Patent Publication Number: US-2004055811-A1

Title: Earphone device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0002] This invention relates to an earphone device, more particularly to a wireless earphone device, which is comfortable to wear and which can be secured in place during use.  
       [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art  
       [0004] Following recent developments and widespread application in wireless communications technology, the wireless earphone has become one of the most popular audio/video electronic products.  
       [0005] Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional wireless earphone  91  is shown to include an ear-hook main body  911  provided with a plurality of electronic elements (not shown) to achieve functions, such as wireless transmission, audio signal processing, and the like. A speaker  913  is mounted on a distal end of a speaker arm  912  for the output of sounds, and a microphone  915  is mounted on the distal end of a microphone arm  914  for the pick-up of audio signals from the user.  
       [0006] In use, the weight center of the earphone  91  will be located rearwardly of the human outer ear  92 , as best shown in FIG. 1. Therefore, movement of the user&#39;s head can cause the earphone  91  to become unstable and unbalanced, whereby the earphone  91  tends to move or even fall off from the user&#39;s ear and can apply uncomfortable pressure to the user&#39;s ear. Moreover, the conventional earphone  91  is designed only for use with the right or left ear of the user.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007] The object of the present invention is to provide an earphone device that is free of the aforesaid drawbacks of the prior art.  
       [0008] According to this invention, an earphone device includes a housing, an electrical unit and a speaker. The housing includes a first portion, a second portion, and an arc-shaped portion with a first end connected to the first portion and a second end connected to the second portion. The first and second portions have confronting inner end surfaces. The arc-shaped portion has a curved inner surface contiguous with the inner end surfaces of the first and second end portions. The curved inner surface cooperates with the inner end surfaces to define a cavity having a size sufficient to permit extension of an upper part of the human outer ear therethrough when the curved inner surface is disposed on an upper part of an incurved rim that appends the human outer ear to the human head.  
       [0009] The electrical unit is disposed in the housing and has components distributed between the first and second portions. The components include a control circuit and a power supply coupled electrically to the control circuit.  
       [0010] The speaker is mounted on the housing and is coupled electrically to the control circuit. The speaker is disposed in the cavity so as to be located adjacent to an ear canal of the human outer ear when the curved inner surface of the arc-shaped portion is disposed on the upper part of the incurved rim that appends the human outer ear to the human head. Preferably, the speaker is rotatable relative to the housing to adapt the earphone device for use with the left or right ear of the user. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0011] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
     [0012]FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a conventional wireless earphone in a state of use;  
     [0013]FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
     [0014]FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating how the components of the electrical unit are distributed in the preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
     [0015]FIG. 4 is another schematic view showing the distribution of the components of the electrical unit shown in FIG. 3;  
     [0016]FIG. 5 is a schematic view similar to FIG. 3 but showing a curved leg member of the preferred embodiment when extended out of a curved channel;  
     [0017]FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of the preferred embodiment;  
     [0018]FIG. 7 is a schematic view illustrating the preferred embodiment of the present invention in a state of use; and  
     [0019]FIG. 8 is a schematic side view of another preferred embodiment according to the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0020] Referring to FIG. 2, the first preferred embodiment of the earphone device  1 , which is an audio accessory, according to the present invention is shown to comprise a housing  2 , an electrical unit  3  and a speaker  4 , which is a transducer.  
     [0021] The housing  2  of the earphone device  1  includes a rectangular first portion  21 , a rectangular second portion  22 , and an arc-shaped portion  23  with a first end  231  connected to the first portion  21  and a second end  232  connected to the second portion  22 . The first and second portions  21 ,  22  have confronting inner end surfaces  20 . The arc-shaped portion  23  has a curved inner surface  30  contiguous with the inner end surfaces  20  of the first and second end portions  21 ,  22 . The curved inner surface  30  cooperates with the inner end surfaces  20  to define a cavity  10  having a size sufficient to permit extension of an upper part of the human outer ear (E) (see FIG. 7) therethrough when the curved inner surface  30  is disposed on an upper part of an incurved rim that appends the human outer ear (E) to the human head. Preferably, the housing  2  includes complementary housing halves ( 12 R,  12 L) that configure the housing  2  with the first, second and arc-shaped portions  21 ,  22 ,  23 . Referring further to FIG. 7, the first portion  21  inclines downwardly and forwardly and the second portion  22  inclines upwardly and rearwardly relative to the human outer ear (E) when the curved inner surface  30  of the arc-shaped portion  23  is disposed on the upper part of the incurved rim that appends the human outer ear (E) to the human head.  
     [0022] The electrical unit  3  of the earphone device  1  is disposed in the housing  2  and has components distributed between the first and second portions  21 ,  22 . The components include a control circuit  31  and a power supply  32  coupled electrically to the control circuit  31 . Preferably, the components of the electrical unit  3  are distributed such that the first and second portions  21 ,  22  have substantially balanced loads relative to the arc-shaped portion  23 .  
     [0023] Referring further to FIGS.  3 , the first and second portions  21 ,  22  are substantially symmetrical in shape with respect to the arc-shaped portion  23 . Preferably, the control circuit  31  is accommodated in the first portion  21 , and the power supply  32  is accommodated in the second portion  22 . Preferably, the control circuit  31  includes at least one control button  313  for volume control, microphone/speaker switching and power switching, which is mounted on the first portion  21  and which is accessible externally of the first portion  21 . Preferably, the power supply  32  is a rechargeable battery, and the second portion  22  is provided with a set of charging contacts  25  coupled electrically to the power supply  32  to permit recharging of the power supply  32 .  
     [0024] The speaker  4  is mounted on the housing  2  and is coupled electrically to the control circuit  31 . The speaker  4  is disposed in the cavity  10  so as to be located adjacent to an ear canal of the human outer ear (E) when the curved inner surface  30  of the arc-shaped portion  23  is disposed on the upper part of the incurved rim that appends the human outer ear (E) to the human head, as best shown in FIG. 7. Preferably, the speaker  4  is formed with a plurality of sound transmission holes  41  (see FIG. 4) and is mounted rotatably on the inner end surface  20  of the first portion  21 , such that the earphone device  1  can be adapted for use with either the right or left ear. In this embodiment, the earphone device  1  further includes a limit unit  51 , in the form of the stop blocks, provided on the speaker  4  and the first portion  21  to limit angular rotation of the speaker  4 , such as within a 180-degree range.  
     [0025] Referring to FIG. 2, the earphone device  1  further includes a shaft  6  mounted on the housing  2  and extending into the cavity  10 . The speaker  4  is mounted rotatably on the shaft  6  and is rotatable relative to an axis (A) of the shaft  6 . In this embodiment, the limit unit  51  is provided on the shaft  6  and the speaker  4  to limit rotation of the speaker  4  about the axis (A), thereby preventing damage to electrical wires (not shown) inside the shaft  6  that connect the speaker  4  to the control circuit  31 .  
     [0026] In this embodiment, the earphone device  1  further includes a microphone  7  coupled electrically to the control circuit  31  and mounted in the first portion  21  of the housing  2  adjacent to a plurality of sound receiving holes  71 . The microphone  7  is disposed adjacent to a mouth (M) on the human head when the curved inner surface  30  of the arc-shaped portion  23  is disposed on the upper part of the incurved rim that appends the human outer ear (E) to the human head, as best shown in FIG. 7. Preferably, the control circuit  31  is a known circuit capable of wireless transmission and reception of electrical signals. Preferably, the control circuit  31  includes first and second antennas  311 ,  312  for transmission and reception of electrical signals, thereby permitting wireless connection to an electronic device, such as a mobile phone or audio equipment.  
     [0027] Referring to FIGS.  3  to  5 , the earphone device  1  further includes a conductor  8  disposed in the housing  2  and having a first connecting section  81  coupled to the control circuit  31  and extending between the first and second antennas  311 ,  312 , a second connecting section  82  coupled to the power supply  32 , and an intermediate section  83  interconnecting the first and second connecting sections  81 ,  82  and extending through the arc-shaped portion  23 . The arrangement as such can reduce electromagnetic interference to the antennas  311 ,  312  by the conductor  8 .  
     [0028] Referring to FIGS. 2, 3,  5  and  6 , in this embodiment, the housing  2  of the earphone device  1  is formed with a curved channel  26  that extends along the arc-shaped portion  23  and that extends through the second portion  22  to conform to the contour of the periphery of the user&#39;s outer ear. The earphone device  1  further comprises a curved leg member  27  slidably disposed in the channel  26  and movable in and out of the channel  26  for contacting a skin part of the human head behind the human outer ear (E), as best shown in FIG. 7. Preferably, the leg member  27  is made of an elastic metal wire. The channel  26  includes an opening  262  formed in the second portion  22 . The leg member  27  has inner and outer ends  271 ,  272  respectively disposed distal from and proximate to the opening  262  of the channel  26 . The inner end  271  is provided with a rubber stop block  276  having a size larger than the opening  262  to prevent removal of the leg member  27  from the channel  26 . In this embodiment, the earphone device  1  further includes a rubber contact block  28  having a sleeve portion  281  sleeved on the outer end  272  of the leg member  27 , and a contact portion  282  connected to the sleeve portion  281  and disposed outwardly of the channel  26 . The contact portion  282  has a size larger than the opening  262  to prevent the contact block  28  from extending fully into the channel  26 . Preferably, the housing  2  of the earphone device  1  is formed with a channel-confining wall  200  that confines the channel  26 . The sleeve portion  281  is formed with a plurality of friction ribs  2811  for friction engagement with the channel-confining wall  200  to permit positioning of the leg member  27  at a desired extended position relative to the channel  26 . Therefore, the curved leg member  7  can be extended fully out of the curved channel  26  (see FIG. 5) or adjusted to a desired extended position (see FIG. 7), thereby enhancing stability of the earphone device  1  when worn.  
     [0029] Referring to FIG. 8, in the second embodiment of the earphone device  1 ′ of this invention, the first portion  21 ′ is longer than the second portion  22 ′ for aesthetic purposes. Moreover, the shaft  6 ′ is connected to the speaker  4 ′ and is mounted rotatably on the housing  2 ′. The limit unit (not visible) is provided on the shaft  6 ′ and the housing  2 ′ for limiting axial rotation of the shaft  6 ′. Furthermore, the contact portion  282 ′ of the contact block  28 ′ is formed with a plurality of ridges  2822  to facilitate handling of the contact block  28 ′ when moving the leg member  27 ′ in and out of the channel  26 ′.  
     [0030] Therefore, by virtue of the substantially balanced loads of the first and second portions  21 ,  22 , the earphone device  1  of this invention can be stably secured on an upper part of the incurved rim that appends the human outer ear (E) to the human head. Adjustment of the inclination of the housing  2  will allow the earphone device  1  of this invention to be set at the most stable and comfortable position. Further, since the load of the earphone device  1  is well balanced on the user&#39;s ear, comfort can be enhanced for long-term wearing. Moreover, in addition to its light weight and small size for easy wearing, carrying and storage, the earphone device  1  of this invention can be used with either the right or left ear.  
     [0031] While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretations and equivalent arrangements.