DIAPHRAGM EAR VALVE

• US 3,730,181 A
• Filed: 03/10/1971
• Issued: 05/01/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Siebe North Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: John J. Fling
• Inventors: Fling, John J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaudet, Richard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunne, G. F.
• Application Number:
  US05/122,856
• Time in Patent Office: 783 Days
• Field of Search: 128/152 137/517,512.4,512.5,525 181/23
• US Class Current: 128/868
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 11/08 internal, e.g. earplugs

Abstract

A diaphragm ear valve for protection of the ear drum from the injurious percussive and repercussive overpressures of strong sound waves. The ear valve or sound transmitter comprises a flexible diaphragm means which has a sound passage aperture therethrough. The diaphragm means is stretched radially outwardly and held by two catcher plate means each having a sound passage therethrough and annular holding means to retain the outer annular diaphragm bead. The apertures affording a sound path of sinuous configuration. The ear valve is adapted to receive an ear canal fitting.

Claims

1. In a sonic ear protector device wherein an ear canal fitting which includes a sound passage conveys sound waves reaching the passage, the combination with said fitting of a sound transmitter coupled with said fitting, the transmitter comprising parallel generally rigid plates spaced apart and a diaphragm between said plates locked around its periphery by said plates, a sound passage aperture through each plate in axial alignment, a sound passage aperture through the diaphragm axially offset from the sound passage apertures through the plates, the diaphragm being laterally spaced from the adjacent plates when reposing in generally flattened condition and the apertures in the plates and diaphragm in conjunction with the space on each side of the diaphragm affording a transmitter sound passage of sinuous configuration in communicating relationship with the sound passage of said fitting, the diaphragm including a relatively thin flexible membrane and a central annular sealing portion of relatively thicker cross section to provide a ring seal, whereby when said diaphragm is forced against either of said plates by the overpressure of sound waves said sealing portion will bear against the plate against which it is forced and create a seal closing off said transmitter sound passage.

2. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said sound passage apertures through said plates are axially aligned with said central annular sealing portion of said diaphragm and the diameter of said central annular sealing portion is greater than the diameter of said apertures in said plates.

3. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said central annular sealing portion of said diaphragm includes opposed sealing faces of concave configuration whereby said overpressure of sound waves will distort one of said faces to close off said transmitter sound passage.

4. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said sound passage apertures through said plates taper inwardly towards said diaphragm.

5. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said diaphragm includes an annular peripheral bead and said plates include opposed retainer grooves of a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of said diaphragm and said bead whereby when said bead is seated in said grooves said diaphragm will be radially stretched.

6. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said central annular sealing portion includes a sound passage aperture and an annular bead arouNd said aperture, and said plates each include an annular seat wherein when said diaphragm is flexed said bead will engage one of said seats and provide a ring seal closing off said sound path.