# US 10,321,218 B2 · Ear device for fixing earphone > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,321,218 B2 - Document ID: US10321218B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/575,997 - Filed: 2016-05-19 - Published: 2018-06-07 - Granted: 2019-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2015-05-22 - Applicants: Seung Chul Lee - Inventors: Seung Chul Lee - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10321218B2 ## CPC - H04R 1/105: {Earpiece supports, e.g. ear hooks (for stereophonic headphones H04R5/0335)} - H04R 1/1083: {Reduction of ambient noise (active noise reduction per se G10K11/175; protective devices for the ear, e.g. providing acoustic protection A61F11/06)} - H04R 1/1016: {Earpieces of the intra-aural type} - H04R 2201/107: Monophonic and stereophonic headphones with microphone for two-way hands free communication - H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K) ## Abstract The present invention relates to an ear device for fixing an earphone, comprising: a fixing body which is formed in the shape of a C-shaped ring so as to be worn on and fixed to an auricle while surrounding the rear part of the auricle; an earphone module, positioned in a groove in the front part of the auricle, for transferring sound to an ear hole; and a support connector which extends in the shape of a ring that traverses a user's auricle from one portion of the fixing body to the earphone module, the support connector being formed of an elastic body or flexible metal so as to, according to deformation of the support connector, enable the fixing body and the earphone module to be separated from each other or to approach each other so that the fixing body and the earphone module are engaged with and fixed to each other on the auricle. The fixing body has a first coupling member on one side thereof, the earphone module has a second coupling member on one side thereof, and both ends of the support connector are detachably configured so as to be separated from and coupled to the first coupling member and the second coupling member so that it is possible to use the fixing body and the earphone module by integrally coupling the fixing body and the earphone module, or it is possible to use the earphone module alone according to a user's need. The earphone module further comprises a sound box, a length adjustment unit and an accessory, and the accessory and the fixing body have an electronic chip such as an RFID or authentication key embedded therein. Thus, the present invention has effects of: firmly and stably fixing an earphone to a user's ear with the least number of constitutional elements; pre-empting occurrence of ear pain and hearing impairment since the earphone is not directly inserted into the user's ear hole; and enabling the user to hear ambient sound, thereby enabling the user to rapidly cope with surrounding circumstances and escape from safety accident-related danger. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An ear device for fixing an earphone, the ear device comprising: a fixing body 100 provided in a ‘C’-arc shape to be fitted and fixed to surround a rear part of an auricle 1; an earphone module 300 located at a recess in front of the auricle 1 to output audio to a near canal 2; and a support connector 200 extending in an arc shape to cross the auricle 1 of a user from a part of the fixing body 100 to the earphone module 300, made of an elastic material or a flexible metal, and transformed to move the fixing body 100 and the earphone module 300 away from or closer to each other so as to be fitted and fixed to the auricle 1, the fixing body 100 is provided at an end of the support connector 200 and the earphone module 300 is provided at another end thereof, when two ends of the support connector 200 are pulled outward with slight force applied, the fixing body 100 and the earphone module 300 is simultaneously separated from each other to position the auricle 1 therebetween and, when the support connector 200 is restored elastically or pulled inward to an original state thereof, the fixing body 100 and the earphone module 300 move closer to each other to be fitted and fixed to the auricle 1. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The ear device according to claim 1, wherein a first coupling hole 110 is provided at a side of the fixing body 100 and a second coupling hole 310 is provided at a side of the earphone module 300, two ends of the support connector 200 are individually been attachable to and detachable from the first and second coupling holes 110 and 310, and thus the earphone module 300 is been usable alone or in combination with the fixing body 100 and the support connector 200 as desired by the user. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The ear device according to claim 1, wherein the earphone module 300 further comprises: a sound chamber 320 protruding from the earphone module 300 and inserted into the ear canal 2 to output audio; and a length adjuster 330 provided between the sound chamber 320 and the earphone module 300 and being length-adjustable to adjust a depth by which the sound chamber 320 is inserted into the ear canal 2. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The ear device according to claim 1, wherein the earphone module 300 further comprises a microphone 340 for receiving voice of the user. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The ear device according to claim 1, wherein a sound insulation member 350 which is rotatable about the support connector 200 is provided at a part of the support connector 200 adjacent to a rear part of the earphone module 300 to block ambient sound by covering the ear canal 2 as desired by the user.