Hearing protection earplug with a movable attenuation button, method for manufacturing the same and use of the same

• US 7,512,243 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2004
• Issued: 03/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sonova AG (Sonova Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Phonak AG (Sonova Holding AG)
• Inventors: Haussmann, Mathias
• Primary Examiner(s): Ni; Suhan
• Application Number:
  US10/925,144
• Publication Number:
  US 20060045299A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,679 Days
• Field of Search: 381/72, 381/322, 381325-326, 381/328, 181129-135, 128867-868
• US Class Current: 381/72
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 11/08 internal, e.g. earplugs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 11/085 including an inner channel
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/11 Aspects relating to vents, e.g. shape, orientation, acoustic properties in ear tips of hearing devices to prevent occlusion
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/652 Ear tips; Ear moulds hybrid ear moulds or post-processing thereof for their customisation H04R25/659
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/658 Manufacture of housing parts

Abstract

The invention relates to a hearing protection earplug comprising a shell (12) for being worn at least in part in the ear canal of a user, the shell having a sound passage (1016, 1036) extending from an outer sound inlet opening (50) of the shell to an inner sound output opening (1034) adapted to acoustically connect to the user'"'"'s ear canal, and a noise attenuation button (1002) which is provided at the outer end of the shell, wherein said button is manually movable relative to the shell between a resting position in which the outer sound inlet opening of the shell is closed by the button and at least one communication position in which the outer sound inlet opening of the shell is at least partially opened by the button for enabling sound communication between the environment and the sound passage of the shell, wherein the sound passage (1016, 1036) is designed such that it has a sound attenuation of less than 10 dB averaged over the audible frequencies. The invention also relates to a use of such an earplug and a method for manufacturing such an earplug.

Claims

1. Hearing protection earplug comprising a shell for being worn at least in part in an ear canal of a user, said shell having a sound passage extending from an outer sound inlet opening of said shell to an inner sound output opening adapted to acoustically connect to said user'"'"'s ear canal, and a noise attenuation button which is provided at an outer end of said shell, wherein said button is manually movable relative to said shell axially between a resting position in which said outer sound inlet opening of said shell is closed by said button and at least one communication position in which said outer sound inlet opening of said shell is at least partially opened by said button for sound communication between an environment and said sound passage of said shell, further comprising means for axially biasing said button towards said resting position, said biasing means comprising a spring seated at said shell and at said button.

2. Hearing protection earplug according to claim 1, wherein said shell contains an acoustic filter for one of axially dividing said sound passage and forming one end of said sound passage.