Comfort Tip with Pressure Relief Valves and Horn
AssigneeSmartEar, Inc.
InventorVictor M. Valenzuela
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An embodiment of the invention provides a comfort tip for a wireless in-ear utility device that provides pressure relief valves that operate mechanically and also offers a horn that increases the wireless in-ear utility device's ability to deliver sound. The horn effect on the comfort tip allows the wireless in-ear utility device to provide higher sound levels while consuming lower battery power. The pressure relief valves provide increased safety and comfort for the user with an automatic valve calibrated to open to relieve excessive back pressure from the tympanic membrane as well as from a dB blast of 25 dB to 35 dB.
Claims16
A comfort tip for protecting a user's ear canal from solid device portion of a wireless in-ear utility device, comprising:
- a body portion configured to removably fit onto the solid device portion of a wireless in-ear utility device;
- a first pressure relief opening on the body portion that resides closest to the user's tympanic membrane when the wireless in-ear utility device is inserted in the user's ear, the first pressure relief opening configured to allow passage of air between the user's inner ear region and the ambient environment, wherein the inner ear region comprises a portion of the user's ear canal between the proximal end of the wireless in-ear utility device and the user's tympanic membrane;
- a second pressure relief opening on the body portion that resides closest to the user's tympanic membrane when the wireless in-ear utility device is inserted in the user's ear, the second pressure relief opening configured to allow passage of air between the ambient environment and the user's inner ear region;
- a first pressure relief flap covering the first pressure relief opening when in closed position, the first pressure relief flap configured to mechanically open to decrease pressure in the user's inner ear when a harmful positive air pressure occurs in the user's inner ear region;
- and
- a second pressure relief flap covering the second pressure relief opening when in closed position, the second pressure relief flap configured to mechanically open to increase pressure in the user's inner ear when a harmful negative pressure occurs in the user's inner ear region.
A comfort tip for protecting a user's ear canal from solid device portion of a wireless in-ear utility device, comprising:
- a body portion configured to removably fit onto the solid device portion of a wireless in-ear utility device;
- and
- an outwardly angled horn on a surface of the body portion that resides closest to the user's tympanic membrane when the wireless in-ear utility device is inserted in the user's ear, the outwardly angled horn configured to align with a speaker on the solid device portion of the wireless in-ear utility device, wherein the outwardly angled horn facilitates a horn effect that naturally amplifies sounds generated by the speaker.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.