# US 10,484,772 B2 · Hidden rear cavity vent > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,484,772 B2 - Document ID: US10484772B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/782,910 - Filed: 2017-10-13 - Published: 2019-04-18 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2017-10-13 - Assignees: Bose Corporation - Applicants: Bose Corporation - Inventors: Johnpaul P. Barrieau; Richard L. Pyatt; Jonathan D. Turner; Daniel P. Baker - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10484772B2 ## CPC - H04R 1/1008: {Earpieces of the supra-aural or circum-aural type} - H04R 1/1058: {Manufacture or assembly} - H04R 2460/11: Aspects relating to vents, e.g. shape, orientation, acoustic properties in ear tips of hearing devices to prevent occlusion - 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 Aspects of the present disclosure provide an intentional leak from a rear volume of an ear cup to the atmosphere. The leak is created via a vent in the driver plate acoustic assembly. The vent reduces an acoustic load the ear cup cover creates on a rear cavity of an electroacoustic transducer contained within the driver plate acoustic assembly of a headset. Additionally, the vent is hidden on an assembled ear cup of a headset. Due to the placement of the vent, ear cup cover may have a smooth, seamless surface. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A headset comprising a first ear cup connected by a headband to a second ear cup, the first ear cup comprising: a driver plate acoustic assembly comprising a vent, the driver plate acoustic assembly spanning the entire first ear cup; a front volume and a rear volume separated by the driver plate acoustic assembly; an ear cushion at least partially enclosing the front volume; an ear cup cover enclosing the rear volume; an electroacoustic transducer coupled to the driver plate assembly via a cover, wherein the cover encloses a rear cavity of the electroacoustic transducer; and a port acoustically coupling the rear cavity of the electroacoustic transducer to the rear volume, wherein the vent provides a path for air to flow from the rear volume to outside of the headset, the path extending from the vent through a gap between the ear cup cover and the ear cushion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The headset of claim 1, wherein the vent reduces an acoustic load the ear cup cover and rear volume create on the rear cavity of the electroacoustic transducer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The headset of claim 1, wherein the vent reduces an effect of resonances in the headset. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The headset of claim 3, wherein the vent is externally invisible on the headset when the ear cup cover is coupled to the driver plate acoustic assembly and the driver plate acoustic assembly is coupled to the ear cushion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The headset of claim 1, wherein the vent extends along a portion of an outer perimeter of the driver plate acoustic assembly. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The headset of claim 1, wherein an external surface of the ear cup cover is continuous and seamless. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The headset of claim 1, wherein the driver plate acoustic assembly comprises one or more ridges, configured to create a seal with the ear cushion, and the driver plate acoustic assembly further comprises one or more snap features, configured to secure the ear cushion to the driver plate acoustic assembly. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The headset of claim 7, wherein the vent is located radially outward from the one or more ridges and the one or more snap features. ### Claim 9 A headset comprising a first ear cup connected by a headband to a second ear cup, the first ear cup comprising: a driver plate acoustic assembly comprising a vent, the driver plate acoustic assembly spanning the entire first ear cup; an ear cup cover coupled to a first side of the driver plate acoustic assembly; an ear cushion coupled to a second side of the driver plate acoustic assembly; an electroacoustic transducer coupled to the driver plate assembly via a cover, wherein the cover encloses a rear cavity of the electroacoustic transducer; and a port acoustically coupling the rear cavity of the electroacoustic transducer to the first side of the driver plate acoustic assembly, wherein the vent is located in a gap between the ear cup cover, the driver plate acoustic assembly, and the ear cushion, and the vent provides a path for air to flow from a first side of the driver plate acoustic assembly to outside of the headset through the gap between the ear cup cover and the ear cushion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The headset of claim 9, wherein the vent reduces an acoustic load provided to the rear cavity of the electroacoustic transducer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The headset of claim 9, wherein an external surface of the ear cup cover is continuous. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The headset of claim 9, wherein the vent is continuous and extends along a portion of an outer perimeter of the driver plate acoustic assembly. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The headset of claim 9, wherein the vent is externally invisible when the ear cup cover is coupled to the first side of the driver plate acoustic assembly and the ear cushion is coupled to the second side of the driver plate acoustic assembly. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The headset of claim 9, wherein the driver plate acoustic assembly comprises one or more ridges, configured to create a seal with the ear cushion, and the driver plate acoustic assembly further comprises one or more snap features, configured to secure the ear cushion to the driver plate acoustic assembly. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The headset of claim 14, wherein the vent is located radially outward from the one or more ridges and the one or more snap features. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The headset of claim 1, wherein the vent is curved in shape.