Aural Device with White Noise Generator

Abstract

An aural device to be worn over the ear of a user during sleeping hours which generates white noise.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . An aural device comprising:
 (a) a housing configured for placement adjacent to the ear canal of a user without covering the pinna, the housing comprising an interior and an exterior;   (b) a sound generator supported by the housing;   (c) a conduit for conducting sound from the sound generator to the exterior of the housing; and   (d) a projection configured to be supported by the pinna, the projection comprising a proximal end connected to the housing, a distal end, a substantially flat lateral surface and a substantially flat medial surface.   
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18  wherein the sound generator comprises a white noise generator. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the device comprises a transducer. 
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein an elastic rim is adjacent to the distal end of the conduit for covering the ear canal of the user. 
     
     
         22 . An aural device comprising:
 (a) a housing configured for placement adjacent to the ear canal of a user without covering the pinna, the housing comprising an interior and an exterior;   (b) a sound generator supported by the housing, the sound generator comprising a dedicated integrated circuit;   (c) a microcontroller unit in electrical communication with the sound generator;   (d) a conduit for conducting sound from the sound generator to the exterior of the housing; and   (e) a projection configured to be supported by the pinna, the projection comprising a proximal end connected to the housing, a distal end, a substantially flat lateral surface and a substantially flat medial surface.   
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 22 , wherein the microcontroller unit is programmed to generate white noise. 
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 23 , wherein the microcontroller unit is configured to control the generation of the sound by the sound generator, the volume of the sound, and the state of the device. 
     
     
         25 . An aural device comprising:
 (a) a housing configured for placement adjacent to the ear canal of a user without covering the pinna, the housing comprising an interior and an exterior;   (b) a conduit for conducting sound to the exterior of the housing;   (c) a projection configured to be supported by the pinna, the projection comprising a proximal end connected to the housing, a distal end, a substantially flat lateral surface, a substantially flat medial surface, and an electrical connector;   (d) a battery assembly reversibly secured to the projection, the battery assembly arranged to support a rechargeable battery; and   (e) a sound generator supported by the battery assembly.   
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 25 , wherein the sound generator comprises a white noise generator, the white noise generator generating noise selected from the group consisting of white noise, pink noise, blue noise, and black noise. 
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 26 , wherein the sound generator comprises a noise cancellation circuit for generating an opposing-phase signal. 
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 27 , wherein the noise cancellation circuit comprises a microphone for receiving external sounds, the microphone being in electrical communication with the noise cancellation circuit. 
     
     
         29 . A system comprising:
 (a) the aural device of  claim 25 ; and   (b) a container for the aural device, the container comprising:
 (i) a compartment for retaining the aural device; 
 (ii) a receptacle in the compartment for receiving the rechargeable battery and placing the rechargeable battery in electrical communication with a power source; and 
 (iii) circuitry for charging the rechargeable battery.