HEADGEAR-EARWEAR ASSEMBLY AND A METHOD OF ASSEMBLING SAME

• US 20100319714A1
• Filed: 11/20/2009
• Published: 12/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Ogawa, Yuichi, Shimatani, Hiroshi, Oshima, Glenn D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,671,949 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/858
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 11/08 internal, e.g. earplugs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 11/12 External mounting means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/029 Additional functions or features, e.g. protection for other parts of the face such as ears, nose or mouth; Screen wipers or cleaning devices
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2065/1316 radially segmented
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2065/1356 interlocking
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 65/123 comprising an annular disc secured to a hub member; Discs characterised by means for mounting

Abstract

A headgear-earwear assembly and a method of assembling the same. The headgear-earwear assembly can include an earwear and a headgear adapted to be coupled together. The earwear can include an elongated member, such as a cord, having a length, and an earpiece coupled to the elongated member. The headgear can include a major surface and a channel oriented substantially along the major surface of the headgear. The channel can be configured to removably house at least a portion of the length of the elongated member. The method can include positioning at least a portion of the elongated member in the channel, such that at least a portion of the length of the elongated member is removably housed in the channel.

Claims

1. A headgear-earwear assembly comprising:

an earwear, the earwear including

an elongated member having a length, and

an earpiece coupled to the elongated member; and

a headgear, the headgear and the earwear adapted to be coupled together, the headgear having a major surface and including

a channel oriented substantially along the major surface of the headgear, the channel configured to removably house at least a portion of the length of the elongated member.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the elongated member forms at least a portion of at least one of a cord and a lanyard.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the headgear includes a temple, and wherein the channel is defined by at least a portion of the temple.

4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein a longitudinal direction of the channel is oriented substantially along a longitudinal direction of the temple.

5. The assembly of claim 3, wherein a longitudinal direction of the elongated member is oriented substantially along a longitudinal direction of the temple when the earwear is coupled to the headgear.

6. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the headgear further includes an eyeshield, wherein the temple includes an anterior portion positioned toward the eyeshield and a posterior portion positioned away from the eyeshield, and wherein the channel is located in the posterior portion of the temple.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the headgear is configured to inhibit removal of the elongated member from the channel under normal operating conditions.

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the channel and the elongated member are in sliding and frictional engagement when the elongated member is positioned in the channel.

9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the channel has a substantially circular cross-sectional shape.

10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the headgear further includes an aperture, the aperture positioned adjacent the channel and open to the channel.

11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein a longitudinal direction of the aperture is oriented substantially along the longitudinal direction of the channel.

12. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the aperture is substantially straight along at least a portion of its length.

13. The assembly of claim 10, wherein a width of at least a portion of the aperture is less than a width of at least a portion of the channel.

14. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the elongated member has a transverse dimension oriented substantially perpendicularly with respect to its longitudinal direction, and wherein the width of at least a portion of the aperture is less than the transverse dimension of the elongated member.

15. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the headgear includes at least one of goggles, eyeglasses, spectacles, and a combination thereof.

16. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the earpiece includes a hearing protective device.

17. The assembly of claim 16, wherein the hearing protective device includes an earplug.

18. A method of assembling a headgear-earwear assembly, the method comprising:

providing an earwear, the earwear including

an elongated member having a length, and

an earpiece coupled to the elongated member;

providing a headgear having a major surface and including

a channel oriented substantially along the major surface of the headgear; and

positioning at least a portion of the elongated member in the channel, such that at least a portion of the length of the elongated member is removably housed in the channel.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein positioning at least a portion of the length of the elongated member in the channel includes orienting a longitudinal direction of the elongated member substantially along a longitudinal direction of the channel.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein positioning at least a portion of the length of the elongated member in the channel includes stretching at least a portion of the elongated member prior to positioning the at least a portion of the length of the elongated member in the channel.

21. A headgear-earwear assembly, the assembly comprising:

an eyeshield;

a temple coupled to the eyeshield, the temple having a length and a longitudinal direction oriented substantially along its length;

a cord having a length and a longitudinal direction oriented substantially along its length;

an earpiece coupled to the cord; and

a channel defined by at least a portion of the temple, the channel oriented substantially along the longitudinal direction of the temple, wherein the channel is adapted to removably house at least a portion of the length of the cord.

22. The assembly of claim 21, wherein the channel has a longitudinal direction, and wherein a longitudinal direction of the cord is oriented substantially along the longitudinal direction of the channel when the cord is positioned in the channel.

23. The assembly of claim 21, wherein the eyeshield is formed by at least one of goggles, eyeglasses, spectacles, and a combination thereof

24. The assembly of claim 21, wherein the earpiece includes an earplug.