Patent ID: 8320601

Claim:
An earphone device connected to a source of sound signal for radiating sound into at least one external auditory meatus of a human being, comprising: a signal-to-sound converter converting said sound signal to internal sound; a retainer connected to said signal-to-sound converter, engaged with at least one external ear of said human being, and forming an internal sound propagation path for propagating said internal sound from said signal-to-sound converter to said at least one external auditory meatus and at least a part of an external sound propagation path open at one end thereof to an environment and at the other end to at least one said external auditory meatus for propagating external sound; and an actuator connected to said retainer, and responsive to voltage so as to be deformed for closing said external sound propagation path therewith and permitting said environment to be conducted to said external auditory meatus through said external sound propagation path.