Abstract:
A wearable sound emitting device comprises a speaker, an audio circuit configured to generate sound from a media device, an inflatable, flexible mount comprising an exterior surface and an interior surface, wherein at least one conduit between said interior surface and said exterior surface permits transmission of a fluid, means to inflate said mount and a housing configured to receive at least a portion of said exterior surface of said mount and configured to receive said means to inflate said mount, wherein said housing couples said speaker to said audio circuit and couples said conduit of said mount to said means to inflate said mount.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/613,717 filed Mar. 21, 2012, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in this application in their entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Disclosed are embodiments of the invention which relate to, among other things, inflation mechanisms for earphones and other wearable speaker devices. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Headphones, earphones and ear buds are among the various names given to speaker systems worn by individuals to transmit sound signals produced by or in a media device, translate the signals into audible sounds, and project sounds in or around the ear canals of the user. 
         [0004]    Sounds from head phones and ear buds are produced from audio circuitry within the device and are channeled through a speaker into the area between the speaker and the user&#39;s ear, e.g., a sound cavity. Ideally, the sounds produced from the speaker would all enter the user&#39;s ear canal without disruption, interference or other sound losses within the sound cavity. One potential cause of such sound loss is intermittent or permanent vacancies between the speaker and the user&#39;s ear such that the sound cavity is not closed. 
         [0005]    When the headphone or ear bud speaker is not in substantially close contact with the user&#39;s ear, sound can escape from the sound cavity, resulting in noise, interference and loss of quality of the media projected. 
         [0006]    In active environments, a headphone or ear bud&#39;s capacity to remain in place within the sound cavity may also be compromised if the headphone or ear bud speaker cannot maintain or continue to maintain substantially close contact with the user&#39;s ear. 
         [0007]    Therefore, there is a need for headphone, ear bud or other forms of wearable speaker systems to better establish the advantageous close contact with the user&#39;s ear to avoid sound losses in various environments and to stay lodged in the user&#39;s ear without falling out. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a wearable sound emitting device comprises a speaker, an audio circuit configured to generate sound from a media device, and an inflatable, flexible mount comprising an exterior surface and an interior surface, wherein at least one conduit between the interior surface and the exterior surface permits transmission of a fluid. Mechanisms to inflate the mount may be disposed within a housing configured to receive at least a portion of the exterior surface of the mount and configured to receive one or more mechanisms to inflate the mount. The housing further couples the speaker to the audio circuit and further couples the conduit of the mount to the inflation mechanisms. 
         [0009]    In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a wearable sound emitting device comprises a speaker, an audio circuit configured to generate sound from a media device, an inflatable, flexible mount comprising an exterior surface and an interior surface with at least one conduit between said interior surface and said exterior surface which permits transmission of a fluid. Mechanisms to inflate the mount may be coupled to the conduit. A housing configured to receive at least a portion of the exterior surface of the mount also couples the speaker to the audio circuit. 
         [0010]    In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention an inflatable mount may revolve substantially or completely about the surface of a housing for a wearable sound emitting device. Such an inflatable mount may be rectangular or circular in cross-section. Alternatively such an inflatable mount may be any shape for achieving sufficient contact with the ear of a user. 
         [0011]    In another exemplary embodiment, mechanisms to inflate or deflate the mount may be one or more of the following: flexible latches, rolling channels, removable or anchored plugs, sliding openings, spring-action latches, unidirectional flow valves, flexible pumps, or bulbous pump housings. Those skilled in the art would understand other suitable mechanisms to accomplish the inflation or deflation of the inflatable mount. 
         [0012]    In another exemplary embodiment, mechanisms to inflate or deflate the mount may be found exclusively on a surface of the mount, within the housing, on a surface of the housing or any combination thereof. 
         [0013]    In another exemplary embodiment, inflatable mount may inflate to accommodate spaces in or around the ear of a user. An inflatable mount according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention may occupy a portion of the interior of a user&#39;s ear to reduce noise. An inflatable mount according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention may contact a portion of the interior of a user&#39;s ear to reduce interference to sounds generated from a speaker. Alternatively, an inflatable mount according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention may surround the periphery of a user&#39;s ear to reduce noise and/or interference to sounds generated from a speaker. 
         [0014]    Alternatively, an inflatable mount according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention may surround the periphery of a user&#39;s ear to remain inside the user&#39;s ear and not fall out. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary headphone in side-view and front-view, both configured for connection to a media device. 
           [0016]      FIGS. 2 ,  2 A and  2 B illustrate an ear bud and installation of same on a headphone. 
           [0017]      FIGS. 3 and 3A  illustrate an exemplary ear bud assembly. 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  illustrates an exemplary ear bud and headphone system. 
           [0019]      FIGS. 4A ,  4 B and  4 C illustrate exemplary inflation-deflation mechanisms referenced with respect to several exemplary embodiments. 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  illustrates a variant of an ear bud and headphone assembly. 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  illustrates a variation of an ear bud inflation mechanism. 
           [0022]      FIGS. 7 ,  7 A and  7 B illustrate an ear bud-headphone system. 
           [0023]      FIGS. 8 ,  8 A and  8 B illustrate a variant of an ear bud-headphone system. 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  illustrates a headset headphone system. 
           [0025]      FIGS. 10A and 10B  illustrate use of various exemplary embodiments in and around a user&#39;s ear. 
       
    
    
       [0026]    In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0027]    Illustrated in  FIG. 1  is a headphone  100  which comprises a housing  101  attached to a speaker  102 . Housing  101  and speaker  102  enclose audio circuitry  103  and signal transmission wire or wires  104 . Wire  104  connects audio circuitry  103  to a media device (not shown) for transmission of signals from media device to audio circuitry  103 . Those skilled in the art would understand that wire  104  is not necessary if audio circuitry  103  communicates wirelessly with the media device. Therefore, the disclosed embodiments are not limited to only wired forms of headphone  100 , but contemplate all types known to those skilled in the art. 
         [0028]    Audio circuitry  103  may operate in conjunction with speaker  102  to produce sounds according to the signals received from the media device. Headphone  100 , housing  101 , speaker  102 , audio circuitry  103  and wire  104  may be any form or configuration known to those skilled in the art, e.g., in-ear headphones, headphones which wrap around the back of the user&#39;s head, over-the-top-of-the-head head phones. For embodiments in which no wire  104  is necessary, those skilled in the art would recognize headphone  100  may be any form of WiFi or Bluetooth device which wirelessly transmits signals from a media device to audio circuitry  103 . 
         [0029]    A speaker  102  may be made of rubber, plastic or any other form which permits transmission of sound as relayed by audio circuitry  103 . Likewise, audio circuitry  103  may be any type, form or configurable set of electronic components suitable to render sound from signal transmissions from a media device, e.g., a compact disc player, Walkman, mp3 Player, iPod or other forms of smart phones/portable digital assistants, laptop, airplane audio jack, cell phone, or wireless forms of the same. 
         [0030]    Housing  101  may be made of any form or material known to those skilled in the art of portable electronic devices. For example, housing  101  may be plastic. Where housing  101  is a housing for over-the-top-of-the head headphones, housing  101  may be a composite of metal parts and plastic components. Thus, according to the various embodiments of the present invention, housing  101  may be any moldable or composite device capable of functioning in conjunction with the disclosed systems provided herein. 
         [0031]      FIG. 2  illustrates an ear bud  105  which may surround an axis  110 . An exemplary ear bud  105  may be fabricated from silicone, rubber or other deformable materials. However, a cross section A of ear bud  105 , illustrated by  FIG. 2A , shows that ear bud  105  may be partially or entirely hollow within its walls. In the illustration of  FIG. 2A , peripheral wall  120  and inner wall  125  continuously enclose ear bud channel  115  about axis  110 . Although as illustrated peripheral wall  120  and inner wall  125  form a round doughnut-like shape, they may alternatively form boxed shapes, triangular shapes and any other moldable forms known to those skilled in the art. Ear bud  105  may be manufactured from molding processes known to those skilled in the art, e.g., extrusion, rolling, heat binding. An exemplary ear bud channel  115  may be one in which ear bud channel  115  retains substantially the same volume of fluid within its space over time. Alternatively, ear bud channel  115  may be one where in its formation, fluid cannot escape through inner wall  125 . 
         [0032]    Also illustrated is axial wall  130  of ear bud  105 , which may be identical in shape, size and configuration to either of peripheral wall  120  or inner wall  125  or differ depending on the circumstances for which the ear bud will be installed on a headphone  100 . For example, axial wall  130  may be configured for frictional fitting between ear bud  105  and housing  101  of headphone  100  or may be adhesively bound to the housing  101  in whole or in part. Axial wall  130  may only partially complete the perimeter of inner wall  125  and/or outer wall  120 . For example, axial wall  130  may open up ear bud  105  so that housing  101  and inner wall  125  encompass channel  115 . Those skilled in the art will understand that any form of mechanical connection may be achieved between axial wall  130  and a headphone housing  101  so that ear bud channel  115  will be able to substantially retain fluid. 
         [0033]      FIG. 2B  illustrates another exemplary embodiment of an ear bud  105  affixed to headphone housing  101 . Ear bud  105  may be placed in any substantially open space capable of fixation of ear bud  105  to headphone  100 . Optionally, ear bud  105  may be located behind speaker  102 . Alternatively, ear bud  105  may envelop or partially cover speaker  102 . Additionally, ear bud  105  may be configured to both cover speaker  102  and contoured surfaces of housing  101 . Those skilled in the art will understand molding processes and binding processes for the manufacture of an ear bud of the types herein disclosed and attachment of the same to various types of headphones, headphone housings and/or headphone speakers. 
         [0034]      FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the present invention wherein housing  101  carries ear bud  105  about a portion of housing  101  holding wire  104  and a portion holding speaker  102 . Cross section A may be located at the geometric center of the speaker  102 , which may or may not be the geometric center of ear bud  105 , e.g., depending on the profile of housing  101  to which ear bud  105  conforms.  FIG. 3A  depicts an exemplary cross section of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention where a housing  101  comprises a speaker  102 , audio circuitry  103 , wire  104  and a portion of ear bud  105 . As illustrated in the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 3A , ear bud  105 , comprising an outer surface  120  and inner surface  125 , may be embedded within housing  101  by a portion  140  of the ear bud wall defined by outer surface  120  and inner surface  125 . In one example, portion  140  may be integrated with housing  101  in any manner which substantially retains fluid within ear bud channel  115 . In another example, portion  140  may be friction fitted within housing  101 . In a different embodiment, portion  140  may be adhesively bound to housing  101 . 
         [0035]    In one aspect of the present invention according to the illustrative embodiment of  FIG. 3A , housing channel  135  may be shaped, carved-out, or otherwise configured to allow ear bud to be slid into vacant portions of housing  101  to substantially retain fluid occupying ear bud channel  115 . Alternatively, housing channel  135  may cooperatively engage ear bud portion  140  to establish a connection which substantially retains fluid within ear bud channel  115 . According to the illustrative embodiment of  FIG. 3 , housing channel  135  may form an “L” shaped cavity about the periphery of housing  101  to engage a complementary shaped “L” portion  140  made of rubber. Portion  140  continues from the “L” shaped cavity in housing  101  and bends towards another “L” shaped cavity in housing  101  into which it provides for yet another complementary “L” shape. Between both portions  140  is a wall defined by inner surface  125  and outer surface  120 . A channel  115  exists between the combination of complementary engagements between portions  140  and housing channels  135  and the inner surface  125 . 
         [0036]    Channels  135  may have been described with respect to housing  101 , but nothing in the disclosure should be treated as limiting such constructs to the housing  101  of headphone  100 . For example, a set of channels  135  may be formed in housing  101  surface and another set of channels  135  may be in a surface of speaker  102 . Thus, the present invention contemplates numerous positioning of channels  135  for receipt of ear bud  105  in accordance with the various aspects of the present invention. 
         [0037]    According to an exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 3A , the complementary friction engagement between channels  135  and ear bud portions  140  may permit ear bud  105  to be removable from headphone  100 . In one aspect of this exemplary embodiment, an ear bud  105  engaged in channels  135  of housing  101  at portions  140  may be squeezed at outer surface  120  and, by doing so, disengage portions  140  from channels  135 . Likewise, ear bud  105  may be re-engaged with housing  101  in the opposite fashion. Thus, according to at least certain aspects of the exemplary embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3A , a headphone  100  may be configured to receive and release many types of ear bud  105  according to particular needs and desires of a user, e.g., larger ear bud  105  for larger ears of user, different color ear buds, ear buds having different shapes. 
         [0038]    Illustrated in  FIG. 4  is yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 4  depicts housing  101  coupled to audio circuitry  103  which communicates sound to speaker  102 . Audio circuitry  103  is coupled to wire  104  which interacts with a media device (not shown). Ear bud  105 , having an outer surface  120 , an inner surface  125  and portions  140 , is coupled to channels  135  of housing  101 . The wall defined by outer surface  120  and inner surface  125  surrounds ear bud channel  115 . 
         [0039]    In one aspect of the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 4 , housing  101  may contain a flexible pump  200  coupled to an exterior surface of housing  101  by means known to those skilled in the art (e.g., adhesives, screws, heating, friction fitting). Alternatively, a separable component of housing  101  may contain a flexible pump  200  which component may be operatively connected to or inserted within housing  101  by means known to those skilled in the art. In a different embodiment, pump  200  is an integrated component of housing  101  of headphone  100 . 
         [0040]    Pump  200  may be any flexible material that undergoes plastic deformation, for example, a rubber or silicone material. Pump  200  contains a passage  202  exposing interior of pump  200  to the ambient. By compressing pump  200 , a fluid, e.g., air, located within pump  200  may be moved from the interior of pump  200  through input conduit  206 . During this compression action, passage  202  may be precluded from allowing fluid within pump  200  to escape pump  200 . Thus, compression of pump  200  forces substantially all fluid therein to be sent into housing  100  via input conduit  206 . An exemplary pump  200  may be small enough to fit on housing  101  without interfering with coupling housing  101  with ear bud  105 . Alternatively, pump  200  may be separately attached to housing  101  by a user, e.g., screwed into a threaded reception point in housing  101 . Optionally, pump  200  may be operated by using a single finger to compress and decompress its surface. 
         [0041]    Input conduit  206  may be any molded form or construct within housing  101  communicating a fluid from pump  200  to an ear bud channel  115  formed according to the various embodiments of the present invention. An exemplary input conduit  206  may be formed from a mold use to form housing  101 . Alternatively, input conduit  206  may be a separate tubing component within housing  101 . In yet another embodiment, input conduit  206  may be a combination of molded parts and tubes. Those skilled in the art will understand how to implement an input conduit  206  in accordance with the various aspects of the present invention. 
         [0042]    One-way valve  204  may be located substantially near pump  200  or a portion of conduit  206 . One-way valve  204  may be any form of one-way valve known to those skilled in the art, e.g., such as duckbill valves, umbrella valves, minivalve balls, dome valves, Belleville valves and cross-slit valves. The valves may be molded, adhered or otherwise bonded to input conduit  206  in the path of flow of fluid from pump  200  to ear bud channel  115 . According to embodiments where input conduit  206  may be a molded form in housing  101 , a molded slot for one-way valve  204  may be provided for such that fluid going through input conduit  206  must pass through one-way valve  204 . In yet other embodiments, one-way valve  204  may be heat bonded to a tube of input conduit  206  to restrict fluid from reversing flow direction. Once compression of pump  200  forces fluid, e.g., air, through one-way valve  204 , the fluid continues to ear bud channel  115 . Upon relieving pressure on pump  200 , passage  202  once again may open to the ambient for receipt of more fluid within pump  200 . In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, repeated application and release of pressure on pump  200  may fill an ear bud channel  115  with enough fluid to cause deformation of inner surface  125  and outer surface  120  of ear bud  105 . In another exemplary embodiment, fluid from repeated pressurization of pump  200  may fill ear bud channel  115  and exit conduit  208  so that fluid remains within either of ear bud channel  115  or housing  101  (e.g., input conduit  206 , exit conduit  208 ). 
         [0043]    According to this and other embodiments of the present invention, continuous fluid input into ear bud channel  115  causes expansion of inner ear bud surface  125  and outer ear bud surface  120  such that ear bud  105  expands in size. Ear bud  105  expansion may be unidirectional or in various directions, depending on needs of the user. For example, ear bud  105  may expand over speaker  102 . Alternatively, ear bud  105  may inflate to a predetermined shape. Ear bud  105  may expand to achieve a close fit between headphone  100  and the ear of a user. 
         [0044]    Exit conduit  208  may be manufactured and implemented in substantially the same manner as input conduit  206  described above. Exit conduit may have one or more latches  305  disposed within housing  101  or external of housing  101  to permit fluid from within exit conduit  208  to escape into the ambient. A latch  305  may be any form configured for attachment with housing  101  and may comprise flexible rubber flaps, sliding spring covers, rolling latch mechanisms or plug latches (see, for example,  FIGS. 4A ,  4 B,  4 C and  5 ). According to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention illustrated in  FIG. 4 , latch  305  is a sliding spring cover with a portion of latch  305  covering exit conduit  208  and another portion slidably engaged in a latch cavity  310  within housing  101 . Disposed in, on or within latch cavity  310  is a resistance engagement between latch arm  315  and spring  320 . Those skilled in the art would understand various configurations of the primary latch components may also achieve the desired result of a covering that can slide out of the path of exit conduit  208 , allow fluid, e.g., air, to exit and then return to a position in which the latch covers exit conduit  208 . Additionally, each and every latch  305  disclosed herein may be interchangeable with another latch  305  to extent that material permits the latch design to be implemented. 
         [0045]    According to a different embodiment, a user of headphone  100  as depicted according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention in  FIG. 4 , may press down on latch  305  to release fluid within ear bud channel  115 . Although latch  305  is shown external of housing  101 , the embodiments of the present invention contemplate internal arrangements of latch  305  so long as opening and closing of latch  305  may be achieved. An exemplary latch  305  internally arranged within housing  101  may be illustrated in  FIGS. 4B ,  4 C and  5 . 
         [0046]    Referring to exemplary portions of housing  101 , exit conduit  208  and latch  305  depicted in  FIGS. 4A ,  4 B and  4 C, various permutations of latch  305  may be envisioned to allow for operation of the present invention according to the disclosed embodiments herein. With reference to  FIG. 4A , a latch  305  may be a flexible rubber pad which may be peeled back or propped up from the surface of housing  101  to allow fluid to exit from within exit conduit  208 . According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention according to  FIG. 4A , latch  305  is a rubber or other flexible material that may be heat bonded to a surface of housing  101 . Alternatively, latch  305  may be mechanically attached by screws, bolts or adhesive. Optionally, latch  305  may be configured to be moved with a single finger. 
         [0047]    Referring to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4B , a rolling cylinder or sphere with tunnel  325  may be rotated by a user of headphone  100  having such housing  101  to allow a fluid link between the ambient and exit conduit  208 . An exemplary latch  305  having a tunnel  325  may be incorporated into housing  101  by screws, plastic bearings, plastic axels or any other rotating mechanisms known to those skilled in the art. Rotation mechanisms such as plastic axels and plastic bearings may be situated in molded halves of housing  101  and when two such halves of housing  101  are assembled, rotating latch  305  may be operatively lodged therein. In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention illustrated in  FIG. 4B , a network of miniature gears may be used to rotate latch  305  so that tunnel  325  may align with exit conduit  208 . According to this exemplary embodiment, a rotating latch  305  may be situated within housing  101  so long as a gear in the network may be exposed to allow rotation of the latch  305 . As previously discussed with respect to latch  305  generally, latch  305  may be operatively coupled to housing  101  both externally and internally to permit operation of the various embodiments of the present invention described herein. Optionally, rotatable latch  305  may be operated using a single finger. Optionally, a rotatable latch  305  coupled to a gear system may also be operated using a single finger. 
         [0048]    Referring to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention illustrated in  FIG. 4C , a spring-action latch  305  having a tunnel  325  and slide arm  315  coupled to spring  320  lodged in a latch cavity  310  within housing  101 . As latch  305  is displaced into housing  101 , spring  320  is compressed into latch cavity  310 . Displacement of latch  305  may permit tunnel  325  to allow fluid to flow from exit conduit  208  out of housing  101 . When latch  305  is not displaced, spring  320  may regain its original form and return latch slide  315  back to its position in the path of fluid flow from housing  101  to the ambient via exit conduit  208 . An exemplary spring latch of the kind illustrated in  FIG. 4C  may be a latch  305  which operates within housing  101 . Optionally, latch  305  may be displaced using a single finger. Alternatively, a gear system may be employed for ratcheting slide arm  315  into and out of the fluid communication passage of exit conduit  208 . 
         [0049]    Moving now to the illustrated embodiment of the present invention according to  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 5  depicts a housing  101 , audio circuitry  103 , speaker  102  and ear bud  105  coupled and arranged in substantially similar fashion as in  FIG. 4 . Pump  200  may be placed in an operably suitable location on an exterior surface of housing  101  to pump fluid from the ambient received through passage  202  and into input conduit  206  and fill ear bud channel  115 . Fluid filling ear bud channel  115  cannot exit from ear bud  105  due to a one-way valve  204 , as previously described, operatively engaged with input conduit  206  to prevent fluid from within ear bud channel  115  from exiting. 
         [0050]    According to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention illustrated in  FIG. 5 , exit conduit  208  may be integrally formed with or in the wall comprised of ear bud inner surface  125  and ear bud outer surface  120 . Preventing fluid from escaping from ear bud  105  during inflation is a latch  305  lodged within exit conduit  208 . Those skilled in the art would understand numerous ways of implementing latch  305  in conformance with the present exemplary embodiment, e.g., latches for holding in air for swimmies or floaties, plugs for holding water in toy water guns. Alternatively, a suitable latch  305  may be any small capping mechanism which may close the passage of fluid from ear bud  105 . 
         [0051]    Depicted at a closer vantage point in  FIG. 5  is latch  305  lodged within exit conduit  208  within outer ear bud surface  120  and inner ear bud surface  125 . Latch  305  comprises a plug  340  which frictionally fits within exit conduit  208 . Stem  345  extends from plug  340  to anchor  350  which keeps latch  305  coupled to ear bud  105 . In another aspect of the exemplary embodiment according to  FIG. 5 , latch  305  may be a flexible flap adhesively or molded to ear bud outer surface  120  similar to latch  305  depicted in  FIG. 4A . Like latch  305  of  FIG. 4A , a user may open up exit conduit  208  to the ambient, permitting release of all fluid within ear bud channel  115 . Latch  305  may be resilient enough to resist opening during expansion of ear bud  105 , but pliable enough to be opened by the user when seeking to deflate ear bud  105 . Those skilled in the art will understand the materials suitable to allow ear bud  105  latch  305  to accomplish this task according to this aspect of the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 5 . For example, latch  305  may be a vulcanized rubber flap heat-bonded to surface  120  of ear bud  105 . Vulcanized rubber flap latch  305  may have enough rigidity to avoid being displaced by fluid collected within ear bud channel  115  during inflation, but which is flexible enough to be moved away to deflate ear bud  105  using a single finger of a user to flip or bend it out of the path of exit conduit  208 . 
         [0052]    With reference to  FIG. 6 , another illustrative embodiment of the present invention may be seen with headphone housing  101  coupled to audio circuitry  103  in communication with speaker  102  and with electrical connection  104  to a media device (not shown). While an ear bud  105  with outer surface  120  and inner surface  125  forming a wall with portions  140  for engaging housing channels  135  is shown, the exemplary embodiments of  FIG. 6  contemplate numerous other ear bud  105  and housing  101  arrangements according to other embodiments of the present invention. Exit conduit  208  resembles the exit conduit  208  depicted in  FIG. 4  and carries with it all permutations discussed with respect to the same (e.g.,  FIGS. 4A ,  4 B and  4 C).  FIG. 6  further illustrates an exemplary direct pump device  400  coupled to a one-way valve  404  integrated with the wall formed by outer ear bud surface  120  and inner ear bud surface  125 . Ear bud channel  115  receives fluid through one-way valve  400  via chamber  406 . An exemplary direct pump device  400  may be a flexible rubber bubble similar to an eyedropper. Those skilled in the art would understand other forms of direct pump devices to achieve the desired objectives described herein with respect to the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 6 . 
         [0053]    In one embodiment, fluid, for example, air, pumped from direct pump device  400  is channeled through chamber  406  to a one-way valve  400  similar in like and kind to one-way valve  204  described in other embodiments of the present invention. One-way valve  404  may be molded into or mechanically coupled to ear bud  105  by any number of ways known to those skilled in the art. As fluid is administered to ear bud channel  115  from direct pump device  400 , ear bud  105  expands to a larger size. A direct pump device  400  according to the various embodiments of the present invention may be interchangeable with pump  200  and may alternatively be permanently or removably attached to housing  101  and/or a surface of ear bud  105 . To deflate an expanded ear bud  105  according to the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 6 , a user may resort to a sliding latch  305  as previously discussed in  FIGS. 4 ,  4 B and  4 C. Alternatively, a plug latch  305  of the type described in  FIG. 5  may also be employed. 
         [0054]    According to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention illustrated in  FIG. 7 , an ear bud  105  may be shaped in a substantially doughnut-like shape about an axis  110 . The topographical view of the ear bud  105  shown in the illustrative embodiment of  FIG. 7  has a void  600  in its inner-most surface, e.g., the surface that may contact housing  101 . Although ear bud  105  is shown as a substantially round shape in  FIG. 7 , ear bud  105  may be a shape that is mostly square, an octagon or an amorphous shape. Further, ear bud  105  may be amorphous to permit optimal fixation within a user&#39;s ear or ear canal, e.g., molded for specific medical uses, support of handicaps. 
         [0055]    With reference to  FIG. 7A , a side view of one-half of the ear bud  105  is shown. Below the central axis through ear bud  105  is void  600 , a space in ear bud  105  made by any known means in the art. Void  600  may be of any form or shape to accomplish the results described herein. In addition to void  600 , ear bud  105  further includes a direct pump  500  similar to type and construction of direct pump  400  in  FIG. 6 . However, according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention illustrated by  FIG. 7A , direct pump  500  has no one-way valve mechanism or other device intervening between pump housing  500 , pump chamber  502  and ear bud channel  115 . Direct pump  500  may be manufactured to be substantially the same as direct pump chamber  400  or as other pumps suitable for the purposes of providing fluid into ear bud  105 . However, according to the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 7A , inflation of ear bud  105  may not substantially go to completion until ear bud  105  is coupled to headphone housing  101  when void  600  is large enough to permit passage of fluid from ear bud channel  115  to the ambient. Otherwise, where void  600  is air tight, e.g., does not allow fluid to exit from ear bud channel  115  to the ambient, ear bud  105  may be inflated to completion before, during or after coupling to housing  101 . 
         [0056]      FIG. 7B  shows an exemplary coupling arrangement between headphone  100  and inflatable ear bud  105 . A headphone housing  101  connected operatively to speaker  102  and audio circuitry  103  engages a media device by way of an electrical connection of wire  104 . In one aspect of the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 7B , inflatable ear bud  105  may be slipped on, wrapped on or molded onto a receiving surface of housing  101 . An exemplary receiving surface of housing  101  may contain a ledge, prong or other housing  101  surface structure configured to substantially fill void  600 . In this way, housing  101  surface structure may frictionally couple inflatable ear bud  105  to housing  101 . In another aspect of the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 7B , housing  101  surface structure may also serve as a plug for void  600  where void  600  permits passage of fluid from ear bud channel  115  to the ambient. Void  600  serves as a mechanical coupling of ear bud  105  to housing  101  and a latch to restrict passage of fluid from ear bud  105 . Direct pump  500  and pump chamber  502  may be situated anywhere about housing  101 . In an exemplary housing  101 , housing  101  may have a receiving surface configured to nestle direct pump  500  and/or pump chamber  502 . Such a receiving surface may allow additional coupling stability to the inflatable ear bud  105  embodiment of  FIGS. 7 ,  7 A and  7 B while also making a sleeker headphone  101  exterior. An exemplary receiving surface may be a groove in which direct pump  500  sits within with a complementary groove for pump chamber  502 , each molded into housing  101  of the headphone  100 . 
         [0057]    Turning now to  FIG. 8  which illustrates another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a rear view of the headphone with inflatable ear bud system may be seen with the back of housing  101  in the foreground. Between the background ear bud  105  and foreground housing  101  is housing  101  receiving surface  700 . An exemplary housing receiving surface  700  may be any grooved or patterned surface created by molding, etching or other forms of material modeling that increases the contact between inner axial wall  130  of ear bud  105  and housing  101 . An exemplary receiving surface  700  may be a pattern of triangular teeth which receive complementary sized rubber teeth extending axially from axial wall  130  towards the center of inflatable ear bud  105 . According to the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 8 , housing  101  receiving surface is located about axis  110 . However, those skilled in the art will understand that receiving surface  700  may be any number of surfaces to accommodate a corresponding ear bud under the needs and circumstances of a user. Further illustrated in  FIG. 8  is void  600  made in ear bud  105 . A complementary housing  101  surface structure  702  is illustrated as well. Surface structure  702  may be a component of same or different material to housing  101  and may likewise be integrated with, separately adhered to or otherwise coupled to housing  101 . 
         [0058]    The cross section of  FIG. 8  may be exemplified with reference to  FIGS. 8A and 8B . In  FIG. 8A , an exemplary inflatable ear bud  105  is shown with void  600  made in what has been heretofor identified as ear bud axial wall  130 . Further illustrated is direct pump  500  with pump chamber  502 . Although direct pump  500  is shown, the illustrative embodiment of  FIG. 8A  contemplates any and all disclosed direct pumps or pumping mechanisms of similar function, methodology and capable of achieving like results.  FIG. 8A  may also be interpreted to show a “C” shaped ear bud  105  to snap onto a housing  101 . Ear bud  105  need not be “C” shaped for the purposes of the operation of the embodiments exemplified by  FIGS. 8 ,  8 A and  8 B. 
         [0059]    The cross section of  FIG. 8  may be seen more fully in  FIG. 8B . According to the exemplary illustration of the present invention according to  FIG. 8B , inflatable ear bud  105  is situated about receiving surface  700  of housing  101 . An exemplary receiving surface may be located anywhere on or between speaker  102  and wire  104 , although those skilled in the art may recognize that speaker  102  may, in certain cases, serve as a receiving surface. Thus, for the purposes of the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 8B , receiving surface  700  is found between speaker  102  and the exposed portion of housing  101 . Additionally, housing  101  has extension  702  and pump receptacle  704  configured to hold pump  500  and/or pump chamber  502 . Extension  702  may be sized and situated to plug or seal any opening in ear bud  105  axial wall  130 . Pump receptacle  704  may be sized and shaped to limit movement of direct pump  500  and/or pump chamber  502 . An exemplary direct pump  500  may be friction fit into receptacle  704 , although other forms of reception in housing  101  may be recognized by those skilled in the art. An exemplary receptacle  704  for pump chamber  502  may be a hook or other over-hanging structure which allows housing  101  to better secure ear bud  105  to the housing  101  surface. Although the embodiments illustrated in  FIGS. 8A and 8B  depict a void through which fluid may exit ear bud channel  115 , those skilled in the art will understand that these illustrative embodiments include those ear bud axial walls with voids  600  that do not transmit fluid from ear bud channel  115  to the ambient. 
         [0060]    A user of an inflatable ear bud system incorporating an inflatable ear bud as illustrated and described in any of the disclosed embodiments, may make use of the device assembly in various manners. A first method of using the inflatable ear bud system is to affix the inflatable ear bud to the housing of the headphones by one or more of the following: slipping the flexible hollow ear bud over the speaker, slipping the headphone wire through the open center of the ear bud and sliding the ear bud up and around the headphone housing so as to bring the ear bud to the desired housing surface, or flexibly expanding ear bud to fit over one or more of the speaker and/or housing to maintain a close fit. The ear bud may be partially or fully filled with fluid prior to assembly to the housing  101  of the headphone. Upon establishing a connection to housing  101 , a user may place ear bud  105  into the location in the user&#39;s ear in which sound will be heard. 
         [0061]    In one aspect, a user&#39;s thumb and middle finger hold housing  101  with inflatable ear bud  105  in place, while a user may use his or her index finger to begin contacting a pump affiliated with ear bud  105 . For the purposes of this example, the index finger may be used to repeatedly press direct pump  400 . While the user proceeds to inflate the ear bud to increase the degree of ear bud contact and minimize outside noise interference within the user&#39;s ear, a point will be reached when either the user&#39;s ear cannot receive any further increases in ear bud size or the ear bud has reached its maximum inflation size. Once completed, the ear bud  105  may be deflated by simply removing the pump, removing the ear bud or pressing a relief switch on housing  101 . 
         [0062]    In another aspect, a user may already receive a housing  101  with inflatable ear bud  105  attached thereto. Upon placing ear bud within a cavity of the user&#39;s ear, a user may use one of his or her fingers to activate inflation means disposed on the housing  101  or inflatable ear bud  105  to create a substantially tighter fit between the ear bud  105  and the user&#39;s ear. 
         [0063]    When a user wishes to remove the ear bud  105  deployed as previously described in the above disclosures and methods, user may utilize one or more means disposed on either of ear bud  105  or housing  101  to permit fluid to escape from ear bud channel  115  back out to the ambient. 
         [0064]    Where headphone  100  is a headset headphone, as in  FIG. 9 , ear bud  105  may engage both housing  101 , receiving surface  700  and speaker  102  since headset headphones have speakers located within the speaker material. According to this example, inflatable ear bud may inflate around user&#39;s ear rather than within a cavity formed by the user&#39;s ear, e.g., the ear bud  105  balloons about the periphery of user&#39;s ear to substantially reduce noise loss and/or outside interference to transmission of sound from a media device. In this particular example headphone  100  may be configured according to headset headphone constructions known to those skilled in the art. 
         [0065]    In the exemplary embodiment according to the illustration in  FIG. 9 , headset headphones  100 , may have two substantially identical headphone housings  101  comprising one or more of the inflation and deflation mechanisms described herein, e.g., input conduits, pumps, latches and/or plugs. Alternatively, headset headphone  100  may comprise ear buds  105  with one or more of the inflation and deflation mechanisms described herein, e.g., latches, pumps (direct and otherwise) and/or plugs. Housing receiving surface  700  may also comply with one or more of the disclosures related to the same described herein. For example, receiving surface  700  may be configured to frictionally fit a headset headphone ear bud  105 . Alternatively, receiving surface  700  may be mechanically coupled to ear bud  105  via adhesives, heat bonding, complementary shape engagement (e.g., for ear buds with portions  140  and housings  101  with channels  135 ) and/or any other form of coupling known to those skilled in the art. Optionally ear bud  105  may engulf speaker  102 . However, embodiments where speaker  102  protrudes from ear buds  105  are also permissible. It may be that user may take two in-ear headphones  100  and connect them via a bridge  106  to form a headset headphone  100  as shown in  FIG. 9 . According to this example, ear buds  105  may Optionally not engulf speaker  102 . However, in any of the various embodiments, ear bud  105  may be configured to inflate to fit the cavity of a user&#39;s ear or the space surrounding the periphery of a user&#39;s ear. 
         [0066]    Referring to the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 10A , a headphone  100  comprising housing  101 , wire  104  to media device (media device not shown) and ear bud  105  may be found within the ear  1000  of a user. Ear bud  105  may be located approximately within a space within user ear  1000  defined by upper ear lobe  1001  and lower earlobe  1002 . While ear bud  105 , according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention herein described, may be inflated to substantially fit in the space defined by upper ear lobe  1001  and lower earlobe  1002 . Alternatively, ear bud  105  according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention herein described, may be inflated to substantially fit within a space defined by a combination of upper ear lobe  1001 , lower earlobe  1002 , upper lobe fold  1005  and lower lobe fold  1004 . Optionally, ear bud  105  may be situated within lower lobe fold  1004  and expanded by a user to inflate ear bud  105  surface until sufficient contact is made with one or more of upper earlobe  1001  or upper lobe fold  1005 . Those skilled in the art may recognize the upper and lower earlobes and folds may differ from user-to-user and such variations do not limit the scope and spirit of the present invention&#39;s application to such unique ear anatomies. Alternatively to any of the aforementioned, ear bud  105  may be situated within an ear canal (not shown). According to this alternative exemplary embodiment, inflation of ear bud  105  may not engage upper lobe fold  1005  or lower earlobe  1002 , but may sustain contact with ear  1000  merely by virtue of its situation in the ear canal. However, a user may inflate ear bud  105  in accordance with embodiments discussing inflation into any portions of ear  1000  (e.g., upper lobe  1001 , upper lobe fold  1005 , lower lobe  1002 , lower lobe fold  1004 ) even when ear bud  105  engages the ear canal of ear  1000  of a user. 
         [0067]    It may also be recognized in  FIG. 10A , that while ear bud  105  may engage certain portions of ear  1000 , speaker  102  (not shown) may engage different portions of ear  1000 . For example, speaker  102  may engage ear canal while ear bud  105  engages the combination of lower lobe fold  1004  and upper lobe fold  1005 . Alternatively, speaker  102  may be spaced from a surface of ear  1000  while ear bud  105  creates a closed cavity containing the same by virtue of its contact with upper lobe  1001  and lower lobe  1002  of user ear  1000 . Housing  101  may also engage portions of user ear  1000  either alone or in combination with speaker  102  and/or ear bud  105 . In a different embodiment, housing  101  may engage lower lobe fold  1004  while ear bud  105  engages lower lobe  1002  and either of upper lobe  1001  or upper lobe fold  1005 . In another different embodiment, housing  101  may engage a periphery  1006  of ear  1000  while ear bud  105  engages lower lobe  1002  and either of upper lobe  1001 , lower lobe fold  1004  or upper lobe fold  1005 . Depending on the shape and sizing of ear bud  105  and user ear  1000 , any exemplary ear bud  105  may engage one or more different combinations of the user ear  1000  to achieve the beneficial aspects herein described. 
         [0068]    Turning to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention as illustrated by  FIG. 10B , a user ear  1000  may be situated between a headset headphone  100  comprising a housing  101 , a bridge  106  to a second housing (not shown), a wire  104  to a media device (not shown) and an ear bud  105 . Ear  1000  is found underneath the exterior surface  120   b  of ear bud  105 . According to the illustrative embodiment of  FIG. 10B , an interior surface  120   a  of ear bud  105  is proximal to ear periphery  1006  such that ear bud  105  substantially reduces noise coming between speaker  102  (not shown) and ear  1000  or reduces interference with signals provided by media device (not shown) connected via wire  204 . An exemplary ear bud  105  according to the embodiments described and  FIG. 10B  may be shaped so that its expanded state provides interior surfaces  120   a  which advantageously couple in or around ear periphery  1006 . For example, ear bud  105  may inflate to wrap about periphery  1006  of ear  1000  to reduce disruptions of sound provided from a media device. Those skilled in the art will understand that a bridge  106  may be configured to assist in the inflation and tight coupling of ear bud  105  of a headset headphone  100  to ear  1000  of a user. For instance, headset  106  may be rigid so as to tightly hold inflated ear bud  105  in a more proximal relationship to periphery  1006  of ear  1000 . 
         [0069]    It should be understood that the headphone  100  or headset headphone  100  of either of  FIG. 10A  or  10 B may be configured, operated and otherwise utilized in accordance with any of the embodiments previously disclosed, in any form or combination. As previously stated, any and all embodiments may be interchangeable depending on the needs of the particular user. 
         [0070]    While the invention has been described by way of example embodiments, it is understood that the words which have been used herein are words of description rather than words of limitation. Changes may be made, within the purview of the appended claims without departing from the scope and the spirit of the invention in its broader aspects. Although the invention has been described herein with reference to particular structures, materials, and embodiments, it is understood that the invention is not limited to the particulars disclosed.