The present invention relates to a buffering cover to improve fitting and to prevent pains when wearing earphones which deliver sounds of various portable small-sized recorders, radios, etc. by inserting them into earholes inside of earflaps for a long time.

Generally, the circumference of the insertion portion of earphones contacts the external ear opening of earflaps when wearing insert earphones (hereinafter referred to as 'earphones'). Long-term use of earphones sometimes has caused problems of feeling non-homogeneity due to continuous added pressure and friction of the insertion portion, failure to cut off external noise due to inferior fitting, and particularly, cause of pains by stimulating nerves of the inner earflaps. Further, repetitive long-term uses of earphones have caused diseases including skin disease, tympanitis, etc., and have led to hearing defect as these diseases are transferred. There have been other damages coming from long-term wearing of earphones.

US Patent 4,443,668 discloses an earplug-mounting device; similar to the type used for mounting a hearing aid, for insertion in the human ear. The main body of the earplug is shaped to correspond with the surface of the outer ear and has a portion that is in use inserted into the outer ear cavity. A hollow passageway through the main body facilitates sound travel from an audio device to the ear.

The external end of the passageway forms a recess for snap connection of a boom member and a receiving tube, which connects to the boom via another snap connection to facilitate transportation of sound from the audio device to the user's ear.

US Patent 4,403,120 discloses a compact and high performance insertion earphone, of circular cross section, which has a front portion of the earphone casing covered with an elastic acoustically permeable cover member to provide comfort for the wearer.

US Patent 4,668,842 discloses a headphone, which comprises a headband supporting two speaker units, one of which is attached to each leg of the headband. The speaker units are orientated to face in the same direction such that when the headband stretches over the user's head that the speaker units insert into the outer ear cavity and face in forward direction to direct sound into the ear. The headband is adjustable to ensure comfort for the wearer.

In order to relieve pain, which is experienced when wearing earphones as described above, the circumference of the insertion portion of the earphones is covered with foam sponge or rubber material.

However, the effects of relieving pain has been insignificant for conventional covers and their lives have been short due to inherent characteristics and deformation of the materials used for the cover.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to resolve problems of conventional buffering covers of earphones.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a buffering cover for an earphone, the buffering cover comprising a ring-shaped element, which includes a radially inner earphone fitting portion connectable to an earphone, a radially outer ear connection portion sized for insertion in a human ear, and an air chamber formed between the earphone fitting portion and the ear connection portion, to provide a buffering effect.

The foregoing and other objects, aspects, and advantages will be better understood from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the drawings, in which:

• Figure 1 is a separate perspective view showing a buffering cover according to a first embodiment of the invention;
• Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a buffering cover according to the first embodiment of the invention;
• Figure 3 shows a buffering cover according to a second embodiment of the invention;
• Figure 4a is a cross-sectional view of the buffering cover of Figure 3;
• Figure 4b is another cross-sectional view of the buffering cover of Figure 3;
• Figure 5 shows a buffering cover according to a third embodiment of the invention; and
• Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the buffering cover of Figure 5.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to Figures 1 and 2, there are shown earphones according to the present invention.

The buffering cover 1 is connected to the circumference of the insertion portion 6 of earphones 5. The fixing-in portion 4 is grounded to the insertion portion 6, the connection portion 3 is grounded to the inner earflaps, and the air chamber 2 which absorbs the pressure is formed between the fixing-in portion 4 and connection portion 3.

Discussed below are the method of fixing the buffering cover 1 made of a highly elastic soft resin material into the circumference of the insertion portion 6 of one of earphones 5 and the operation of earphones when they are worn.

Firstly, one end of the above fixing-in portion 4 is grounded to the insertion portion 6 and is pressed by one hand, and another end of the fixing-in portion 4 is pulled by another hand to cover the insertion portion 6 of the earphone 5. It is natural that the diameter of the above buffering cover 1 is a little smaller than that of the insertion portion 6 of the earphone 5 so that the fixing-in portion 4 is closely fitted to the insertion portion 6 by inherent elasticity of the buffering cover 1. The connection portion 3 is grounded safely to the inner earflap if the buffering cover 1 is combined simply and then the earphone 5 is inserted into an earhole as described above. The force imposed on the connection portion with the earphone 5 inserted into the inner earflap as the wearer moves around is absorbed and extinguished by buffering action of the air chamber 2, and therefore, direct stimulation or pain of the ear is inhibited.

Particularly, the air chamber does not generate non-homogeneity while wearing as the touch is very soft and fitting is tight, and further it is possible to maintain superior tone quality as external noises are cut off effectively.

The buffer cover of the present invention may be combined with the circumference of various-shaped insertion portions since the buffering cover 1 is variable according to internal elasticity even for an earphone of which the circumference of the insertion point is oval or arced.

Figures 3, 4a, and 4b are related to the second embodiment of the present invention. The air pocket 2a is formed radially around the buffering cover 1 so that the air chamber 2 inside has a buffering characteristic when it is connected to the earhole.

Figures 5 and 6 show the third embodiment of the present invention. The round air tube 2c is fixedly attached to the insertion portion 6 of the earphone 5 so that the air chamber 2 has a buffering property as the air chamber 2 is combined to the earhole roundly as a whole.

Also in case of the above second and third embodiments, the ear is not stimulated as the air pocket 2a and air tube 2c are grounded smoothly to the grounding portion of an earhole, and high-quality hearing of earphone sound is enabled with external noises cut off since fitting is improved, if the buffer cover 1 is inserted and fixed into the insertion portion 6 of the earphone 5.

As described above, the present invention is very practical and useful in that-no non-homogeneity is felt although earphones are worn for a long time since the air chamber formed in the cover of the earphone softens the touch and improves fitting when wearing; generation of diseases due to skin contact can be effectively prevented since the cover in the present invention does not stimulate earholes; and hearing of high-quality sounds is enabled as noises delivered externally are cut off remarkably.

While the invention has been described in terms of a few preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.