GB2402887A - Ear defender - Google Patents

Abstract

An ear defender comprising two sealed vacuum chambers 5, one for each ear 4 connected by a band which passes over the head to prevent sound from reaching the ear 4. Preferably, audio speakers (7, fig 4) are attached inside each ear cup. The ear defender may be made from metal, plastic, artificial materials or any combination of these materials.

Description

EAR DEFENDER

The invention relates to an ear defender of the type which includes two cupped shapes which encase each ear, and are joined together by a headband which passes over the top of the head and holds the ear cups against each ear.

Sudh ear defenders are well known but suffer from the disadvantage that while they can reduce the volume of noise, they still let a lot of noise through to the ear.

The object of this invention is to provide an ear defender which prevents almost all sound from reaching the ear.

Accordingly this invention provides an ear defender design which indudes a sealed vacuum chamber inside the casing of each ear cup, which completely surrounds the ear. Sound cannot travel through a vacuum. Therefore no sound can pass through the vacuum chamber and reach the ear.

The ear defender could also be used for listening to music or other audio by attaching an audio speaker to the inner surface of the ear cup.

The material out of which the ear cups are constructed will need to be sufficiently strong to withstand atmospheric pressure. This material could be a strong metal such as titanium or steel, or alternatively a special plastics material or other artificial material, or a combination of these materials.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: FIGURE 1 shows a front view of the ear defender as worn on the head.

FIGURE 2 is a section showing the vacuum chamber surrounding the ear.

FIGURE 3 shows the side view of the ear defender.

FIGURE 4 shows the ear defender with an audio speaker fixed to the inside.

As shown in Figure 1, the ear defender comprises two ear cups 1 which are joined by a headband 2 which passes over the top of the head 3 and holds the ear cups against the ears.

Figure 2 shows the vacuum chamber 5 inside the ear cup casing 1 which completely surrounds the ear 4 preventing sound reaching the ear.

The vacuum chamber 5 in each ear cup 1 may be Heated by first constructing each ear cup in two parts which when joined together leave a cavity 5 inside. If these two parts are joined and hermetically sealed when they are themselves inside a larger vacuum chamber, the cavity 5 inside will remain a vacuum when the completed ear cups are removed to an area of normal atmospheric pressure.

Figure 3 shows the side view of the ear cup casing 1 as seen from the outside, completely surrounding the ear.

Figure 4 is a view looking at the inside of the ear cup and shows how an audio speaker 7 and audio cable 8, can be fixed onto the inside of the ear cup 1, next to the ear, allowing the ear defender to be used for listening to music or other audio.

Claims (4)

1. An ear defender which incdudes two sealed vacuum chambers, one for each ear, which are held against each ear by a band passing over the head of the user, so that each vacuum chamber surrounds an ear and prevents almost all sound from reaching the ear.

2. An ear defender as claimed in Claim 1 where audio speakers are attached to the inside of the ear defender so that the user can listen to music or other audio.

3. An ear defender as claimed in any preceding claim which is made from metal, plastics material or other artificial material, or from a combination of these materials.

4. An ear defender substantially as herein described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.