초록 ▼

The present invention relates to a flexible ear mould fitting a large number of users while providing a high level of comfort and comprising a base and at least one sidewall that is attached to the base and has an edge that extends substantially from the base to an opening of the earpiece, the width

The present invention relates to a flexible ear mould fitting a large number of users while providing a high level of comfort and comprising a base and at least one sidewall that is attached to the base and has an edge that extends substantially from the base to an opening of the earpiece, the width of the opening fitting within the ear canal of the user.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A flexible earpiece for positioning completely in the ear canal of a user, composing a base, and a first sidewall that is attached to the base and having edges that extends from the base to an opening of the earpiece, the width of the opening fitting within the ear cana

The invention claimed is: 1. A flexible earpiece for positioning completely in the ear canal of a user, composing a base, and a first sidewall that is attached to the base and having edges that extends from the base to an opening of the earpiece, the width of the opening fitting within the ear canal of the user, the edges defining two ends of the sidewall, wherein the sidewall overlaps itself at the two ends defined by the edges, wherein an amount of the overlap is variable in response to pressure applied to the sidewall. 2. The earpiece according to claim 1, wherein the sidewall has a generally conical shape. 3. The earpiece according to claim 2, wherein the conical shape has a substantially elliptical cross-section. 4. The earpiece according to claim 1, wherein the base comprises a component for injecting sound into the ear canal. 5. The earpiece according to claim 4, wherein the component for injecting sound comprises a connector to a sound tube. 6. The earpiece according to claim 4, wherein the component for injecting sound comprises a receiver. 7. The earpiece according to claim 1, wherein the base comprises a vent opening. 8. The earpiece according to claim 7, wherein the vent opening has a substantially circular shape or a substantially elliptical shape. 9. The earpiece according to claim 7, wherein the vent opening is connected to an acoustic filter extending from the base. 10. The earpiece according to claim 9, wherein said acoustic filter is a low-pass filler. 11. The earpiece according to claim 1, wherein the base comprises a recess extending substantially across the base. 12. The earpiece according to claim 1, wherein the earpiece is molded as an integral unit. 13. The earpiece according to claim 1, wherein the sidewall has a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the sidewall being attached to the base and the second portion of the sidewall defining the opening of the earpiece, wherein the width of the opening allows the whole earpiece to fit within the ear canal of the user. 14. The earpiece according to claim 1, wherein the first sidewall has air inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the two ends overlap each other such that the outer surface at one of the two ends is at least in part, covered by the inner surface of the sidewall at the other one of the two ends. 15. The flexible earpiece of claim 1, wherein the first side wall forms an angle that is less than 30° with respect to a longitudinal axis that extends through the opening. 16. A flexible earpiece for positioning completely in the ear canal of a user, comprising: a base; and a first sidewall and a second sidewall each of which having an edge that extends from the base to an opening of the earpiece, the width of the opening fitting within the ear canal of the user, wherein the sidewalls create an overlap, and wherein an amount of the overlap is variable in response to pressure applied to the one or both of the sidewalls; wherein the first sidewall is thicker along its edge than the second sidewall along its edge. 17. The earpiece according to clam 16, wherein the first sidewall is thickest along the edge of the first sidewall, while the second sidewall is thinnest along the edge of the second sidewall. 18. The flexible earpiece of claim 16, wherein the first side wall forms an angle that is less than 30° with respect to a longitudinal axis that extends through the opening. 19. A flexible earpiece for positioning completely in the ear canal of a user, comprising a base; a first sidewall with a first edge that extends from the base to an opening of the earpiece; and a second sidewall with a second edge that extends from the base to the opening; wherein the earpiece has a relaxed state in which no external pressure is applied to one or both of the first and second sidewalls, the first sidewall and the second sidewall overlapping at their respective edges when the earpiece is in the relaxed state; and wherein an amount of the overlap increases in response to a pressure applied to one or both of the first and second sidewalls. 20. The flexible earpiece of claim 19, wherein the first edge of the first sidewall is thinner than the second edge of the second sidewall. 21. The flexible earpiece of claim 19, wherein the first sidewall has a first middle portion that is thicker than the first edge, and the second sidewall has a second middle portion that is thinner than the second edge. 22. The flexible earpiece of claim 21, wherein the first edge of the first sidewall is thinner than the second edge of the second sidewall. 23. The flexible earpiece of claim 19, wherein the first side wall forms an angle that is less than 30° with respect to a longitudinal axis that extends through the opening. 24. The earpiece according to claim 23, wherein the thinnest part of the sidewalls is bout half the thickness of the thickest part. 25. A flexible earpiece for positioning completely in the ear canal of a user, comprising a base; a first sidewa11 with a first edge that extends from the base to an opening of the earpiece; and a second sidewall with a second edge that extends from the base to the opening; wherein the first sidewall has a first middle portion that is thicker than the first edge, and the second sidewall has a second middle portion that is thinner than the second edge. 26. The flexible earpiece of claim 25, wherein the first edge of the first sidewall is thinner than the second edge of the second sidewall. 27. The flexible earpiece of claim 25, wherein the first side wall forms an angle that is less than 30° with respect to a longitudinal axis that extends through the opening. 28. A flexible earpiece for positioning completely in a ear canal of a user, comprising a base; a first sidewall with a first edge that extends from the base to an opening of the earpiece; and a second sidewall with a second edge that extends from the base to the opening; wherein the first and second sidewalls are configured to move relative to each other from an initial configuration in which the first and second sidewalls are overlapping at their respective edges when no external pressure is applied to one or both of the first and second sidewalls; and wherein an amount of the overlap increases in response to pressure applied to one or both of the first and second sidewalls. 29. The flexible earpiece of claim 28, wherein the first side wall forms an angle that is less than 30° with respect to a longitudinal axis that extends through the opening. 30. A flexible earpiece for positioning completely in a ear canal of a user, comprising a base; a first sidewall with a first edge that extends from the base to an opening of the earpiece; and a second sidewall with a second edge that extends from the base to the opening; wherein at least one of the first and second sidewalls forms an angle that is less than 30° with respect to a longitudinal axis that extends through the opening when the flexible earpiece is in a relaxed configuration; and wherein the first sidewall and the second sidewall overlap each other when the flexible earpiece is in the relaxed configuration. 31. The flexible earpiece of claim 30, wherein the fist edge is thicker than the second edge. 32. A flexible earpiece for positioning completely in the ear canal of a user, comprising: a base; a first sidewall with a first edge that extends from the base to an opening of the earpiece; and a second sidewall with a second edge that extends from the base to the opening; and wherein the first edge of the first sidewall and the second edge of the second sidewall are offset relative to each other at the base in a radial direction from a center of the base when the earpiece is in a relaxed state in which no external pressure is applied to one or both of the first and second sidewalls, so that the first sidewall at the first edge will slide over the second sidewall at the second edge, thereby creating an overlap at the first and second edges, in response to pressure applied to one or both of the first and second sidewalls. 33. The flexible earpiece according to claim 32, wherein the first and second sidewalls together form at least a part of a conical shape when the earpiece is in the relaxed state. 34. The flexible earpiece according to claim 32, wherein the first sidewall forms an angle that is less than 30° with respect to a longitudinal axis that extends through the opening. 35. A flexible earpiece for positioning completely in the ear canal of a user, comprising a base; a first sidewall with a first edge that extends from the base to an opening of the earpiece; and a second sidewall with a second edge that extends from the base to the opening; and wherein the first and second edges are offset with respect to each other at the base in a radial direction from a center of the base, so that the first sidewall at the first edge can slide over the second sidewall at the second edge, thereby creating an overlap at the first and second edges, in response to pressure applied to one or both of the first and second sidewalls. 36. The flexible earpiece according to claim 35, wherein the first and second sidewalls together form at least a part of a conical shape. 37. The flexible earpiece according to claim 35, wherein the first sidewall forms an angle that is less than 30° with respect to a longitudinal axis that extends through the opening. 38. The flexible earpiece according to claim 35, wherein the base has an ellipsoidal shape or a circular shape.