Variable pressure ear clip

Abstract

An adjustable ear clip device and of the type providing variable pressure on surfaces of the outer ear. The adjustable ear clip comprises two primary members: a base plate ( 1 ) with two opposing support ears ( 2 ), and an ear-engaging member which includes an ear-engaging plate ( 3 ) comprising a spring tongue ( 4 ) and paired pivot arms ( 6 l and 6 r ). The two opposing support ears ( 2 ) are oriented perpendicularly to the base plate ( 1 ), and comprise a multiplicity of opposed apertures ( 5 ) of varying distances from the base plate ( 1 ). The opposing support ears ( 2 ) may be in the form of parallel columns or an arch, and may be connected by a planar or rounded connection plate ( 7 ) that is substantially perpendicular to both the base plate ( 1 ) and the paired pivot arms ( 6 l and 6 r ). In addition, the ear-engaging member comprises a substantially planar ear-engaging plate ( 3 ), a spring tongue ( 4 ) extending from the ear-engaging plate ( 3 ), and paired pivot arms ( 6 l and 6 r ) extending from the ear-engaging plate ( 3 ) on each side of the spring tongue ( 4 ).

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An adjustable pressure ear clip, comprising a support member comprising a base plate, paired support arms oriented substantially perpendicularly to said base plate, a multiplicity of opposed pivot apertures in each of said support ears at varying distances from said base plate, and an ear-engaging member comprising an ear-engaging plate, spring tongue extending from the ear engaging plate, and paired pivot arms extending from the ear engaging plate on each side of the spring tongue, wherein said pivot arms are rotationally connected with said pivot apertures when said ear clip is assembled.  
     
     
         1 .a. The adjustable pressure ear clip of  claim 1  which further comprises a connection plate connecting said support ears oriented substantially perpendicular to said support pivot arms and to said base plate.  
     
     
         2 . An adjustable pressure ear clip comprising a support member and an ear-engaging member wherein the support member contains a multiplicity of paired apertures for attachment of the ear-engaging member and wherein the pressure on the ear when said ear clip is in place on a wearer is varied by varying the position at which said support and ear-engaging members are connected.  
     
     
         3 . A method for defining the pressure exerted by an ear clip having a support member and an ear-engaging member comprising providing a multiplicity of locations on said support member to which said ear-engaging and support members can be attached, and selectively attaching said members at an attachment location.