US2262568A

US2262568A - Ear protector

Info

Publication number: US2262568A
Application number: US300515A
Authority: US
Inventors: Kenneth L Wade
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1939-10-21
Filing date: 1939-10-21
Publication date: 1941-11-11
Anticipated expiration: 1958-11-11

Description

Nov. 11, 1941. K WADE 2,262,568

` EAR PROTECTOR Filed oci. 21, 1959 Patented Nov.`11, 1941 IvUNIT-13D 'STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,262,568 EAB. PROTECTOR l Kenneth L. Wade, New York, N. Y.

Application October 21, 1939, Serial No. 300,515

2 claims.

This invention relates to ear protectors which are inserted directly in the outer ear, and the present invention is for the purpose of protecting the organs of the ear from disturbing vibrations, without irritating the auditory canal and'without causing an excessive pressure on the ear drums.

Ear protectors adapted to be inserted directly in the ear are, in general, not-satisfactory, as a protection" against excessive noise, unless they reduce hearing to a minimum, excepting sound by bone conduction. The ear protector disclosed by Patent Number 1,016,877, while affording ventilation which will prevent pressure on the drums,

and non-ventilated ear protectors available, are

which the user kneads into a pliable ball-like mass and presses into the ear to make a closure of the auditory canal. This is a most effective way of protecting the ears from noise thus far made available to the public. However, this wax and cotton stopple has the disadvantage in that it sets up a pressure on the ear drums upon insertion. It is well known that a balance of pressure is normally maintained onthe drums between the Eustachian tube and the auditoryl canal. vIt is important that this balanced pressure be maintained. Another disadvantage in wax stopples is that the wax'tends to adhere to the ear, and since the adhesion is as great between the stopple 'and the ear as between the I cotton and the wax, some part of the wax remains in the ear after removal of the stopple.

It is the object of the present invention to provide an ear protector which is as effective as the present wax stopple without setting up excessive air pressure in the auditory canal or on the ear drums, and to mitigate the adhesion of wax to the ear upon removal of the device. A further object is to provide an ear protector of porous latex impregnated Iwith wax, which is readily inserted into any average ear canal without kneading or adjustment. A still further object is to provide an ear protector, one end of which is partially impregnated with a composition ofan amorphous wax and petroleum jelly having a melting point of approximately 125 F.

All or almost all waxes contain some crystalline material although the predominant characteris- (Cl. 12S-152) tic is amorphous. Such a wax of a mineral type is produced from crude oil which has essentially a paramn base. Likewise, by custom inthe trade, certain waxesA of a vegetable nature, are frequently referred to as amorphous. Any of these waxes, and so-called waxes, when mixed with petroleum jelly in proper proportions will produce a soft and inelastic ear protector when usedv to impregnate la unitary porous body. For example, one composition producing a satisfactory result consisted of 12 parts of Japan wax having a meltingpoint of 130 F. and one part of petroleum jelly. The composition melted at approxi-- mately 125 F. Another suitable wax composi-A tion was prepared from three parts of amorphous c mineral wax from paraiiinic crude oil with la melting point of 145 F. and one part of petroleum jelly. This composition also had a melting ,point yof approximately 125 F. In addition, both goiwater4 soluble and water insoluble synthetic waxes procurable on the market under the classication of amorphous waxes were combined with petroleum jelly to produce a waxy material of suitable plasticity and a melting point above body "temperature It may be seen that there exists a large number of waxes and so-called waxes of an amorphous character which when mixed with the proper amount of petroleum jelly will result in a compound having suitable melting point and impregnating characteristics.

This improved ear protector is more particu-v larly shown in the accompanying drawing in which Figure' 1 shows the ear protector of this invention as in the ear; 4 Figure 2 is a longitudinal section on line 2-2 of Figure`3. Figure' 3 is an end view of the ear protector showing the partially impregnated end.

The'ear protector 9 is preferably stamped from sheet stock or cut from round stock of porous and resilient latex. One end of the latex designated by Il, is immerged in a solution of Japan wax and petroleum jelly or other suitable wax compound 4having a melting point of about 125 F. The length of time which this end Il is left inthe compound determines the degree of impregnation and the area impregnated. Thus by varying the time which the latex is in the solution, the extent of both the porosity and plasticity may be governed. The porous core l2 can be untouched by the solution or it may be slightly impregnated and yet remain suiliciently porous to allow ventilation to the-ear drums. Likewise, by using a more or a less plastic solution, the

2 y resulting plasticity and porosity may bedirectly governed.: It has been found that approximately one part of white vaseline petroleum `jelly to twelve parts of Japan wax having a melting point yof 125 results in a protector when mixed with After the end Il has been impregnated as de-4 scribed, a section at the waxed end I 3 may be cut away to make the`core I2 va continuous one. At the same time the end and sides are shaped about as shown in Figure 2; this being somewhat representative of the shape normallyproduced on insertion in the average ear. l

'I'he section I0 is not impregnated with the solution, and allows the user to insert and remove the ear-protector without handling and possibly soiling the waxed area.

-The action of my improved earl protector depends on the resilient and porous latex plus the sound absorbing qualities of wax, the combination of which makes for a exible and easily inserted ear protector, and' yet one whichdoes not noticeably irritate the ear and it does provide ventilation to E through core I2, which may be either slightly impregnated with wax'or the plain latex porous structure. The combination of porous latex and wax lmakes for an` excellent diameter of the Y aaeazses locking action in the meatus of the ear.. and the protector 9 may be removed without leaving any appreciable amount of wax in the ear for the reason that there is a greater adhesion between the rubber of the latex and the wax than between the wax ard the skin. The ear protector 9 is sanitary to use in' the respect that it is `not 'necessary to shape o handle the end Il, which l'ocks in the ear.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is: 1. An ear protector comprising a porous latex body having ,a generally cylindrical form, one section of which is impregnated with a waxy material of a composition of an' amorphous wax and a petroleum jelly having a melting point of approximately 125 F., said section being adapted to be inserted in the auditory canal and serving as a soft inelastic stopple 'for the absorption of sound and thev balance of the porous latex body beingunimpregnated and serving as a means for holding the device'for insertion and removal.

2. An ear protector comprising Aa porous body vhaving a generally cylindrical form, 'one section of which is impregnated with a waxy material of a composition of an amorphous wax and aA petroleum jelly having a melting point above body temperature, said section being adapted to be inserted in the auditory canal and serving as a soft inelastic stopple for the absorption of sound, and the balance of the porous body being unimpregnated and serving as a means for holdf ingzthe device for insertion and removal.

- Y KENNETH L. WADE.