Acoustic resistor for hearing improvement and audiometric applications, and method of making same

• US 8,091,680 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2004
• Issued: 01/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Etymotic Research Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Etymotic Research Incorporated
• Inventors: Killion, Mead C., Haapapuro, Andrew J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phillips, Forrest M
• Application Number:
  US10/901,581
• Publication Number:
  US 20050002541A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,721 Days
• Field of Search: 181/131, 181/129, 181/290, 181/296, 181/294, 181/284, 181/135, 181/130, 379/451
• US Class Current: 181/130
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/16 Methods or devices for protecting against, or for damping, noise or other acoustic waves in general G10K11/36 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/48 using constructional means for obtaining a desired frequency response H04R25/652 takes precedence

Abstract

An acoustic resistor or damper and method of manufacturing the same is disclosed. The damper has mesh material and mounting material attached to the mesh material. The mounting material defines an open region for transmission of sound through the mesh material, and has a mounting surface for mounting the damper on a surface surrounding an acoustic port or tube. The mounting surface is located on a plane different from the mesh material, thereby shielding the mesh material from adhesive applied between the mounting surface and the surface surrounding the acoustic port or tube. The method of manufacturing an acoustic damper comprises a sheet of double-sided tape having at least one perforation applied to a mesh material. The double-sided tape and mesh material is cut in the shape surrounding the at least one perforation.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing an acoustic damper for use in hearing improvement and audiometric devices comprising:

applying a sheet of double-sided tape having at least one perforation to a mesh material forming an open region of the acoustic damper for transmission of sound; and

cutting the double-sided tape and mesh material in a shape surrounding the at least one perforation.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising cutting the at least one perforation in the double-sided tape.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein cutting the double-sided tape and mesh material comprises mechanically punching a shape surrounding the at least one perforation.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising removing backing material of the double-sided tape.

5. A method of manufacturing at least one acoustic damper for use in hearing improvement and audiometric devices comprising:

applying a double-sided first material to a second material, wherein said double-sided first material defines an open region of said second material for transmission of sound; and

cutting said double-sided first material forming the at least one acoustic damper and said second material.

6. The method of claim 5 comprising defining an inner diameter of the at least one acoustic damper using at least one perforation formed in said double-sided first material.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said at least one perforation defines an inner diameter of the at least one acoustic damper of approximately 0.045 inches.

8. The method of claim 5 comprising defining an outer diameter of the at least one acoustic damper by cutting said at least said double-sided first material and said second material.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said cutting at least said double-sided first material and said second material defines an outer diameter of the at least one acoustic damper of approximately 0.120 inches.

10. The method of claim 5 comprising removing a backing material from said double-sided first material prior to applying it to said second material.

11. The method of claim 5 wherein said double-sided first material comprises a double-sided tape having a plurality of perforations.

12. The method of claim 5 wherein said second material comprises at least one of a cloth, mesh, metal, polyester, nylon and silk.

13. The method of claim 5 wherein said cutting at least said double-sided first material comprises mechanically punching through said double-sided first material and said second material in a predefined shape surrounding at least one perforation formed in said double-sided first material.

14. The method of claim 5 wherein said cutting at least said double-sided first material comprising cutting said double-sided first material using a laser.

15. The method of claim 14 comprising removing a plug formed by cutting said double-sided first material using said laser, defining an inner diameter of the at least one acoustic damper.

16. The method of claim 15 comprising mechanically punching through said double-sided first material and said second material in a predefined shape, defining an outer diameter of the at least one acoustic damper.

17. A method of manufacturing a plurality of acoustic dampers for use in hearing improvement and audiometric devices comprising:

removing a backing from at least one side of a double-sided tape material;

applying said double-sided tape material to a mesh material, wherein said double-sided tape material defines a plurality of open regions of said mesh material for transmission of sound; and

cutting said mesh material and said double-sided tape material forming the plurality of acoustic dampers.

18. The method of claim 17 comprising defining an inner diameter of the plurality of acoustic dampers using a plurality of perforations formed in said double-sided tape material.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein said mesh material comprises at least one of a cloth, metal, polyester, nylon and silk.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein said cutting at least said double-sided tape material comprises mechanically punching through said double-sided tape material and said mesh material in a predefined shape surrounding a plurality of perforations formed in said double-sided tape material.

21. The method of claim 17 wherein said cutting at least said double-sided tape material comprises cutting said double-sided tape material using a laser.

22. The method of claim 21 comprising removing a plug formed by cutting said double-sided tape material using said laser, defining an inner diameter of the plurality of acoustic dampers.

23. The method of claim 22 comprising mechanically punching through said double-sided tape material and said mesh material in a predefined shape, defining an outer diameter of the plurality of acoustic dampers.