(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2010/0195860 A1
` Becker (43) Pub. Date: Aug. 5, 2010
`
`
`
`US 20100195860A1
`
`(54) SOFT SHELL IN-EAR EARPHONES WITH
`MINIATURE SPEAKER INSERTS
`
`(76)
`
`Inventor:
`
`Cher Becker, Bridge City, TX (US)
`
`g%rr§ffifid$cfil%%dlei
`'
`924 EAST OCEAN FRONT, # E
`NEWPORT BEACH: CA 92661 (US)
`
`(21) Appl. NO':
`
`12/366’640
`
`Publication Classification
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`(2006.01)
`H04R 25/00
`(52) US. Cl. ........................................................ 381/371
`
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`A set ofin-ear earphones has two outer shaped soft foam shell
`ear plugs each having a bulbous insert head with a sound hole
`and flared outer rim separated by a narrow waist. Each has an
`inserted miniature sound emitter supported by a firm foam
`insert engaging with the narrow waist. The foam insert and
`sound emitter are used to push the earphone into the ear canal.
`The outer rim is used to withdraw the earphone. The minia-
`ture sound emitter is connected to a wire that connects to a
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Feb. 5, 2009
`
`sound jack plug or a wireless sound receiver.
`
`30
`
`APPLE 1065
`
` 1
`
`1
`
`APPLE 1065
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Aug. 5, 2010 Sheet 1 0f 4
`
`US 2010/0195860 A1
`
`30
`
`
`
`2
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Aug. 5, 2010 Sheet 2 0f 4
`
`US 2010/0195860 A1
`
`/"\
`- -~ \/ 25
`I: C\\
`“\
`[\xaé‘nn/I
`
`26
`
`31
`
`21
`
`23
`
`
`
`3
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Aug. 5, 2010 Sheet 3 0f 4
`
`US 2010/0195860 A1
`
`
`
`[J
`
`2
`y— 5
`
`/“\~
`.'_~
`(QR “\
`
`/\\_<‘-“/,
`
`26
`
`31A
`
`23
`
`FIG. 6
`
`21
`
`22
`
`4
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Aug. 5, 2010 Sheet 4 0f 4
`
`US 2010/0195860 A1
`
`11
`
`5
`
`

`

`US 2010/0195860 A1
`
`Aug. 5, 2010
`
`SOFT SHELL IN-EAR EARPHONES WITH
`MINIATURE SPEAKER INSERTS
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`[0001] Not Applicable.
`
`STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY
`SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
`
`[0002] Not Applicable.
`
`THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT
`RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
`
`[0003] Not Applicable.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`[0004]
`[0005] The present invention relates to earphones and par-
`ticularly to a set of in-ear earphones comprising two outer
`shaped soft foam shell earphones each having a bulbous insert
`head and flared outer rim separated by a narrow waist, each
`with an inserted miniature speaker supported by a firm foam
`insert engaging with the narrow waist, wherein the foam
`insert is used to push the earphone into the ear canal and the
`outer rim is used to withdraw the earphone, and wherein the
`miniature sound emitter is connected to a wire that connects
`
`to a sound jack plug or a wireless sound receiver.
`[0006]
`2. Description of RelatedArt Including Information
`Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98
`
`[0007] Earbuds or in-ear earphones are common electric
`devices for a user to listen to the sounds output from audio
`facilities by plugging them into an iPod, MP3 player, CD
`player, DVD player, mobile phone, or other sound producing
`device. The prior art in-ear earphones are often uncomfort-
`able due to a rigid exterior shape which often does not fit
`properly in the ear canal and is prone to falling out. Further-
`more, ill-fitting hard surface in-ear earphones do not block
`adequately block external sound which can interfere with
`listening to what is played through the in-ear earphones.
`[0008] US. Patent Application #20080245372, published
`Oct. 9, 2008 by Smith, is for a reusable foam ear insert. The
`ear insert can comprise a foam body and a non-foam covering.
`The foam body can, for example, comprise foam rubber. The
`covering can, for example, comprise vinyl. The body is con-
`figured to be at least partially received within the ear canal and
`can be generally bullet shaped. The combination of the body
`and the covering can provide hearing protection. An optional
`bore can facilitate use in communications. The covering is
`resistant to soiling and is easily cleaned, thus facilitating
`reuse of the ear insert.
`
`[0009] US. Patent Application #20080187161, published
`Aug. 7, 2008 by Tiemens et al, shows an earbud for carrying
`sound from a source to a person’s ear canal, which includes a
`soft foam body and a sleeve of stiffer material lying within the
`body. The body is molded around the sleeve and is chemically
`bonded to the sleeve without an adhesive between them. The
`
`earbud is molded around the sleeve by placing the sleeve on a
`mandrel pin within a mold cavity, placing foamable material
`in the mold and closing the mold. The mold has shoulders
`with one mold shoulder that abuts one end of the sleeve and
`another mold shoulder that lies within 0.1 millimeter of the
`
`other sleeve end, to prevent foaming material from leaking
`into the space between the mandrel pin and the sleeve pas-
`sage.
`
`[0010] US. Patent Application #20080152163, published
`Jun. 26, 2008 by Mulvey, claims an earbud coupling that has
`a rear portion forming an earbud mount that easily attaches to
`a hemispherical earbud, and which has a front portion form-
`ing an in-ear mount that can be pressed into a person’s ear
`canal to hold the coupling to the person while blocking envi-
`ronmental noise. The earbud mount includes a tapered elas-
`tomeric sleeve with an internal groove at its rear end. The
`earbud mount rear end can be expanded to fit around the
`periphery of the earbud front end to securely attach to the
`earbud. A plurality of different in-ear mounts or tips can be
`provided that each can be attached to the front end of the
`earbud mount, including an in-ear mount that consists of a
`single integral elastomeric member with at least one flange.
`The earbud mount and in-ear mount can be connected by a
`shaft with pair of projections on one of the mounts that is
`inserted into a hole with slots of the other one and turned.
`
`[0011] US. Patent Application #20060213524, published
`Sep. 28, 2006 by Woo et al, describes a method for forming a
`device that fits into a person’s ear canal, that carries sound
`from a pipe of a speaker assembly into the person’s ear canal,
`and that blocks environmental noise. A first elastomeric mate-
`
`rial is molded around an elongated core to form a device body
`with an outer surface that can seal to a person’s ear canal. In
`one method, the first elastomeric material ofthe body is a soft
`foamable material and the core is a previously-formed tube of
`a stiffer second elastomeric material, with the body bonded to
`the tube by being molded around it, either in a mold cavity or
`by extrusion through an extrusion head. In another method,
`the elastomeric material of the body is a non-foam, and the
`core is a rigid pin that is removed from the earplug body after
`the earplug body has at least partially solidified.
`[0012] US. Pat. No. 5,002,151, issued Mar. 26, 1991 to
`Oliveira et al, is for an ear piece having a disposable, com-
`pressible polymeric foam sleeve which is used on hearing
`aids or any sound transmission device, such as ear phones,
`audio or transcription headsets, and the like. Disposably
`attached to the ear piece of a hearing aid, which includes any
`sound transmission device, is a user-disposable sleeve com-
`prising soft polymeric retarded recovery foam that can be
`compressed to be freely insertable into a person’s ear and
`allowed to recover to become wedged in the canal. Preferably,
`the sleeve is disposably attached to the ear piece by mating of
`screw threads on the sleeve and the ear piece. The ear piece
`may be a separate component from the hearing aid. The
`component is made either of rigid or flexible plastic and has
`connecting portions of various lengths depending on the
`depth of insertion of the sleeve into the canal. The sleeve may
`be of various lengths depending on the depth of insertion into
`the ear canal desired. The sleeve/ear piece assembly may also
`have a layer of sound transmitting scrim over its central
`opening to minimize penetration of the connecting portion
`past the end of the sleeve.
`[0013] US. Pat. No. 5,203,352, issued Apr. 20, 1993 to
`Gardner, Jr., provides polymeric foam protective earplug con-
`structions of the roll-down type. In one aspect the construc-
`tions employ means to limit the depth of insertion of the
`earplug into the ear canal and to facilitate proper insertion
`thereof. In another aspect, the constructions employ poly-
`meric foam bodies adapted to be compressed, inserted into
`the ear canal and there allowed to expand to obturate the ear
`
`6
`
`

`

`US 2010/0195860 A1
`
`Aug. 5, 2010
`
`canal and whose recovery time is markedly and inversely
`temperature dependent. The earplug can be employed effec-
`tively an earphone device wherein an earplug such as
`described hereinbefore is modified by providing it with an
`axial bore therethough, which bore is adapted to receive a
`sound conducting tube or miniature speaker therein.
`[0014] U.S. Pat. No. 3,811,437, issued May 21, 1974 and
`which was reissued as U.S. Pat. No. RE29,487 on Dec. 6,
`1977 to Gardner, Jr., shows earplugs composed of certain
`polymeric foam materials. The earplugs are of generally
`cylindrical shape and of somewhat larger diameter than the
`human ear canal. The earplugs are composed of a foamed
`plasticized polymeric material having a sufficiently high con-
`centration of plasticizer to provide the earplug with a reduced
`rate of recovery from compression. Gardner also provides
`novel ear insertable earpieces for lightweight earphone
`devices.
`
`[0015] U.S. Pat. No. 4,724,922, issued Feb. 16, 1988 to
`Kalayjian, claims an acoustic earpiece of the type used to
`transmit sound mechanically from a sound source to the ear
`drum of a listener. The acoustic earpiece includes a tube and
`a resilient element surrounding one end thereof comprising
`an open cell resilient foam with a slow compression recovery
`rate and a fully compressed diameter of less than the diameter
`of the human ear canal.
`
`[0016] U.S. Pat. No. 4,774,938, issued Oct. 4, 1988 to
`Leight, describes an earplug of the slow recovery type, which
`has open cells for expelling gas to the outside during com-
`pression, but which resists the entry of water through the
`outside and the soiling of the outside by dirt. The earplug
`includes a body formed of pressure-molded slow recovery
`resilient foam material forming multiple gas-filled shells. The
`plug body has a surface region forming a skin wherein the
`average cell cross-sectional area is less than half that of cells
`at the center ofthe body, and is less than one-tenth millimeter,
`the surface region being primarily continuous.
`[0017] U.S. Pat. No. 4,434,794, issued Mar. 6, 1984 to
`Leight, provides an ear plug which includes a shell formed of
`closed cell foam material, with the shell surface having a
`multiplicity of small bumps that also form the walls of cells
`which lie at the surface of the shell, whereby to avoid wrin-
`kling when the shell is squeezed into the ear canal. A stem of
`resilient material lies freely moveable in the shell, and is short
`so it extends substantially no further than the open end of the
`shell.
`
`[0018] U.S. Pat. No. 5,080,110, issued Jan. 14, 1992 to
`Weldon et al, comprises an external ring, a radial collar, and a
`protruding portion which extends inside the ear canal to
`dampen sound. In the preferred embodiment, the collar and
`the exterior of the protruding portion are molded of a soft,
`flexible rubber, and the ring is made of a rigid plastic and
`includes an extending cylindrical core which inserts into the
`protrusion to make the two parts integral. The ear plug has a
`dual function, first, to conveniently permit insertion of the
`plug into the ear to the proper depth automatically and to
`prevent its easy removal, and secondly, to imitate as exactly as
`possible a scaled down version of a baby pacifier to enhance
`the ability to sell a pair of the units as novelty items.
`[0019] U.S. Pat. No. 7,475,686, issued Jan. 13, 2009 to
`Knauer et al, shows an earplug comprising a foam composi-
`tion containing a polyvinyl chloride resin and less than about
`5 wt % monomeric phthalate, based on the total weight of the
`foam composition, is described. The foam composition may
`include a plasticizer containing less than or equal to about 2
`
`wt % monomeric phthalate, based on the total weight of the
`plasticizer. The earplugs have slow recovery times from 60
`percent compression to 10 percent compression ofabout 10 to
`about 60 seconds.
`
`[0020] U.S. Pat. No. 6,006,857, issued Dec. 28, 1999 to
`Leight et al, is for an earplug of a type that includes a soft shell
`(12) and an insertion stem (16), which facilitates pullout of
`the earplug from the ear canal and which has an increased
`ability to block noise. The earplug includes a body or shell of
`soft elastomeric material with a forward portion (20) con-
`structed to enter the ear canal and a rearward portion (22)
`which flares in a rearward direction. A stem (16) ofmore rigid
`material than the shell, extends along most of the length of a
`passage (14) formed within the shell. The shell passage has a
`neck part (42) at the rear of the shell forward portion. The
`stem has a forward flange (32) lying in interference fit within
`the passage at a location forward ofthe passage neck part, and
`the stem has a rearward flange (3 4) that lies in interference fit
`with the flared rear portion of the shell.
`[0021] What is needed is a set of earphones comprising two
`outer shaped soft foam shell earphones with an inserted min-
`iature speaker supported by a firm foam insert engaging with
`the outer shell for comfortable insertion and comfort during
`use conforming to the shape of the ear canal and ear around
`the ear canal to seal out external noise.
`
`BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0022] An object of the present invention is to provide a set
`of earphones comprising two outer shaped soft foam shell
`earphones with an inserted miniature speaker supported by a
`firm foam insert engaging with the outer shell for comfortable
`insertion and comfort during use conforming to the shape of
`the ear canal and ear around the ear canal to seal out external
`noise.
`
`In brief, a set of earphones comprises two outer
`[0023]
`shaped soft foam shell earphones each having a bulbous insert
`head and flared outer rim separated by a narrow waist, each
`with an inserted miniature speaker supported by a firm foam
`insert engaging with the narrow waist, wherein the foam
`insert is used to push the earphone into the ear canal and the
`outer rim is used to withdraw the earphone, and wherein the
`miniature sound emitter is connected to a wire that connects
`
`to a sound jack plug. Sound from the miniature microphone
`enters the ear canal through an opening in the center of the
`bulbous end of the outer shell.
`
`[0024] The foam outer shell conforms to the shape of the
`ear canal and the outer flared rim conforms to the ear surface
`
`surrounding the ear canal to seal the ear canal from outside
`sounds. The soft foam gently contacts the skin in the ear canal
`and the ear surface around the ear canal to be comfortably
`inserted into the ear canal and stay comfortably in the ear
`canal for long periods of time. A sound insulating plug
`inserted into the outer rim retains the miniature microphone
`within the outer shell and further assists in preventing outside
`sound from entering the ear canal.
`[0025] The in—ear earphones of the present invention fur-
`ther comprise a miniature microphone stem of about the same
`length as the shell, and slideable within the shell, to facilitate
`insertion of the shell into the ear as well as providing sound
`into the ear canal out of the opening in the point. When the
`stem is pushed, its front end pushes on the front of the shell,
`to elongate the shell and thereby reduce its diameter to facili-
`tate shell insertion into the ear canal. When the pushing force
`stops, the shell expands to conform to the shape of the ear
`
`7
`
`

`

`US 2010/0195860 A1
`
`Aug. 5, 2010
`
`canal. The rear of the shell flares away from the stem contact-
`ing the ear around the ear opening to assist in eliminating
`external sound from entering the ear canal and to facilitate
`grasping of the shell for removal.
`[0026] The in-ear earphones of the present invention block
`external noise to increase enjoyment of whatever is transmit-
`ted through the in-ear earphones without the need to have a
`dangerous volume level, as is often the case in trying to drown
`out external noise, so that the listener enjoys what is played
`and bystanders can’t hear what is being played.
`[0027]
`Since the in-ear earphones of the present invention
`stay secured within the ear canal of the listener, the sound is
`greatly enhanced and the sound does not leak out to disturb
`bystanders.
`[0028] The comfort of the in-ear earphones of the present
`invention permits long periods of listening without discom-
`fort to the listener.
`
`[0029] The shape of the in-ear earphones of the present
`invention enables them to conform to the shape of the ear
`canal for a comfortable secure fit.
`
`[0030] The material of the present invention lasts a long
`time and is easy to clean.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL
`VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`[0031] These and other details of my invention will be
`described in connection with the accompanying drawings,
`which are furnished only by way of illustration and not in
`limitation of the invention, and in which drawings:
`[0032]
`FIG. 1 is an elevational view ofthe shaped soft foam
`shell in—ear earphones of the present invention showing the
`miniature sound emitter held by a firm foam insert shown
`dashed inside the bulbous insert end with the foam insert
`
`engaging the waist of the foam shell and wires connecting the
`sound emitters to an acoustic plug;
`[0033]
`FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of one of the
`shaped soft foam shell in-ear earphones ofFIG. 1 showing the
`miniature sound emitter held by a firm foam insert and outer
`foam plug aligned for insertion in the soft foam shell with the
`wire extending from the sound transmitter to connect to the
`acoustic plug;
`[0034]
`FIG. 3 is a perspective view ofone ofthe shaped soft
`foam shell in-ear earphones of FIG. 1 showing the firm foam
`insert and outer foam plug in the soft foam shell with the wire
`extending out of the foam plug;
`[0035]
`FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken through a
`longitudinal centerline of one of the shaped soft foam shell
`in-ear earphones of FIG. 1 showing the miniature sound emit-
`ter held by a firm foam insert shown dashed inside the bulbous
`insert end with the foam insert engaging the waist ofthe foam
`shell and the outer foam plug inserted within the outer rim to
`retain the firm foam insert and miniature sound emitter
`
`therein and the wire extending out to connect the sound emit-
`ter to the acoustic plug;
`[0036]
`FIG. 5 is an elevational view ofthe shaped soft foam
`shell in—ear earphones of the present invention showing the
`miniature sound emitter held by a firm foam insert shown
`dashed inside the bulbous insert end with the foam insert
`
`engaging the waist of the foam shell and a sound wave
`receiver for receiving sound remotely from a sound transmit-
`ter to transmit the sound to the miniature sound emitter;
`[0037]
`FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of one of the
`shaped soft foam shell in-ear earphones ofFIG. 5 showing the
`miniature sound emitter held by a firm foam insert and outer
`
`foam plug aligned for insertion in the soft foam shell and a
`sound wave receiver for receiving sound remotely from a
`sound transmitter to transmit the sound to the miniature sound
`emitter;
`FIG. 7 is an elevational view of one the shaped soft
`[0038]
`foam shell in-ear earphones of FIG. 1 inserted in an ear canal
`of a user showing the miniature sound emitter held by a firm
`foam insert shown dashed inside the bulbous insert end with
`
`the foam insert engaging the waist of the foam shell and the
`wire draped over the back of the ear connecting the sound
`emitter to an acoustic plug.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
`
`In FIGS. 1-7, an in-ear earphone device 10 of the
`[0039]
`present invention provides for a comfortable insertion and a
`secure comfort fit for extended comfortable use while sealing
`out outside sound from the ear canal 13.
`
`[0040] A pair of shaped soft outer foam shell earplugs 20
`each have a bulbous insert head 21 conforming to a shape of
`an ear canal 13, as shown in FIG. 7, to secure the bulbous
`insert head therein and a flared outer rim 26 separated by a
`narrow waist 27 therebetween. The flared outer rim 26 con-
`
`forms to the shape of the ear surface 12 surrounding the ear
`canal, as shown in FIG. 7. The foam shell earplugs 20 seal the
`ear canal 13 to prevent outside sound from entering the ear
`canal. Each of the bulbous insert heads 21 has a center end
`
`sound opening 22 for admitting sound from the interior ofthe
`foam shell earplug into the ear canal 13. The outer foam shell
`earplugs 20 have a foam sufficiently soft so that the foam shell
`earplugs 20 are easily inserted into the ear canal 13 without
`discomfort to the interior walls of the ear canal and so that the
`
`foam shell earplugs can remain securely in the ear canal for
`extended time periods without discomfort to the ear canal.
`[0041] A miniature sound emitter 23 is inserted in each of
`the foam shell earplugs 20 inside the bulbous insert head 21
`for transmitting sound into the ear canal 13 through the sound
`opening 22 to form an in-ear earphone device 10 which seals
`out outside sounds from the ear canal. The miniature sound
`
`emitter 23 is supported by a firm foam insert 24 engaging with
`the narrow waist 27 ofthe outer foam shell earplugs to seal the
`interior of the bulbous insert head from outside sound, as
`shown in FIG. 7. The foam insert 24 is sufficiently rigid along
`its length and coupled with the miniature sound emitter is
`used to push the bulbous insert head 21 into the ear canal 13
`and the outer rim 26 is used to withdraw the earphone from the
`ear canal 13. the miniature sound emitter connected to means
`
`for receiving sound to transmit through the sound emitter;
`[0042] A sound sealing outerplug 25 is inserted into each of
`the outer rims 26 to secure the miniature sound emitter 23
`
`therein. The outer plug 25 conforms to the shape of the outer
`rim 26 to prevent outside sound from entering through the
`interior of the foam shell earplug 20. The present invention
`thereby provides an in-ear earphone device 10 for comfort-
`able insertion and secure comfort fit for extended comfortable
`
`use while sealing out outside sound from the ear canal.
`[0043]
`In FIGS. 1-4 and 7, the means for receiving sound to
`transmit through the sound emitter comprises a sound jack
`plug 30 removably connected to a sound producing device
`and a wire 31 connected between the sound jack plug 30 and
`each of the miniature sound emitters 23 to transmit sound
`
`between the sound producing device and the miniature sound
`emitters.
`
`In FIGS. 5 and 6, the means for receiving sound to
`[0044]
`transmit through the sound emitter in each of the earphones
`
`8
`
`

`

`US 2010/0195860 A1
`
`Aug. 5, 2010
`
`comprises a sound wave receiver 31A communicating with a
`sound transmitter on a sound producing device, the sound
`wave receiver communicating with the miniature sound emit-
`ter 23 to transmit the sound into the ear canal 13.
`
`[0045] The miniature sound emitter 23 may comprise a
`miniature sound speaker, an electronic sound emitter, a sound
`chip, or any other miniature device for emitting sound into the
`ear canal 13 to be picked up by the ear drum 14 and other
`components of the ear 11 used in picking up sound.
`[0046]
`In use, the flared outer rim 26 is grasped in the
`fingers and squeezed together against the firm foam insert 24
`and the bulbous insert head 21 is pushed into the ear canal
`until the flared outer rim 26 contacts the skin surface 12
`
`surrounding the ear canal opening and the outer rim 26
`released. The bulbous insert head 21 of the soft outer shell
`
`earplug 20 is pushed by the firm foam insert 24 and sound
`emitter 23 so that the bulbous insert head 21 is squeezed
`together as it passes through the opening to the ear canal and
`then expands out to contact the wall of the ear canal 13, as
`shown in FIG. 7, to seal the ear canal from outside sound and
`to retain the in-ear earphone device 10 securely without dis-
`comfort due to the soft foam gently contacting the skin. Upon
`release the outer rim 26 contacts the skin surface 12 ofthe ear
`
`11 surrounding the ear canal opening to further seal the ear
`canal from outside sound, again without discomfort due to the
`soft foam gently contacting the skin.
`[0047] After both in-ear earphone devices 10 are inserted,
`the sound plug 30 is then plugged into a sound jack to provide
`sound to the sound emitters 23 or the wireless sound wave
`receiver 31A is activated for sound.
`
`To withdraw the in-ear earphone device 10 the outer
`[0048]
`rim 26 is grasped in the fingers and the device withdrawn from
`the ear canal.
`
`[0049] The firm foam insert 24 holding the miniature
`microphone 23 is constructed of a fairly stiff but resilient
`material, such as neoprene closed cell foam material, so that
`the firm foam insert 24 is stiff enough to resist compression
`along its length, to facilitate insertion of the in-ear earphone,
`and yet can bend slightly laterally to enable the entire in-ear
`earphone to bend slightly to conform to the curvature of the
`ear canal when necessary.
`[0050] The in-ear earphones of the present invention have
`many useful applications. The many uses ofthe present inven-
`tion include listening to educational programs in schools and
`colleges,
`listening to recordings in libraries,
`listening to
`music or work related programs in the workplace, listening to
`sound devices in airports and other public places, and while
`traveling in planes, trains, buses, boats, cars, trucks and other
`vehicles, in hotels, at home, with computers, gaming devices,
`music devices, listening to movies, DVD players, CD players,
`MP3 players, GAMEBOYS, NINTENDO, and many other
`uses where private listening is desired without disturbing
`others and excluding the outside sound from the ear of the
`listener.
`
`It is understood that the preceding description is
`[0051]
`given merely by way ofillustration and not in limitation ofthe
`invention and that various modifications may be made thereto
`without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.
`
`What is claimed is:
`
`1. An in-ear earphone device for comfortable insertion and
`secure comfort fit for extended comfortable use while sealing
`out outside sound from the ear canal, the device comprising:
`a pair of shaped soft outer foam shell earplugs each com-
`prising a bulbous insert head conforming to a shape of an
`ear canal to secure the bulbous insert head therein and a
`
`flared outer rim separated by a narrow waist therebe-
`tween, the flared outer rim conforming to the shape of
`the ear surface surrounding the ear canal, the foam shell
`earplugs sealing the ear canal to prevent outside sound
`from entering the ear canal, each of the bulbous insert
`heads having a center end sound opening for admitting
`sound from the interior ofthe foam shell earplug into the
`ear canal, the outer foam shell earplugs having a foam
`sufliciently soft so that the foam shell earplugs are easily
`inserted into the ear canal without discomfort to the ear
`
`canal and so that the foam shell earplugs can remain
`securely in the ear canal for extended time periods with-
`out discomfort to the ear canal;
`a miniature sound emitter inserted in each ofthe foam shell
`
`earplugs inside the bulbous insert head for transmitting
`sound into the ear canal through the sound opening to
`form an in-ear earphone which seals out outside sounds
`from the ear canal; the miniature sound emitter sup-
`ported by a firm foam insert engaging with the narrow
`waist of the outer foam shell earplugs to seal the interior
`of the bulbous insert head from outside sound, wherein
`the foam insert is used to push the bulbous insert head
`into the ear canal and the outer rim is used to withdraw
`
`the earphone from the ear; the miniature sound emitter
`connected to means for receiving sound to transmit
`through the sound emitter;
`a sound sealing outer plug inserted into each of the outer
`rims to secure the miniature sound emitter therein, the
`outer plug conforming to the shape of the outer rim to
`prevent outside sound from entering through the interior
`of the outer foam shell earplug, thereby providing an
`in-ear earphone device for comfortable insertion and
`secure comfort fit for extended comfortable use while
`
`sealing out outside sound from the ear canal.
`2. The device of claim 1 wherein the means for receiving
`sound to transmit through the sound emitter comprises a
`sound jack plug removably connected to a sound producing
`device and a wire connected between the soundjack plug and
`each of the miniature sound emitters to transmit sound
`
`between the sound producing device and the miniature sound
`emitters.
`
`3. The device of claim 1 wherein the means for receiving
`sound to transmit through the sound emitter in each of the
`earphones comprises a sound wave receiver communicating
`with a sound transmitter on a sound producing device, the
`sound wave receiver communicating with the miniature
`sound emitter to transmit the sound into the ear canal.
`4. The device of claim 1 wherein the miniature sound
`
`emitter comprises a miniature sound speaker.
`*
`>X<
`*
`>X<
`*
`
`9
`
`