| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 381381000 | Hook over ear or spectacle | 50 |
| 20080205683 | EYEGLASS-MOUNTABLE AUDIO SYSTEM - The present invention comprises a method and apparatus for attaching earphones to eyeglass and similar frames. In one or more embodiments, the apparatus of the present invention comprises an earphone that comprises an elongated support arm that supports the earphone electronics and speaker unit. In one or more embodiments, the elongated support arm has a configuration such that it has a first free end, an elongated, typically curved center portion, and a second end to which the earphone speaker unit is attached. An expandable, resilient, tubular sleeve having a bore is slid over the free end such that it is disposed along the center portion. The combination of the earphone and resilient sleeve forms an audio unit that may be attached to a temple of an eyeglass frame by sliding the free end of the temple through the resilient sleeve until the temple's free end projects from the rear of the sleeve. The earphone and sleeve unit may be slid along the temple to adjust to the position of a user's ear. The earphone is thereby firmly yet adjustably and comfortably attached to the eyeglass frame temple. In one or more embodiments, the earphone comprises a Bluetooth cellular headset and/or a digital music player. | 08-28-2008 |
| 20080219492 | Headphone - A headphone including a housing that includes a speaker unit and that has a generally flat surface that comes into contact with an outward facing surface of an auricle of an ear and a neckband that is connected to the housing. The neckband has a ring form with a partially cut-out section and the inner side of at least one end of the neckband is connected to the housing. The neckband and the generally flat surface of the housing are generally coplanar, and have an elastic force in a direction that causes the neckband and the generally flat surface of the housing to return to the coplanar arrangement. | 09-11-2008 |
| 20080232632 | Ear hooked earphone - An ear hooked earphone is provided for selectively being worn on a left or right ear of a user. The earphone includes a body and an ear hook. The body includes a first coupled portion formed on a surface thereof. The ear hook includes a hook section and a fastened section. The hook section is used for hooking around the ear of the user. The fastened section is connected with the hook section, and a separation is formed between ends of the hook section and the fastened section. The fastened section has a second coupled portion, and one of two sides of the second coupled portion is selectively coupled with the first coupled section. Thereby, the position of the separation relative to the body is able to be changed, that is, the ear hooked earphone is able to hang on the left or right ear of the user freely. | 09-25-2008 |
| 20080247590 | STRUCTURE OF OVER-THE-EAR HOOK - An over-the-ear hook is a one-piece tube that can hold an earphone for conducting sounds to the wearer's ear canal. The tube can be adjustable to the wearer's ear shape so as to allow the over-the-ear hook to rest securely behind any wearer's ear. To form an integral unit comprising the over-the-ear hook and the earphone: snugly ensconce the cable of said earphone in the groove cut in the surface of said tube as the opening of the groove is smaller than the diameter of said cable. The earphone can be easily detached from the over-the-ear hook after use for separate storage. Under the circumstances, the earphone cable needs not enlacing the over-the-ear hook for space-saving storage and would not be damaged thereof. | 10-09-2008 |
| 20080253605 | MULTIPLE INPUT ACOUSTIC COUPLER - A method and system for enhancing communications, such as those involving a two-way radio, are disclosed. More particularly, an acoustic coupler can comprise an output port configured to attach to an earpiece and a plurality of input ports in acoustic communication with the output port. Each of the input ports can facilitate communication from a different audio device to the user. For example, one input port can receive voice communications from a two-way radio, another input port can receive voice communications from a cellular telephone, and another input port can receive music from a music player. In this manner, a user can listen to multiple audio devices without reconfiguring an earpiece that is used for such listening. | 10-16-2008 |
| 20080260197 | Adjustable earhook - An earhook adapted to fit on a user ear. In an embodiment of the invention, the earhook includes a first portion having a fixed first curvature and a second portion having an adjustable second curvature for grasping a user ear. The second portion may be adjustably coupled together with the first portion with a coupling mechanism so that the second curvature is adjusted to suit a user preference. | 10-23-2008 |
| 20080260198 | HEADSET - Communication unit comprising a housing ( | 10-23-2008 |
| 20080279410 | Directional hearing enhancement systems - A hearing enhancement system that enhances a user's hearing based on a directional speaker is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system can include an interface unit that has a directional speaker and a microphone. The microphone captures input audio signals that are transformed into ultrasonic signals. The speaker transmits the ultrasonic signals, which are transformed into output audio signals by interaction with air. At least a portion of the output audio signals are modified to enhance the hearing of the user. Based on the system, the user's ear remains free from any inserted objects and thus is free from annoying occlusion effects. Compared to existing hearing aids, the system is relatively inexpensive. In another embodiment, the system can also be used as a phone. In yet another embodiment, the system can also access audio signals from other portable or non-portable instruments, wired or wirelessly, such as from home entertainment units, phones, microphones at a conference or speakers at a movie theater. | 11-13-2008 |
| 20080285786 | Electroacoustic Device - An electroacoustic device includes a rear body portion containing electronic circuits, being so dimensioned and shaped as to be carried by a human user behind the user's ear and having an upper end portion and a frontal body portion with an upper end portion connected to the upper end portion of the rear body portion. The device may include an electroacoustic speaker transducer connected to the frontal body portion and arrangeable in a sound transmitting relationship to the user's ear canal when the device is carried by the human user. The speaker transducer may be rotatable about an axis which is arranged on a plane that is substantially parallel to the side of the head of the user when the device is carried by the human user. | 11-20-2008 |
| 20080298625 | Earphone Earhook Stabilizer - An over-the-ear earhook comprising a horizontal behind the ear horizontal stabilizer extension or a behind the ear horizontal stabilizer extension attachment for an over-the-ear earhook for earhooks attached to an earphone worn in or over the concha cavity of a wearer's ear, the extension and earhook being adjustable generally for holding the earphone close to the wearer's ear canal and for preventing earbud type earphones from leaving the concha cavity. The extension being rigidly attached to the back of the earhook behind the wearer's ear comprising a material such as a coated wire capable of being bent and shaped to allow adjustment and thereafter maintaining its shape with sufficient rigidity to press the posterior end of the extension against the wearer's head to prevent the earhook from pivoting. | 12-04-2008 |
| 20080298626 | AUDIO EARBUD CARRIER - A flexible and compressible carrier includes a lobe having a receiver for releasably engaging an earbud-type audio earphone, and a retaining loop for securely positioning the lobe with the earphone adjacent the user's ear without insertion into the ear. User comfort, safety, and audio performance are enhanced, and the risk of hearing damage may be reduced. | 12-04-2008 |
| 20080310666 | Headphone Adaptation and Positioning Device - An adaptation device that removably attaches to earbud style headphone/s and provides improved security and retention of the earbud to a wearer's ear yet positions the speaker in substantially the same distance relative to the concha and/or ear canal of a wearer as a wearer would ordinarily wear an earbud. | 12-18-2008 |
| 20090041288 | EAR-LOOP EARPHONE - An ear-loop earphone includes a main body having a surrounding side, an ear-loop base, and an ear-loop. The ear-loop base, fixed on the surrounding side of the main body in a rotatable manner, is capable of rotating around a first axis. The ear-loop, fixed on the ear-loop base in a rotatable manner, capable of rotating around a second axis different from the first axis. | 02-12-2009 |
| 20090052719 | HEADPHONE DEVICE - A headphone device including a driver unit, and an ear-hook hanger of a loop shape that is integrated with the driver unit and supports an entire circumference of an ear capsule is provided. | 02-26-2009 |
| 20090097690 | ADJUSTABLE EARPHONE - An earphone includes a body with a surrounding side, a rotatable loop and an ear hook. The rotatable loop is pivotally connected with the body on two opposite ends of the surrounding side. The body and the rotatable loop can rotate around a first axis and with respect to each other. The ear hook is pivotally mounted on one side of the rotatable loop near where the rotatable loop is connected with the body, and the ear hook can rotate around a second axis, which is different from the first axis. | 04-16-2009 |
| 20090103765 | Headset for fitting of an earpiece - Headset for fitting an earpiece that has a lock housing in or on which a fixing device is provided. A flexurally rigid and elastic ear loop which forms a loop for accommodating the outer ear of a user, and one end of the ear loop is received longitudinally displaceable in the fixing device of the lock housing, and for adjusting the size of the loop is adjustably received in various length positions, creating a fixing effect. There is a control device for receiving and outputting electrical signals and a signal interface for receiving and/or outputting electrical signals to and/or from the control device. | 04-23-2009 |
| 20090116678 | Headset with fit adjustments and magnetic accessories - A headset which includes a metal or metallic housing to which various accessory components can be attached. These components can include an ear loop, a necklace for the holding of the headset while not being worn on the ear, an external mount, and other components. The components include a magnet which facilitates mounting to the headset. The components are not restricted to a particular attach point, which enhances the ability of the user to adjust the geometry for better fit. An earloop with an inelastic central range allowing for better fit. | 05-07-2009 |
| 20090214073 | Adjustable Ear-Hook Earphone with Compressible Inner Portion and Related Methods - An adjustable ear-hook earphone includes an audio earphone and a substantially auriform ear-hook connected to the earphone and configured to engage an ear of a user to hold the earphone adjacent the ear. The ear-hook has an outer portion configured to face generally away from the ear and a compressible inner portion configured to face generally toward the ear. The inner portion is compressible between a compressed position and a plurality of successive, expanded positions such that the expanded positions exert a force on the ear of the user. | 08-27-2009 |
| 20090238399 | MINIATURE STEREO AUDIO EARPHONES - A miniature audio earphone includes a pair of audio earphones, an electrical connector adapted for making a selectively detachable physical and electrical connection to a source of stereo audio signals, a generally Y-shaped electrical lead assembly having a bifurcated upper portion and an adjoining lower portion, whose lower end is coupled to the connector. The upper portion has a pair of branch leads each of which is coupled to a respective one of said earphones. A plurality of exteriorly disposed mechanical shielding elements at least partially surrounds an underlying portion of at least one of said branch leads to resist damage to the lead assembly due to abrasion, crushing, kinking and cutting without unduly impairing the flexibility of the assembly or causing it to have an unattractive appearance. A tensile stress-relief line is also provided for resisting damage to the upper portion of the assembly due to tension. | 09-24-2009 |
| 20100074462 | Headset and Method of Using the Same - A headset includes a main body, an earpiece formed on a side of the main body, a holder connecting part formed on another side of the main body, a coupling member that is coupled to the holder to support the holder on the holder connecting part, and an elastic member for pulling the holder toward the holder connecting part. | 03-25-2010 |
| 20100086167 | EARPHONE HAVING UNDER HANGER - An earphone having an under hanger reduces movement of the earphone from vibrations that occur while a user is typically in motion. The earphone preferably includes: a housing for housing a speaker therein; a protector installed in a front surface of the housing and having a mesh for delivering a sound from the speaker; and an under hanger provided at a lower part of the housing to closely contact along a lower part of the rear side of an earflap of a user. The provision of an under hanger in a lower part of the earphone prevents from being easily separated from a user's ear. Further, by providing an under hanger made of a soft material, as the earphone closely contacts with the user's ear, a sound quality is improved and a wearing feeling of the earphone is improved. | 04-08-2010 |
| 20100104125 | Headset Systems And Related Methods - In one embodiment, a headset system comprises a headset comprising a body and an earpiece, and a docking station comprising a receiving mechanism sized to receive a portion of the body. The earpiece can be located outside of the receiving mechanism when the portion of the body is coupled to the receiving mechanism. Other examples and embodiments are described herein. | 04-29-2010 |
| 20100119100 | Electronic voice pad and utility ear device - The present invention is an external ear attachable electronic ear utility device, having logic for processing input-output signals to the ear device upon user demand from mechanical switches or audio input, and logic for storing user audio input in the device memory such that the external ear device platform can be extended for alternative hands free visual free operation while making and retrieving stored verbal notes/messages. The ear device can also have functions to identify audio input for preset voice commands, logic for programming to record and playback audio signals on user selection or on audio voice command, a trip route recorder and electronic bread crumbs utility for finding ones way back to a start position using GPS stored point locations. Other utilities include an RFID signal detection and warning, as well as a purely audio interface directional compass. | 05-13-2010 |
| 20100183184 | EARPHONE - There is provided an earphone having an ear hook, at one end of which is arranged a first end of a sliding shaft and at the other end of which (at the ear lobe abutment end) the cable is fixed. The housing of the electroacoustic transducer is connected to the second end of the shaft in such a way that the housing of the electroacoustic transducer can be moved in the longitudinal direction of the shaft. | 07-22-2010 |
| 20100220886 | EAR-ATTACHMENT DEVICE AND METHOD - An ear-attachment device attaches an electronic hearing-related device to an ear. The device uses concha-gripping-means to grip at least part of a concha of an ear therebetween. An electronic hearing-related device is attached to the concha-gripping-means. | 09-02-2010 |
| 20110002499 | FRAME EARHOOK - An earhook ( | 01-06-2011 |
| 20110064255 | AUDIO EQUIPMENT - Audio equipment comprising a frame having a face and a pair of temples hingedly connected thereto, a conductor extending across the face to electrically connect audio modules associated with the temples, the face including grooves adapted to receive parts of lenses and a channel extending across a bridge region and interconnecting the grooves, the conductor extending through at least parts of the grooves and the channel. | 03-17-2011 |
| 20110164778 | HEADPHONE WITH EARLOBE SECURING ARM - An earbud comprising a speaker, a housing for containing the speaker, and a securing arm for contact with an earlobe of a user's ear. | 07-07-2011 |
| 20110170731 | Earbud Stabilization System - A system for earbud headphones holds the earbud headphone on during movement. The system has a “C” shaped ear frame with a first end and a second end. The first end has an opening. The ear frame is formed from a soft plastic. A clip has a concave side that mates with an earbud headphone. A pin is attached to the clip and detachably extends through the opening in the ear loop. The opening has a spherically concave shape with a hole in the center. The pin has a ball shaped head that mates with the spherically concave shape to form a ball and socket arrangement. As a result, the clip is able to rotate 360 degrees. The stem of the pin is smaller than the hole and this allows the clip holding the earbud speaker to tilt. | 07-14-2011 |
| 20120140976 | Earphone System Comprising An Earphone And A Portable Holding Device - An earphone system ( | 06-07-2012 |
| 20120230532 | Apparatus For Supporting An Earphone - An apparatus and/or device for holding an earphone bud in or proximate to an ear is described. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes an ear bud support portion that supports and/or maintains an ear bud in a desired position, and an ear attachment portion that attaches the apparatus to the ear of a person wearing the apparatus. | 09-13-2012 |
| 20120237075 | AUDIO APPARATUS - Audio apparatus comprising a housing and a piezoelectric transducer ( | 09-20-2012 |
| 20120288132 | Multi function cable clip device - A cable includes a first portion and a second portion. An earpiece speaker is attached to the first portion of the cable. An earhook is provided and a multi-purpose clip is simultaneously attached, in a first use mode, only to the earpiece speaker and the earhook. In a second use mode, the clip is simultaneously attached to the earhook, the earpiece speaker and the second portion of the cable. Also in a first use mode, each of a pair of clips is simultaneously connected only to a respective earpiece speaker and a respective earhook. In a second use mode, at least one of the clips is simultaneously connected to a respective earhook, a respective earpiece speaker and the second portion of the cable. | 11-15-2012 |
| 20130177194 | GLASSES APPARATUS FOR WATCHING DISPLAY IMAGE - A glasses apparatus which works in conjunction with a display apparatus which operates in a multi-view mode to combine and output a plurality of contents. The glasses apparatus includes: a first interface module which receives a synchronization signal in a first wireless communication method; first and second glasses mounted on a glasses frame and which are driven in synchronization with one of the plurality of contents based on the synchronization signal; a second interface module which receives an audio signal of at least said one content in a second wireless communication method; a controller which selects an audio signal of said one content from among audio signals corresponding to the plurality of contents, and an audio outputter which outputs the audio signal of the selected content, and which is integrally formed with the glasses frame. | 07-11-2013 |
| 20130208939 | Earphone With Cable Support - An earphone support for an in-ear, earbud-type of headphone has an earphone with a portion for insertion into a user's ear canal, and a portion for connecting to a cable. An armature connects the earphone to the cable and the armature is associated with a connector for maintaining a portion of the earphone cable in a slack condition when another portion or the earphone cable is drawn taught. It is anticipated that support for the slack portion of the cable may be provided by a separate ear hook apparatus, or by a loop formed of the earphone cable. | 08-15-2013 |
| 20130216087 | Earbud Positioning Device - An apparatus that securely positions a typical earbud-type earphone outside of the ear canal which allows users to concurrently listen to sounds from the speaker and sounds from the outside environment. It is comprised of an earhook that rests over and behind the user's ear with a fastener connected to one end to grip the stem of a conventional earbud. When the speaker is repositioned just outside of the ear canal, there is nothing physically blocking the entrance of the ear canal, thus allowing the user to hear what is going on around them. This provides a much safer manner in which a user can listen to their audio device. The apparatus is fully adjustable allowing the user to control the amount of outside noise that is heard along with the sounds from the earbud speaker by varying the proximity of the speaker to the ear canal. | 08-22-2013 |
| 20130287241 | EAR JEWELRY WITH WIRELESS AUDIO DEVICE - An audio device worn in a piercing in an ear of a user. The audio device extends through the piercing and includes a wireless communications unit disposed at a first end and a sound-production unit coupled to an opposite second end thereof. The signal path from a master device to the sound-production unit for producing audio outputs thus passes through the pinna of the ear. The sound-production unit may include an ornamental cover such that the device can be worn as jewelry. The speaker and the wireless communications unit may be removable from a body of the device to enable the body to be worn alone as jewelry and to allow replacement of the wireless communications unit with a wired connection. The device may include a control surface useable to provide inputs to the master device coupled to the device. | 10-31-2013 |
| 20130336514 | EARBUDS SECURABLE TO USERS' OUTER EARS AND RELATED HEADPHONE SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Earbud headphones may be configured to be secured to a user's outer ear. The earbud headphones may comprise a speaker assembly configured to convert an audio signal into a sound wave audible to the human ear. A main body portion may support the speaker assembly. An extension may extend from the main body portion away from the speaker assembly to define a gap between the extension and the speaker assembly. The gap may be sized and positioned to receive a portion of a user's outer ear within the gap such that the portion of the user's outer ear is disposed between the extension and the speaker assembly and retains the earbud headphone in the ear of the user when the earbud headphone is worn by the user. | 12-19-2013 |
| 20140140567 | MONITORING APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR MEASURING PHYSIOLOGICAL AND/OR ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS - A monitoring apparatus includes a wearable electronic device having an audio port and a headset having at least one earbud, at least one physiological and/or environmental sensor, and circuitry that processes signals produced by the at least one physiological and/or environmental sensor and transmits the processed signals to the electronic device via the audio port. The headset may include a microphone in audio communication with the electronic device via the audio port, and the circuitry modulates audio signals produced by the microphone and signals produced by the at least one physiological and/or environmental sensor for transmission to the electronic device via the audio port. The circuitry may power the at least one physiological and/or environmental sensor via power supplied by the electronic device through the audio port and may include a processor that coordinates collection, modulation, and/or transmission of signals produced by the at least one physiological and/or environmental sensor. | 05-22-2014 |
| 20140198943 | HEADPHONE DEVICE - A headphone device including a driver unit, and an ear-hook hanger of a loop shape that is integrated with the driver unit and supports an entire circumference of an ear capsule is provided. | 07-17-2014 |
| 20140270316 | Sound Induction Ear Speaker for Eye Glasses - An eyewear sound induction ear speaker device includes an eyewear frame, at least one speaker including an audio channel integrated with the eyewear frame and an acoustic duct coupled to the speaker and arranged to channel sound emitted by the speaker to an ear of the user wearing the eyewear frame. A method of providing sound for eyewear includes receiving an audio signal at a speaker integrated with an eyewear frame, inducing the speaker to produce an acoustic sound, and channeling the sound through an acoustic duct to be presented to a user wearing the eyewear frame. The eyewear can include microphones and at least one of a receiver and a transmitter that are integral to the eyewear frame and electronically linked to the at least one speaker. The microphones can be employed in noise cancellation. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140270317 | BEHIND THE EAR EARPHONE - A behind-the-ear mountable earphone includes a generally C-shaped ear support. The support has a first section extending between a first end and the top of the “C”, adapted to fit behind the user's ear, and a second section extending from the top of the “C” to a second end. The second section is in a plane different from the first section, so that when the first section is behind the user's ear, the second section extends over the front of the user's ear. An earphone is telescopingly mounted on the second end of the C-shaped support. The earphone comprising a generally circular face adapted to be received in the concha of the user's ear, the generally circular face disposed at an angle with respect to the first section of the generally C-shaped support. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140334658 | WIRELESS EAR-HOOK HEADSET, FLEXIBLE TUBE STRUCTURE THEREOF, AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE FLEXIBLE TUBE STRUCTURE - A wireless ear-hook headset includes a flexible tube, a receiver and a transceiver. The flexible tube has a cable, a first fixing binder fixed on one end of the cable, a second fixing binder fixed on the other end of the cable, and an outer layer. The cable has at least one shapeable metallic wire, a plurality of signal wires and an insulating cover layer. The outer layer has two ends which are fixedly connected with the first and second fixing binders respectively and fully covering the cable. The receiver is connected to the first fixing binder of the flexible tube. The transceiver is connected to the second fixing binder of the flexible tube. The present invention also discloses the flexible tube structure and a method for manufacturing the flexible tube. | 11-13-2014 |
| 20150030197 | Audio Accessory with Improved Ear Hook and Low Frequency Acoustic Performance | 01-29-2015 |
| 20150071479 | Audio Apparatus - An audio apparatus including a housing and a piezoelectric transducer mounted in the housing so that the transducer is adjacent a user's pinna. The transducer excites vibration in the pinna to cause it to transmit an acoustic signal from the transducer to a user's inner ear. The apparatus further including a coupler coupling the transducer to the housing with the coupler approximating to a simple support for the transducer. | 03-12-2015 |
| 20150131838 | SOUND OUTPUTTING DEVICE - According to an aspect, a sound outputting device includes a front unit, a first side unit, a second side unit, a sound transmitting portion, and a piezoelectric speaker. The first side unit is coupled to one end portion of the front unit. The second side unit is coupled to another end portion of the front unit. The sound transmitting portion is provided in the first side unit for transmitting a sound via cartilage conduction. The piezoelectric speaker vibrates the sound transmitting portion. | 05-14-2015 |
| 20150365757 | BIOLOGICALLY FIT WEARABLE ELECTRONICS APPARATUS AND METHODS - Detachable wearable electronic eyeglasses and head mounted gear with a plurality of electronic functions and interchangeable electronic function, and a wearable computer with optimal weight distribution and stretchable arms. | 12-17-2015 |
| 20160134958 | SOUND TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS AND DEVICES HAVING EARPIECES - Sound transmission systems and devices having non-occluding earpieces are described herein. In one embodiment, an earpiece includes an enclosure configured to be positioned adjacent a user's ear and a transducer disposed in the enclosure. A tube extends from the enclosure toward the ear canal of the user's ear. The tube transmits sound generated by the transducer toward the user's ear without substantially blocking or occluding an entrance to the ear canal. | 05-12-2016 |
| 20160182991 | Wireless earbuds without separate audio source | 06-23-2016 |
| 20170238083 | ERGONOMIC EARPIECE AND ATTACHMENTS | 08-17-2017 |
