Inflatable Bubble

Abstract

An ear device having a bubble for placement approximate a user's ear canal and capable of inflation and deflation is disclosed. An inflation tube for delivering inflating air to the bubble during inflation of the bubble and an inflation source, such as a diaphonic valve, cause the bubble to extend automatically into the user's ear canal during inflation and retract from the user's ear canal during deflation. The bubble is substantially cylindrical and is comprised of a plurality of adjacently adjoined inflatable chambers. The bubble may also comprise at least one non-inflatable section interspersed therein. Where the ear device is used to convey sound to the user's ear, the device includes a sound tube positioned within the cylindrical bubble. At least one resilient member attached to a portion of the bubble, which may be a non-inflatable section of the bubble, is used to retract the bubble automatically. The ear device, equipped with a cerumen removing mechanism, may be used to clean a user's ear canal as well.

1 . An ear device comprising:
 a base capable of positioning proximate a user's ear canal;   a bubble attached to the base and capable of inflation and deflation; and   an inflation tube for delivering inflating air to the bubble during inflation of the bubble;   wherein the bubble automatically extends into the user's ear canal during inflation and retracts from the user's ear canal during deflation.   
     
     
         2 . The ear device of  claim 1 , further comprising an inflating air source coupled to an end of the inflation tube. 
     
     
         3 . The ear device of  claim 2 , wherein the inflating air source comprises a diaphonic valve. 
     
     
         4 . The ear device of  claim 1 , wherein the bubble is substantially cylindrical. 
     
     
         5 . The ear device of  claim 4 , wherein the cylindrical bubble is comprised of a plurality of adjacently adjoined inflatable chambers. 
     
     
         6 . The ear device of  claim 4 , wherein the cylindrical bubble is comprised of a plurality of adjacently adjoined inflatable chambers and at least one non-inflatable section interspersed therein. 
     
     
         7 . The ear device of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one resilient member attached to a portion of the bubble. 
     
     
         8 . The ear device of  claim 4 , further comprising at least one resilient member attached to a portion of the bubble. 
     
     
         9 . The ear device of  claim 6 , further comprising at least one resilient member attached to a non-inflatable section of the bubble. 
     
     
         10 . The ear device of  claim 8 , further comprising a sound tube positioned within the cylindrical bubble. 
     
     
         11 . The ear device of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one resilient member comprises a coil spring positioned within the sound tube. 
     
     
         12 . The ear device of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one resilient member comprises at least one flat spring. 
     
     
         13 . The ear device of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one resilient member comprises at least one flat spring. 
     
     
         14 . The ear device of  claim 1 , further comprising a cerumen removing mechanism. 
     
     
         15 . The ear device of  claim 14 , wherein the cerumen removing mechanism comprises a textured outer surface on the bubble. 
     
     
         16 . The ear device of  claim 14 , wherein the cerumen removing mechanism comprises a coating on an outer surface of the bubble. 
     
     
         17 . The ear device of  claim 16 , wherein the coating comprises fibers selected from the group consisting of cotton fibers, linen fibers, polyester fibers, synthetic fibers, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The ear device of  claim 17 , wherein the fibers are impregnated with a cleaning solution. 
     
     
         19 . The ear device of  claim 18 , wherein the cleaning solution comprises a cerumen softening or dissolving solution. 
     
     
         20 . The ear device of  claim 1 , wherein the bubble automatically inserts into the ear canal on inflation. 
     
     
         21 . The ear device of  claim 7 , wherein the resilient member facilitates folding of the bubble inward upon deflation. 
     
     
         22 . The ear device of  claim 7 , wherein the resilient member facilitates rolling of the bubble inward upon deflation. 
     
     
         23 . The ear device of  claim 11 , wherein the coil spring pulls at least a portion of the bubble into the sound tube upon deflation. 
     
     
         24 . The ear device of  claim 10 , further comprising an audio transducer coupled to the base. 
     
     
         25 . An ear device comprising:
 a base capable of being positioned proximate a user's ear canal;   a cylindrical bubble attached to the base and comprised of a plurality of inflatable chambers each capable of simultaneous inflation and deflation;   an inflation tube for delivering inflating air to the inflatable chambers of the bubble during inflation of the inflatable chambers; and   an air source coupled to the inflation tube for supplying inflation air during inflation of the inflatable chambers;   wherein the bubble automatically extends into the user's ear canal during inflation and retracts from the user's ear canal during deflation.   
     
     
         26 . The ear device of  claim 25 , wherein the bubble further comprises at least one non-inflatable section interspersed with the inflatable chambers. 
     
     
         27 . The ear device of  claim 25 , further comprising at least one resilient member attached to a portion of the bubble. 
     
     
         28 . The ear device of  claim 26 , further comprising at least one resilient member attached to a non-inflatable section of the bubble. 
     
     
         29 . The ear device of  claim 27 , further comprising a sound tube positioned within the cylindrical bubble. 
     
     
         30 . The ear device of  claim 29 , wherein the at least one resilient member comprises a coil spring positioned within the sound tube. 
     
     
         31 . The ear device of  claim 28 , wherein the at least one resilient member comprises at least one flat spring. 
     
     
         32 . An audio system ear device comprising:
 a base capable of positioning proximate a user's ear canal;   a bubble attached to the base and having an outer surface capable of inflation and deflation;   an inflation tube for delivering inflating air to the bubble during inflation of the bubble;   an air source coupled to the inflation tube for supplying inflation air during inflation of the bubble;   a sound tube positioned within the bubble and having an open end coupled to the outer surface of the bubble; and   an audio source coupled to the sound tube;   wherein the bubble and sound tube automatically extend into the user's ear canal during inflation and retracts from the user's ear canal during deflation.   
     
     
         33 . The audio system of  claim 32 , wherein the air source comprises a diaphonic valve. 
     
     
         34 . The audio system of  claim 32 , wherein the bubble is substantially cylindrical. 
     
     
         35 . The audio system of  claim 34 , wherein the cylindrical bubble is comprised of a plurality of adjacently adjoined inflatable chambers. 
     
     
         36 . The audio system of  claim 34 , wherein the cylindrical bubble is comprised of a plurality of adjacently adjoined inflatable chambers and at least one non-inflatable section interspersed therein. 
     
     
         37 . The audio system of  claim 32 , further comprising at least one resilient member attached to a portion of the bubble. 
     
     
         38 . An ear cleaning device comprising:
 a base capable of positioning proximate a user's ear canal;   a bubble attached to the base and having an outer surface capable of inflation and deflation;   a cerumen removing mechanism attached to the outer surface of the bubble;   an inflation tube for delivering inflating air to the bubble during inflation of the bubble; and   an air source coupled to the inflation tube for supplying inflation air during inflation of the bubble;   wherein the bubble automatically extends into the user's ear canal during inflation and retracts from the user's ear canal during deflation.   
     
     
         39 . The ear cleaning device of  claim 38 , wherein the cerumen removing mechanism comprises a textured outer surface. 
     
     
         40 . The ear cleaning device of  claim 38 , wherein the cerumen removing mechanism comprises a coating on an outer surface. 
     
     
         41 . The ear cleaning device of  claim 40 , wherein the coating comprises fibers selected from the group consisting of cotton fibers, linen fibers, polyester fibers, synthetic fibers, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         42 . The ear cleaning device of  claim 41 , wherein the fibers are impregnated with a cleaning solution. 
     
     
         43 . The ear cleaning device of  claim 42 , wherein the cleaning solution comprises a cerumen softening or dissolving solution.