Acoustics – Anatomic or prosthetic relation – Ear and mouth
Reexamination Certificate
2003-04-23
2004-12-14
Martin, David (Department: 2837)
Acoustics
Anatomic or prosthetic relation
Ear and mouth
C181S130000, CD24S106000, C128S864000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06830124
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ear plug, and particularly to an ear plug for swimming to prevent water from flowing into an ear.
2. Related Art
A conventional ear plug for swimming to prevent water from flowing into ears is generally made of foam or silicone by integral molding and is solid.
FIGS. 1-3
show a conventional ear plug
1
formed of silicone by integral molding. The ear plug
1
has a solid body
10
, a taper head
11
at one end of the body
10
, first and second thin shelters
12
,
13
peripherally extending from the body
10
. The head
11
, and the first and second shelters
12
,
13
are generally equally spaced and are extendable into an ear thereby preventing water from flowing into the ear. The head
11
has a slightly smaller diameter than an ear canal
20
. The head
11
is solid and thick and so rigid relatively for extending into a middle ear
21
. The first shelter
12
is thinner than the second shelter
13
for interfered extending into the ear canal
20
. The second shelter
13
has a larger diameter than the first shelter
12
for stopping the ear canal
20
.
However, the ear plug
1
is uncomfortable to wear since the first shelter
12
is inserted into the middle ear
21
over interference. Moreover, during the wearing of the ear plug
1
, air in the middle ear is compressed into an inner ear. When the ear plug
1
is being taken off, air pressure tends to keep the ear plug
1
in the ear canal
20
due to air pressure difference between inside and outside of the ear canal
20
. So the ear plug
1
is easy to hurt the eardrum.
Furthermore, a user can not hear other people when wearing the ear plug
1
. So, it is not convenient to communicate with others when wearing the ear plug
1
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an ear plug for swimming which is comfortable to wear and is safe from hurting a user's eardrum.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an ear plug for swimming which is hollow for keeping a user hearable when wearing the ear plug.
To achieve the above-mentioned objects, an ear plug in accordance with the present invention includes a first shelter for extending into an ear canal thereby preventing water from flowing into the ear canal, a second shelter for accommodating with the ear canal thereby preventing water from flowing into the ear canal, and a connection portion connected between the first and second shelters. The first shelter has a flexible and thin peripheral flange. The second shelter has first and second walls connected with each other. The first wall of the second shelter is connected with the connection portion. The second shelter and the connection portion are hollow.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will be drawn from the following detailed embodiment of the present invention with attached drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1355276 (1920-10-01), Schultz
patent: D98095 (1936-01-01), Steckler
patent: 2070403 (1937-02-01), Hershman
patent: 3259128 (1966-07-01), Leight
patent: 3415246 (1968-12-01), Hill
patent: 4094315 (1978-06-01), Leight
patent: 4540063 (1985-09-01), Ochi et al.
patent: 4564009 (1986-01-01), Brinkhoff
patent: 5319163 (1994-06-01), Scott
patent: 5881729 (1999-03-01), Castillo
patent: D408526 (1999-04-01), Westerdal
patent: D414260 (1999-09-01), Conner
patent: 6129175 (2000-10-01), Tutor et al.
patent: 3304362 (1984-08-01), None
Martin David
Martin Edgardo San
Troxell Law Office PLLC
LandOfFree
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