Selective attenuating earplug

• US 10,441,472 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2016
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Ely, Jacob H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rodriquez, Kari K
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Camtu T
• Application Number:
  US15/195,296
• Publication Number:
  US 20160302975A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,204 Days
• Field of Search: 128864, 128866, 128868, 381328, 381380, 181130-131, 181135
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 11/08 internal, e.g. earplugs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 11/085 including an inner channel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 11/12 External mounting means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0004 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0069 Sealing means

Abstract

A selective attenuating earplug is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a selective attenuating earplug includes a switch adjustable between a first position and a second position, and the switch includes at least one cantilever spring arm.

Claims

1. A selective attenuating earplug, comprising:

a sound attenuating tip having a first end and a second end;

a body coupled to the sound attenuating tip;

an acoustic channel extending from the first end of the sound attenuating tip to an aperture of the body; and

a switch comprising a cantilever spring arm having a sealing pad, the switch adjustable between a first position in which the aperture is at least partially open to allow passage of sound through the aperture and the acoustic channel and a second position in which the aperture is blocked by the sealing pad;

wherein the cantilever spring arm biases the sealing pad towards the aperture in the second position and towards a surface of the body in the first position; and

wherein the sealing pad moves across the aperture when switched between the first position and the second position.

2. The selective attenuating earplug of claim 1, further comprising an additional cantilever spring arm that includes a shape that interacts with a feature on a surface of the body, and the shape is biased against the feature on the surface of the body to maintain the switch in the first position or the second position.

3. The selective attenuating earplug of claim 1, wherein the cantilever spring arm is curved when the switch is in the first position or the second position.

4. The selective attenuating earplug of claim 1, wherein the switch rotates about an axis that is not parallel to a longitudinal axis of the sound attenuating tip.

5. The selective attenuating earplug of claim 1, wherein the sealing pad follows an arcuate path when switched between the first position and the second position.

6. A selective attenuating earplug, comprising:

a tip having a first end and a second end;

a body attached to the tip;

an acoustic channel extending from the first end of the tip to an aperture of the body;

a switch that is adjustable between a first position in which the aperture is at least partially open to allow passage of sound through the aperture and the acoustic channel, and a second position in which the aperture is blocked by a sealing pad affixed to and biased toward the aperture by a cantilever spring arm; and

wherein the sealing pad moves across the aperture when switched between the first position and the second position.

7. The selective attenuating earplug of claim 6, further comprising at least one activation lever.

8. The selective attenuating earplug of claim 6, wherein an acoustic filter is positioned in the acoustic channel.

9. The selective attenuating earplug of claim 6, wherein the cantilever spring arm interacts with a features on the surface of the body to maintain the switch in the first position.

10. The selective attenuating earplug of claim 9, further comprising an additional cantilever spring arm including a protrusion and the feature comprise first and second recesses, and the protrusion interacts with the first recess on the surface of the body to maintain the switch in the first position, and interacts with the second recess on the surface of the body to maintain the switch in the second position.

11. A hearing protection device, comprising first and second selective attenuating earplugs joined by a cord, wherein each of the first and second selective attenuating earplugs comprises:

a tip having a first end and a second end;

a body attached to the tip;

an acoustic channel extending from the first end of the tip to an aperture of the body;

a switch that is adjustable between a first position in which the aperture is at least partially open to allow passage of sound through the aperture and the acoustic channel, and a second position in which the aperture is blocked by a sealing pad affixed to and biased toward the aperture by a cantilever spring arm; and

wherein the sealing pad moves across the aperture when switched between the first position and the second position.