Moldable Earpiece System

Abstract

An earpiece including an external surface having a first fixed configuration disposable within the outer ear and having a passage adapted for retention of an in ear device a portion of which extends outwardly to releasably couple to an earplug adjacent the earpiece, the earpiece heatable to achieve a moldable condition which allows reconfiguration of the external surface by engagement with the outer ear to dispose the external surface in a second fixed configuration in greater conformity to the outer ear.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A method of making a moldable earpiece for an in-ear device, comprising:
 providing an earpiece having an external surface disposed in a first fixed configuration disposable within the outer ear of an ear, said earpiece heatable to achieve a moldable condition which allows reconfiguration of said external surface by engagement with said outer ear, said earpiece coolable while engaged with said outer ear to dispose said external surface in a second fixed configuration, said earpiece having a passage which communicates between a first location and a second location on said external surface of said earpiece, said passage adapted to releasably retain an in-ear device in said passage.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising disposing a conduit within said earpiece which communicates between said first location and said second location on said external surface of said earpiece, said conduit having an internal surface which defines said passage adapted for releasable retention of said in ear device. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising disposing said conduit within said earpiece to align said passage with an external ear canal of said ear. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said conduit maintains said passage adapted for releasable retention of said in-ear device in relation to said earpiece during reconfiguration of said external surface in said moldable condition of said earpiece. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprises forming said earpiece from a material which maintains said first fixed configuration and said second fixed configuration at a temperature below about 40° C. (110° F.) and maintains said moldable condition at a temperature of between about 40° C. (about 110° F.) and about 65° C. (150° F.). 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising forming said earpiece from an amount of polycaprolactone polymer having a number average molecular weight in the range of about 37,000 grams per mole and about 80,000 grams per mole. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising configuring said passage for releasable retention of said in-ear device selected from the group consisting of: earphones, earplugs, earbuds, ear tips, and in ear hearing aids. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said in-ear device is a part of an apparatus which resides outside of said ear. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said apparatus is selected from the group consisting of: headsets, head phones, telephones, blue tooth headphones, wireless headphones, and hearing aids. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising providing an in-ear device, said in ear device releasably retained in said passage with a portion of said in ear device configured to extend into an ear canal of said ear. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising providing an earplug adapted for coupling to said portion of said in-ear device configured to extend into said external ear canal of said ear, said earplug having an earplug external surface configured to engage an ear canal wall defining said ear canal. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said earplug further comprises:
 an elongate tubular core defining an earplug passage through which said portion of said in-ear device extending into said ear canal passes; and   a sound attenuating portion directly connected to said elongate tubular core, said sound attenuating portion configured to conformably engage said ear canal wall of said ear.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein said sound attenuating portion further comprises at least one flexible convex annular member having an internal concentric edge circumferentially joined to said elongate tubular core, said flexible convex annular member outwardly radially extending from said elongate tubular core to terminate at an external concentric edge. 
     
     
         28 . The moldable earpiece of  claim 27 , wherein said a least one flexible convex member comprises a pair of flexible convex annular members each having an internal concentric edge circumferentially joined in spaced apart relation along said elongate tubular core, said pair of flexible convex annular members each outwardly radially extending from said elongate tubular core to terminate at a corresponding pair of external concentric edges, a first of said pair of external concentric edges having lesser diameter than said second of said pair of external concentric edges. 
     
     
         29 - 46 . (canceled)