Patent Publication Number: US-10321218-B2

Title: Ear device for fixing earphone

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to an ear device for fixing an earphone, and more particularly, to an ear device for fixing an earphone and capable of being stably fixed to an auricle in a clip manner, of allowing a user to listen to audio of the earphone and to hear ambient sound at the same time, and of minimizing hearing loss. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     In general, earphones are a type of speakers worn on ears of a user to output audio and are used in wired or wireless connection with a multimedia player such as a radio receiver, an MP3 player, a mobile phone, a personal computer, or a laptop. 
     The user who wears the earphones in ear canals concentrates on audio reproduced by the multimedia player or, mostly, does something else, e.g., working, reading, studying, or exercising, while listening to music. 
     However, when the user listens to audio by wearing the earphones in the ear canals, ambient sound may not be easily heard and thus the user may not recognize a danger. 
     Particularly, a user who is exercising, e.g., jogging or hiking, or walking with the earphones in may not hear ambient sound and thus may have an accident due to collision with a vehicle or another pedestrian. 
     In addition, when the user uses the earphones on a high volume for a long time, a negative influence may be exerted on eardrums and, in worse cases, the eardrums may rupture or hearing loss may be caused. 
     Typically, ear devices are divided into accessories such as earrings and piercings, and fixtures for fixing earphones to ears of a user. 
     As an ear device for fixing an earphone to an ear of a user, the present applicant has proposed Patent Document 1. However, the ear device of Patent Document 1 may be easily separated due to violent motion of the user or impact. 
     In addition, using the ear device of Patent Document 1, parts suitable for various usages of the user should be separately purchased and the earphone may not be easily worn. 
     Furthermore, a conventional earphone should be pressed and inserted into an ear canal and thus pain and itchiness may be caused by the insertion pressure. 
     Therefore, the present applicant proposes herein an ear device for fixing an earphone and capable of firmly fixing the earphone to an ear of a user without inserting the earphone into an ear canal, and of allowing the user to hear ambient sound to prevent an accident while listening to audio. 
     PRIOR ART DOCUMENT 
     Patent Document 
     (Patent Document 1) KR 10-1544687 B1 
     DISCLOSURE 
     Technical Problem 
     Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is one object of the present invention to provide an ear device for fixing an earphone and capable of being stably fixed along an auricle in a clip manner to be stably worn without being separated due to violent motion of a user, of allowing the user to listen to audio of the earphone and to hear ambient sound at the same time to recognize and avoid a peripheral danger, and of reducing a pressure applied to an ear canal to reduce hearing loss. 
     Technical Solution 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, provided is an ear device for fixing an earphone, the ear device including a fixing body provided in a ‘C’-arc shape to be fitted and fixed to surround a rear part of an auricle, an earphone module located at a recess in front of the auricle to output audio to an ear canal, and a support connector extending in an arc shape to cross the auricle of a user from a part of the fixing body to the earphone module, made of an elastic material or a flexible metal, and transformed to move the fixing body and the earphone module away from or closer to each other so as to be fitted and fixed to the auricle. 
     Herein, a first coupling hole may be provided at a side of the fixing body and a second coupling hole may be provided at a side of the earphone module, two ends of the support connector may be individually attachable to and detachable from the first and second coupling holes, and thus the earphone module may be usable alone or in combination with the fixing body and the support connector as desired by the user. 
     The earphone module may further include a sound chamber protruding from the earphone module and inserted into the ear canal to output audio, and a length adjuster provided between the sound chamber and the earphone module and being extensible to adjust a depth by which the sound chamber is inserted into the ear canal. Likewise, the earphone module may further include a microphone extending along a cheek of the user to receive voice of the user. 
     A sound insulation member may be rotatably provided at a part of the support connector adjacent to a rear part of the earphone module to block or receive ambient sound by covering or uncovering the ear canal as desired by the user, and the support connector may further include an accessory detachably provided on the support connector and having various figures or shapes based on user preferences. 
     Lastly, the accessory or the fixing body may include an electronic chip having an RFID for public transportation or mobile payment, a door lock authentication key, or the like. 
     Advantageous Effects 
     As apparent from the fore-going, the present invention has the following effects. 
     First, an earphone may be firmly and stably fixed to an ear of a user by using the minimum elements. 
     Second, ear pain and hearing loss may be prevented because the earphone is not directly inserted into an ear canal of the user, and the user may hear ambient sound and thus rapidly react to a peripheral event, thereby avoiding an accident. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a structural view of an ear device for fixing an earphone, according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exemplary view showing how to wear the ear device for fixing the earphone, according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the ear device for fixing the earphone, according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a structural view of a first embodiment of the ear device for fixing the earphone, according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a structural view of a second embodiment of the ear device for fixing the earphone, according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a structural view of a third embodiment of the ear device for fixing the earphone, according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a structural view of a fourth embodiment of the ear device for fixing the earphone, according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a structural view of a fifth embodiment of the ear device for fixing the earphone, according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is an exemplary view showing various modifications of a fixing body of the ear device for fixing the earphone, according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     BEST MODE 
     Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail by explaining embodiments of the invention with reference to the attached drawings. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an ear device for fixing an earphone, according to the present invention, has a simple structure including a ‘C’-shaped fixing body  100  worn to surround a rear part of an auricle  1  of a user, a ‘C’-shaped support connector  200  crossing from the fixing body  100  to a front side of the auricle  1 , and an earphone module  300  provided at an end of the support connector  200  to output audio. 
     Herein, the fixing body  100  is provided in a ‘C’-arc shape to be fitted and fixed to surround the rear part of the auricle  1  of the user, and may be generally produced using metal or plastic having elasticity. 
     Preferably, in order to closely contact the rear part of the auricle  1  of the user and to increase wear ability for various sizes of the auricle  1 , the fixing body  100  includes a frame made of a freely transformable flexible metal and a cover made of a soft material such as sponge. 
     In this case, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the fixing body  100  made of an elastic material or a flexible metal may be pulled outward with slight force applied by the user, may be pushed to closely contact the rear part of the auricle  1 , and then may be restored elastically or pulled inward to surround the auricle  1 . 
     Therefore, the fixing body  100  surrounds the rear part of the auricle  1 , and more accurately, presses upper and lower points of the auricle  1 . 
     Furthermore, the fixing body  100  may prevent vertical movement by surrounding the rear part of the auricle  1 , and be firmly fixed by distributing the weight of the whole ear device around the auricle  1 . 
     In this case, depending on purposes desired by the user, various modules such as an audio player, a radio transceiver, an interpreter, a temperature sensor, a pedometer, a vibrator, and a radio-frequency identifier (RFID) may be included in the fixing body  100 . 
     The support connector  200  extends in an arc shape to cross the auricle  1  from a part of the fixing body  100  to a recess in front of the auricle  1  of the user, and is made of an elastic material or a flexible metal like the fixing body  100 . 
     In this case, since an elastic material can lose elastic force and fixing force thereof when used a lot, it is preferable to use a flexible metal. 
     The flexible metal may be any metal which is freely transformable with slight force applied by the user, e.g., gold, silver, copper, or aluminum. Particularly, aluminum wire which is easily transformable and maintainable in shape is preferable. 
     Since the fixing body  100  is provided at an end of the support connector  200  and the earphone module  300  is provided at another end thereof, if the two ends of the support connector  200  are pulled outward with slight force applied by the user, the fixing body  100  and the earphone module  300  may be simultaneously separated from each other to position the auricle  1  there between and, if the support connector  200  is restored elastically or pulled inward to an original state thereof, the fixing body  100  and the earphone module  300  move closer to each other to be fitted and fixed to the auricle  1 . 
     In this case, the fixing body  100  surrounds the rear part of the auricle  1  to support the ear device from above and below, the earphone module  300  is located and pressed at the recess in front of the auricle  1  to support the ear device from a side, and thus the ear device is firmly fixed to prevent vertical and horizontal movement by surrounding the auricle  1  and supporting three points. 
     The earphone module  300  is provided at an end of the support connector  200  and is located at the recess in front of the auricle  1  of the user to output audio to an ear canal  2 . 
     In this case, the earphone module  300  has various functions of a typical earphone, e.g., speaker, battery, Bluetooth, and audio device functions, and specific elements included in the earphone module  300  will not be described herein. 
     Therefore, the earphone module  300  may employ any of a wireless method using a Bluetooth function and a wired method using connection of an earphone jack. 
     Eventually, the support connector  200  may be transformed to move the fixing body  100  and the earphone module  300  away from or closer to each other so as to be fitted and fixed to the auricle  1 , and thus the ear device for fixing the earphone may be firmly worn on the auricle  1 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , a first coupling hole  110  is provided at a side of the fixing body  100 , and a second coupling hole  310  is provided at a side of the earphone module  300 . 
     The two ends of the support connector  200  are individually attachable to and detachable from the first and second coupling holes  110  and  310 , and thus the earphone module  300  is usable alone or in combination with the fixing body  100  and the support connector  200  as desired by the user. 
     That is, when a user violently moves outdoors, e.g., exercises or hikes, to prevent the earphone from being easily separated, the fixing body  100 , the earphone module  300 , and the support connector  200  may be worn and used in combination as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . Otherwise, both of the fixing body  100  and the support connector  200  may be detached in such a manner that another user may use the earphone module  300  alone by wearing the same in the ear canal  2  like a typical earphone. 
     The structure and various usages of the ear device of the present invention will now be described in detail by explaining embodiments thereof. 
     First Embodiment 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the earphone module  300  further includes a sound chamber  320  protruding from the earphone module  300  and inserted into the ear canal  2  to output audio, and a length adjuster  330  provided between the sound chamber  320  and the earphone module  300  and being length-adjustable to adjust a depth by which the sound chamber  320  is inserted into the ear canal  2 . 
     That is, the sound chamber  320  is further provided at a side of the earphone module  300  toward the ear canal  2  of the user such that audio may be output more closely to the user. 
     In addition, the length adjuster  330  is further provided between the sound chamber  320  and the earphone module  300  such that the sound chamber  320  may extend from the earphone module  300  and, when the sound chamber  320  is inserted into the ear canal  2  as necessary, the length adjuster  330  may softly contact the inner wall of the ear canal  2  and thus ear pain caused by a conventional earphone may be reduced. 
     Second Embodiment 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the earphone module  300  further includes a microphone  340  extending along a cheek of the user to receive voice of the user. 
     The microphone  340  is further provided to use the earphone module  300  as a typical headset. 
     Preferably, the microphone  340  is provided in a telescopic manner thus extends stepwise as desired by the user. As such, voice of the user may be more clearly received based on reception sensitivity of the microphone  340  or an ambient environment. 
     Third Embodiment 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , a sound insulation member  350  rotatable about the support connector  200  may be provided at a part of the support connector  200  adjacent to a rear part of the earphone module  300  to block ambient sound by covering the ear canal  2  as desired by the user. 
     That is, after the ear device is worn on the auricle  1  of the user based on transformation of the support connector  200  and the fixing body  100 , if the sound insulation member  350  rotates toward the support connector  200  to open the ear canal  2 , the user may listen to audio and hear ambient sound at the same time. 
     Otherwise, if the sound insulation member  350  rotates toward the earphone module  300  to close the ear canal  2 , ambient sound may be blocked and thus the user may concentrate on listening to audio. 
     Alternatively, the sound insulation member  350  may serve as an earplug to block both of earphone sound and ambient sound and thus the user may concentrate on studying or working. 
     In this case, preferably, the sound insulation member  350  is made of a typical sponge or silicone material and is provided in a seashell or fan shape to cover the ear canal  2 . 
     Fourth Embodiment 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , the support connector  200  further includes an accessory  210  detachably or integrally provided on the support connector  200  and having various figures or shapes based on user preferences. 
     As such, a variety of cute or pretty accessories  210  may be provided for female users who use the ear device of the present invention. 
     The accessory  210  may include an electronic chip  400  having an RFID for public transportation or mobile payment, a door lock authentication key, or the like. 
     That is, instead of inconveniently taking a tag card having the electronic chip  400  out of a pocket or wallet, the user may easily detach the accessory  210  from the worn ear device of the present invention, tap the accessory  210  on an RFID reader to use public transportation or receive door lock authentication, and then attach the accessory  210  back to the ear device. 
     Fifth Embodiment 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , similarly to the fourth embodiment, the fixing body  100  may include an electronic chip  400  having an RFID for public transportation or mobile payment, a door lock authentication key, or the like. 
     That is, instead of inconveniently taking a tag card having the electronic chip  400  out of a pocket or wallet, the user may easily take off the worn ear device of the present invention, tap the ear device on an RFID reader to use public transportation, and then wear the ear device again. 
     Lastly, referring to  FIG. 9 , preferably, the fixing body  100  is produced in various lengths, shapes, and sizes to be applicable to various users who wear the ear device of the present invention, i.e., various sizes and shapes of the auricle  1 , so as to be selected based on an ear shape of each user. 
     Using the above-described ear device of the present invention, an earphone may be firmly and stably fixed to an ear of a user by using the minimum elements, ear pain and hearing loss may be prevented because the earphone is not directly inserted into the ear canal  2  of the user, and the user may hear ambient sound and thus rapidly react to a peripheral event, thereby avoiding an accident. 
     The terms used in the specification and the claims should not be limited to conventional or lexical meanings and should be construed as having meanings and concepts corresponding to the technical idea of the present invention in order to the most appropriately describe the present invention. 
     While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to embodiments thereof, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims. 
     EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     
         
           1 : Auricle 
           2 : Ear canal 
           100 : Fixing body 
           110 : First coupling hole 
           200 : Support connector 
           210 : Accessory 
           300 : Earphone module 
           310 : Second coupling hole 
           320 : Sound chamber 
           330 : Length adjuster 
           340 : Microphone 
           350 : Sound insulation member 
           400 : Electronic chip