Ear cup

• US 8,130,970 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2006
• Issued: 03/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Heringslack, Henrik
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Zandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATTON, PAUL E
• Application Number:
  US11/912,572
• Publication Number:
  US 20090279711A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,141 Days
• Field of Search: 381/71.6, 381/71.7, 381/370, 381/371
• US Class Current: 381/71.6
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 11/14 external, e.g. earcaps or earmuffs

Abstract

An ear cup for a hearing protection unit including an inner cup portion which defines a noise damping space facing towards the user. The ear cup further has an outer cup portion for accommodating electronics and/or a current source. The inner cup portion and the outer cup portion are separated by a partition which is of one piece manufacture with the inner cup portion. The partition is substantially closed, with the exception of an opening in which a fixing portion on a bracket is disposed. The fixing portion (9) has a central channel (15) for the passage of supply conductors to a loudspeaker. The supply conductors have a contact placed on the outside of the partition for connection of the electronics. The bracket also has a baffle plate which extends along the periphery of the loudspeaker.

Claims

1. An ear cup for a hearing protection unit with means for sound reproduction via a loudspeaker, comprising:

a first cup portion which defines a noise damping space facing towards a user, the first cup portion having, along a periphery, sealing means for abutment against a head of the wearer, and a noise absorbent interiorly in the noise damping space, and

a second, outer cup portion for defining a space for accommodating electronics and/or a current source, the noise damping space and the space for accommodating electronics and/or a current source being separated by means of a partition,

wherein the partition is of one piece manufacture with the first cup portion and is substantially closed, the loudspeaker is secured in a bracket which has a fixing portion produced from an elastic, yieldable material, which, under sealing, is fixable in an opening in the partition, and an electric supply conductor for the loudspeaker is included in the fixing portion.

2. The ear cup as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fixing portion has at least one axial sealing surface for abutment against the partition around the opening.

3. The ear cup as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fixing portion has a radial sealing surface for abutment against a radial edge in the opening of the partition.

5. The ear cup as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bracket has at least one bracket portion which extends from the fixing portion to a periphery of the loudspeaker and is secured there.

6. The ear cup as claimed in claim 5, wherein the bracket portion includes a number of arms which surround the loudspeaker in basket-like fashion.

7. The ear cup as claimed in claim 5, wherein a baffle plate is secured projecting from the periphery of the loudspeaker.

8. The ear cup as claimed in claim 1, wherein the opening in the partition is placed in a front half of the partition.

9. The ear cup as claimed in claim 1, wherein two ear cups included in a hearing protection unit have centre axes for the openings of the partitions, these centre axes converging in a rearward direction.

10. The ear cup as claimed in claim 9, wherein the loudspeakers have baffles which have planes of extent that are transversely directed, substantially at right angles to each respective centre axis.

4. An ear cup for a hearing protection unit with means for sound reproduction via a loudspeaker, comprising:

a first cup portion which defines a noise damping space facing towards a user, the first cup portion having, along a periphery, sealing means for abutment against a head of the wearer, and a noise absorbent interiorly in the noise damping space, and

a second, outer cup portion for defining a space for accommodating electronics and/or a current source, the noise damping space and the space for accommodating electronics and/or a current source being separated by means of a partition,

wherein the partition is of one piece manufacture with the first cup portion and is substantially closed, the loudspeaker is secured in a bracket which has a fixing portion which, under sealing, is fixable in an opening in the partition, and an electric supply conductor for the loudspeaker is included in the fixing portion;

wherein the fixing portion has a tapering or conical entry portion for facilitating insertion into the opening of the partition.

11. An ear cup for a hearing protection unit with means for sound reproduction via a loudspeaker, comprising:

a first cup portion which defines a noise damping space facing towards a user, the first cup portion having, along a periphery, sealing means for abutment against a head of the wearer, and a noise absorbent interiorly in the noise damping space, and

a second, outer cup portion for defining a space for accommodating electronics and/or a current source, the noise damping space and the space for accommodating electronics and/or a current source being separated by means of a partition,

wherein the partition is of one piece manufacture with the first cup portion and is substantially closed, the loudspeaker is secured in a bracket which has a fixing portion which, under sealing, is fixable in an opening in the partition, and an electric supply conductor for the loudspeaker is included in the fixing portion;

wherein the supply conductor of the loudspeaker extends through a sealed, axial channel through the fixing portion.