Patent US5068902A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5068902A
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Method and apparatus for reducing acoustical distortion
Assignee: Epic Corp
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Filing: 1989-03-06
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Granted: 1991-11-26
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Expires: 2009-03-06
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for reducing distortion of an acoustical waveform by locating a plurality of microspheres to interact with interfering acoustical waveforms are described.
Inventors
- 👤 Gary L. Ward
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 09:11
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C70/00; B29C70/58; B29C70/66; G; G10; G10K; G10K11/00; G10K11/002; H; H04; H04R; H04R25/00; H04R25/65; H04R25/652; H04R25/658; B29K; B29K2105/00; B29K2105/06; B29K2105/16; B29K2105/165; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/34; B29L2031/3431; H04R25/45; H04R25/456
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 41
Claim 1
Independent Claim
19 words
An earmold for conveying sound to the ear, said earmold comprising a plurality of microspheres in a polymeric matrix.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
19 words
An earmold for conveying sound to the ear, said earmold comprising a plurality of microspheres in a polymeric matrix.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The earmold as defined in claim 1 wherein said microspheres are substantially dispersed in said matrix, forming a microsphere/polymeric matrix composite.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The earmold as defined in claim 2 wherein said microspheres comprise from about 5 to about 75 percent of the total volume of said composite.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The earmold as defined in claim 3 wherein said microspheres have a mean diameter between about 5 microns and about 5,000 microns.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The earmold as defined in claim 3 wherein said microspheres comprise from about 10 to about 50 percent of the total volume of said composite.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The earmold as defined in claim 5 wherein said microspheres are hollow glass beads having a mean diameter between about 10 and 200 microns.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The earmold as defined in claim 6 wherein said matrix comprises a poly(methyl methacrylate).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The earmold as defined in claim 1 wherein said microspheres have a mean diameter between about 5 microns and about 5,000 microns.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The earmold as defined in claim 1 wherein said microspheres have a mean diameter between about 20 microns and about 200 microns.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The earmold as defined in claim 1 wherein said microspheres comprise a material selected from the group consisting of ceramic, glass, mineral, and phenolic resin.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The earmold as defined in claim 10 wherein said microspheres are hollow glass beads.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The earmold as defined in claim 10 wherein said microspheres are solid glass beads.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The earmold as defined in claim 1 wherein said matrix is selected from the group consisting of silicones, polyvinyls, acrylics, polyolefins, polyamides, polyesters, and polyurethanes.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The earmold as defined in claim 13 wherein said matrix is a poly(methyl methacrylate).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The earmold as defined in claim 13 wherein said matrix is a silicone.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
In a hearing aid having tube means for conveying sound, the improvement wherein said tube means comprises a composite of microspheres dispersed in a polymeric matrix.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
In a hearing aid having tube means for conveying sound, the improvement wherein said tube means comprises a composite of microspheres dispersed in a polymeric matrix.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The improvement of claim 16 wherein said tube means extends into the ear canal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
The improvement of claim 16 wherein said hearing aid is a behind-the-ear hearing aid and said tube means conveys sound from behind the ear into the ear canal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
The improvement of claim 16 wherein said hearing aid is an in-the-ear hearing aid comprising a shell for containing means for receiving and amplifying sound, said shell comprising said composite.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
31 words
A method for reducing distortion of an acoustical waveform conveyed in a conduit, said method comprising forming said conduit from a composite comprising a plurality of microspheres and a polymeric matrix.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
31 words
A method for reducing distortion of an acoustical waveform conveyed in a conduit, said method comprising forming said conduit from a composite comprising a plurality of microspheres and a polymeric matrix.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as defined in claim 20 wherein said microspheres comprise from about 5 to 75 percent of the total volume of said composite.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as defined in claim 20 wherein said microspheres have a mean diameter between about 5 microns and about 5,000 microns.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as defined in claim 20 wherein said microspheres comprise a material selected from the group consisting of ceramic, glass, mineral, and phenolic resin.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as defined in claim 20 wherein said matrix is selected from the group consisting of silicones, polyvinyls, acrylics, polyolefins, polyamides, polyesters, and polurethanes.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method as defined in claim 20 where said conduit is an earmold.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as defined in claim 25 wherein said microspheres comprise from about 10 to 50 percent of the total volume of said composite.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as defined in claim 26 wherein said microspheres are hollow glass beads having a mean diameter between about 10 and 200 microns.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
18 words
A hearing aid comprising a composite material, said material comprising a plurality of microspheres and a polymeric matrix.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
18 words
A hearing aid comprising a composite material, said material comprising a plurality of microspheres and a polymeric matrix.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
24 words
The hearing aid as defined in claim 28 wherein said microspheres are hollow beads having a mean diameter between approximately 5 and 1,000 microns.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
21 words
The hearing aid as defined in claim 29 wherein said microspheres have a mean diameter between approximately 50 and 100 microns.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
22 words
The hearing aid as defined in claim 28 wherein said matrix is selected from the group consisting of silicone, polyvinyl, and acrylic.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
24 words
The hearing aid as defined in claim 28 wherein said microspheres comprise between 10 and 45 percent of the total volume of said composite.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
21 words
A telephone receiver comprising an output transducer and a composite, said composite comprising a plurality of microspheres and a polymeric matrix.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
21 words
A telephone receiver comprising an output transducer and a composite, said composite comprising a plurality of microspheres and a polymeric matrix.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
15 words
The telephone receiver as defined in claim 33 wherein said composite substantially surrounds said transducer.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
17 words
The telephone receiver as defined in claim 33 wherein said composite forms a housing for said transducer.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
23 words
The telephone receiver as defined in claim 33 wherein said matrix comprises a material selected from the group consisting of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), polystyoene,
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4811402A
Cited
US4969534A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-11-25 | 1995-05-27 | 1995-11-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-11-25 | 1999-05-27 | 1999-11-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-11-25 | 2003-05-27 | 2003-11-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |