# US 9,521,478 B2 · Three-piece device ear hook > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,521,478 B2 - Document ID: US9521478B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/947,590 - Filed: 2013-07-22 - Published: 2015-01-15 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2013-07-03 - Assignees: Google Technology Holdings LLC - Applicants: Google Technology Holdings LLC - Inventors: Peng Jiang; Ryan P Rye - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9521478B2 ## CPC - H04R 1/105: {Earpiece supports, e.g. ear hooks (for stereophonic headphones H04R5/0335)} - H04R 1/1058: {Manufacture or assembly} - Y10T 24/13: Article holder attachable to apparel or body - Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining - 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) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract An ear hook assembly (401) is provided. The ear hook assembly (401) includes a device hook engagement component (405), an ear hook engagement component (406), and a retention sleeve (404). The retention sleeve can include comprising at least one protuberance (1207) extending into the retention sleeve toward an engagement axis (408) of the assembly. One of the device hook engagement component or the ear hook engagement component can include at least two retention sleeve friction engagement components (409,410) radially separated by a cantilevered protuberance engagement component (901) about the engagement axis. The cantilevered protuberance engagement component can include a distal end (1002) biased against the protuberance to retain the device hook engagement component and the ear hook engagement component together. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An assembly, comprising: a device hook engagement component; an ear hook engagement component; and a retention sleeve comprising at least one protuberance extending into the retention sleeve toward an engagement axis of the assembly; one of the device hook engagement component or the ear hook engagement component comprising: at least two retention sleeve friction engagement components radially separated by a cantilevered protuberance engagement component about the engagement axis; the cantilevered protuberance engagement component comprising a distal end biased against the at least one protuberance to retain the device hook engagement component and the ear hook engagement component together, wherein the device hook engagement component, ear hook engagement component and retention sleeve are configured to be assembled along the engagement axis, said engagement axis comprising a single axis along which said device hook engagement component, ear hook engagement component and retention sleeve are assembled. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, the one of the device hook engagement component or the ear hook engagement component defining a gap adjacent to the cantilevered protuberance engagement component opposite the distal end. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The assembly of claim 2, the one of the device hook engagement component or the ear hook engagement component further defining a bore extending along the engagement axis, the gap defining an opening between an outer surface of the one of the device hook engagement component or the ear hook engagement component and the bore. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The assembly of claim 3, another of the one of the device hook engagement component or the ear hook engagement component comprising a shaft terminating at an engagement protrusion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The assembly of claim 4, wherein the engagement protrusion is frustoconical. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The assembly of claim 4, the cantilevered protuberance engagement component comprising a fulcrum and beam, the fulcrum biased against the shaft when inserted into the bore. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The assembly of claim 6, wherein the beam is configured to contort when engaged by the at least one protuberance translating in a first direction parallel to the engagement axis. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The assembly of claim 7, wherein the beam is configured to prevent movement of the retention sleeve along a second direction opposite the first direction. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a hook extending distally from the device hook engagement component and an ear hook extending distally from the ear hook engagement component. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, the at least two retention sleeve friction engagement components further radially separated by a protuberance passage channel. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The assembly of claim 10, the protuberance passage channel comprising a fissure terminating at a gap to define an engagement flap. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The assembly of claim 11, the one of the device hook engagement component or the ear hook engagement component further comprising a bore extending along the engagement axis, another of the one of the device hook engagement component or the ear hook engagement component comprising an engagement protrusion, an end of the engagement flap to contort away from the engagement axis when the engagement protrusion is positioned in the bore along the engagement axis at the engagement flap. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The assembly of claim 11, the one of the device hook engagement component or the ear hook engagement component further comprising a bore extending along the engagement axis, the bore larger in diameter along the gap than along the fissure. ### Claim 14 A method of assembling an ear hook, comprising: passing a retention sleeve in a first direction beyond an end of one of a device hook engagement component or an ear hook engagement component by at least a predetermined distance; inserting another of the device hook engagement component or the ear hook engagement component into a bore of the one of the device hook engagement component or the ear hook engagement component; and moving the retention sleeve in a second direction toward the end to pass a protuberance of the retention sleeve over a cantilevered protuberance engagement component to retain the one of the device hook engagement component or the ear hook engagement component together as an assembly. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, the passing further comprising translating another protuberance through a fissure. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, the inserting further comprising opening an engagement flap defined by the fissure with the another of the device hook engagement component or the ear hook engagement component into the one of the device hook engagement component or the ear hook engagement component. ### Claim 17 An assembly, comprising: a device hook engagement component; an ear hook engagement component; and a retention sleeve comprising at least one protuberance extending into the retention sleeve toward an engagement axis of the assembly; one of the device hook engagement component or the ear hook engagement component comprising: at least two retention sleeve friction engagement components radially separated by a cantilevered protuberance engagement component about the engagement axis; the cantilevered protuberance engagement component comprising a distal end biased against the at least one protuberance to retain the device hook engagement component and the ear hook engagement component together, the one of the device hook engagement component or the ear hook engagement component defining a gap adjacent to the cantilevered protuberance engagement component opposite the distal end. ### Claim 18 An assembly, comprising: a device hook engagement component; an ear hook engagement component; and a retention sleeve comprising at least one protuberance extending into the retention sleeve toward an engagement axis of the assembly; one of the device hook engagement component or the ear hook engagement component comprising: at least two retention sleeve friction engagement components radially separated by a cantilevered protuberance engagement component about the engagement axis; the cantilevered protuberance engagement component comprising a distal end biased against the at least one protuberance to retain the device hook engagement component and the ear hook engagement component together; and a hook extending distally from the device hook engagement component and an ear hook extending distally from the ear hook engagement component. ### Claim 19 An assembly, comprising: a device hook engagement component; an ear hook engagement component; and a retention sleeve comprising at least one protuberance extending into the retention sleeve toward an engagement axis of the assembly; one of the device hook engagement component or the ear hook engagement component comprising: at least two retention sleeve friction engagement components radially separated by a cantilevered protuberance engagement component about the engagement axis; the cantilevered protuberance engagement component comprising a distal end biased against the at least one protuberance to retain the device hook engagement component and the ear hook engagement component together; the at least two retention sleeve friction engagement components further radially separated by a protuberance passage channel.