Method and apparatus for the exclusion of sound and water from the auditory canal
First Claim
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1. An earplug for providing protection to a person'"'"'s auditory canal comprising:
- at least one hollow expandable ear insert of a fixed shape and made of an elastomeric material and having a closed end and a side wall adapted to be inserted into a user'"'"'s auditory canal, and an open end, said ear insert being sufficiently small in its unexpanded state such that the ear insert may be inserted into the user'"'"'s auditory canal without abrasion to the user'"'"'s auditory meatus; and
a hollow tube having opposed open ends, an air inlet at one of said ends and an air outlet at said other end, said air outlet being attached to said open end of the ear insert, said air inlet attached to a mouthpiece adapted to be positioned at the user'"'"'s mouth for allowing the user to inflate the ear insert by blowing into the air inlet.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for providing improved protection for the auditory systems of persons who may be subjected to excessive sound pressures or concussive shock waves or who may have certain disorders of the ear which require the exclusion of foreign matter or fluids from the auditory canal, comprising an earplug or an earplug set in which auditory canal inserts may be pneumatically expanded into positive sealing engagement with the auditory meatus by the application of orally-blown pneumatic pressure developed by the human pulmonary system.
116 Citations
9 Claims
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1. An earplug for providing protection to a person'"'"'s auditory canal comprising:
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at least one hollow expandable ear insert of a fixed shape and made of an elastomeric material and having a closed end and a side wall adapted to be inserted into a user'"'"'s auditory canal, and an open end, said ear insert being sufficiently small in its unexpanded state such that the ear insert may be inserted into the user'"'"'s auditory canal without abrasion to the user'"'"'s auditory meatus; and a hollow tube having opposed open ends, an air inlet at one of said ends and an air outlet at said other end, said air outlet being attached to said open end of the ear insert, said air inlet attached to a mouthpiece adapted to be positioned at the user'"'"'s mouth for allowing the user to inflate the ear insert by blowing into the air inlet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification