Patent · US Expired

Noise barrier apparatus having acoustic wave damping cushions

US7162039B1 · kind B1 · utility

23Cited by
54References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMar 10, 2000
Grant dateJan 9, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 10, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04R2460/15
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

The present invention provides a noise barrier apparatus for inhibiting external noise from causing the presence of noise in an audio chamber defined by a noise barrier device and including the user's ear canal. The noise barrier apparatus may be constituted by an in-ear noise barrier device or devices or an over-the-ear device or devices. An in-ear application of the present invention provides an in-ear-canal audio receiver comprising an in-ear-canal adapter body having a tapered ear plug portion that is inserted into the user's ear canal. The adapter body further has an opening in the plug portion, an exterior annular indent, and an inner chamber coupled to the opening of the plug portion. The inner chamber of the in-ear-canal adapter body holds a transducer assembly comprising a transducer housing and a transducer or speaker. The transducer is positioned in a passage extending through the transducer housing. A torus-shaped cushion is positioned in the annular indent of the in-ear-canal adapter body. The cushion provides comfort and establishes a good seal with the user's ear, and also provides mechanical damping to inhibit propagation of external acoustic pressure waves via the …

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.