs in the sense of being inserted into ear canals. However, for convenience of description, in the following, the case will be described in which earpieces according to the embodiments are applied to the earphone1described inFIG. 1A, etc. Earpieces according to the embodiments can significantly improve fit even with other types of earphones (e.g., a type in which a sound conduit is arranged in a front direction (Y-axis positive direction) of a housing); however, when the earpieces are applied to the earphone1, fit can be improved synergistically with the aforementioned structure.

<3. Embodiments of the Present Invention>

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. Note that, in the following, first, a first embodiment which is a basic embodiment of the present invention will be described and then other embodiments will be described mainly in terms of differences from the first embodiment. Hence, description of the same components as those in the first embodiment is appropriately omitted. Note that earpieces according to the embodiments which will be described below further transmit sound transmitted from a sound conduit2, into an ear canal and the direction in which the sound travels is hereafter referred to as the “front-end surface direction (X-axis positive direction)”. That is, a front end, forward, above, etc., indicate directions in which sound travels and a rear end, rearward, and bottom indicate directions opposite to the directions in which sound travels.

(First Embodiment: an earpiece having cuttings in a cap portion)

FIGS. 3A to 3Dare explanatory diagrams for describing an earpiece according to a first embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 3Ais a top view of an earpiece as seen from above (X-axis positive direction) andFIG. 3Bis a perspective view of the earpiece as seen from diagonally forward (X-axis positive, Y-axis negative, and Z-axis negative directions).FIG. 3Cis a side view of the earpiece as seen from a lateral direction (Z-axis positive direction) andFIG. 3Dis a perspective view of the earpiece as seen from diagonally rearward (X-axis negative, Y-axis positive, and Z-axis positive directions).

As shown inFIGS. 3A to 3D, the earpiece100according to the present embodiment mainly has a main unit102and a cap portion104.

The main unit102is a structural member that supports the cap portion104of an earpiece100. As shown inFIG. 3D, the main unit102has a substantially cylindrical shape and a through hole108is provided in a central portion thereof. The through hole108is made in a direction in which sound travels (X-axis direction). Sound transmitted through a sound conduit2of an earphone1is transmitted through the through hole108. That is, the main unit102is connected and fixed to the sound conduit2at an end thereof on the rear-end surface side (X-axis negative direction) such that a through hole of the sound conduit2and the through hole108communicate with each other. When the earphone1is placed, the front-end surface side (X-axis positive direction) of the main unit102is inserted into an ear canal EH. Therefore, sound originated from a drive unit in a housing3of the earphone1is sequentially transmitted through the through hole of the sound conduit2and the through hole108of the main unit102and then transmitted into the user's ear canal EH.

The cap portion104is formed to extend from all around the front-end surface, in a direction of providing the through hole108, of the main unit102toward the rear-end surface side. That is, the cap portion104of a substantially parabolic shape is formed to extend from a substantially circular end surface, in a direction of insertion into the ear canal EH (X-axis positive direction), of the main unit102toward the opposite side of the insertion direction. As shown inFIG. 3A, the cap portion104is formed all around the main unit102and is formed in a film-like shape covering at least a portion of the main unit102on the front-end surface side. At this time, as shown inFIG. 3D, the cap portion104is formed to be spaced apart from the main unit102such that a predetermined space is created between the cap portion104and the main unit102, except that a portion of the cap portion104on the front-end surface side is connected to the main unit102. The space created between the cap portion104and the main unit102is set so as to expand at least once as it goes toward the rear-end surface side. Although, as shown inFIG. 3C, the space between the cap portion104and the main unit102in the present embodiment expands as it goes toward the rear-end surface side, the space may be set such that the space expands once and then shrinks. In this case, the shape of the cap portion104is as if a lantern. However, here, the shape of the cap portion104is shown as a substantially parabolic shape. The shape of the cap portion104can take a variety of shapes as long as the shape can allow the cap portion104to be placed in the ear. The cap portion104may cover the entire main unit102or may cover only a part of the main unit102.

In the cap portion104, at least one cutting portion106is formed. AlthoughFIG. 3A, etc., show the case of forming six cutting portions106, any number of cutting portions106can be formed as long as the number is one or more. When a plurality of cutting portions106are formed, as shown inFIG. 3B, etc., the cap portion104is divided into a plurality of cap pieces110. The cutting portions106and the cap pieces110will be described.

The cutting portions106are formed in the cap portion104so that the cap portion104can deform in the direction of the main unit102. As described above, when two or more cutting portions106are formed in the cap portion104, the cap portion104is divided into two or more cap pieces10. Although inFIGS. 3A to 3Dthe cutting portions106are formed at six locations, the number of the cutting portions106is not particularly limited.

Each of the cutting portions106is formed from an end of the cap portion104on the rear-end surface side (an end in the X-axis negative direction) toward the front-end surface side along the direction of providing the through hole108of the main unit102. By thus forming the cutting portions106in such a direction, the cutting portions106can allow the cap portion104to deform toward the side of the main unit102.

At this time, the length in which the cutting portions106are formed is set, as shown inFIG. 3C, to be shorter than the length of the cap portion104in the direction of forming the cutting portions106. That is, the cutting portions106are formed in a length shorter than the length of the cap portion104from the rear-end surface side to the front-end surface side. When the cutting portions106are formed in such a length, adjacent cap pieces110are connected to each other at a front-end portion thereof and thus the strength against external force at the front-end portion, i.e., a base portion of the cap pieces110with respect to the main unit102, is increased. As a result, the cap pieces110can be prevented from excessively deforming or abnormally overlapping each other and also durability can be improved. The length of the cutting portions106may be appropriately adjusted as shown in a second embodiment which will be described below.

The cutting portions106are formed in a width in which the space between divided cap pieces110expands as it goes toward the rear-end surface side. In other words, an end of each cap piece110on the rear-end surface side (X-axis negative direction side) becomes smaller in a substantially arc-shape manner. By creating space between cap pieces110in such a width, when the earpiece100is placed in the ear canal and contracts, the cap pieces110are avoided from being stacked on top of each other more than necessary and thus a portion that abuts the ear canal is flattened, further improving fit.

It is desirable that the material of the cap portion104of the earpiece100be an elastic material. Further, the main unit102may also be an elastic member or may be of other materials. Examples of other materials of the main unit102include a plastic member, etc. For the elastic member, it is desirable to use silicon rubber but in addition to this a variety of rubbers, e.g., rubbers containing an epoxy resin, a modified silicon resin, and an urethane resin, can be used. By forming the cap portion104using such a material, when the earpiece100is placed in the ear canal, the cap portion104can contract while providing a moderate repelling force to the ear by its elastic force. Thus, space between the cap portion104and the ear canal is less likely to be created, whereby sound leakage can be prevented and fit can be improved.

Next, the deformation state of the earpiece100for when a user places the earphone1having the earpiece100according to the present embodiment will be described with reference toFIGS. 3A to 3Dand4.FIG. 4is an explanatory diagram for describing effects, etc., of the earpiece100according to the present embodiment. Although inFIG. 4the earpieces100are placed in both ears of the user, needless to say, the earpiece100may be placed in only one ear.

FIG. 4is a diagram of a state in which the user places the earphones1each including an earpiece100, as seen from the lateral direction of the user and shows a state in which the earpiece100is in contact with an ear canal EH upon the placement. In order that the deformation state of the earpiece100can be easily seen,FIG. 4shows a cross-sectional shape of the plurality of cap pieces110of the earpiece100on a YZ plane.

As shown inFIG. 4, when the earpiece100is inserted into the ear canal EH, the plurality of cap pieces110deform toward the side of the main unit102and accordingly the earpiece100as a whole contracts toward the side of the main unit102. At this time, as shown inFIG. 4, the space between adjacent cap pieces110is narrowed, whereby the cap portion104deforms. At this time, each cap piece110applies a uniform pressure F to an inner wall surface of the ear canal EH in an outward direction by its moderate elastic force. According to the earpiece100, the pressures F thus applied to the ear canal EH are uniform and are not unbalanced and thus fit is improved. At this time, according to the earpiece100, unlike the earpiece10according to related art, space is not created between the ear canal EH and the earpiece100. Accordingly, the earpiece100can not only prevent local force from being applied to the ear canal EH but also prevent sound leakage. Such effects can be obtained because the earpiece100has the cutting portions106and thus can distort according to the size of the ear canal EH and contract uniformly without causing abnormal deformation. At this time, the earpiece100can deform uniformly supporting various sizes of the ear canal EH and thus can be applied to various users regardless of the size of the ear canal EH. In addition, when the earpiece100thus fits into the ear canal EH, an adjustment, etc., are not particularly required and thus the earpiece100can easily enhance fit without causing the user any trouble. Moreover, the earpiece100has a shape in which, as shown inFIG. 3B, the cap pieces110spread out as they go toward the rear-end surface side (X-axis negative direction). Therefore, friction force acts between ends, on the rear-end surface side (X-axis negative direction side), of the respective cap pieces110and the ear canal EH, which makes the earpiece100difficult to fall out of the ear canal EH.

The earpiece100according to the first embodiment of the present invention is described above. The earpiece100is described for the case in which the length of the cutting portions106formed in the cap portion104is set to be shorter than the length of the cap portion104in the direction of forming the cutting portions106. However, as described above, the length of the cutting portions106can be appropriately adjusted. Hence, as an example of the case in which the length of the cutting portions106is different than that described above, an earpiece200according to a second embodiment will be described next.

(Second Embodiment: an earpiece having cutting portions with deep cuttings)

FIGS. 5A to 5Dare explanatory diagrams for describing an earpiece according to a second embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 5Ais a top view of an earpiece as seen from above (X-axis positive direction) andFIG. 5Bis a perspective view of the earpiece as seen from diagonally forward (X-axis positive, Y-axis negative, and Z-axis negative directions).FIG. 5Cis a side view of the earpiece as seen from a lateral direction (Z-axis positive direction) andFIG. 5Dis a perspective view of the earpiece as seen from diagonally rearward (X-axis negative, Y-axis positive, and Z-axis positive directions).

An earpiece200according to the present embodiment is basically configured in the same manner as the earpiece100according to the first embodiment, except that the length of cutting portions206is different. Therefore, here, the length of the cutting portions206will be mainly described and description of components, etc., that overlap those in the first embodiment is omitted.

As shown inFIGS. 5A to 5D, the earpiece200according to the present embodiment has cutting portions206instead of the cutting portions106. The cutting portions206are basically configured in the same manner as the above-described cutting portions106but are different in length than the cutting portions106.

Specifically, the length in which the cutting portions206according to the present embodiment are formed is, as shown inFIG. 5C, set to a length comparable with the length of a cap portion104in the direction of forming the cutting portions206. That is, the cutting portions206are formed in substantially the same length as the length of the cap portion104from the rear-end surface side to the front-end surface side. In other words, the cutting portions206of the cap portion104are deeper than the cutting portions106according to the first embodiment. The expression “cutting portions are deeper” as used here indicates a state in which the cutting portions206extend longer from an end of the cap portion104on the rear-end surface side in the front-end surface side direction (X-axis positive direction). When the cutting portions206are formed in such a length, although adjacent cap pieces110are connected to each other at a front-end portion thereof, the connecting location thereof is limited to near a connecting area at a front-end surface of a main unit102. As a result, each cap piece110can reduce its repelling force against external force (force received from an ear canal EH) that causes the cap piece110to deform toward the side of the main unit102, over the case of the first embodiment. Accordingly, pressures F applied to the ear canal EH can be reduced.

By thus adjusting the length of the cutting portions206(or the cutting portions106), the elastic force of the cap pieces110can be adjusted. When, as in the first embodiment, the length of the cutting portions206is shorter than the length of the cap portion104, the strength of a base portion of the cap pieces110can be strengthened and thus durability can be improved while abnormal overlapping between the cap pieces110is prevented.

The earpiece200according to the second embodiment of the present invention is described above. The case of the earpiece200according to the second embodiment, too, as with the earpiece100shown inFIG. 4, the cap pieces110deform toward the side of the main unit102, whereby uniform, moderate pressures F are applied to the ear canal EH, improving fit. In the earpieces100and200according to the first and second embodiments, when the size of the ear canal EH is small, adjacent cap pieces110overlap with their edge portions. However, since the cap pieces110appropriately contract, the pressures F are maintained uniform and thus fit is not impaired. However, the degree of overlapping between the cap pieces110can also be controlled regardless of the size of the ear canal EH. As an example in which the degree of overlapping between the cap pieces110is controllable, an earpiece300according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described next.

(Third Embodiment: an earpiece having cap pieces which more easily overlap each other)

FIGS. 6A to 6Dare explanatory diagrams for describing an earpiece according to a third embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 6Ais a top view of an earpiece as seen from above (X-axis positive direction) andFIG. 6Bis a perspective view of the earpiece as seen from diagonally forward (X-axis positive, Y-axis negative, and Z-axis negative directions).FIG. 6Cis a side view of the earpiece as seen from a lateral direction (Z-axis positive direction) andFIG. 6Dis a perspective view of the earpiece as seen from diagonally rearward (X-axis negative, Y-axis positive, and Z-axis positive directions).

An earpiece300according to the present embodiment has extension cap pieces350. The earpiece300is configured in the same manner as the earpiece200according to the second embodiment, except that the earpiece300has the extension cap pieces350. Therefore, here, the extension cap pieces350will be mainly described and description of components, etc., that overlap those in the first and second embodiments is omitted.

As shown inFIGS. 6A to 6D, the earpiece300according to the present embodiment has the extension cap pieces350. The extension cap pieces350each indicate, as shown inFIG. 6C, a cap piece formed to extend from one cap piece110toward another cap piece110. In other words, each extension cap piece350may be, on one side of a cap piece110, an edge portion on the side of another cap piece110but here description is made assuming that an extension cap piece350and a cap piece110where the extension cap piece350is formed have different configurations. An extension cap piece350is formed to extend to a cutting portion206and thus covers a part of the cutting portion206. In other words, each cap piece110extends in the direction of a corresponding cutting portion206(Y-axis positive direction) and thus the space between cap pieces110is narrowed. The thickness of each extension cap piece350decreases as it goes farther away from a corresponding cap piece110. In other words, each extension cap piece350becomes thinner as it goes in the direction of a corresponding cutting portion206(Y-axis positive direction) from a corresponding cap piece110.

FIG. 7is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the cap pieces110of the earpiece300are placed in an ear canal EH. Unlike the earpiece100according to the first embodiment which is described with reference toFIG. 4, the earpiece300has the extension cap pieces350and thus when the earpiece300contracts in the ear canal EH, the cap pieces110easily overlap each other.

The earpiece300according to the present embodiment has the extension cap pieces350and thus when the earpiece300is placed in the ear, space is less likely to be created between the ear canal EH and the earpiece300and accordingly sound leakage is less likely to occur. Furthermore, the thickness of each extension cap piece350decreases as it goes farther away from the above-described one cap piece110. Thus, when a cap portion104deforms in the direction of a main unit102, i.e., when the cap portion104is placed in the ear canal EH and contracts, the thickness of a portion where an extension cap piece350overlaps the above-described other cap piece110does not become thick and thus high quality of sound delivered to the ear is guaranteed. When the earpiece300is placed in the ear canal EH and contracts, an extension cap piece350may come on the top of the above-described other cap piece110or may come under the above-described other cap piece110.

The shapes, materials, etc., of components other than the extension cap pieces350of the earpiece300may be those of the earpiece100described with reference to the first embodiment or may be those of the earpiece200described with reference to the second embodiment.

By thus providing the extension cap pieces350, the degree of overlapping between the cap pieces110can be adjusted. In addition, since the thickness of each extension cap piece350decreases as it goes farther away from a corresponding cap piece110, even when the extension cap piece350overlaps another cap piece110, the thickness of the overlapping portion does not become thick more than necessary and thus high quality of sound is also guaranteed.

The earpiece300according to the third embodiment of the present invention is described above. In the case of the earpiece300according to the third embodiment, too, as with the earpiece100according to the first embodiment and the earpiece200according to the second embodiment, the cap pieces110deform toward the side of the main unit102, whereby uniform, moderate pressures F are applied to the ear canal EH, improving fit. The earpiece300according to the third embodiment has the extension cap pieces350, which enables to control the degree of overlapping between the cap pieces110. However, the degree of overlapping between the cap pieces110can also be controlled by providing connecting films450that connect the cap pieces110divided by the cutting portions206(or the cutting portions106). Next, as an example in which the degree of overlapping between the cap pieces110is controlled by providing the connecting films450, an earpiece400according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIGS. 8A to 8Dare explanatory diagrams for describing an earpiece according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 8Ais a top view of an earpiece as seen from above (X-axis positive direction) andFIG. 8Bis a perspective view of the earpiece as seen from diagonally forward (X-axis positive, Y-axis negative, and Z-axis negative directions).FIG. 8Cis a side view of the earpiece as seen from a lateral direction (Z-axis positive direction) andFIG. 8Dis a perspective view of the earpiece as seen from diagonally rearward (X-axis negative, Y-axis positive, and Z-axis positive directions).

An earpiece400according to the present embodiment has connecting films450. The earpiece400is configured in the same manner as the earpiece200according to the second embodiment, except that the earpiece400has the connecting films450. Therefore, here, the connecting films450will be mainly described and description of components, etc., that overlap those in the first and second embodiments is omitted.

The earpiece400according to the present embodiment has the connecting films450, each of which connects two cap pieces110divided by a cutting portion206(or cutting portion106). The connecting films450are formed in their corresponding cutting portions206, to a thickness thinner than a cap portion104. The connecting films450may be of the same material as the cap pieces110or may be of a material that provides easy fabrication with a thin thickness. For example, the material may be silicon rubber as with the cap pieces110or may be urethane rubber which has strong tensile strength even when it is thin.

Since the earpiece400thus has the connecting films450in areas where the cutting portions206are present, when the earpiece400contracts in an ear canal EH, space is less likely to be created. In addition, since the thickness is thin, the connecting films450more easily distort than the cap pieces110in terms of deformation in the direction of a main unit102. Moreover, since the earpiece400has the connecting films450, deformation of the divided cap pieces110is more accurately controlled. In other words, the direction in which the earpiece400shrinks when contracting in the ear canal EH is controlled. Since cap pieces110are connected to each other through a connecting film450and the cap pieces110deform in conjunction with one another, for example, one cap piece110is less likely to overlap another cap piece110adjacent thereto. From this point of view, too, space is less likely to be created between the earpiece400and the ear canal EH.

The shapes, materials, etc., of components other than the connecting films450of the earpiece400may be any of those of the earpiece100, etc., described with reference to the first to third embodiments.

The earpiece400according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention is descried above. In the case of the earpiece400according to the fourth embodiment, too, as with the earpiece100, etc., according to the first to third embodiments, the cap pieces110deform toward the side of the main unit102, whereby uniform, moderate pressures F are applied to the ear canal EH, improving fit. The earpiece400according to the fourth embodiment has the connecting films450, which enables to control the degree of overlapping between the cap pieces110. It is desirable that when the earpiece400is placed in the ear canal EH the connecting films450contract to the center side of the ear canal EH. Next, as an example of connecting films550that easily contract to the center side of the ear canal EH, an earpiece500according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIGS. 9A to 9Dare explanatory diagrams for describing an earpiece according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 9Ais a top view of an earpiece as seen from above (X-axis positive direction) andFIG. 9Bis a perspective view of the earpiece as seen from diagonally forward (X-axis positive, Y-axis negative, and Z-axis negative directions).FIG. 9Cis a side view of the earpiece as seen from a lateral direction (Z-axis positive direction) andFIG. 9Dis a perspective view of the earpiece as seen from diagonally rearward (X-axis negative, Y-axis positive, and Z-axis positive directions).

An earpiece500according to the present embodiment has connecting films550. The earpiece500is configured in the same manner as the earpiece200according to the second embodiment, except that the earpiece500has the connecting films550. Therefore, here, the connecting films550will be mainly described and description of components, etc., that overlap those in the first and second embodiments is omitted.

The connecting films550of the earpiece500according to the present embodiment are fold-like films. The word “fold-like” as used here indicates, as shown inFIG. 9D, a state of bending toward the side of a main unit102. Since the connecting films550are provided in areas where cutting portions206are present, when the earpiece500contracts in an ear canal EH, space is less likely to be created. In addition, since the thickness is thin, the connecting films550more easily distort than cap pieces110in terms of deformation in the direction of the main unit102. Furthermore, since the connecting films550bend toward the side of the main unit102, when the earpiece500contracts in the ear canal EH, the connecting films550easily deform toward the side of the main unit102(the center side of the earpiece500).

Since the connecting films550thus bend toward the side of the main unit102, when the earpiece500contracts in the ear canal EH, the connecting films550deform toward the side of the main unit102and thus no pressure from the connecting films550is applied to the ear canal EH. Hence, a load is less likely to be applied to the ear canal EH. In addition, as described above based on the earpiece400according to the fourth embodiment, providing the connecting films550makes space less likely to be created between the earpiece500and the ear canal EH.

The shapes, materials, etc., of components other than the connecting films550of the earpiece500according to the present embodiment may be any of those of the earpiece100, etc., described with reference to the first to fourth embodiments. Furthermore, the connecting films550of the earpiece500according to the present embodiment have the same configuration as the connecting films450of the earpiece400according to the fourth embodiment, except that the connecting films550bend toward the side of the main unit102.

The earpiece500according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention is described above. In the case of the earpiece500according to the fifth embodiment, too, as with the earpiece100, etc., according to the first to fourth embodiments, the cap pieces110deform toward the side of the main unit102, whereby uniform, moderate pressures F are applied to the ear canal EH, improving fit. Furthermore, by controlling deformation of the cap pieces110toward the side of the main unit102, the pressures F applied to the ear canal EH are more stabilized, which also enables to improve fit. As an example in which deformation of the cap pieces110in the direction of the main unit102can be controlled, an earpiece600according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described next.

(Sixth Embodiment: an earpiece with ribs provided on the back side of a cap portion)

FIGS. 10A to 10Dare explanatory diagrams for describing an earpiece according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 10Ais a top view of an earpiece as seen from above (X-axis positive direction) andFIG. 10Bis a perspective view of the earpiece as seen from diagonally forward (X-axis positive, Y-axis negative, and Z-axis negative directions).FIG. 10Cis a side view of the earpiece as seen from a lateral direction (Z-axis positive direction) andFIG. 10Dis a perspective view of the earpiece as seen from diagonally rearward (X-axis negative, Y-axis positive, and Z-axis positive directions).

An earpiece600according to the present embodiment has supporting portions650, as shown inFIG. 10D. The earpiece600is configured in the same manner as the earpiece200according to the second embodiment, except that the earpiece600has the supporting portions650. Therefore, here, the supporting portions650will be mainly described and description of components, etc., that overlap those in the first and second embodiments is omitted.

The supporting portions650of the earpiece600according to the present embodiment are present between a main unit102and a cap portion104and near a connecting location of a front-end surface of the main unit102to the cap portion104. The “near a connecting location” may be a location that is closest to the connecting location of the main unit102to the cap portion104or may be a location spaced somewhat from the connecting location of the main unit102to the cap portion104. The supporting portions650have a shape supporting the cap portion104and act as ribs. As shown inFIG. 10D, the supporting portions650are present at respective cap pieces110but are not necessarily need to be present at the respective cap pieces110. A supporting portion650may be present at only one cap piece110or supporting portions650may be present at every other cap piece110. The supporting portions650are disposed at locations that do not overlap the locations of cutting portions206. The supporting portions650may be of the same material as the cap pieces110or may be of a material having a large elastic force. For example, the material may be silicon rubber as with the cap pieces110or may be urethane rubber having a large elastic force.

As such, the supporting portions650can strengthen the elastic forces of the cap pieces110. By strengthening the elastic forces of the cap pieces110, pressure applied to an ear canal EH increases. In other words, when a user places the earpiece600in the ear canal EH, the cap portion104contracts while providing a repelling force to the ear canal EH by its elastic force. As a result, space is less likely to be created between the earpiece600and the ear canal EH and thus there is no sound leakage and accordingly the user can obtain good fit.

The shapes, materials, etc., of components other than the supporting portions650of the earpiece600according to the present embodiment may be those of the earpiece100, etc., according to the first to fifth embodiments.

The earpiece600according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention is descried above. In the case of the earpiece600according to the sixth embodiment, too, as with the earpiece100, etc., according to the first to fifth embodiments, the cap pieces110deform toward the side of the main unit102, whereby uniform, moderate pressures F are applied to the ear canal EH, improving fit. The earpiece600according to the sixth embodiment has the supporting portions650, which enables more stable control of the cap pieces110in the direction of the main unit102. Although, in the earpiece100, etc., according to the first to sixth embodiments which have been described so far, the cap pieces110all have the same size, the size does not need to be the same for all the cap pieces110. Next, as an example in which cap pieces have different sizes, an earpiece700according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described.

(Seventh Embodiment: an earpiece having cap pieces with different sizes)

FIGS. 11A to 11Dare explanatory diagrams for describing an earpiece according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 11Ais a top view of an earpiece as seen from above (X-axis positive direction) andFIG. 11Bis a perspective view of the earpiece as seen from diagonally forward (X-axis positive, Y-axis negative, and Z-axis negative directions).FIG. 11Cis a side view of the earpiece as seen from a lateral direction (Z-axis positive direction) andFIG. 11Dis a perspective view of the earpiece as seen from diagonally rearward (X-axis negative, Y-axis positive, and Z-axis positive directions).

An earpiece700according to the present embodiment has a cap portion704. The cap portion704has, as shown inFIG. 11A, larger cap pieces750and smaller cap pieces760. The earpiece700is configured in the same manner as the earpiece200according to the second embodiment, except that the earpiece700has, instead of the cap portion104, the cap portion704including the larger cap pieces750and the smaller cap pieces760. Therefore, here, the cap portion704including the larger cap pieces750and the smaller cap pieces760will be mainly described and description of components, etc., that overlap those in the first and second embodiments is omitted.

The cap portion704of the earpiece700according to the present embodiment has cap pieces having different sizes, i.e., the larger cap pieces750and the smaller cap pieces760. The larger cap pieces750and the smaller cap pieces760are disposed alternately. When the earpiece700contracts in an ear canal EH, the larger cap pieces750overlap one another. The smaller cap pieces760deform so as not to create space between the larger cap pieces750.

By thus disposing the larger cap pieces750and the smaller cap pieces760alternately, the smaller cap pieces760can act to prevent the larger cap pieces158from making unwanted move. Specifically, in order that when the larger cap pieces750deform in the direction of a main unit102the larger cap pieces750do not overlap one another too much, the smaller cap pieces760can prevent the larger cap pieces750from deforming in directions other than the direction of the main unit102(the direction of the center of the earpiece700). That is, the smaller cap pieces760can serve as supporting portions for the larger cap pieces750.

The shapes, materials, etc., of components other than the cap portion704of the earpiece700may be those of the earpiece100, etc., according to the first to sixth embodiments.

The earpiece700according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention is described above. In the case of the earpiece700according to the seventh embodiment, too, as with the earpiece100, etc., according to the first to sixth embodiments, the cap pieces750and760deform toward the side of the main unit102, whereby uniform, moderate pressures F are applied to the ear canal EH, improving fit. In the earpiece700according to the seventh embodiment, since the cap pieces750and760of different sizes are disposed alternately, the cap portion704can stably deform in the direction of the main unit102. However, an example in which the sizes of the cap pieces750and760differ from cap piece to cap piece is not limited to the cap pieces750and760of the earpiece700according to the present embodiment. Namely, the cap pieces750and760can take random sizes and shapes. Next, as another example in which a cap piece862, etc., have different sizes, an earpiece800according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention will be described.

(Eighth Embodiment: an earpiece having cap pieces whose sizes are larger on one side)

FIGS. 12A to 12Dare explanatory diagrams for describing an earpiece according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 12Ais a top view of an earpiece as seen from above (X-axis positive direction) andFIG. 12Bis a perspective view of the earpiece as seen from diagonally forward (X-axis positive, Y-axis negative, and Z-axis negative directions).FIG. 12Cis a side view of the earpiece as seen from a lateral direction (Z-axis positive direction) andFIG. 12Dis a perspective view of the earpiece as seen from diagonally rearward (X-axis negative, Y-axis positive, and Z-axis positive directions).

An earpiece800according to the present embodiment has a cap portion804. The cap portion804has a cap piece862, a cap piece864, a cap piece866, a cap piece868, a cap piece870, and a cap piece872. The earpiece800is configured in the same manner as the earpiece200according to the second embodiment, except that the earpiece800has, instead of the cap portion104, the cap portion804having the cap piece862, the cap piece864, the cap piece866, the cap piece868, the cap piece870, and the cap piece872. Therefore, here, the cap portion804including the cap piece862, the cap piece864, the cap piece866, the cap piece868, the cap piece870, and the cap piece872will be mainly described and description of components, etc., that overlap those in the first and second embodiments is omitted.

As shown inFIG. 12A, the cap piece862, the cap piece864, the cap piece866, the cap piece868, the cap piece870, and the cap piece872of the earpiece800differ in size between the cap pieces. As shown inFIG. 12A, in the earpiece800according to the present embodiment, the size gradually decreases in order of the cap piece862, the cap piece864, and the cap piece866. Also, in the earpiece800, the size gradually decreases in order of the cap piece868, the cap piece870, and the cap piece872. The size indicates an area and also indicates the length in a rear-end surface side direction (X-axis negative direction).

When the earpiece800according to the present embodiment contracts in an ear canal EH, an area of the cap portion804that comes into contact with the ear canal EH varies between the cap pieces862,864,866,868,870, and872. In a state in which the user is standing, the user's ear canal EH is not parallel to the ground but has little inclination. Therefore, the earpiece800having the cap pieces862,864,866,868,870, and872with different sizes can be placed in the ear canal EH with an inclination of the same level as the above-described inclination. As a result, the user can also obtain very good fit without sensing variations in pressure F between locations in the ear canal EH.

The shapes, materials, etc., of components other than the cap portion804of the earpiece800may be those of the earpiece100, etc., according to the first to seventh embodiments.

The earpiece800according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention is described above. In the case of the earpiece800according to the eighth embodiment, too, as with the earpiece100, etc., according to the first to seventh embodiments, the cap pieces862,864,866,868,870, and872deform toward the side of a main unit102, whereby uniform, moderate pressures F are applied to the ear canal EH, improving fit. In the earpiece800according to the present embodiment, since the size gradually decreases in order of the cap piece862, the cap piece864, and the cap piece866and in order of the cap piece868, the cap piece870, and the cap piece872, the user can also obtain very good fit without sensing variations in pressure F between locations in the ear canal EH. However, an example in which cap pieces have different sizes is not limited to the cap pieces862,864,866,868,870, and872of the earpiece800according to the present embodiment. Namely, the cap pieces862,864,866,868,870, and872can take random sizes and shapes. Although, in the earpiece100, etc., according to the first to eighth embodiments which have been described so far, the cap portion104, etc., all have a single-layer structure, the cap portion104, etc., do not necessarily need to have a single-layer structure. Next, as an example in which the cap portion104, etc., have a multi-layer structure, an earpiece900according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention will be described.

(Ninth Embodiment: an earpiece having a cap portion having a multi-layer structure)

FIGS. 13A to 13Dare explanatory diagrams for describing an earpiece according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 13Ais a top view of an earpiece as seen from above (X-axis positive direction) andFIG. 13Bis a perspective view of the earpiece as seen from diagonally forward (X-axis positive, Y-axis negative, and Z-axis negative directions).FIG. 13Cis a side view of the earpiece as seen from a lateral direction (Z-axis positive direction) andFIG. 13Dis a perspective view of the earpiece as seen from diagonally rearward (X-axis negative, Y-axis positive, and Z-axis positive directions).

An earpiece900according to the present embodiment has a cap portion982. The earpiece900is configured in the same manner as the earpiece200according to the second embodiment, except that the earpiece900has the cap portion982instead of the cap portion104. Therefore, the cap portion982will be mainly described and description of components, etc., that overlap those in the first and second embodiments is omitted.

The cap portion982is formed of a two-layer structure having first cap pieces978, first cutting portions916, second cap pieces980, and second cutting portions906. The cap portion982of the earpiece900is formed of a two-layer structure in which two layers are stacked on top of each other in a thickness direction so as to be spaced apart from each other. As with the cap portion104of the earpiece100according to the first embodiment, the cap portion982has a film-like shape covering a portion of a main unit102on the front-end surface side (the side, in an X-axis positive direction, of the main unit102). Also, the cap portion982has a shape in which the space between the main unit102and the cap portion982expands at least once as it goes in an X-axis negative direction. Furthermore, each cutting portion916adjacent to a first cap piece978and each cutting portion906adjacent to a second cap piece980are respectively formed at locations where they do not overlap each other. Although in the present embodiment, as shown inFIG. 13D, the earpiece900having the cap portion982having a two-layer structure is exemplified, the cap portion982may have a multi-layer structure other than a two-layer structure. For example, the structure may be a three-layer structure or may be a four-layer structure or may be an n-layer structure (n: a natural number). For example, an earpiece having a 10-layer structure has value not only as being placed in an ear but also as an ornament because it has a shape like a sea anemone and thus has a fine appearance.

The shapes, materials, etc., of components other than the cap portion982of the earpiece900may be those of the earpiece100, etc., according to the first to eighth embodiments.

In such an earpiece900, when the earpiece900is placed in an ear canal EH, the first cap pieces978contract and the second cap pieces980also contract. In the case of an earpiece other than the earpiece900such as that shown inFIG. 13D, each first cutting portion916and each second cutting portion906are respectively formed at locations where they do not overlap each other. The first cutting portions916and the second cap pieces980have an overlapping positional relationship. Also, the second cutting portions906and the first cap pieces978have an overlapping positional relationship. Therefore, when the earpiece900is placed in the ear canal EH, space is less likely to be created between the ear canal EH and the earpiece900. Furthermore, in the earpiece900, even when the first cap pieces978deform in a direction other than the direction of the main unit102, the second cap pieces980are less likely to similarly deform in the direction other than the direction of the main unit102in conjunction with the first cap pieces978. Thus, from this point of view, too, when the earpiece900is placed in the ear canal EH, space is less likely to be created between the ear canal EH and the earpiece900.

The earpiece900according to the ninth embodiment of the present invention is described above. In the case of the earpiece900according to the ninth embodiment, too, as with the earpieces100to800according to the first to eighth embodiments, the cap portion982deforms toward the side of the main unit102, whereby uniform, moderate pressures F are applied to the ear canal EH, improving fit. In the earpiece900according to the present embodiment, since the earpiece900has the cap portion982having a two-layer structure, space is less likely to be created between the ear canal EH and the earpiece900. In the earpieces100to900which have been described so far the cap portion104, etc., are divided into the cap pieces110, etc., by the cutting portions206, etc. The cap portion104, etc., do not necessarily need to be structured to be divided into the cap pieces110, etc., by the cutting portions206, etc. Hence, next, as an example in which a cap portion1104has cutting portions1106but is not divided, an earpiece1100according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention will be described.

(Tenth Embodiment: an earpiece having a cap portion that has cutting portions but is not divided)

FIGS. 14A to 14Dare explanatory diagrams for describing an earpiece according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 14Ais a top view of an earpiece as seen from above (X-axis positive direction) andFIG. 14Bis a perspective view of the earpiece as seen from diagonally forward (X-axis positive, Y-axis negative, and Z-axis negative directions).FIG. 14Cis a side view of the earpiece as seen from a lateral direction (Z-axis positive direction) andFIG. 14Dis a perspective view of the earpiece as seen from diagonally rearward (X-axis negative, Y-axis positive, and Z-axis positive directions).

A cap portion1104has cutting portions1106. As shown inFIG. 14C, in an earpiece1100, cuttings of the cutting portions1106are formed in a direction of making a through hole of a main unit102, i.e., in an X-axis negative direction. The cuttings, however, are not formed all the way to the most rear-end side of the cap portion1104(the side, in a most X-axis negative direction, of the cap portion1104). That is, the cutting portions1106of the earpiece1100make through holes in the cap portion1104.

Since in the earpiece1100the cap portion1104has through holes made therein without being divided, even when, for example, the earpiece1100receives a shock, the cap portion1104is less likely to spread out and thus excellent durability is provided.

The shapes, materials, etc., of components other than the cap portion1104of the earpiece1100which is not divided may be those of the earpiece100described with reference toFIG. 1. The shapes and lengths of cuttings do not need to be all the same and some of them may be different or all of them may be different.

The earpiece1100according to the tenth embodiment of the present invention is described above. In the case of the earpiece1100according to the tenth embodiment, too, as with the earpiece100, etc., according to the first to ninth embodiments, the cap portion1104deforms toward the side of the main unit102, whereby uniform, moderate pressures F are applied to an ear canal EH, improving fit. In the earpiece1100according to the present embodiment, since through holes are made in the cutting portions1106without the cap portion1104being divided, even when, for example, the earpiece1100receives a shock, the cap portion1104is less likely to spread out and thus excellent durability is provided.

Finally, functional configurations of earpieces according to the embodiments of the present invention and examples of actions and effects obtained by the functional configurations, etc., will be briefly summarized.

First, functional configurations of earpieces according to the embodiments of the present invention can be represented as follows. The earpieces have a main unit and a cap portion.

The main unit has a cylindrical shape having made therein a through hole that can allow sound to be transmitted therethrough. The cap portion has a film-like shape which is formed to extend from all around a front-end surface, in a direction of making the through hole, of the main unit toward a rear-end surface side, and which covers at least a portion of the main unit on the front-end surface side, and in which space between the main unit and the cap portion expands as it goes toward the rear-end surface side. The earpiece has at least one cutting portion formed in the cap portion so that the cap portion can deform in a direction of the main unit.

According to the earpiece, since the earpiece has a cutting portion in a cap portion, when the earpiece is placed in an ear canal, the cap portion deforms in a direction of a main unit along the shape of an inner wall surface of the ear canal. Thus, without applying local force to the user's ear canal, fit can be improved. In addition, when the cap portion deforms in the direction of the main unit, space created by the cutting portion decreases and thus sound leakage is kept to a minimum. Accordingly, fit can be improved without degrading sound quality. Such effects can be obtained because the earpiece has the cutting portion and thus can contract according to the size of the ear canal and such abnormal deformation does not occur that applies local pressure to the ear canal. As such, the earpiece having the above-descried configuration can deform fitting in various ear canal sizes.

At least two cutting portions of the earpiece may be formed from an end of the cap portion on the rear-end surface side toward the front-end surface side, and the cap portion may be divided into two or more cap pieces which are connected to each other on the front-end surface side.

According to this configuration, since the cap portion is divided into two or more cap pieces, the cap pieces easily overlap each other and thus the earpiece can more stably contract without causing abnormal deformation in the ear canal.

The above-described earpiece may be such that in at least one cutting portion is formed an extension cap piece that is formed to extend from one of cap pieces divided by the cutting portion toward an other cap piece and that covers a part of the cutting portion, and a thickness of the extension cap piece decreases as it goes farther away from the one cap piece, so that the extension cap piece overlaps the other cap piece when the cap portion deforms in the direction of the main unit.

According to this configuration, when the cap portion contracts toward the main unit side upon placement, the extension cap piece overlaps an adjacent cap piece (other cap piece), decreasing space created by the cutting portion between cap pieces. As a result, the possibility of occurrence of sound leakage can be further reduced.

The above-described earpiece may further include a connecting film that is formed in the at least one cutting portion, to a thickness thinner than the cap portion and that connects two cap pieces divided by the cutting portion.

According to this configuration, since a connecting film is formed in a cutting portion between cap pieces, when the cap portion contracts toward the main unit side upon placement, space created by the cutting portion can be further reduced. Thus, sound leakage can be further prevented and sound quality can be further improved. The cap pieces are connected to each other through the connecting film and deform in conjunction with each other. Thus, since a plurality of cap pieces can uniformly deform through the connecting film, for example, one cap piece can be prevented from overlapping another cap piece adjacent thereto more than necessary or abnormal deformation can be prevented from occurring. This fact can provide not only the aforementioned improvement in sound quality, etc., but also an effect of enhancement of fit by reducing local pressure applied to the ear canal.

In the above-described earpiece, the connecting film may have a shape bending toward a side of the main unit between the two divided cap pieces.

According to this configuration, since the connecting film bends toward the main unit side, when the earpiece is placed, the connecting film can further bend in the bending direction. Thus, abnormal deformation of the connecting film itself can be prevented. As a result, a load is less likely to be applied to the ear canal and also sound leakage is less likely to occur.

The above-described earpiece may further include a supporting portion between the main unit and the cap portion near a connecting location of the front-end surface of the main unit to the cap portion, the supporting portion supporting the cap portion.

According to this configuration, a supporting portion can strengthen an elastic force at the base of a cap piece. Therefore, when a user places the earpiece in his/her ear canal, the cap portion contracts while providing a repelling force to the ear by its elastic force, whereby space between the cap portion and the ear canal is reduced and sound leakage can be prevented and fit can be improved. It is desirable that the cap pieces, etc., be formed by elastic members but the elastic force of the elastic members may decrease due to deterioration over time or excess deformation. On the other hand, when a supporting portion is formed, as in the above-described configuration, such a decrease in elastic force can be compensated for, which can in turn improve the durability of the earpiece.

In the above-described earpiece, the cap portion may have a multi-layer structure in which layers are stacked on top of each other in a thickness direction so as to be spaced apart from each other, and the cutting portion may be formed at different locations for the different layers.

As in this configuration, when the cap portion has a multi-layer structure and the locations of cutting portions are different between layers, the cutting portions do not overlap each other, enabling to further reduce space created by the cutting portions. In addition, even when a cap piece deforms in a direction other than the direction of the main unit, an auxiliary cap piece adjacent thereto is less likely to similarly deform in the direction other than the direction of the main unit in conjunction with the cap piece. This fact can also make space less likely to be created between the ear canal and the earpiece when the earpiece is placed in the ear canal.

In the above-described earpiece, the cutting portion may be formed in a portion of the cap portion between the rear-end surface side and the front-end surface side to make a through hole in the cap portion in the direction of making the through hole.

According to this configuration, in the earpiece, since the cap portion is not divided, even when the earpiece receives a shock, the cap pieces are less likely to spread out, enabling to improve durability.

In the above-described earpiece, the cutting portions may be formed in a width in which space between the divided cap pieces expands as it goes toward the rear-end surface side.

According to this configuration, when the earpiece is placed in the ear canal and contracts, the cap pieces do not overlap each other more than necessary and thus fit can be further improved.

In the above-described earpiece, the cutting portions may be formed in a length shorter than a length of the cap portion from the rear-end surface side to the front-end surface side.

According to this configuration, when the earpiece is placed in the ear canal and contracts, the cap pieces are less likely to deform in directions other than the direction of the main unit. In addition, at a base portion of cap pieces where a cutting portion is not formed, the cap pieces are connected to each other and thus the strength of the base portion of the cap pieces is increased. Accordingly, abnormal deformation such as excess deformation of the cap pieces can be prevented.

Although the above-described embodiments describe, for example, the case in which a plurality of cutting portions106are formed in a cap portion104, the present invention is not limited thereto. Namely, one cutting portion106may be formed in the cap portion104. In this case, although the cap portion104is not divided into a plurality of cap pieces110, smooth deformation toward the side of a main unit102is enabled by the cutting portion106and thus fit can be improved.

The present application contains subject matter related to that disclosed in Japanese Priority Patent Application JP 2008-304885 filed in the Japan Patent Office on 28 Nov. 2008, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.