GB2209923A

GB2209923A - A combined ear and eye protector unit

Info

Publication number: GB2209923A
Application number: GB8722121A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alistair Euan Scott
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-01-02
Filing date: 1987-09-21
Publication date: 1989-06-01
Also published as: GB8722121D0

Abstract

A combined ear and eye protector unit comprises a substantially U-shaped resilient and transparent frame. The central part forms an eye shield and the arms of the U become both the arms for supporting the eye protector in position and a support for respective ear protectors mounted thereon. In the preferred embodiment cushioned and sound proofed ear guards are mounted on the frames for pivotal and lateral adjustability by means of a friction mounting which retains the selected position. The unit is kept on the head by the resilience in the frame which squeezes the ear guards towards the head. <IMAGE>

Description

A COMBINED EAR AND EYE PROTECTOR UNIT The present invention relates to a combined ear and eye protector unit.

Ear and eye protection is widely used in many work situations and is becoming increasingly prevalent in pleasure and D-I-Y persuits.

At present the ears may be protected from noise by the use of cotton or foam plugs inserted into the ear, or by ear muffs which cover the ears the two cups connected to a flexible bar by means of a slide arrangement.

Tne eyes may be protected by goggles, glasses or visors. If it is required to protect simultaneously both ears and eyes one must combine the separate protection devices or resort to the use of a cumbersome and heavy safety helmet which carries both devices. In many situations where ear and eye protection are necessary or desirable a safety helmet is superfluous and it is the object of the present invention to produce a coined unit which does away with the need to wear a hot and unnecessary helmet.

According to the present invention there is provided a combined ear and eye protection unit comprising a substantially U-shaped resilient and transparent frame which forms both an eye shield and arms for the support of ear protectors mounted thereon.

Advantageously the ear protectors are cushioned and soundproofed ear guards which may be adjustably mounted on the arms of the frame. The adjustment is preferably both in distance along the arms and in angle with respect to the arms.

The resilience in the frame should be adequate to hold the device in place on the head by pushing the ears inwardly.

This should not be uncomfortable if the ear guards are cushioned. To provide this resilience while accommodating the ear guards the frame may include on each side of the head a double bend in the material.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a combined ear and eye protection unit according to the invention, and Figure 2 illustrates in detail the slide arrangement between parts of the unit of Figure 1.

The illustrated combined ear and eye protector unit comprises a substantially U-shaped frame 11 of transparent material the front part of which forms a visor or eye protector area lla and the arms 116 of which carry respective oval ear protectors 12. The frame 11 includes a double bend 13 to take the arms llb further away from one another so as to accommodate the ear protectors 12 without requiring too wide a visor lla. The combination of the resilience of the material chosen for the frame and the shape of the frame should be such as to produce sufficient resilience so that the inward force from the arms on the ear protectors 12 is sufficient to hold the unit in place when the visor is supported on the wearer 5 nose.

If the visor is sufficiently deep to warrant it, a nose aperture 14 is provided. To provide maximum adjustability, the ear protectors 12 each have an integral button 15 which is slideably mounted through a slot 16 in a respective one of the arms llb. A friction producing washer 17 located between the ear protectors 12 and the frame 11 enable the ear protectors to maintain their rotational and longitudinal position once set.

The slideable mounting of the button 15 in the slot 16 means that the ear protectors can be moved to cater for different sized heads and different individual requirements.

The frame may be formed by heat-cutting or moulding suitable plastics material , such as perspex (RTM). The ear protectors in this embodiment are cup shaped protectors of a type freely available. They have a concave ellipsoidal portion lt of a size sufficient to cover the whole ear and are bordered by cushioned padding materialiwhich makes contact with the side of the face around the ear. The whole is provided with sound insulation. Although this type of ear protector is preferred, others coul equally well be fitted to the frame instead.

Thus it iwll be appreciated that by use of this unit it is possible to protect the ears and eyes simultaneously while carrying on one 5 head the minimal of equipment and providing a wide viewing area, far in excess of that normally expected for glasses or goggles.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A combined ear and eye protection unit comprising a substantially U-shaped resilient and transparent frame which forms both an eye shield and arms for the support of ear protectors mounted thereon.

2. A unit according to claim 1 wherein the ear protectors are cushioned and sound proofed ear guards.

3. A unit according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the ear protectors are adjustably mounted on the arms of the frame by means of a mounting which enables the ear protectors, once positioned, to maintain their rotational and longitudinal position.

4. A unit according to claim 3 wherein the mounting comprises a slot in the frame with respect to which the ear protectors are slideably and pivotally mounted via a friction-producing member.

5. A unit according to any of the preceding claims wherein the frame resilience is increased by the incorporation of a bend therein.

6. A combined ear and eye protection unit substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.