JP5665792B2 - Ear tip - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an ear tip that is attached to an earphone and used by being inserted into an ear hole.

  As earphones that are used by being connected to acoustic devices such as portable music players, radios, and televisions, inner-ear earphones and canal-type earphones are known. Inner-ear type earphones are generally mounted so that the ridgeline of the disc-shaped part of the earphone body is hooked near the opening end of the ear hole, while the canal-type earphones are cylindrical sounds formed in a substantially cylindrical shape of the earphones. The eartip attached to the conduit is attached by being inserted into the ear canal. Here, the soft eartip attached to the canal type earphone may be called by various names such as an earcap, an earpiece, and an earpad, but in this specification, it will be called an eartip.

  The inner ear type earphone is easy to attach to the ear due to its structure, but has a problem that it is easily detached and sound is likely to leak out of the ear canal. On the other hand, the canal-type earphone has advantages that it is not easily detached and has good sound quality in the low frequency range, in addition to being easy to attach to the ear canal. The sound quality is said to be related to the adhesion between the outer surface of the eartip and the inner surface of the ear hole, and is because the performance of blocking sound from the outside, that is, the sound insulating property is improved.

  As an example of an ear tip used in a conventional canal type earphone, there is one disclosed in Patent Document 1. In Patent Document 1, a first annular flange portion that spreads in a substantially parabolic shape from a front end portion of a cylindrical portion that is attached to a sound conduit of an earphone, and a substantially parabolic portion further rearward from a rear end edge of the first annular flange portion. An ear tip having a second annular flange portion that spreads in a shape is disclosed.

JP 2010-1085A

  The canal type earphone uses an ear tip made of a soft material such as silicon rubber, and is inserted into the ear canal so that the size and shape of the ear tip is the same as the size and shape of the user's ear canal. If it does not fit, it may be easily removed from the ear canal or sound may leak. A plurality of ear tips of different sizes are provided, but an appropriate size is not always found. In the canal type earphone, the range in which the ear tip and the ear hole fit with each other is limited to the range in which the annular portion of the ear tip is elastically deformed. Although there is good adhesion to the ear, it is difficult to come off from the ear canal and various other excellent effects are exhibited, there is a problem that the above-described excellent effects cannot be exhibited if they are out of a certain allowable range.

  In the ear tip of Patent Document 1, a second annular flange portion that extends rearward from the rear end edge of the first annular flange portion is formed annularly along the entire circumference of the rear end edge of the first annular flange portion. For this reason, there is a concern that the insertion resistance when the ear tip is inserted into the ear hole is increased, and the wearability is deteriorated. Further, since the elastic restoring force of the second annular flange portion is large, there is a concern that the ear tip is pushed back to the opposite side in the insertion direction due to the large elastic restoring force unless it is reliably pushed into the ear hole.

The object of the invention is achieved by the features defined in the characterizing part of claim 1 of the appended claims.
That is, according to the present invention, an ear tip is detachably attached to a sound conduit of a canal-type earphone, and includes a sound conduit attachment portion attached to the sound conduit, and an ear-side end portion of the sound conduit attachment portion. An annular portion that is folded back outward in the radial direction toward the opposite ear side end portion, and protrudes from the outer peripheral edge of the opposite ear end portion of the annular portion to the opposite ear side with a curved surface radially outward. A pair of ridges, and the pair of ridges is formed only in two upper and lower directions that are 180 degrees different from each other so as to abut on the inner surface in the vertical direction near the opening end of the ear canal. An ear tip is provided which is characterized by being formed large.

Additional technical details of the eartips according to the invention are defined in the dependent claims.
That is, an ear tip is provided in which the end portion on the anti-ear side of the annular portion is substantially in the same position as the end portion on the anti-ear side of the sound conduit mounting portion.

  According to the ear tip of the present invention, the ear tip is provided back and forth in the axial direction of the outer surface of the annular portion and the outer surface of the flange portion by providing the flange portion having a curved surface radially outward after the annular portion. Since the two ears are in close contact with the inner surface of the ear canal, the contact length in the insertion direction (axial direction) of the ear tip with respect to the inner surface of the ear canal can be increased, the mounting stability of the ear tip is increased, and the ear tip is not prepared Can be prevented from coming off from the ear canal. In addition, since the butt portion projects outward from the annular portion in the radial direction, the range in which the ear tip fits into the ear canal is expanded, thereby allowing the ear tip to fit in a wide range to the ear canal. The versatility of can be improved. In addition, the hook part is partially formed in a pair of two directions that are 180 degrees different from each other, and the hook part is not formed in the other direction. Therefore, when the ear tip is inserted into the ear hole, the insertion resistance is large. It can suppress that it becomes, and it can prevent that the mounting property of an eartip falls. In addition, since the pair of collars are provided at symmetrical positions, the ear tips can be attached to the ear holes in a balanced manner.

It is sectional drawing shown in the state which made the ear tip concerning this invention facing the canal type | mold earphone. It is a figure which shows the state which assembled | attached the ear chip | tip shown in FIG. 1 to the earphone. It is a front view of the eartip shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a rear view of the ear tip shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the ear tip shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the ear tip shown in FIG. 1. It is sectional drawing which cut | disconnected the ear tip of FIG. 3 along the AA line. It is a front view which shows the modification of the eartip concerning this invention. It is a rear view of the modification of an ear tip. It is a top view of the modification of an ear tip. It is a bottom view of the modification of an ear tip. It is a right view of the modification of an ear tip. It is sectional drawing which cut | disconnected the ear chip | tip of FIG. 8 along the BB line. It is sectional drawing which cut | disconnected the ear chip | tip of FIG. 8 along CC line.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 to 7 show an embodiment of the ear tip of the present invention, and FIGS. 8 to 14 show a modification of the ear tip of the present invention.

  The ear tip 20 of the present embodiment is an accessory (attachment) attached to a canal type earphone used for a portable acoustic device or the like. FIG. 1 shows a state before the ear tip 20 of the present embodiment is attached to the canal-type earphone 1, and FIG. 2 shows a state where the ear tip 20 of the present embodiment is attached to the canal-type earphone 1. Yes.

  The illustrated canal type earphone 1 is illustrated as an example, and a resin-molded earphone body 3, a driver unit (not shown) as a speaker unit that generates sound stored in the earphone body 3, A cylindrical sound conduit 5 that protrudes from the earphone main body 3 and has a sound guide hole communicating with the internal space of the earphone main body 3, and protrudes downward from the earphone main body 3 on the side opposite to the side where the sound conduit 5 is located. And a cable holding part 9 for holding the other end of the electric wire cable 10 connected to an acoustic device such as a portable music player or a radio. The other end of the electric wire cable 10 held by the cable holding portion 9 is electrically connected to the driver unit by the lead wire exposed by peeling off the jacket. Thereby, the sound input from the acoustic device to the earphone main body 3 passes through the sound guide hole (not shown) of the sound conduit 5 and is output to the outside from the sound emission opening 8 at the end of the sound conduit 5. ing.

  The ear tip 20 attached to the canal-type earphone 1 is integrally injection-molded with a soft material such as silicon rubber or elastomer, and is inserted into the ear hole and fixed, so that the sound conduit 5 of the earphone 1 is fixed. It is used for directing sound into the ear canal without leaking most of the sound output from the end. The ear tip 20 of the present embodiment includes a cylindrical portion 22 (sound conduit mounting portion) attached to the sound conduit 5 protruding from the earphone main body 3 and an insertion end (ear side end) of the cylindrical portion 22 inserted into the ear hole. Part) from the outer peripheral edge of the annular part 26 and the end part (anti-ear side end part) of the annular part 26, which is folded back while spreading outward in the radial direction from the rear end (anti-ear side end part) to the vicinity. A pair of eaves portions 28 and 29 that extend beyond the end portion of the portion 22 to the opposite ear side and have a curved surface radially outward are provided.

  As shown in FIG. 1 (FIG. 7), the cylindrical portion 22 is formed in a size and shape corresponding to the size and shape of the sound conduit 5 protruding from the earphone main body 3. Since the inner diameter of the hole 22a of the cylindrical portion 22 is smaller than the outer diameter of the sound conduit 5 protruding from the earphone body 3, the sound conduit 5 is inserted from the opening end of the hole 22a of the cylindrical portion 22, and the hole 22a is inserted into the hole 22a. It is pushed in while spreading. The inner peripheral surface on the rear end side of the cylindrical portion 22 is partially thick and has a step portion 23 that engages with the annular engagement portion 7 of the sound conduit 5. Thus, when the tubular portion 22 of the ear tip 20 is fitted to the sound conduit 5, the step portion 23 of the ear tip 20 is engaged with the annular engagement portion 7 of the sound conduit 5, so that the ear tip 20 is connected to the earphone. It is designed not to be inadvertently removed from 1.

  The annular portion 26 is folded back in the radial direction from the insertion front end of the cylindrical portion 22 and extends with a substantially uniform thickness to the vicinity of the rear end of the cylindrical portion 22 substantially in parallel with the cylindrical portion 22. As shown in the rear view of FIG. 4, the annular portion 26 has a circular shape. A space S (FIGS. 1 and 2) between the inner surface of the annular portion 26 and the outer surface of the tubular portion 22 functions as a bending space when the annular portion 26 is elastically deformed to reduce its diameter. In other words, the amount of elastic deformation of the annular portion 26 is limited by the inner surface of the annular portion 26 contacting the outer surface of the tubular portion 22. Therefore, the compatibility of the ear tip 20 with the ear canal is limited by the amount of elastic deformation of the annular portion 26.

  A pair of flange portions 28 and 29 formed to face each other in a pair of two directions different from each other by 180 degrees, that is, in the up-and-down direction, extend beyond the rear end of the tubular portion 22 and extend outward in the radial direction. In order to extend, the inner side of the collar parts 28 and 29 functions as a larger bending space S (FIGS. 1 and 2). In the front view of FIG. 3 and the rear view of FIG. 4, the pair of upper and lower flange portions 28 and 29 are shown as substantially semicircular portions continuing to the annular portion 26. The flange portions 28 and 29 are larger than the annular portion 26 and can be elastically deformed radially inward. However, when the ear tip 20 is attached to the earphone 1 as shown in FIG. Is located in the bending space S inside the flange portions 28 and 29, the elastic deformation amount of the flange portions 28 and 29 is limited to the deformation amount until the inner surfaces of the flange portions 28 and 29 come into contact with the earphone body 3. It becomes. In this embodiment, the ridge line portion of the front end of the earphone main body 3 can be hooked on the auricle via the heel portions 28 and 29 or brought into contact with the opening end of the ear canal (the ear canal). As a result, the ear tip 20 of the present embodiment has the annular portion 26 and the pair of upper and lower flange portions 28 and 29 at the two positions in the front and rear in the insertion direction (axial direction) of the ear tip 20 with respect to the ear hole. In addition, the contact length (contact area) in the insertion direction of the ear tip 20 is increased by abutting and pressing the opening end of the ear hole, and the earphone 1 is not easily detached from the ear hole.

  When the earphone 1 having the ear tip 20 is attached to the ear, the pair of upper and lower flange portions 28 and 29 are provided in contact with the vicinity of the tapered opening end of the ear hole and fixed in a balanced manner in the vertical direction. . That is, since there is no flange in the left-right direction, a gap can be formed between the ear tip 20 and the ear hole in the left-right direction, the insertion resistance of the ear tip 20 is reduced, and the wearability is improved. The pair of upper and lower ridges 28 and 29 can intensively press the upper and lower sides near the opening end of the ear canal, in other words, the force by which the ridges 28 and 29 press the vicinity of the opening end of the ear canal is not dispersed, Therefore, the ear tip 20 can be firmly fixed to the ear.

  As described above, the pair of flange portions 28 and 29 have a substantially semicircular shape (see FIGS. 3 and 4), and have a thickness substantially equal to the thickness of the annular portion 26 (see FIG. 1). The flange portion 28 is formed longer than the lower flange portion 29. In the plan view of FIG. 5, the upper flange portion 28 is shown, and in the bottom view of FIG. 6, the lower flange portion 29 is shown. The reason why the upper collar portion 28 is formed longer than the lower collar portion 29 is that the upper side of the ear canal is longer than the lower side. Is to increase As for a pair of collar parts 28 and 29, the upper collar part 28 extends 3-9 mm from the rear end of the cylindrical part 22, and the lower collar part 29 extends 1-5 mm from the rear end of the cylindrical part 22. Is preferred. In the ear tip of general-purpose size, the upper collar portion 28 may extend 5 to 7 mm from the rear end of the cylindrical portion 22, and the lower collar portion 29 may extend 2 to 4 mm from the rear end of the cylindrical portion 22. preferable. In addition, the extension length of a pair of collar parts 28 and 29 is arbitrary, and is not restrict | limited to this embodiment. In addition, the thickness and semicircular size of the collar portions 28 and 29 are arbitrary, but in a general-purpose eartip, the thickness is 0.3 to 0.7 mm, and the semicircle is approximately 8 to 13 mm. It is.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the ear tip 20 has the outer surface of the annular portion 26 and the flange portions 28, 29 by providing the pair of flange portions 28, 29 projecting radially outward after the annular portion 26. Since the eartip 20 is in close contact with the inner surface of the ear canal and in the vicinity of the opening end of the ear canal at two locations on the outer surface in the axial direction, the contact length in the insertion direction (axial direction) of the ear tip 20 with respect to the ear canal can be increased. The mounting stability of the ear tip 20 is increased, and the ear tip 20 can be prevented from being carelessly detached from the ear. In addition, since the flange portions 28 and 29 protrude more outward in the radial direction from the annular portion 26, the range in which the ear tip 20 fits the ear with good adhesion is expanded, and the versatility of the ear tip 20 is enhanced. In addition, since the collar portions 28 and 29 are partially formed in a pair of two directions that differ from each other by 180 degrees, it is possible to suppress an increase in insertion resistance when the ear tip is inserted into the ear hole, and the ear tip is attached. It can prevent that property falls. Furthermore, since it is not necessary to prepare a large number of eartips having different sizes, there is also a secondary effect that the manufacturing cost can be suppressed.

  8 to 14 show modifications of the ear tip of the present invention. The above-described ear tip 20 shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 is a general-purpose size, whereas the modified ear tip 20A is small, and the modified ear tip 20A is a plan view of FIG. And in the rear view of FIG. 9, it has comprised mountain shape. The small-sized eartip 20A is provided for children or women, and the heel portions 28A and 29A are formed in a mountain shape by narrowing the distal ends of the heel portions 28A and 29A. This is because unnecessary interference between 28A and 29A and the ear is eliminated, and comfort is enhanced. The other configuration of the ear tip 20A according to the modification is common to the general-purpose ear tip 20 shown in FIGS.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, In the range which does not deviate from the main point of this invention, it can deform | transform and implement variously. For example, a pair of upper and lower collars can be formed with the same specifications, and the lengths of the upper and lower collars can be made equal.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Earphone 3 Main body 5 Sound conduit 20, 20A Ear tip 22, 22A Cylindrical part (sound conduit mounting part)
26, 26A Annular part 28, 28A Upper collar part 29, 29A Lower collar part S Deflection space

Claims (2)

An ear tip that is detachably attached to a sound conduit of a canal type earphone,
A sound conduit mounting portion to be attached to the sound conduit;
An annular portion that is folded back while spreading radially outward from the ear-side end portion of the sound conduit mounting portion toward the opposite ear-side end portion;
A pair of ridges projecting from the outer peripheral edge of the end portion on the opposite ear side of the annular portion to the opposite ear side with a curved surface radially outward,
The pair of buttocks are formed only in two upper and lower directions different from each other by 180 degrees so as to contact the upper and lower inner surfaces near the opening end of the ear canal , and one of them is formed larger than the other. Ear tip.   The ear tip according to claim 1, wherein the end portion on the opposite side of the annular portion is substantially at the same position as the end portion on the opposite side of the sound conduit mounting portion.

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