# US 10,872,595 B2 · Flexible acoustic waveguide device

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- Number: US 10,872,595 B2
- Document ID: US10872595B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/878,926
- Filed: 2018-01-24
- Published: 2019-07-25
- Granted: 2020-12-22
- Earliest claimed: 2018-01-24
- Assignees: Bose Corporation
- Applicants: Bose Corporation
- Inventors: Michael Tiene; David Meeker; Chester S. Williams
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10872595B2

## CPC

- G10K 11/22: for conducting sound through hollow pipes, e.g. speaking tubes
- G10K: SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICES; METHODS OR DEVICES FOR PROTECTING AGAINST, OR FOR DAMPING, NOISE OR OTHER ACOUSTIC WAVES IN GENERAL; ACOUSTICS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

A flexible acoustic waveguide device with a flexible, unitary band comprising a plurality of acoustic waveguides arranged side-by-side along a length of the band.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A flexible acoustic waveguide device, comprising:
a flexible, unitary band comprising two acoustic waveguides arranged side-by-side along a length of the band and a wall that separates the two waveguides, wherein the wall is stiffened at one or more locations where there is relatively high acoustic coupling between the waveguides.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The flexible acoustic waveguide device of claim 1, wherein the two acoustic waveguides have essentially the same lengths.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The flexible acoustic waveguide device of claim 1, wherein the two acoustic waveguides each have a cross-sectional area, and the two cross-sectional areas are essentially the same.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The flexible acoustic waveguide device of claim 1, wherein the wall comprises a stiffener.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The flexible acoustic waveguide device of claim 4, wherein the stiffener is located along a middle portion of the length of the band.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The flexible acoustic waveguide device of claim 1, wherein the two acoustic waveguides are essentially parallel.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The flexible acoustic waveguide device of claim 6, further comprising at least one lumen that extends along the length of the band.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The flexible acoustic waveguide device of claim 7, further comprising at least one of electrical wiring and a stiffening member in the at least one lumen.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The flexible acoustic waveguide device of claim 1, wherein the band comprises two polymeric materials.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The flexible acoustic waveguide device of claim 9, wherein the polymeric materials are both elastomers.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The flexible acoustic waveguide device of claim 10, wherein the two elastomers have different hardnesses.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The flexible acoustic waveguide device of claim 9, wherein the band comprises alternating segments of the two polymeric materials.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The flexible acoustic waveguide device of claim 12, wherein each segment defines portions of each of the acoustic waveguides.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The flexible acoustic waveguide device of claim 9, wherein the band comprises an inner portion that defines the acoustic waveguides, and an outer portion that overlies at least some of the inner portion.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The flexible acoustic waveguide device of claim 14, wherein the inner portion is made of one polymeric material and the outer portion comprises a spiral band of the other polymeric material.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The flexible acoustic waveguide device of claim 1, wherein the band is made by extrusion.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The flexible acoustic waveguide device of claim 1, wherein the band is made by molding.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The flexible acoustic waveguide device of claim 17, wherein the band is made by multiple-shot molding.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The flexible acoustic waveguide of claim 1, wherein the band comprises at least one additional acoustic waveguide.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

The flexible acoustic waveguide of claim 1, wherein the two acoustic waveguides are configured to be acoustically coupled two audio drivers such that sound pressure from one driver is conducted by one waveguide and sound pressure from a second driver is conducted by the other waveguide.

### Claim 21 (depends on 1)

The flexible acoustic waveguide of claim 1, wherein the band is formed in a generally “U”-shape.