US 12,732,730 B2Granted

In-ear monitor optimized for ear canal volume

AssigneeAudio Zenith Inc.

InventorAlexander A. Zaets

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Abstract

An in-ear monitor for placement in an ear canal includes a body housing a transducer for converting creating an acoustic signal. An outlet extends from the housing for the acoustic signal. The monitor includes a tip having a proximal end adjacent the outlet and a distal end disposed in the ear canal. The tip includes an internal sleeve extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the proximal end for receiving the outlet, the distal having an exit aperture to for the signal to exit into the ear canal. An external sleeve extends from the proximal end to the distal end for receipt into the ear canal. The external sleeve is connected to the internal sleeve at the distal end. An annular aperture is disposed between the internal and external sleeves. Vents are disposed at the distal end. A replaceable cellular foam annular member is disposed in the aperture.

Claims10

Dependent claims

An in-ear monitor for placement in an ear canal of a user, the in-ear monitor configurable to optimize sound quality, comprising:

(a) a body having a front end and a rear end, the body housing a transducer, said transducer for converting an electrical signal into an acoustic signal;
(b) an outlet port extending from the front end of the body to direct the acoustic signal out of the body through the outlet port;
(c) in-ear monitor tip having a proximal end adjacent the outlet port and a distal end disposed in the ear canal of the user, the in-ear monitor tip comprising:
(i) an internal sleeve extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the proximal end of the internal sleeve for receiving the outlet port of the body, and the distal end of the internal sleeve having an exit aperture to provide for the acoustic signal to exit the in-ear monitor into the ear canal of the user;
(ii) an external sleeve extending from the proximal end to the distal end for receipt into the ear canal of the user, the external sleeve connected to the internal sleeve at the distal end;
and
(iii) an annular aperture disposed between the internal sleeve and the external sleeve;
(iv) an array of vent apertures disposed at the distal end of the in-ear monitor tip;
and
(d) a cellular foam annular member disposed in the annular aperture, said foam annular member being removable and replaceable with a cellular foam annular member having a different density;
and
(e) a plurality of replacement foam annular members, each replacement foam annular member having a different density, wherein the foam annular member is replaceable with any one of the plurality of replacement foam annular members.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/741,509Filed 12 Jun 2024
Published: US 2025/0386127 A118 Dec 2025
Granted: 8 Sep 2026
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

H04R 1/1016
Earpieces; Attachments therefor ; Earphones; Monophonic headphones: earpieces of the intra-aural type
H04R 1/1083
Earpieces; Attachments therefor ; Earphones; Monophonic headphones: reduction of ambient noise
H04R 1/2803
Transducer mountings or enclosures modified by provision of mechanical or acoustic impedances, e.g. resonator, damping means: for loudspeaker…
H04R 2460/11
Details of hearing devices, i.e. of ear- or headphones covered by H04R1/10 or H04R5/033 but not provided for in any of their subgroups, or of…:…