Ear acoustical attenuating device
First Claim
1. An ear hearing protective device comprising:
- an elastomer body means having a first aperture and a second aperture, said first and second apertures being laterally spaced apart and a connecting tubular means extending from said first and second apertures, said tubular means being tapered and adapted to be received in the ear canal of the human ear in a sound-sealing relationship;
an auditory channel for passing sound waves therethrough extending through said body means from said first aperture therein and through said tubular means to an opening at its distal end;
a sound attenuating means located in said channel operable to attenuate sound waves, said sound attenuating means having an opening of a lesser diameter than the said channel; and
a removable plug means selectively inserted in said first aperture communicating with said auditory channel in said body means or in said second aperture therein to provide the wearer with selective total sound occlusion and partial sound attenuating depending upon the position of said plug means in said apertures.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An ear-insertable protecting device includes a body unit and an integral extending tubular portion adapted to be received in the aperture of the auditory meatus of the ear so it affects a sound seal between the inserted portion and the ear canal with the device having an auditory channel extending therethrough with sound attenuating means located in the auditory channel, includes a cooperating retaining device having a barb at each end which can be plugged into the body unit, in either the auditory channel or another opening provided therefor whereby the device can provide partial or total sound occlusion at the option of the user. In addition, the tubular portion is preferably tapered from the body unit and has a radially extending web wound spirally thereon to facilitate affecting a sound seal with the ear canal without accompanying discomfort. Further, the barb may include a lanyard to prevent loss of the device.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An ear hearing protective device comprising:
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an elastomer body means having a first aperture and a second aperture, said first and second apertures being laterally spaced apart and a connecting tubular means extending from said first and second apertures, said tubular means being tapered and adapted to be received in the ear canal of the human ear in a sound-sealing relationship; an auditory channel for passing sound waves therethrough extending through said body means from said first aperture therein and through said tubular means to an opening at its distal end; a sound attenuating means located in said channel operable to attenuate sound waves, said sound attenuating means having an opening of a lesser diameter than the said channel; and a removable plug means selectively inserted in said first aperture communicating with said auditory channel in said body means or in said second aperture therein to provide the wearer with selective total sound occlusion and partial sound attenuating depending upon the position of said plug means in said apertures. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An ear hearing protective device comprising:
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an elastomer body means with a connecting tubular means adapted to be received in the ear canal of a human ear in sound-sealing relationship; said tubular means having a radially projecting web means extending spirally along its length, said web means being flexible, allowing it to deflect to the configuration of the ear canal when it is inserted into a human ear and rotated whereby it is operable to cause said web means to locate in the ear channel in a sound-sealing relationship; an auditory channel passing axially through said body means and said tubular means operable to pass sound waves therethrough, from a surface on the said body means to the distal end of said tubular means; and a sound attenuating means located in said channel operable to attenuate sound waves, said sound attenuating means including a diaphragm across said auditory channel, said diaphragm having a pluraity of slits extending from its center to its circular periphery operable to allow the resulting segmented portions to be temporarily displaced by pressures originating from sound waves. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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- 12. The device as defined in clam 8 wherein the body or said means includes a second aperture and a removable plug means which is operably securable in the auditory channel or said second aperture therein.
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14. An ear hearing protective device comprising an elastomer body having a first aperture and a second aperture laterally spaced from said first aperture and having a connecting tubular means extending from said first and second apertures, said last-named means adapted to be received in the ear canal of a human ear in a sound-sealing relationship;
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an auditory channel for passing pressure waves representing sound therethrough extending through said body means from said first aperture thereon and through said tubular means to an opening at the distal end of said tubular means; sound attenuating means located in said auditory channel operable to attenuate said pressure waves, said sound attenuating means including a diaphragm disposed transversely across said auditory channel, said diaphragm having a plurality of slits extending from its center to its circular periphery operable to allow the resulting segmented portions to be displaced by pressures originating from sound waves; and a removable plug means selectively inserted in said first aperture communicating with said auditory channel in said body means or in said second aperture therein to provide the wearer with selective total sound occlusion and partial sound attenuating depending upon the position of said plug means in said apertures. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification