JP2014007478A - Ear pad and earphone using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides an earpad that can prevent pain, discomfort, and uncomfortable falling off during wearing.
In an ear pad 2 used for an in-ear type earphone 1 and inserted into an ear canal entrance, a cylindrical portion 2a attached to the front outer periphery of a front housing 1A and a front side of the cylindrical portion toward the housing main body side. A skirt portion 2b extending in a curved manner, and the skirt portion has a circular outer diameter section that is elastically deformed at a different deformation rate corresponding to the shape of the ear canal when the ear canal is inserted, and is in contact with the inner wall of the ear canal 10 Features. When the ear canal is inserted, the circular outer diameter cross-section is deformed with different deformation amounts corresponding to the shape of the ear canal, so that the ear pad easily deforms according to the human ear canal cross-sectional shape, and pain and discomfort during wearing, uncomfortable dropout Can be prevented. Therefore, a good wearing feeling can be obtained.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an earpad that is used in an in-ear type earphone and is inserted into an ear canal entrance, and an earphone using the earpad.

  In general, an ear pad used in an in-ear type earphone is formed of an elastic material having a circular cross-sectional shape at an outer peripheral portion, and can be freely deformed. Then, when inserted into the ear canal, it is deformed and brought into close contact with the shape of the ear canal, thereby maintaining a tightly attached state to the user's ear.

  However, a person's ear canal cross-sectional shape (ear pad contact portion) is usually an ellipse and has individual differences. For this reason, a wrinkle or a gap is generated in a place where it is not assumed that the circular ear pad is inserted into the ear canal, and sound leaks or particularly low-frequency sound pressure is reduced (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Also, there is a difference in reaction force depending on the location, and pain may occur at a specific site when worn for a long time. Furthermore, in the case of an earphone with a noise canceling function, a desired sound pressure frequency characteristic or a noise canceling function may not be exhibited due to leakage from a gap.

JP 2009-165155 A

  As described above, the earpads used in conventional in-ear type earphones have problems that unintended deformation causes pain or discomfort at the time of wearing or uncomfortable dropout.

  Further, the conventional earphone has a problem that desired sound pressure frequency characteristics and noise canceling performance cannot be exhibited due to unintended leakage.

  The present invention has been proposed in view of the above, and an object thereof is to provide an earpad that can prevent pain, discomfort, and uncomfortable falling off during wearing.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide an earphone capable of realizing desired sound pressure frequency characteristics and noise canceling performance with less leakage.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the earpad according to the first aspect of the present invention is used in an in-ear type earphone 1 and is attached to the front outer peripheral portion of the front housing 1A in the earpad 2 inserted into the ear canal entrance. A cylindrical portion 2a and a skirt portion 2b that curves and extends toward the housing main body at the front end of the cylindrical portion, and the skirt portion has a circular outer diameter cross-section that corresponds to the shape of the ear canal when the ear canal is inserted. It is elastically deformed at a deformation rate and is in contact with the inner wall of the ear canal 10.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the earpad according to the first aspect, the different deformation ratios are generated by using two or more types of materials having different flexibility, and the elliptical minor axis with respect to the elliptical major axis direction Y. It is characterized by using a soft material in the direction X.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the earpad according to the first or second aspect, the different deformation rates are generated by different thicknesses of the skirt portion 2b, and the thickness of the skirt portion 2b in the elliptical major axis direction Y is determined. wherein the thickness t ₂ thickness t ₁ of the ellipse minor axis direction X with respect to thin.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the earpad according to any one of the first to third aspects, the different deformation rate is in a hollow portion formed between the skirt portion 2b and the cylindrical portion 2a. The inner wall radius r ₁ of the skirt portion 2b is different from the radius r ₂ of the inner wall of the skirt portion 2b in the ellipse major axis direction Y. And

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the earpad according to the first aspect, the different deformation ratios are a plurality of grooves 7-1 to 7-7 formed along the elliptical minor axis direction X on the inner surface of the skirt portion 2b. It produces | generates by -6, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  The invention according to claim 6 is the earpad according to claim 1, wherein the different deformation ratios are a plurality of ribs 8-1 to 8-8 formed along the elliptical long axis direction Y on the inner surface of the skirt portion 2b. It produces | generates by -6, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  An in-ear type earphone according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the ear pad 2 according to any one of the first to sixth aspects is mounted on the outer periphery of the sound emitting hole 1a of the front housing 1A. .

  According to the earpad of the present invention according to claim 1, the circular outer diameter cross-section is deformed with different deformation amounts corresponding to the ear canal shape when the ear canal is inserted, so that the ear pad has a shape corresponding to the human ear canal cross-sectional shape. Can be easily deformed to prevent pain, discomfort, and uncomfortable falling off when worn. Therefore, a good wearing feeling can be obtained.

  In the earpad according to claim 2, by using a soft material in the elliptical minor axis direction with respect to the elliptical major axis direction, the earpad can be easily deformed into an elliptical shape corresponding to a human ear canal cross-sectional shape. it can.

  Furthermore, in the earpad according to claim 3, the earpad can be easily deformed into an ellipse corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the human ear canal by making the ellipse minor axis direction thinner than the thickness of the skirt portion in the ellipse major axis direction. Can be made.

  Furthermore, in the ear pad according to claim 4, the ear pad is formed into an elliptical shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the human ear canal by reducing the elliptical short axis direction with respect to the radius of the inner wall of the skirt base in the elliptical long axis direction. It can be easily deformed.

  Further, in the earpad according to claim 5, by forming a plurality of grooves along the elliptical minor axis direction on the inner surface of the skirt portion, the elliptical minor axis direction can be more easily deformed than the elliptical major axis direction, and the human ear can be deformed. The ear pad can be easily deformed into an oval shape corresponding to the road cross-sectional shape.

  In addition, in the earpad according to claim 6, by forming a plurality of ribs along the elliptical long axis direction on the inner surface of the skirt portion, the elliptical long axis direction is less likely to be deformed than the elliptical short axis direction. The ear pad can be easily deformed into an oval shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the ear canal.

  Furthermore, in the earphone of the present invention according to claim 7, by using an earpad whose circular outer diameter section is elastically deformed at a different deformation rate corresponding to the ear canal shape when the ear canal is inserted, Accordingly, since the ear pad can be deformed and brought into close contact with the ear canal, unintended leakage can be reduced and desired sound pressure frequency characteristics and noise canceling performance can be realized.

It is sectional drawing of the earphone which concerns on embodiment of this invention, and the front view seen from the earpad side. It is a figure which shows the example of the cross-sectional shape of an ear canal. It is the front view and sectional drawing of the ear pad which concern on 1st Example of this invention. It is the front view and sectional drawing of an ear pad which concern on 2nd Example of this invention. It is the front view and sectional drawing of an ear pad which concern on 3rd Example of this invention. It is the front view and sectional drawing of an ear pad which concern on 4th Example of this invention. It is the front view and sectional drawing of an ear pad which concern on 5th Example of this invention.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view of an earphone according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a front view seen from the earpad side. The earphone 1 is an in-ear type, and an earpad 2 is inserted into an ear canal entrance for use.

  The earphone 1 is formed by joining a front housing 1A and a rear housing 1B, and an ear pad 2 to be inserted into the ear canal is attached to a front outer peripheral portion of the front housing 1A that forms a cylinder. The ear pad 2 is made of an elastically deformable flexible member such as silicone rubber, and is curved toward the housing body at the front end of the cylindrical portion, and a cylindrical portion 2a having a substantially cylindrical shape fitted to the front outer peripheral portion of the housing. The skirt portion (ear pad outer surface portion) 2b extends.

  A hollow portion is formed between the skirt portion 2b and the cylindrical portion 2a of the ear pad 2, and the skirt portion 2b can be easily deformed when inserted into the ear canal. The ear pad 2 is configured such that when the ear canal is inserted, a circular outer diameter cross section elastically deforms at different deformation rates corresponding to the shape of the ear canal and comes into contact with the inner wall of the ear canal. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the deformation amount in the elliptical minor axis direction X is larger than the elliptical major axis direction Y so as to correspond to the shape of the ear canal 10 indicated by the elliptical solid line.

  The front housing 1A and the rear housing 1B are formed of resin or metal, are integrated with an airtight member (not shown) such as a silicone ring or a rubber ring, and both are joined with an adhesive. Thus, a housing space for the driver unit 4 is formed inside. An inner housing 3 is accommodated in the housing, and a driver unit 4 as an electroacoustic transducer that generates sound in the inner housing 3 is accommodated. The driver unit 4 includes a magnetic circuit, a diaphragm and the like, and has an appropriate known structure.

  A sound emitting hole 1a is provided on the sound emitting direction side of the driver unit 4 in the front housing 1A. Thereby, the sound generated from the driver unit 4 is discharged from the cylindrical portion 2a of the ear pad 2 to the outside of the housing through the sound emitting hole 1a.

  A protector 5 is provided on the front surface of the sound emitting hole 1a of the front housing 1A. The ear pad 2 is attached to the front outer peripheral portion of the front housing 1A so as to sandwich the protector 5. To attach the ear pad 2 to the front housing 1A, a groove 1b provided on the outer periphery of the sound emitting hole 1a of the front housing 1A and a protrusion 2c provided on the inner periphery of the corresponding position of the ear pad 2 are detachably fitted. It is. Since the outer periphery of the protector 5 is larger than the opening width of the corresponding part of the ear pad 2, the protector 5 is held between the front housing 1 </ b> A and the ear pad 2.

  The protector 5 is formed of a hard material such as a dish-like metal or a resin having openings for sound emission at the center and the periphery, for example, and an adhesive agent or the like so as to protrude outward from the front surface of the sound emission hole 1a. Bonded with double-sided tape. The protector 5 functions as a protective member that prevents water droplets from directly entering the inside of the housing.

  Further, a cord lead-out portion 1c is provided at the rear lower part of the rear housing 1B, and a cord (earphone cable) 6 electrically connected to the driver unit 4 is connected to the outside of the housing from the cord lead-out portion 1c. Has been derived.

  According to the above configuration, when the ear canal is inserted, the circular outer diameter cross section is deformed with different deformation amounts corresponding to the ear canal shape, and thus the ear pad can be easily formed into an elliptical shape corresponding to the human ear canal cross section shape. It is elastically deformed and can prevent pain, discomfort, and uncomfortable falling off when worn. Therefore, a good wearing feeling can be obtained.

  In addition, by using an earpad that has a circular outer diameter section that deforms with a different deformation amount corresponding to the ear canal shape when the ear canal is inserted, the ear pad deforms according to the human ear canal cross-sectional shape and fits into the ear canal and adheres closely Therefore, unintended leakage can be reduced, desired sound pressure frequency characteristics and noise cancellation performance can be realized, and reproduction sound with good sound quality can be realized.

  FIGS. 3A to 3C are a front view and a cross-sectional view, respectively, of the earpad according to the first embodiment of the present invention. (A) is a front view, (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line A1-A1 'in FIG. (A), and (c) is a cross-sectional view taken along line B1-B1' in FIG. is there. In the first embodiment, an elliptical deformation corresponding to the shape of the auditory canal is generated by using two or more kinds of materials having different flexibility (hardness).

  In the first embodiment, by using a soft material in the elliptical minor axis direction X with respect to the elliptical major axis direction Y, the circular outer diameter cross section becomes an elliptical shape corresponding to the auditory canal shape when the auditory canal is inserted. I have to. That is, as shown in FIGS. 3 (a) to 3 (c), the ear pad 2 is arranged with a hard material portion 2-1 made of silicone rubber or the like sandwiched between both sides of the hard material portion 2-1, and the It consists of soft material parts 2-2 and 2-3 made of rubber or the like.

  The structure in which the hard material part 2-1 is sandwiched between the soft material parts 2-2 and 2-3 is integrally formed by, for example, a double mold (two-color molding). By forming the hard material part 2-1 on the primary side and then forming the soft material parts 2-2 and 2-3 on the secondary side integrally with the primary side in the same mold, it is partially flexible Ear pads 2 having different properties can be formed. Of course, different materials having different hardnesses can be combined and molded integrally.

  In the ear pad 2 configured as described above, by using a soft material in the elliptical minor axis direction X with respect to the elliptical major axis direction Y, the lateral direction is easily deformed in the vertical direction, and the human ear canal cross-sectional shape The ear pad can be easily deformed into an oval shape corresponding to the angle. Therefore, it is possible to prevent pain and discomfort during wearing and unpleasant dropout, and a good wearing feeling can be obtained.

  4A to 4C are a front view and a cross-sectional view, respectively, of an earpad according to a second embodiment of the present invention. (A) is a front view, (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line A2-A2 'in FIG. (A), and (c) is a cross-sectional view taken along line B2-B2' in FIG. is there. In the second embodiment, different deformation amounts corresponding to the ear canal shape are generated by changing the thickness of the skirt portion.

In the second embodiment, the inner wall thickness of the skirt portion in the elliptical long axis direction Y with respect to the elliptical short axis direction X is increased so that the circular outer diameter cross section corresponds to the ear canal shape when the ear canal is inserted. I have to. That is, the thickness t ₂ of the vertical direction of the skirt portion 2b, and thinned in the horizontal direction thickness t _1.

  In the ear pad 2 configured as described above, by reducing the inner thickness of the skirt portion in the elliptical minor axis direction X with respect to the elliptical major axis direction Y, the left and right directions can be more easily deformed than the vertical direction. The ear pad can be easily deformed into an oval shape corresponding to the road cross-sectional shape. Therefore, it is possible to prevent pain and discomfort during wearing and unpleasant dropout, and a good wearing feeling can be obtained. Further, the shape rigidity can be easily controlled as compared with the first embodiment, and the molding can be performed at a time, so that the manufacturing cost can be reduced and the cost can be reduced.

  5A to 5C are a front view and a cross-sectional view, respectively, of an earpad according to a third embodiment of the present invention. (A) is a front view, (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line A3-A3 ′ in FIG. (A), and (c) is a cross-sectional view taken along line B3-B3 ′ in FIG. is there. In the third embodiment, different deformation amounts corresponding to the shape of the ear canal are generated by changing the radius of the inner wall of the base of the skirt portion in the hollow portion formed between the skirt portion and the cylindrical portion. .

In the third embodiment, by increasing the inner radius of the skirt base in the elliptical long axis direction Y with respect to the elliptical short axis direction X, the circular outer diameter cross section corresponds to the auditory canal shape when the ear canal is inserted. I am doing so. In other words, the radius r _{1 in the} left-right direction is made smaller than the radius r ₂ of the inner surface of the hollow portion in the vertical direction in the hollow portion formed between the skirt portion 2 b and the cylindrical portion 2 a to facilitate deformation. .

  In the ear pad 2 configured as described above, by reducing the inner radius of the skirt root in the elliptical minor axis direction X with respect to the elliptical major axis direction Y, the lateral direction can be more easily deformed than the vertical direction. The ear pad can be easily deformed into an oval shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the ear canal. Therefore, it is possible to prevent pain and discomfort during wearing and unpleasant dropout, and a good wearing feeling can be obtained. Further, the shape rigidity can be easily controlled as compared with the first embodiment, and the molding can be performed at a time, so that the manufacturing cost can be reduced and the cost can be reduced.

  FIGS. 6A to 6D are a front view and a cross-sectional view, respectively, of an earpad according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. (A) The figure is a front view, (b) The figure is an A4-A4 'line arrow sectional view of (a) figure, (c) The figure is a B4-B4' line arrow sectional view of (a) figure. is there. FIG. 4D is a cross-sectional view seen from the front direction corresponding to the position of line C1-C1 ′ in FIG. In the fourth embodiment, different deformation amounts corresponding to the ear canal shape are generated by forming a plurality of grooves on the inner surface of the skirt portion of the ear pad.

  That is, in the fourth embodiment, by forming a plurality of grooves 7-1 to 7-6 along the elliptical short axis direction X on the inner surface of the skirt portion 2b of the earpad 2, the elliptical long axis direction Y is formed. Thus, the elliptical minor axis direction X is easily deformed, and the circular outer diameter section corresponds to the ear canal shape when the ear canal is inserted.

  In the ear pad 2 configured as described above, by forming a plurality of grooves in the minor axis direction X of the ellipse, the ear pad can be easily deformed into an ellipse according to the cross-sectional shape of the human ear canal. Therefore, it is possible to prevent pain and discomfort during wearing and unpleasant dropout, and a good wearing feeling can be obtained. Further, the shape rigidity can be easily controlled as compared with the first embodiment, and the molding can be performed at a time, so that the manufacturing cost can be reduced and the cost can be reduced.

  FIGS. 7A to 7D are a front view and a cross-sectional view, respectively, of an earpad according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. (A) is a front view, (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line A5-A5 'in FIG. (A), and (c) is a cross-sectional view taken along line B5-B5' in FIG. is there. FIG. 4D is a cross-sectional view seen from the front direction corresponding to the position of line C2-C2 ′ in FIG. In the fifth embodiment, different deformation amounts corresponding to the ear canal shape are generated by forming a plurality of ribs on the inner surface of the skirt portion of the earpad.

  That is, in the fifth embodiment, a plurality of ribs 8-1 to 8-6 are formed along the elliptical long axis direction Y on the inner surface of the skirt portion 2b of the earpad 2 so that the elliptical short axis direction X is formed. Thus, the elliptical long axis direction Y is hardly deformed, and the circular outer diameter cross section corresponds to the shape of the ear canal when the ear canal is inserted.

  In the ear pad 2 configured as described above, by forming a plurality of ribs in the elliptical long axis direction Y, the ear pad can be easily deformed into an oval shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the human ear canal. Therefore, it is possible to prevent pain and discomfort during wearing and unpleasant dropout, and a good wearing feeling can be obtained. Further, the shape rigidity can be easily controlled as compared with the first embodiment, and the molding can be performed at a time, so that the manufacturing cost can be reduced and the cost can be reduced.

  In the first embodiment, the case where silicone rubbers having different hardnesses are used has been described as an example. However, there are three types by interposing a material having an intermediate hardness between a hard material and a soft material. You may make it use the above material.

  Of course, two or three of the configurations described in the first to fifth embodiments may be selectively combined as necessary.

  Furthermore, although the case where silicone rubber was used as a material of the ear pad 2 was described, the present invention is not limited to this, and various materials such as urethane resin and acrylic resin may be used.

  Furthermore, in the fourth and fifth embodiments, three grooves or ribs are provided on the left and right inner surfaces or upper and lower inner surfaces of the skirt portion 2b of the ear pad 2, but the number, depth and height of these grooves or ribs, The width may be set according to the required characteristics. The cross-sectional shape of the groove or rib is not limited to a quadrangle, but may be a triangle or a semicircle. If the deformation rate can be increased or decreased with respect to the non-formation region, substantially the same effect can be obtained. Furthermore, although the example where a plurality of grooves or ribs are linearly arranged in parallel has been described, it goes without saying that they may be arranged radially.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Earphone 1A Front housing 1B Rear housing 1a Sound emission hole 1b Groove part 1c Cord extraction part 2 Ear pad 2a Tube part 2b Skirt part (ear pad outer surface part)
2c Protrusion part 2-1 Hard material part 2-2, 2-3 Soft material part 3 Inner housing 4 Driver unit 5 Protector 6 Cord (earphone cable)
7-1 to 7-6 Grooves 8-1 to 8-6 Rib 10 Ear canal X Ellipse minor axis direction Y Ellipse major axis direction t ₁ , t ₂ Thickness r ₁ , r ₂ radius

Claims (7)

In the ear pad (2) used for the in-ear type earphone (1) and inserted into the ear canal entrance,
It has a cylinder part (2a) attached to the front outer peripheral part of the front housing (1A), and a skirt part (2b) that curves and extends toward the housing body at the front end of the cylinder part, and the skirt part is circular An ear pad characterized in that an outer diameter cross section of the elastic member is elastically deformed at a different deformation rate corresponding to the shape of the ear canal when the ear canal is inserted and is in contact with the inner wall of the ear canal (10).   The different deformation rates are generated by using two or more kinds of materials having different flexibility, and a soft material is used in the elliptical minor axis direction (X) with respect to the elliptical major axis direction (Y). The earpad according to claim 1. The different deformation ratios are generated when the thickness of the skirt portion (2b) is different, and the elliptical short axis direction (t ₂ ) with respect to the thickness (t ₂ ) of the skirt portion (2b) in the elliptical long axis direction (Y). The ear pad according to claim ₁ , wherein the wall thickness (t ₁ ) of X) is thin. The different deformation rates are generated by different radii of the inner walls of the base of the skirt part (2b) in the hollow part formed between the skirt part (2b) and the cylindrical part (2a). The radius (r ₁ ) of the inner wall in the minor axis direction of the ellipse (X) is smaller than the radius (r ₂ ) of the inner wall of the base of the skirt (2b) in the direction (Y). The earpad according to one item.   The different deformation ratios are generated by a plurality of grooves (7-1 to 7-6) formed along the elliptical minor axis direction (X) on the inner surface of the skirt portion (2b). Item 1. The earpad according to item 1.   The different deformation rate is generated by a plurality of ribs (8-1 to 8-6) formed along an elliptical long axis direction (Y) on an inner surface of the skirt portion (2b). Item 1. The earpad according to item 1. An in-ear type earphone, wherein the earpad (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 6 is mounted on an outer periphery of a sound emitting hole (1a) of a front housing (1A).

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