US4724922A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Acoustic earpiece
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1986-07-24
•
Granted: 1988-02-16
•
Expires: 2006-07-24
Abstract
Abstract An improved acoustic earpiece of the type used to transmit sound mechanically from a sound source to the ear drum of a listener is disclosed herein. The acoustic earpiece includes a tube and a resilient element surrounding one end thereof comprising an open cell resilient foam with a slow compression recovery rate and a fully compressed diameter of less than the diameter of the human ear canal.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert W. Kalayjian
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 09:55
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04R; H04R25/00; H04R25/65; H04R25/652; G; G10; G10K; G10K11/00; G10K11/18; G10K11/22; H04R25/656; H04R25/658
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
An acoustic earpiece adapted to be sealingly inserted into an ear canal of an ear of a user for mechanically transmitting sound from a source through a sound transmitting tube to the ear of the user, comprising: a sound transmitting tube having a diameter substantially smaller than the diameter of the external ear canal and an outwardly flared end; and a resilient member consisting of urethane foam surrounding said flared end of said tube, said foam member defining a cylindrical element having a slow compression recovery rate and a compressed diameter of no greater than about 0.18 to 0.50 inches, whereby said compressed earpiece may be inserted into the ear canal of the ear of the user and will thereupon expand to form an elongate sound seal therein with a substantial surface area of the ear canal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
137 words
An acoustic earpiece adapted to be sealingly inserted into an ear canal of an ear of a user for mechanically transmitting sound from a source through a sound transmitting tube to the ear of the user, comprising: a sound transmitting tube having a diameter substantially smaller than the diameter of the external ear canal and an outwardly flared end; and a resilient member consisting of urethane foam surrounding said flared end of said tube, said foam member defining a cylindrical element having a slow compression recovery rate and a compressed diameter of no greater than about 0.18 to 0.50 inches, whereby said compressed earpiece may be inserted into the ear canal of the ear of the user and will thereupon expand to form an elongate sound seal therein with a substantial surface area of the ear canal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A acoustic earpiece according to claim 1 wherein said tube comprises a flexible plastic tube having an internal diameter of about 0.06 inches and an external diameter of about 0.09 inches.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
An acoustic earpiece according to claim 1 wherein the end portion of said tube surrounded by said resilient member is rigid and the remaining length of said tube is flexible.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
An acoustic earpiece according to claim 1 wherein said foam element requires about 1 to 30 seconds to recover from a compressed condition and form a sound seal in the ear canal of the user.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
7 words
An acoustic earpiece according to claim 4
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
wherein said foam element has a fully expanded diameter of about 0.55 inches when not is use.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
wherein said foam element has a fully expanded diameter of about 0.55 inches when not is use.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
An acoustic earpiece according to claim 1 wherein said earpiece includes a female adaptor on the other end of said tube to accommodate use thereof as an anesthesia stethoscope earpiece.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3080011A
Cited
US3169600A
Cited
US3303902A
Cited
US3539032A
Cited
US3811437A
Cited
US3881570A
Cited
US4006796A
Cited
US3882848A
Cited
US4177871A
Cited
US4193396A
Cited
US4253452A
Cited
US4347911A
Cited
US4420657A
Cited
US4420657B1
Cited
US4554993A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-02-15 | 1991-08-17 | 1992-02-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-02-15 | 1995-08-17 | 1996-02-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-02-15 | 1999-08-17 | 2000-02-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |