US3602654A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hydraulically expandable earpiece
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1968-10-04
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Granted: 1971-08-31
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Expires: 1988-10-04
Abstract
Abstract An earpiece is provided for insertion in the ear canal and comprises a tube for conducting sound pressures to the ear canal. The sound pressure tube has a fluid expandable means surrounding the tube and means is provided for forcing fluid into the expandable means to cause it to expand into close fitting contact with the wall of the canal.
Inventors
- 👤 John A Victoreen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 10:44
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04R; H04R25/00; H04R25/65; H04R25/652; H04R25/656; H04R25/45; H04R25/456; H04R25/60
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
140 words
An apparatus for conducting sound pressure into an ear canal and having an outlet end disposed in the canal and expandable means surrounding the conduit, said means arranged to be expanded into contact with the wall of the canal after insertion of the conduit, and said expandable means being arranged to expand radially outward and hold the sound pressure conduit away from the wall of the canal in longitudinally restricted zone near the outlet end of the sound conducting conduit, a base supporting said sound pressure conduit and being connected to fluid pressure means by a connecting means, said fluid pressure means including a fluId pressure pressure reservoir, a wall of which is movable to force fluid out of the reservoir said connecting means including valve means and also including an expandable chamber which expands when the expandable means expands.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
140 words
An apparatus for conducting sound pressure into an ear canal and having an outlet end disposed in the canal and expandable means surrounding the conduit, said means arranged to be expanded into contact with the wall of the canal after insertion of the conduit, and said expandable means being arranged to expand radially outward and hold the sound pressure conduit away from the wall of the canal in longitudinally restricted zone near the outlet end of the sound conducting conduit, a base supporting said sound pressure conduit and being connected to fluid pressure means by a connecting means, said fluid pressure means including a fluId pressure pressure reservoir, a wall of which is movable to force fluid out of the reservoir said connecting means including valve means and also including an expandable chamber which expands when the expandable means expands.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
An apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said valve means includes cylindrical chamber made of distortable material having a seat on one end and a valve is disposed on the seat and said chamber may be distorted upon pressure from outside of the chamber to distort the valve seat and release the fluid.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
168 words
An apparatus for conducting sound pressure into an ear canal including a sound pressure conduit for insertion into the canal and having an outlet end disposed in the canal and expandable means surrounding the conduit, said means arranged to be expanded into contact with the wall of the canal after insertion of the conduit, and said expandable means being arranged to expand radially outward and hold the sound pressure conduit away from the wall of the canal in a longitudinally restricted zone near the outlet end of the sound conducting conduit, said fluid pressure means comprising an envelope filled with fluid and casing means for housing said envelope and piston means in the casing operable from the outside of the casing to cause the fluid in the envelope to be displaced, said envelope being elongated with a portion of the sidewall and one end wall folded back into the other part and the end wall having a piston which includes a cylindrical portion integral with the end wall.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
168 words
An apparatus for conducting sound pressure into an ear canal including a sound pressure conduit for insertion into the canal and having an outlet end disposed in the canal and expandable means surrounding the conduit, said means arranged to be expanded into contact with the wall of the canal after insertion of the conduit, and said expandable means being arranged to expand radially outward and hold the sound pressure conduit away from the wall of the canal in a longitudinally restricted zone near the outlet end of the sound conducting conduit, said fluid pressure means comprising an envelope filled with fluid and casing means for housing said envelope and piston means in the casing operable from the outside of the casing to cause the fluid in the envelope to be displaced, said envelope being elongated with a portion of the sidewall and one end wall folded back into the other part and the end wall having a piston which includes a cylindrical portion integral with the end wall.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
A device as described in claim 3 wherein said piston has an extension that extends toward the end of the casing and threaded cap is provided on the end of the casing arranged to contact the end of said extension.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
A device as described in claim 4 wherein said cap is provided with an opening and said extension is provided with a base and an operator member is seated in the base and extends through the cap opening.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device as described in claim 5 wherein means is provided for engagement with the operator member to hold the operator in a predetermined position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-08-30 | 1975-03-01 | 1975-08-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-30 | 1979-03-01 | 1979-08-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-30 | 1983-03-01 | 1983-08-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |