Patent ID: 8718307

Claim:
An apparatus for imparting vibrational energy to a user for assistance in hearing, the apparatus comprising: an earpiece shell having a cavity that defines an inner surface of the earpiece shell, the cavity having a first portion and a second portion adjacent the first portion, the earpiece shell having an outer surface configured for contacting an ear canal of the user; and a transducer disposed at least partially within the cavity of the earpiece shell, the transducer comprising: a housing engaged with the inner surface of the earpiece shell and disposed within the first portion of the cavity; at least one first spring member disposed within the second portion of the cavity, the at least one first spring member having first and second ends, the first end secured to the housing; a first weight disposed within the second portion of the cavity, the first weight attached to the second end of the at least one first spring member and operable to vibrate within the second portion of the cavity without contacting the inner surface the earpiece shell; and means disposed at least partially within the housing for causing the first weight to vibrate, the earpiece shell for conducting the vibrational energy generated by the first weight through the outer surface of the earpiece shell and to the ear canal of the user.