Acoustics – Anatomic or prosthetic relation – Ear and mouth
Reexamination Certificate
1994-08-29
2001-06-05
Dang, Khanh (Department: 2837)
Acoustics
Anatomic or prosthetic relation
Ear and mouth
Reexamination Certificate
active
06241041
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
One type of earplug includes a central stem and a plurality of flange elements in the shape of umbrellas whose middle portions merge with the stem. U.S. Pat. No. 4,867,149 by Falco describes an earplug of this type, wherein each umbrella element is of hemispherical shape so that the peripheries of the elements extend parallel to the axis of the stem. Although such earplugs with hemispherical flange elements can provide protection against noise, their noise protection is limited. Also, as the earplug is removed, it can create a vacuum in the ear canal which can be painful to the user. An earplug of the type which has flange elements, which provided better noise protection and which was more comfortable to remove from the ear canal than prior earplugs with umbrella elements, would be of considerable value.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, an earplug is provided, of the type that has hollow largely cone-shaped elements spaced along a stem, which provides enhanced sound protection and which provides more comfortable withdrawal of the earplug from the ear than heretofore. Each element has a peripheral portion extending with a radially outward and rearward directional component. As a result, when the peripheral portion is compressed in diameter by the ear canal of the wearer during forward movement into the ear canal, the peripheral portion tends to be deflected flat against the ear canal to provide large area contact therewith to seal out sound.
The radially outward and rearward directional components of the peripheral portion of a cone element, also is advantageous in causing the element to fold or curl forwardly when the earplug is pulled out of the ear. During such forward curling, a gap tends to be opened at the periphery of the element, which allows air to pass into the ear canal, to thereby minimize the creation of a vacuum in the ear canal that makes it uncomfortable to pull out the earplug.
The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention will be best understood from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 195322 (1963-05-01), Hill
patent: 2246737 (1941-06-01), Knudsen
patent: 2487038 (1949-11-01), Baum
patent: 4055233 (1977-10-01), Huntress
patent: 4867149 (1989-09-01), Falco
patent: 5113967 (1992-05-01), Killion et al.
Bacou USA Safety, Inc.
Dang Khanh
Rosen Leon D.
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