Future AirPods and AirPods Pro could have enhanced in-ear stability to keep them from falling out of, or moving about, in a user’s ear. Apple has filed for a patent (number 20210037303) for an “earbud stability anchor feature.”
In the patent filing, Apple notes that audio devices along the lines of in-ear headphones often have trouble achieving a size and shape that fits comfortably and stays securely in place for a large cross-section of users. Earbuds in particular often fall short of a design that fits comfortably within an ear of a user while achieving a high level of audio content delivery.
For this reason, Apple wants its earbuds to be capable of fitting comfortably and remaining securely within the ears of a broad spectrum of ear sizes and shapes while maintaining a high level of audio content delivery.
Here’s the summary of the invention: “An earbud design is disclosed that is configured to sit securely within an ear of a user. The earbud can be secured within the ear by an anchoring feature formed from an elastomeric material. The anchoring feature has a size and shape in accordance with an interior geometry of an ear of a user.
“Because the anchoring feature positions the earbud with respect to the ear, geometries of the earbud can be focused upon audio performance and/or device aesthetics. In some embodiments, the earbud housing can have a linear design which allows an audio driver within the earbud housing to be positioned close to an opening defined by the earbud housing. In this way, acoustic degradation associated with a long audio path from the audio driver to the opening can be avoided.”
