Selective attenuating earplug

• US 9,814,625 B2
• Filed: 01/04/2013
• Issued: 11/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Ely, Jacob
• Primary Examiner(s): Rodriquez, Kari
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, CAMTU TRAN
• Application Number:
  US13/734,268
• Publication Number:
  US 20140190494A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,775 Days
• Field of Search: 128864, 128866-868, 381328, 381380, 181130-131, 181135, 251101, 251107-108, 251352, 251251, 251259, 251297, 251304, 251309, 251313, 251 75
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 11/08 internal, e.g. earplugs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 11/085 including an inner channel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 11/12 External mounting means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0004 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0069 Sealing means

Abstract

A selective attenuating earplug is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a selective attenuating earplug includes a switch adjustable between a first position and a second position, and the switch includes at least one cantilever spring arm.

Claims

1. A selective attenuating earplug, comprising:

a tip extending between a first end and a second end along a longitudinal axis;

a body attached to the tip proximate the second end such that the body is closer to the second end of the tip than the first end of the tip, and comprising an aperture in a wall of the body;

an acoustic channel extending from the first end of the tip to the aperture along the longitudinal axis; and

a switch adjustable between a first position in which the aperture is at least partially open to allow passage of sound through the aperture and the acoustic channel and a second position in which the aperture is blocked;

wherein the switch comprises a first cantilever spring arm including a shape that is biased against a surface of the body and that interacts with one or more features on the surface of the body to maintain the switch in the first position, wherein the shape of the first cantilever spring arm includes a protrusion and the one or more features comprise first and second recesses, and the protrusion interacts with the first recess on the surface of the body to maintain the switch in the first position and interacts with the second recess on the surface of the body to maintain the switch in the second position.

2. The selective attenuating earplug of claim 1, wherein the tip and the body are integrally formed.

3. The selective attenuating earplug of claim 1, wherein the protrusion of the first cantilever spring arm follows an arcuate path when switched between the first position and the second position.

4. The selective attenuating earplug of claim 1, wherein the first cantilever spring arm is curved when the switch is in the first position or the second position.

5. The selective attenuating earplug of claim 1, wherein the switch rotates about an axis that is not parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tip.

6. The selective attenuating earplug of claim 1, wherein the switch further comprises a sealing pad that blocks the aperture when the switch is in the second position.

7. The selective attenuating earplug of claim 6, wherein the switch further comprises a second cantilever spring arm and the sealing pad is integrally formed with the second cantilever spring arm.

8. The selective attenuating earplug of claim 6, wherein the sealing pad moves across the aperture when switched between the first position and the second position.

9. The selective attenuating earplug of claim 1, further comprising a cord coupled to the body.

10. The selective attenuating earplug of claim 1, wherein the tip comprises one or more flanges.

11. The selective attenuating earplug of claim 1, wherein an acoustic filter is positioned in the acoustic channel.

12. The selective attenuating earplug of claim 1, further comprising a connector having a first end positioned in a cavity of the second end of the tip and a second end positioned in a cavity of the body, the acoustic channel extending through the connector.

13. A hearing protection device, comprising:

first and second selective attenuating earplugs joined by a cord, wherein each of the first and second selective attenuating earplugs comprises a tip extending between a first end and a second end along a longitudinal axis;

a body attached to the tip proximate the second end such that the body is closer to the second end of the tip than the first end of the tip;

an acoustic channel extending from a first end of the tip to an aperture of the body along the longitudinal axis; and

a switch adjustable between a first position in which the aperture is at least partially open to allow passage of sound through the aperture and the acoustic channel and a second position in which the aperture is blocked;

wherein the switch comprises a first cantilever spring arm including a shape that is biased against a surface of the body and that interacts with one or more features on the surface of the body to maintain the switch in the first position, wherein the shape of the first cantilever spring arm includes a protrusion and the one or more features comprise first and second recesses, and the protrusion interacts with the first recess on the surface of the body to maintain the switch in the first position and interacts with the second recess on the surface of the body to maintain the switch in the second position.