WO2009147370A1

WO2009147370A1 - Earpieces

Info

Publication number: WO2009147370A1
Application number: PCT/GB2009/001311
Authority: WO
Inventors: Timothy Robert Burnham; Raymond Derek Cozens
Original assignee: Racal Acoustics Limited
Priority date: 2008-06-03
Filing date: 2009-05-26
Publication date: 2009-12-10
Also published as: GB0810113D0

Abstract

An earpiece comprising an insert member shaped and adapted to be inserted in to an ear and an ear hanger member connected to the insert member and shaped and adapted to hook upon an ear when the insert member is inserted within an ear of a user, the ear hanger member comprising a compliant cushion member within which is embedded a spine member deformable to retain a desired change of shape thereby to retain a corresponding change of shape within the cushion member within which it is embedded. Accordingly, an ear hanger which is bendable to retain a new shape is provided.

Description

Earpieces

The present invention relates to earpieces and particularly, though not exclusively, to communications earpieces.

An earpiece generally comprises at least a part to be positioned at a predetermined location within or adjacent an ear to serve a particular function or purpose. Examples include an earphone to be positioned to permit sound to reach the ear of the wearer optimally, or an ear cup or protector to be positioned to prevent ambient sounds from reaching the wearer's ear. Often, earpieces are accompanied by structures arranged to assist in positioning or securing the part about the ear or the head of the wearer. Examples include head straps and ear hangers. The later generally comprise rigid structures shaped to attach to or hold to the ear typically without the need for a head strap. Rigidity in the attachment structure of a typical ear hanger is often deemed desirable to ensure a firmness of grip to a wearer's ear. However, this usually renders the grip of the ear hanger a less than optimal and the fit to the wearer's ear less comfortable. No two ears are alike and an un-adjustable "one hanger fits all" design is very limited for these reasons at least.

The present invention aims to assist in addressing at least some of these limitations. At its most general, the invention proposed is to provide an ear hanger which is bendable to retain a new shape. For example, the invention may incorporate in an ear hanger of/for an earpiece a part which is easily deformable, most preferably manually, and able to retain new shapes into which it is deformed or re-shaped so as to urge, force or hold at least some of the ear hanger in a similar or corresponding new shape. This enables the ear hanger to be shaped to better fit the contours, shape and surface of the head and/or ear of a user of the earpiece for not only greater comfort but for better fit and ability to grip or hold upon the head/ear of the user without the need for a strap or an ear cup. Preferably, the ear hanger comprises a cushion part incorporating the deformable part such that the cushion part can be re-shaped according to a re-shaping of the deformable part.

In a first of its aspects, the invention may provide an earpiece comprising an insert member shaped and adapted to be inserted in to an ear (e.g. the bowl of the ear or the ear canal) and an ear hanger member (e.g. a circum-aural structure) connected to the insert member and shaped and adapted to hook upon an ear when the insert member is inserted within an ear of a user, the ear hanger member comprising a compliant cushion member within which is embedded a spine member deformable to retain a desired change of shape thereby to retain a corresponding change of shape within the cushion member within which it is embedded. The ear hanger may be a hook. In this way, the ear hanger may be provided with cushioning material instead of purely a rigid material, thereby increasing comfort of use. The shape of the cushioning material of the ear hanger is rendered adjustable to meet the needs of individual wearers .

The spine member may be embedded in the cushion member by being at least partially rooted, set-in or implanted into the body of the cushion member, or at least a part of the length of the spine member may be wholly embedded by being encapsulated within the cushion member. Embedding may be by sandwiching the, or parts of the, spine member between two parts of the cushion member, or moulding the spine member, or part thereof, within the material of the cushion member.

The cushion member may comprise an elastic material, such as a foam, an elastomer, a rubber material. A compliant gel material or substance may be employed. These materials may provide an enhanced degree of comfort to a wearer due to their deformability when in contact with the ear and/or head of a wearer. The ear hanger member may be shaped to hook or hang between parts of the head and ear of a user. For example, it may provide a hook to hang upon that part of the ear cartilage immediately projecting from the head so as to position the hanger between parts of the ear forming the ear flap as a whole and parts of the skull of the wearer over which the ear flap extends. The hanger may hang upon, and hook "behind", the ear flap, being circum-aural in this way. The cushion member may comprise regions of differing compliance positioned on the ear hanger according to the part of the wearer' s head/ear which the region is intended to contact in use. Regions of the cushion member arranged to contact parts of the head/ear having less sensitivity to pressure may be less compliant (more firm) than regions of the cushion member arranged to contact parts of the head/ear having relatively greater sensitivity to pressure.

The cushion member may comprise a first cushion part formed from a compliant material having a first compliance and at least a second cushion part formed from a compliant material having a second compliance greater than the first compliance. The first and second cushion parts may be arranged at opposite sides of at least a part of the spine member. The compliance (C) of a material may be inversely related to, or proportional to, the firmness (F) of the material (e.g. C = 1/F) . The cushion member may include additional (e.g. third, fourth, etc) cushion parts formed from a material having a compliance different from the compliance of the material of any other part of the cushion.

The spine member may comprise an elongate body the outer surface of which possesses no flat surfaces at any location between terminal ends thereof. The absence of flatness provides that the spine member may be substantially more similarly, comparably or uniformly "bendable" in any direction transverse to its long axis. For example, the spine member may comprise a wire-like body having a generally cylindrically curved outer longitudinal surface. The profile of the spine member in transverse cross-section may be substantially circular. The diameter of the spine member transverse to its long axis may be substantially uniform, or may vary to vary the "bendability" of the spine member along its length as desired. Different lengths of the ear hanger may be desired to be more easily bendable than others. For example, the diameter of the spine member nearest the terminal ends of the ear hanger may be greater at other regions of the spine member to enable the terminal regions of the ear hanger to be more resistant to being bent out of a desired shape as a result of external loads of forces applied to them in use (e.g. communications wires extending from the ends of the hanger) .

The spine member may comprise a length of malleable metal wire. Lead or copper or alloys of copper or lead may be used. Examples include beryllium copper, bronze, phosphor bronze, tinned copper. Steel wire (e.g. stainless steel) may be used.

The ear hanger member may encapsulate the spine member. The ear hanger may comprise one or more spine sleeve (s) shaped to reciprocally correspond with at least the longitudinal surface shape of the spine member which is received in intimate contact with spine sleeve. The spine sleeve (s) may be formed (e.g. pre-formed) in the body of the cushion member. In this way, the spine member may be encapsulated or embedded within a pre-formed sleeve (s) which matches the outer shape of the spine member. The cushion member may comprise two separate and joined cushion member parts each possessing a spine channel part positioned such that the joined cushion member parts collectively define the spine sleeve. Accordingly, the cushion member may comprise an over-moulding encapsulating the spine member positioned within a spine sleeve of pre-defined location within the cushion member. The cushion member may comprise a first cushion part defining a first spine channel and a second cushion part defining a second spine channel in which the first and second spine channels are shaped to collectively reciprocally correspond intimately with the outer surface shape of the spine member and are arranged in register to sandwich the spine member to encapsulate it.

The insert member may be suspended from (i.e. not rigidly connected to) the ear hanger member. As a result, the insert member may be at least partially isolated from strains applied to the ear hanger in use. The insert member may be connected to the ear hanger member only by one or more flaccid connection members, which may be elongate in shape extending between the insert member and the ear hanger. Flaccidity of the connection members serves to dampen the propagation of forces or strain along them from the ear hanger and so to some extent isolate the ear insert from the full brunt of such forces. Also, this serves to permit flexibility in the position, when worn by a user, of the insert member relative to the ear hanger part to which the connection member (s) is connected - the insert member can be moved/repositioned in use without having to move the ear hanger member. As a result, the earpiece is more able to be adapted to fit to the unique, and differing shapes and configurations of the ears of different wearers.

At least one of the one or more flaccid connection members may comprise a length of cable. This may comprise a soft rubber or elastomer. The connection member (s) may comprise a thin strip/ribbon of plastics material, or other suitable material.

The insert means may comprise an earphone. The one or more flaccid (e.g. also elongate) connection members may comprise a signal transmission cable in electrical connection with the earphone. This dual use of the communications cable is effective in reducing the number of parts employed in the earpiece, and its complexity of manufacture.

At least two signal transmission cables may connect the insert member to the ear hanger member. In such a case, two such cables may be arranged to extend substantially in a common plane, and/or substantially in parallel, from the insert member to (and preferably through) the ear hanger member. The two cables, when coplanar, tend to urge the insert member into an orientation which preserves the co-planarity of the cables. This preferred orientation is preferably a predetermined orientation which places the insert member in the orientation generally required when the earpiece is worn. A first signal transmission cable may be an input signal transmission cable (e.g. for an earphone optionally included in the insert member) , and a second signal transmission cable may be an output signal transmission cable (e.g. for one or more microphones optionally included in the ear insert member) . Isolating the two input and output cables enables signal cross talk to be avoided.

The ear hanger member may comprise an elongate body being curved, arched or arcuate between terminal ends to define a hook. The insert member may be connected to the ear hanger member only by one or more flaccid (e.g. also elongate) connection members which may preferably enter the body of the ear hanger member at one or both terminal ends thereof. When the ear piece includes an earphone, and the connection member (s) comprise one or more signal transmission cables, the feeding/embedding of cable (s) within the cushion member places the cables out of the way (and so protects the embedded parts from external wear and entanglement) .

The ear hanger member may encapsulate a part of the length of at least one of the one or more flaccid connection members and may comprise a receiving sleeve shaped to reciprocally correspond with at least the longitudinal surface shape of at least a part of a (or each, e.g. both of two cables) said flaccid connection member which is received in intimate contact with receiving sleeve. The receiving sleeve (s) may be formed (e.g. pre-formed) in the body of the cushion member. In this way, a connection member (e.g. cable) may be encapsulated or embedded within a preformed sleeve (s) which matches the outer shape of the spine member. The cushion member may comprise two separate and joined cushion member parts each possessing a receiving channel part positioned such that the joined cushion member parts collectively define a receiving sleeve. Accordingly, the cushion member may comprise an over-moulding encapsulating the connection member (e.g. cable) positioned within a receiving sleeve of pre-defined location within the cushion member.

The cushion member may comprise a first cushion part defining a first receiving channel and a second cushion part defining a second receiving channel in which the first and second receiving channels are shaped to collectively reciprocally correspond intimately with the outer surface shape of the connection member and are arranged in register to sandwich parts of the connection member to encapsulate those parts. The earpiece may include a second separate flaccid connection member connecting the ear insert member to the ear hanger wherein the first cushion part defines a third receiving channel and the second cushion part defines a fourth receiving channel in which the third and fourth receiving channels are shaped to collectively reciprocally correspond intimately with the outer surface shape of the second connection member and are arranged in register to sandwich parts of the second connection member to encapsulate those parts. The cushion member may possess surface portion which is pinched or recessed, to define a waist (e.g. circumferential region of reduced cushion diameter/thickness) or a notch in a region of the cushion member. The waist, pinch or notch preferably provides a local region of relative weakness where it is easier to bend the ear hanger relative to other parts of the ear hanger adjacent the waist, pinch or notch. The waist, pinch or notch may be adjacent an end of the ear hanger into which a signal transmission cable enters the cushion member. This enables the ear hanger to be locally bent relatively severely or adversely (e.g. through an angle exceeding 90 degrees) to point the end of the ear hanger generally in the direction in which it is desired to have the cables (s) extend - i.e. a user may dress the cables about his person in a direction desires and have the end of the ear hanger point towards that general direction thereby to reduce pull or strain on that end from the cables extending from it. The waist, recess or notch also provides the physical space for a concave shape to be adopted along a side of the cushion member, when re-shaped, in which cushion material along the concave profile may bunch together with reduced compression of the cushioning material there - which may resist the reshaping.

The cushion member may possess a curved profile in transverse cross-section along those parts of ear hanger intended to contact the wearer in use, or along substantially the entire elongate length of the cushion member. The profile may be flattened or generally elliptical or oval in shape. The flatter parts of the profile may be presented generally outwardly from the sides of the ear hanger - e.g. those regions intended to contact a wearer. This may enhance comfort .

When the earpiece is a communications apparatus, it may be a wireless device including one or more antennas for receiving and/or transmitting communications signals wirelessly. The antenna (s) may be formed upon, embedded within or encapsulated within the cushion material of the ear hook. In such a case, the only signal transmission cable (s) emanating from the ear hook may be those which connect the ear hook to the insert member. These cables may be electrically connected to the antenna (s) within the ear hook (and any antenna circuitry there as desired) . Thus, the connection members may terminate within the ear hook.

It is to be understood that the earpiece as described above in the first aspect of the invention realises a corresponding method of manufacturing, constructing, building or arranging an earpiece, and this corresponding method is encompassed within the scope of the invention as a further aspect.

For example, in a second of its aspects, the invention may provide a method of manufacturing an earpiece comprising an insert member shaped and adapted to be inserted in to an ear, the method including the following steps : providing spine member deformable to retain a desired change of shape, providing material for a compliant cushion member, embedding the spine member in the material for the cushion member thereby to provide an ear hanger member shaped and adapted to hook upon an ear (e.g. circum-aural) and deformable to retain a desired change of shape, connecting the insert member to the ear hanger member.

The method may include providing one or more flaccid elongate connection member (s) for connection to the insert member and embedding the one or more flaccid elongate connection members in the material for the cushion member, and connecting the insert member to the ear hanger member via the connection member (s) .

Embedding or encapsulating may be done by pre-forming two or more cushion parts with pre-formed spine channels (and cable receiving channels where relevant) , then assembling the spine (and cable (s) where relevant) in the spine channels (and cable receiving channels if relevant) and then bonding the preformed cushion parts together.

Alternatively, the cushion may be integrally formed over/around the spine (and cables if relevant) . The spine, and optionally cable (s) ) may be positioned as desires in a moulding cast and the cushion member may be over-moulded around the spine (and cables if relevant) by e.g. injection moulding. For example, a liquid cushion material (e.g. silicone rubber) may be injected into the cast and permitted to set thereby to encapsulate the spine (and cables if relevant) within the cushion. The spine sleeve and receiving sleeves (for the cables) may thus be formed by the injection moulding process.

In the method, the insert member may include an earphone and the one or more elongate flaccid connection members may include a signal transmission cable (s) electrically connected to the earphone.

Embodiments of the invention shall now be described, as non- limiting examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 illustrates an earpiece;

Figure 2 illustrates an exploded view of the earpiece of Figure 1 in which two cushion parts of a cushion of an ear hanger are separated to reveal components otherwise encapsulated therein;

Figure 3 illustrates a first alternative perspective view of the exploded view of the earpiece of Figure 2;

Figure 4 illustrates a third alternative perspective view of the exploded view of the earpiece of Figure 2;

Figure 5 illustrates a back view of the exploded view of the earpiece of Figure 2; Figure 6 illustrates another exploded view of the earpiece of Figure 1.

In the drawings, like items are assigned like reference symbols.

Figure 1 illustrates an ear piece 1 including ear insert unit 2 shaped and adapted to be inserted in to the bowl, and partly into the ear canal, of an ear. Attached to the insert unit is an ear hanger 3 comprising an elongate body of compliant cushioning material which is curved and arched between terminal ends (6, 7) to define a hook shaped and adapted to hook upon an ear when the insert member is inserted within an ear of a user.

The insert unit includes an earphone and a microphone (not shown) and any other electrical components (not shown) within a housing 9 of the insert unit shaped with a surface 17 to fit into the bowl of an ear of a wearer. An ear canal insert unit 8 extends from a side of the housing 9 of the insert member 2 and is shaped to fit into the ear canal of a wearer to place the earphone in acoustical communication with the inner ear of the wearer. A microphone is housed within the insert member 2 behind, and in acoustic communication with, a clustered array 15 of apertures passing through the casing 9 of the insert member outwardly presented when worn. This enables the microphone acoustic contact with ambient acoustics to allow the wearer and to communicate with a remote third party via the microphone, or to allow a local third party to communicate directly with the wearer via the microphone and the earphone - the earphone being responsive to signals from the microphone to in that example.

The earphone and electrical components of the insert member within the housing 9 are electrically and operably connected to, and served by, two signal transmission cables (4, 5) . The cables are also connected to the housing 9 of the insert unit via a grommet 10 which spaces the two cables.

The insert member 2 is connected to the ear hanger member only by these two signal transmission cables which enter the body of the ear hanger 2 in parallel at both terminal ends (6, 7) thereof, and pass through the length of the hanger in parallel.

The ear hanger encapsulates the parts of the length of each of the two cables (4, 5) between its terminal ends (6, 7) , and comprises two receiving channels on each of two opposing cushion halves (11, 12) , each one dedicated to a respective one side of one of the two cables and shaped to reciprocally correspond with at the cylindrically curved outer surface shape of the respective cable part (channels 14, 15 of Figure 4, and shown occupied by cables 4 and 5 in Figure 2) . In this way, each one of the two cables is received in intimate contact within respective opposed receiving channels of the ear hanger. Figures 2 to 6 show exploded views of the earpiece in which the cushioning material of the ear hanger is separated into hooked elongated cushion parts (11, 12) arranged at opposite sides of the signal transmission cables they embed.

Each of the two cushion parts possesses a pair of separated and parallel receiving channels shaped with semi-cylindrical channel walls/bases to intimately receive opposite halves of the outer surface of each respective one of the two signal transmission cables (4, 5) . Thus, when the two cushion parts are brought together in alignment (Figure 1) each of the two receiving channels of one cushion part is brought into register with a respective counterpart receiving channel of the opposing other cushion part to encapsulate a cable (4, 5) therein.

The first cushion part 11 defines a first receiving channel 14 and the second cushion part 12 defines a second receiving channel (shown occupied by cable 4 in Figure 2) and each of these channels is shaped to collectively reciprocally correspond intimately with the outer surface shape the first of the two cables (4) . The two cushion parts are arranged in register to sandwich parts of the cable to encapsulate those parts .

The first cushion part 11 also defines a third receiving channel 15 and the second cushion part 12 defines a fourth receiving channel 16 (shown occupied by cable 5 in Figure 2) , and each such channel is shaped to collectively reciprocally correspond intimately with the outer surface shape of the other one of the two cables (5) . The two cushion parts are arranged in register to sandwich parts of the cable to encapsulate those parts.

A spine comprising a length of malleable metal wire 13 is encapsulated within the cushion material of the ear hook and is manually deformable to retain a desired change of shape thereby to retain a corresponding change of shape within the cushion of the ear hook within which it is embedded. The spine has an elongate body the outer surface of which is circularly curved and possesses no flat surfaces at any location between its terminal ends.

The cushion material (11, 12) of the ear hanger encapsulates the spine in a spine sleeve shaped to reciprocally correspond with at the longitudinal surface shape of the spine which is received in intimate contact with spine sleeve. The cushion member has a first cushion part 11 defining a first spine channel 16 and a second cushion part 12 defining a second spine channel (shown occupied by spine 13 in Figure 2) in which the first and second spine channels are shaped to collectively reciprocally correspond intimately with the outer surface shape of the spine and are arranged in register to sandwich the spine member to encapsulate it. Each of the first and second spine channels is shaped with semi-cylindrical channel walls /bases to intimately receive opposite halves of the outer surface of the spine.

The cushion material of the ear hanger is elastic to permit re-shaping of the cushion by re-shaping of the spine encapsulated within it. The ear hanger is shaped to hang between parts of the head and ear of a user. The cushion parts (11, 12) of the ear hanger comprise a first cushion part (11) formed of a compliant material having a first compliance and arranged to be outwardly presented to the ear flap of the wearer in use, and a second cushion part (12) formed of a compliant material having a second compliance greater than the first compliance. The second cushion part is arranged at an opposite side of the spine 13 to the first cushion part to be presented to the head of the wearer where the skin is more sensitive and greater cushion compliance provides increased comfort .

The method of manufacturing the earpiece may include the steps of providing the spine member, providing a compliant cushion, embedding the spine in the cushion thereby to provide an ear hanger shaped and adapted to hook upon an ear and deformable to retain a desired change of shape, connecting the insert unit to the ear hanger member.

The method may include connecting the insert unit to the signal transmission cables before or after embedding them in the cushion to connect the insert unit to the ear hanger. This may be done by pre-forming two or more cushion parts with pre-formed spine and receiving channels, then assembling the cables and spine in spine and receiving channels and then bonding the pre-formed cushion parts together.

Alternatively, the cushion may be integrally formed over/around the spine and cables. The cables and spine may be positioned as desires in a moulding cast and the cushion member may be over-moulded around the spine and cables by e.g. injection moulding. For example, a liquid cushion material (e.g. silicone rubber) may be injected into the cast and permitted to set thereby to encapsulate the spine and cables within the cushion. The spine sleeve and receiving sleeves (for the cables) are formed by the injection moulding process.

The above examples are not intended to be limiting. Modifications and variants of the examples and embodiments described above, such as would be readily apparent to the skilled person, are encompassed within the scope of the invention, e.g. as defined in one or more of the claims.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. An earpiece comprising an insert member shaped and adapted to be inserted in to an ear and an ear hanger member connected to the insert member and shaped and adapted to hook upon an ear when the insert member is inserted within an ear of a user, the ear hanger member comprising a compliant cushion member within which is embedded a spine member deformable to retain a desired change of shape thereby to retain a corresponding change of shape within the cushion member within which it is embedded.

2. An earpiece according to any preceding claim in which the spine member is encapsulated within the cushion member.

3. An earpiece according to any preceding claim in which the cushion member comprises an elastic material.

4. An earpiece according to any preceding claim in which the ear hanger member is shaped to hang between parts of the head and ear of a user.

5. An earpiece according to any preceding claim in which the cushion member comprises a first cushion part formed of a compliant material having a first compliance and a second cushion part formed of a compliant material having a second compliance greater than the first compliance, the first and second cushion parts being arranged at opposite sides of at least a part of the spine member.

6. An earpiece according to any preceding claim in which the spine member comprises an elongate body the outer surface of which possesses no flat surfaces at any location between terminal ends thereof.

7. An earpiece according to any preceding claim in which the spine member comprises a length of malleable metal wire.

8. An earpiece according to any preceding claim in which the cushion member comprises an integrally formed moulding in which the spine member is embedded or encapsulated.

9. An earpiece according to any preceding claim in which the cushion member comprises a first cushion part defining a first spine channel and a second cushion part defining a second spine channel in which the first and second spine channels are shaped to collectively reciprocally correspond intimately with the outer surface shape of the spine member and are arranged in register to sandwich the spine member to encapsulate it.

10. An earpiece according to any preceding claim in which the insert member is connected to the ear hanger member only by one or more flaccid connection members .

11. An earpiece according to any preceding claim in which at least one of the one or more flaccid connection members comprises a length of cable.

12. An earpiece according to claim 10 or 11 in which the insert means includes an earphone and the one of more flaccid connection members comprise a signal transmission cable in electrical connection with the earphone.

13. An earpiece according to any preceding claim in which the ear hanger member comprises an elongate body being curved, arched or arcuate between terminal ends to define a hook.

14. An earpiece according to claim 13 in which the insert member is connected to the ear hanger member only by one or more flaccid connection members which enter the body of the ear hanger member at one or both terminal ends thereof.

15. An earpiece according to any of claims 8 to 14 in which the cushion member encapsulates a part of the length of at least one of the one or more flaccid connection members .

16. An earpiece according to any of claims 8 to 15 in which the cushion member comprises an integrally formed moulding in which said one or more flaccid connection members is embedded or encapsulated.

17. An earpiece according to claim 15 in which the cushion member comprises a first cushion part defining a first receiving channel and a second cushion part defining a second receiving channel in which the first and second receiving channels are shaped to collectively reciprocally correspond intimately with the outer surface shape of the connection member and are arranged in register to sandwich parts of the connection member to encapsulate those parts.

18. An earpiece according to claim 17 including a second separate flaccid connection member connecting the ear insert member to the ear hanger wherein the first cushion part defines a third receiving channel and the second cushion part defines a fourth receiving channel in which the third and fourth receiving channels are shaped to collectively reciprocally correspond intimately with the outer surface shape of the second connection member and are arranged in register to sandwich parts of the second connection member to encapsulate those parts.

19. A method of manufacturing an earpiece comprising an insert member shaped and adapted to be inserted in to an ear, the method including the following steps: providing spine member deformable to retain a desired change of shape, providing material for a compliant cushion member, embedding the spine member in the material for the cushion member thereby to provide an ear hanger member shaped and adapted to hook upon an ear and deformable to retain a desired change of shape, connecting the insert member to the ear hanger member.

20. A method according to claim 19 including providing one or more flaccid elongate connection member (s) for connection to the insert member and embedding the one or more flaccid elongate connection members in the material for the cushion member, and connecting the insert member to the ear hanger member via the connection member (s) .

21. A method according to claim 16 in which the insert member includes an earphone and the one or more elongate flaccid connection members includes a signal transmission cable (s) electrically connected to the earphone.

22. An earpiece substantially as described in any one embodiment hereinbefore with reference to, or substantially as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings .

23. A method of manufacturing an earpiece substantially as described in any one embodiment hereinbefore with reference to, or substantially as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings .