GB2446627A

GB2446627A - An ear covering that reduces wind noise but allows ambient sound to pass through to the wearer

Info

Publication number: GB2446627A
Application number: GB0702342A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Goodwin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-02-07
Filing date: 2007-02-07
Publication date: 2008-08-20
Anticipated expiration: 2027-02-07
Also published as: GB2446627B; GB0702342D0

Abstract

An ear covering comprises at least one soft surfaced cellular plastic ear cover 1 that decreases the audible wind noise heard by wearer, and allows ambient sound to pass through the cover with minimal attenuation. Preferably the foam is permeable to air and has a reticulated open cell foam structure. The cellular plastic may be held against the ear(s) of the user, via a woven headband that encircles the head of the wearer (fig 5), a hat (fig 6), a hem (28, fig 7) around the periphery of the ear cover that may be elasticated or via a frame where the cellular plastic envelopes an internal frame that connects to a headband that passes around the back of the wearer's head thereby clamping the ear covers over the ears of the wearer. Preferably the inner surfaces of the ear covers are recessed (40, fig 9) to accommodate the wearer's ears and may have a material lining (41, 42, fig 9) to provide additional thermal insulation or water proofing. The ear coverings may include a loudspeaker (37, fig 8).

Description

1 2446627 Title Omni directional wind noise reduction device

Background to invention

The invention relates generally to a device for decreasing the audible wind noise heard by a person, subjected to air movement around their ears, while at the same time permitting ambient sound to pass through the device with minimal attenuation.

Wind noise that masks ambient noise can be a h-nrd for cyclists who cannot hear oncoming traffic or emergency services, an inconvenience for skiers, skaters and sailors who cannot hear their companions, a stumbling block for wildlife observers who cannot hear their subjects and a fatigue problem for outdoor workers who must communicate and concentrate for long periods.

Description of the Prior Art

Previous attempts to decrease the audible wind noise heard by a person, subjected to air movement around their ears, whilst allowing ambient sounds to be heard have focused on airflow coming from one direction only.

Cyclists, skiers, skaters, sailors, people in pursuit of other leisure activities and out door workers often change the direction in which they are moving relative to the wind or rotate their heads to present the ears to a different angle of approach of the wind or simply find that the wind direction itself changes, thus causing the single direction wind reduction device to be ineffective.

Because previous attempts to decrease the audible wind noise whilst allowing ambient sound to be heard have focused on air movements from one direction they have attempted to achieve this by development of various types of deflector apparatus placed in front of the wearer's ears relative to the wind direction considered. These deflectors have been mounted by various methods including attachments to bicycle helmets and glasses as well as being self-supporting.

The deflector method of reducing wind noise acting on a person's ears attempts to guide the air away from the structure of the outer ears to prevent noise being created by the interaction of the wind on the outer ear structure.

In reality an apparatus placed in close proximity to the ears to act as a deflector of air will in itself cause high levels of wind noise that Will be transmitted through the fabric of the apparatus as well as through any openings in the apparatus to the wearer's ears and will preclude the hearing of ambient noise as if there were no deflector present Also, the deflector must have an area Within its design that doesn't significantly obstruct the passage of ambient sounds to the wearer's ear, this area has typically also allowed in much of the noise created by the apparatus as well as air currents that act on the outer ear structure to cause more noise.

The prior art deflector apparatus will also dramatically attenuate ambient sound, emanating from any direction on the other side of the deflector apparatus, to the wearer's ear. For example if the deflector covers the wearer's ear from the front of the outer ear structure to the middle of the outer ear structure then all ambient sounds emanating from in front of a line level with the middle of the outer ear structure will be attenuated to a degree.

Statement of Invention

To overcome this, the present invention proposes soft-surfaced head-worn ear covers and in one embodiment the ear covers are supported on a frame.

The soft-surfaced head-worn ear covers will be of cellular plastic foam of suitable properties to enable them to decrease the audible wind noise heard by a person, subjected to air movement around their ears, while at the same time permitting ambient sound top through with minim1 attenuation.

The design of the soft surfaced head worn ear covers will enable attenuation of wind noise when the air stream is coming from any direction.

The support devices for the ear covers will be of a plastic or metal or fabric material or other such material offering suitable properties, to enable the ear covers to be held in proximity to the ears Advantages This invention will reduce wind noise heard by a person in all weather conditions without requiring any subsequent adjustment of the apparatus by the user to compensate for differing wind directions.

Further more, the structure of the ear covers will not create internal echoes or unnaturally amplify sounds causing unpleasant hearing sensations or confusion as to the proximity or direction of the sound source.

In addition the choice of foam will, in comparison with other polyurethane foams that also provide satisfactory wind noise reduction, ensure a uniform cell size and therefore provide uniform wind noise reduction, while being soft to the touch and therefore being more comfortable against the skin and conforming to the contours of the wearer's face more readily, while also minimising rasping noises created when an object is scratched against its surface such as with a high coat collar touching on the ear cover.

Preferably, the supporting structure for the invention and the invention itself will enable the simultaneous wearing of other items such as spectacles, safety glasses, goggles, safety helmets, earphones for audio players and hearing aides.

Introduction to drawings

An example of the invention wilL now be described by reference to the following drawings: Figure 1 shows a plan view of one embodiment of the device.

Figure 2 shows a side view of the same embodiment.

Figure 3 shows a section through the cellular plastic ear covers of the same embodiment.

Figure 4 shows the frame and headband clip mechanism of the same embodiment FigureS shows an embodiment comprising ear covers and woven or non-woven fabric headband.

Figure 6 shows an embodiment comprising ear covers and a hat.

Figure 7 shows an embodiment comprising ear covers and a hem.

Figure 8 shows an embodiment comprising ear covers and a loudspeaker.

Figure 9 shows an embodiment comprising lining material in the ear covers.

Detailed Description

Referring to figures 1,2,3 and 4 the external surface of the sofi surfaced cellular plastic ear covers (ear covers) (1) are shaped to cover the ears (7) and in so doing eliminate wind noise. The inner surface of the ear covers (1) are shaped so that a recess (6) is created for the accommodation of a wearer's ears (7).

In this embodiment the ear covers (1) are supported on an internal frame (5) that is shaped to support the ear covers and hold them close to the ears. The internal frame (5) is totally covered by the ear covers (1) so as not to present the frame to the air stream except for a portion of the frame (5) that forms the socket connection (9) to the headband (2) clip (8).

The exterior of the ear covers (1) may incorporate patterns or logos (3) as required that may all be part of the component that is the ear covers (I) or maybe separate pieces that are fixed to the car cover (1).

The device is held in place by a headband (2) that is shaped to enable it to pass around the back of the head. The headband (2) is flexible in nature so as to enable the ear covers to be opened apart to clear the user's ears when putting on and taking off the device while also providing sufficient clamping force between the two ear covers to keep the ear covers in place on the wearer. Halfway along its surface it has an attachment point (4) for a cord (37) to secure the device to the user.

The headband (2) is connected to the internal frame (5) by a round shaped male clip (8) that is integrally part of the main headband and that pushes into a cylindrical female socket (9) that is part of the internal frame (5) this round clip mechanism secures the two parts together and also allows the frame to rotate 30 degrees relative to the headband around an axis (10) that runs through the centre line of the ear covers and parallel to the bottom surface of the ear covers to allow an accurate fit of the ear covers to the user's head.

A Further Embodiment 1 Referring to figureS which shows an alternative embodiment, the external surface of the soft surfaced cellular plastic ear covers (ear covers) (14) are shaped to cover the ears (iS) and in so doing eliminate wind noise. The inner surface of the ear covers (14) is shaped so that a recess (13) is created for the accommodation of a wearer's ears (15).

In this embodiment the ear covers (14) are connected to a head band (11) of either woven or non woven material that forms a loop that can be stretched over a wearer's head (12) and then contract back to sit comfortably on the wearer's head positioning the ear covers (14) over the wearer's ears (15) and also providing warmth to the wearer by means of the material (11).

The exterior of the ear covers (14) may incorporate patterns or logos (16) as required that may all be part of the component that is the ear covers (14) or may be separate pieces that are fixed to the ear covers (14).

The ear covers (14) may be connected to the material headband (11) by stitching, gluing, welding, fasteners or mechanical connection or other such connection method

that is suitable.

The material headband (11) may or may not have a hole (17) in it to allow the ear to pass through the material into the recess in the ear cover.

A Further Embodiment 2 Referring to figure 6, which shows an alternative embodiment, the external surface of the soft surfaced cellular plastic ear covers (ear covers) (18) are shaped to cover the ears (19) and in so doing eliminate wind noise. The inner surface of the ear covers (18) are shaped so that a recess (20) is created for the accommodation of a wearer's ears (19).

in this embodiment the ear covers (18) are connected to a hat (21) of either woven or non woven material that fits over a wearer's head (22) comfortably positioning the ear covers (18) over the wearer's ears (19) and also providing warmth to the wearer by means of the hat (21). * 5

The exterior of the ear covers (18) may incorporate patterns or logos (23) as required that may all be part of the component that is the ear covers (18) or may be separate pieces that are fixed to the ear covers (18).

The ear covers (18) may be connected to the material hat (21) by stitching, gluing, welding, fasteners or mechanical connection or other such connection method that is

* suitable.

The material hat (2!) may or may not have a hole (24) in it to allow the ear to pass through the material into the recess (20) in the ear cover.

A Further Embodiment 3 Referring to figure 7, which shows an alternative embodiment, the external surface of the soft surfaced cellular plastic ear covers (ear covers) (25) are shaped to cover the ears (26) and in so doing eliminate wind noise. The inner surface of the ear covers (25) are shaped so that a recess (27) is created for the accommodation of a wearer's ear (26).

In this embodiment the ear covers (25) are connected to a hem (28) that fits around a wearer's ear comfortably retaining the ear covers (25) over the wearer's ears (26).

The exterior of the ear covers (25) may incorporate patterns or logos (29) as required that may all be part of the component that is the ear covers (25) or may be separate pieces that are fixed to the ear covers (25).

The ear covers (25) may be connected to the hem (28) by stitching, gluing, welding, fasteners or mechanical connection or other such connection method that is suitable.

A Further Embodiment 4 Referring to figure 8, which shows an alternative embodiment, the external surface of the soft surfaced cellular plastic ear covers (ear covers) (30) are shaped to cover the ears (35) and in so doing eliminate wind noise. The inner surface of the ear covers (30) are shaped so that a recess (36) is created for the accommodation of a wearer's ears (35).

In this embodiment, the soft surfaced cellular plastic ear covers (30) comprise a loudspeaker (31) that is attached to the ear cover (30) by gluing, welding, fasteners or mechanical connection or other such connection method that is suitable. Wire (32) may pass through the foam ear cover (30) to connect to the loudspeaker (31).

This embodiment may comprise any of the other embodiments in this description.

The exterior of the ear covers (30) may incorporate patterns or logos (33) as required that may all be part of the component that is the ear covers (30) or may be separate pieces that are fixed to the ear covers (30).

A Further Embodiment 5 Referring to figure 9, which shows an alternative embodiment, the external surface of the soft surfaced cellular plastic ear covers (ear covers) (38) are shaped to cover the ears (39) and in so doing eliminate wind noise. The inner surface of the ear covers (38) are shaped so that a recess (40) is created for the accommodation of a wearer's ears (39).

In this embodiment, the soft surfaced cellular plastic ear covers (38) comprise a lining material (41) that may line the recess (40) of the ear covers or if there is no recess then it may line the surface of the ear covers (40) that is placed against the user's face. A lining material (42) may also be placed at the points (43) of the ear covers (40) that may or may not be separate to the lining material (41). Lining material (41) and or lining material (42) may be attached to the ear covers (38) by gluing, welding, fasteners or mechanjcaj connection or other such connection method that is suitable.

The lining material (41) and (42) may comprise any type of material.

This embodiment may comprise any of the other embodiments in this description.

Claims

Claims 1) A device comprising at least one soft-surfaced cellular

plastic ear-cover.
2) The cellular plastic foam according to claim I comprising an air flow permeability of between 1200 and 5000 litres per metre squared per second in accordance with DIN 53887.
3) The cellular plastic foam according to claim 1 comprising between 27 and 90 pores per inch.
4) The cellular plastic foam according to claim 1 comprising a reticulated open cell foam structure.
5) In one embodiment the device of claim 1 would be held in proximity to the wearer's ear by a structure that comprises an external frame, that passes around the head of the wearer, and an internal frame that is enveloped by the soft surfaced ear covers of claim I so as not to present this internal frame to the air stream, except for a portion of this internal frame where it joins with the external frame.
6) In one embodiment the external and internal frame of claim 5 comprises plastic.
7) In another embodiment the external and internal frame of claim 5 comprises metal.
8) In another embodiment the device of claim 1 may be fixed as necessary to a head band comprising woven or non woven material such that the bead band holds the device in proximity to the ears and encircles the head of the user.
9) In another embodiment the device of claim I comprises a hem that enables the device to attach directly to the ears of the wearer such that the ears provide support to the device.
10) in one embodiment the hem of claim
II comprises elastic.

II) In another embodiment the device of claim I may be fixed as necessary to a hat comprising woven or non woven material such that the hat holds the device in proximity to the ears of the wearer.
12) In another embodiment the device of claim I comprises material that lines the inner surface of the ear covers and provides additional thermal insulation or water proofing or both to the device of claim 1.