Abstract:
The present invention earphone support comprises a pair of curved ear contact supports, each held substantially rigidly apart from and attached to a slideable axis, thereby forming two slideable axes that meet and form an angled set of slideable axes. The ear contact supports are thereby releasably slideable from an in-contact position with the wearer&#39;s ear to a release position therefrom. The relative dimensions of the present invention comprise are critical to the wearer&#39;s comfort.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an earphone support. 
     It is well known in the art to provide a support for an earphone that is supported entirely on a wearer&#39;s ear. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,260,997 discloses a communication headset with two curved housings that rotate with respect to one another to allow the headset to be held firmly in place over one ear of the user. One housing supports a microphone boom which has a free end positionable adjacent to the users mouth and the other houses a receiver element for producing sound from electrical signals. Feedback between the receiver and the microphone is reduced by an elastomer friction hinge between the two housings. The receiver element is encapsulated by elastomer to further reduce feedback and to protect the receiver element from physical shock. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,881,161 discloses a headphone composed of a speaker, a microphone, and a flexible earpiece capable of being secured to the external ears of various sizes. The flexible earpiece is formed of a flexible rod which is provided at one end thereof with a female portion and at another end thereof with a male portion engageable with the female portion. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,179,590 discloses an apparatus for use with or integrally formed of a telephone instrument, where the telephone instrument is thus functional to enable concurrent use and non-use of related equipment. The apparatus has a faceset means formed of a transmitter-receiver unit worn along a user&#39;s face for positioning the transmitter in proximity to a user&#39;s mouth and the receiver in proximity to said user&#39;s ear. A module housing the electrical circuitry controls incoming and outgoing electrical signals to the telephone instrument and transfers these signals between the faceset and the telephone instrument. Hence, the user is able to employ the faceset during a telephone conversation in a hands free manner. A mechanical linkage is formed of the module and serves to actuate the on-off switch of the telephone instrument which is placed in proximity to the module and simultaneously actuating on-off switches in the module to thereby control operation of the faceset and telephone related equipment. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,020,297 discloses a light weight operator&#39;s headset that includes a generally cylindrical housing in which is disposed a receiver transducer, and an arm pivotally joined to one end of the housing. Secured to the arm is a microphone transducer, from which a sound conductive tube extends in a pivotally and extensibly adjustable fashion to the operator&#39;s mouth. An arcuate resilient member extends obliquely from the housing to define a slot therebetween in which the outer ear is received to thereby support the headset. A channel in the arcuate member receives the conductors which extend to their respective transducers. 
     The present inventor has evaluated the prior art devices and found that long term wearing (2+hours) of the prior art devices results in significant discomfort to most users of such earphones supported on the ear alone. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention earphone support comprises a pair of curved ear contact supports, each held substantially rigidly apart from and attached to a slideable axis, thereby forming two slideable axes that meet and form an angled set of slideable axes. The ear contact supports are thereby releasably slideable from an in-contact position with the wearer&#39;s ear to a release position therefrom. The relative dimensions of the present invention comprise are critical to the wearer&#39;s comfort. The structure forming the ear contact supports are relatively thin in comparison with the prior art devices, with the substantial advantages of such thinness described below. 
     The present invention forms a very comfortable support device for any of several devices that may be desirably be held apart from although directed to the external acoustic meatus, such as a small speaker which may optionally comprise additional extensions for a small microphone. Such speaker/microphone combinations are well known in the art and reductions in their combined weight have not substantially alleviated the wearer&#39;s discomfort and sometimes substantial pain in long term wearing. The present invention has been found in many tests of long term wear to essentially eliminate such discomfort. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a general anatomical cross section of the human ear with appropriate medical term indications. 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged FIG. 1 indicating critical ear anatomy related to the invention ability to provide long term wearing comfort. 
     FIG. 3 is a general support line drawing of the invention ear contact support, its connection to a slideable axis and a slideable axis. 
     FIG. 4 shows two such line drawings in FIG. 3 connected to form the invention earphone support. 
     FIGS. 5 and 6 are an invention embodiment in respectively side and top views of the ear contact support, its connection to a slideable axis and a portion of a slideable axis. 
     FIGS. 7 and 8 show the device of FIGS. 5 and 6 operationally connected with a slider piece, thereby respectively obtaining the relative positions shown as  201 A,  201 A′,  201 B and  201 B′ as in FIG.  4 . 
     FIGS. 9 and 10 are respectively vertical and horizontal comparative measures of four centimeters as compared to the lines and devices of FIGS. 5-8. 
     FIG. 11 is the device of FIGS. 7 and 8 having a frame attached to support an earphone or earphone/microphone, as shown in FIG. 12 next to a generalized wearer&#39;s ear in FIG.  13  and as viewed from above as applied to a wearer&#39;s ear in FIG.  14 . 
     FIG. 15 is a top view of the device of FIG.  11 . 
     FIGS. 16 and 17 show the device of FIG. 12 as applied to the wearer&#39;s ear in FIG.  13 . 
     FIGS. 18-25 show a typical wearer applying and removing the device of FIG. 12 to the wearer&#39;s ear. 
     FIGS. 26-28 are an alternate embodiment of the invention earphone support comprising slideable axes for opposing ear contact supports, the slideable axes having a common linear axis forming a straight edge relationship. 
     FIG. 26 shows a side view of the ear support contact pieces connected to the slidable axes, the sleeve portion supporting the earphone support ring. 
     FIG. 27 shows an earphone/microphone mounted on the device of FIG.  26 . 
     FIG. 28 shows the device of FIG. 27 worn by the user. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIGS. 1 and 2 show a cross section of a human ear  100  for the external and immediately internal structures. The present invention is an improvement over the prior art especially with reference to its effect on upper auricle cartilage  105 . It will be appreciated the auricle lobule  107  as it extends to connect with the skin above the end of the mandible comprises mostly connective and fatty tissue and is not especially sensitive to motion or pressure. Application of a earphone support to this area alone is advantageous for that fact but without substantial help since there is relatively little rigid or tensioned skin  101 , cartilage or bone against which a support might be effective. Compared to the upper ear, the lower auricle is flabby and very soft. The upper auricle, in contrast, comprises three substantially vertical slats of closely associated rigid cartilage to maintain the upright position of the auricle, as shown in FIG. 2 wherethrough passes pressure path  109 . 
     While the upper auricle comprises cartilage useful for retention of an applied earphone support, it is a problem for the same reason. All devices for earphone support on the ear alone that permit substantial wearer motion must rest in some form in the notch  101 , where the supported skin of the upper auricle attaches to the scalp. Any substantial pressure in direction  104  against the topmost slat of auricular cartilage causes a chain reaction down pressure path  109 , eventually resulting in wearer discomfort and pain. The above cited references suffer from this deficiency. The portion of the prior art devices that effectively engage an upper and lower support surface about the ear compress the auricular cartilage causing discomfort. There is a significant lack of sensitivity for a properly aligned and sufficiently narrow support piece that can press essentially straight down at area  101  without causing outward motion of skin/cartilage zone  102 . The scalp skin opposite area  102  is essentially without feeling for blunt objects, such that a device resting primarily against it without outward compression of the upper auricle cartilage can support substantial weight for extended periods of time. For instance, a wearer of eyeglasses may quickly appreciate a difference in frame thickness, albeit having frames are not so thin that they might form a sharp edge in the area  101  that the skin will be cut. 
     FIG. 3 shows a preferred element of the present invention. Support configuration  200  comprises three main sections, ear support edge  201 , connection  204  and sliding axis  205 . Ear contact support edge  201  comprises a main contact section  202  comprising an arc of about 100 to 120 degrees, most preferably about 105 to 115 degrees, of a circle with a radius of about 6-9 millimeters, more preferably about 7-8 millimeters, and a rear support section  203  comprising an arc of about 5 to 25 degrees, more preferably 15 to 20 degrees, of a circle with a radius of about 10-30 millimeters, more preferably at about 15 to 20 millimeters. The section  201  connects at a leading end of section  202  to connection section  204 , which in turn connects to sliding axis  205 , in relation to which it is intended that edge  201  shall move in substantially rigid relationship supported therefore by connection  204 . FIG. 4 shows two support configurations connected at distal ends of their axes  205  to form an angle of about 150 to 175 degrees, more preferably about 160 to 165 degrees. Support edges are movable along axes  205  from a release positions  201 A and  201 B to smallest ear contact positions  201 A′ and  201 B′. It is intended broadly, in consideration of the alternate embodiments below and as shown in FIG. 26, that substantially and relationally rigid means of configuration  200  form an angle between an axis  205  and a tangent line from the proximal end of the arc of section  201  between 10 and 90 degrees, more preferably from about 150 to about 160 degrees, and the normal distance from the proximal end of section  201  to axis  205  is from about 6 to 12 millimeters, more preferably from 8 to 10 millimeters. 
     FIGS. 9 and 10 are in proportion to the devices of FIGS. 5-8 and are rulers not representing actual lengths but instead represent a proportional 4 centimeters. FIGS. 5 and 6 show part of an embodiment of configuration  200 . Piece  300  comprises support and connection section  301  having a connection section that corresponds to connection  204  integral with an edge  302  that corresponds to sections  201  and  202 , and ratcheting support slider section  303  corresponding in part to axis  205 . Section  303  comprises a serrated edge that is preferably mated in an engaging slider sleeve to a single or more serrations so that when the section  303  is moved inward or outward with respect to the sleeve  400 , piece  300  and therefore edge  302  remain in an effectively fixed position to accomplish the objects of the invention. FIGS. 7 and 8 comprise two mirror image pieces  300  having positions  300 A′ and  300 B′, so that such pieces are slideable within sleeve  400  on their sections  303 A and  303 B respectively, thereby maintaining a relative pair of positions for ear contact edges  201 A′ and  201 B′ in FIG.  7 . FIG. 8 shows pieces  300 A and  300 B and sleeve  400  in an expanded position. It has been found that an alternate embodiment of the present invention is preferred with respect to the ratcheting aspect of section  303  and its interaction with the bore of sleeve  400 —the alternate embodiment comprises a smooth surface for the portion of section  303  in contact with the bore of sleeve  400  such that a simple increase in the cross section diameter of that section  303  portion will permit a pressure securement of the section  303  with respect to the sleeve  400  bore by frictional contact thereby. The amount of pressure needed is actually very slight to maintain the section  303  in an appropriate position for secure wear on a user&#39;s ear with a earphone or earphone/microphone. 
     The assembly of pieces  300 A and  300 B and sleeve  400  comprises a base portion of the invention. The base portion is a surprisingly effective base on which to mount a support for a device situated above without substantial pressure or in most cases even touching the auricle surface lateral to the external acoustic meatus. FIGS. 11 and 15 show a base portion with a ring support  401  attached to sleeve  400  at point  402 . FIGS. 11 and 15 show that the base portion in top view so that the top piece  301 A obscures a bottom piece  301 B, thereby showing the edge AB of a support plane formed by inside surfaces of pieces  301 A and  301 B, whereby such support plane will be held substantially against the wearer&#39;s scalp at the top and skin opposite the auricular lobule at the bottom. Ring support  401  is shown in one embodiment in FIG. 15 to extend from that plate and an angle beta which may be about 18 to 37 degrees, although such a support ring could also extend directly from the sleeve  400  connection normal or otherwise from that plane for a short length and then extend to a position adapted to support an earphone as described below. The angle beta as just described is the result of intense research and surveying about 1,000 wearer&#39;s of the invention device as in FIGS. 11 and 15 and the associated Figures. 
     Combination device  500  in FIG. 12 comprises an earphone speaker  501  and microphone extension  502 . Speaker  501  attaches by adhesive, snap fit or other such means to support ring  401  such that when the wearer as in FIGS. 14,  17  and FIGS. 18-25 apply the base portion to their right or left ear, the ear-directed surface of the speaker  501  is held away from the ear without substantial pressure thereon or without touching the ear at all. It will be appreciated that even though FIGS. 18-25 show application to and removal from a wearer&#39;s ear of the invention base portion, ring support and combination device without extension or insertion of sections  303  out of or into, respectively, sleeve  400 , such movements are a more preferred method of application and removal. For example, a wearer may press an edge  201 B of a piece  300 B as in FIG. 8 onto the area  106  of FIG.  2  and thereafter swivel, as in FIG. 20, an edge  201 A of a piece  300 A as in FIG. 8 into a location just above the area  101  of FIG. 2, whereafter the user uses a thumb and forefinger to depress, respectively, an outer edge of piece  301 B and an outer edge of piece  301 A so that the ratcheting insertion of the sections  303 B and  303 A into sleeve  400  adapts the open position device of FIG. 8 into the ear-contacting position of FIG. 7, and as comfortably fitting as shown in FIG.  21 . 
     It is critical to the comfort of the wearer that the thickness of the piece  301  be about from 1 to 2.5 millimeters as seen in the top views of FIG. 6 and 15. At less than 1 millimeter, the edge becomes too sharp for extended wear. At greater than about 2.5 millimeters, the average person&#39;s ear in area  101  of FIG. 2 is uncomfortably pressured. 
     FIGS. 26-28 are an alternate embodiment of the invention earphone support comprising a single linear axis for the slideable axes for main contact sections  605  and  608 , corresponding respectively to main contact sections  202 A and  202 B of ear support edges  301 A and  301 B. In contrast to the sleeve  400  of FIG. 7, the sleeve  602  of FIG. 26 comprises a bore adapted to accommodate the releaseable sliding of sections  602  and  603  as described in FIG. 7 for section  303  in the bore of sleeve  400 , the difference being that the sleeve  602  requires that the slideable axes for the device  600  are a single line forming an angle of 180 degrees at the juncture point. Approximate locations of proximate endpoints  606  and  609  of main contact sections  605  and  608  are indicated in FIG.  26 . In addition, an exemplary tangent line is extended from endpoint  609  to its associated slideable axis, whereby is formed angle  610 . Angle  610  is in the invention embodiments as an example of the above described range of from 10 to 90 degrees, the selection of which is restricted at its highest angle by the design which causes the distal endpoint of section  605  of FIG. 26 or section  202 A of FIG. 7 (being the sections in this description that will effectively support device  600  on an area  101  of a wearer&#39;s ear) to impress uncomfortably on such an area downward from area  101  on a wearer&#39;s ear, as would the end of the arms of eyeglasses if they were so adapted with a similar main contact section. It has been found that the rigid and slideable relationship of a narrow main contact section with a slideable axis is critical to a wearer&#39;s long term wearing comfort. 
     The above design disclosures present the skilled person with considerable and wide ranges from which to choose appropriate obvious modifications for the above examples. However, the objects of the present invention will still be obtained by the skilled person applying such design disclosures in an appropriate manner.