GB2605132A

GB2605132A - Improvements in earplugs

Info

Publication number: GB2605132A
Application number: GB2103808.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Well Uri
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2021-03-18
Filing date: 2021-03-18
Publication date: 2022-09-28
Also published as: GB202103808D0

Abstract

A pair of earplugs comprises a pair of headphone or earphone earbud tips 1a, 1b each having an aperture 4a, 4b therethrough and a pair of inserts 2a, 2b releasably retained in the apertures 4a, 4b so as to form earplugs. The inserts preferably comprise a cylindrical portion. They may be of dumbbell shape. Alternatively, the inserts are of a T-shape, having a cylindrical portion with a stem arranged to extend outside the assembled earplug. Importantly, the insert blocks the aperture of the earbud tip and prevents communication of air and thus transmission of sound. Ideally, the inserts 2a, 2b each comprise a magnetic component. An earplug handling device (see fig.10) may be provided for placing and removing the earplug from a user’s ear. It may comprise magnets of different strengths at its opposite ends, the stronger magnet arranged for removing the earplug. The earplugs may however be removed by hand. The invention allows headphone or earphone earbuds to be converted to earplugs.

Description

Improvements in earplugs The present invention relates to improvements in earplugs. In particular the present invention relates to an earplug system wherein ear buds for headphones are adapted for use as earplugs. The invention also relates to a method and kit therefor.

Earplugs are useful in numerous situations and particularly whilst travelling. However, earplugs may not be readily available and some users may find earplugs difficult to insert and remove.

The present invention seeks to ameliorate these issues.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an earplug assembly kit for forming a pair of ear plugs from a pair of headphone earbud tips each having an aperture therethrough, the kit comprising: a pair of inserts; wherein a user may position the inserts such that they are releasably retained in the apertures and the resulting assembly forms a pair of earplugs.

By providing inserts that may be releasably retained within a pair of flexible headphone earbud tips a user may convert their earbud tips into a pair of earplugs.

In some embodiments the inserts comprise at least one substantially cylindrical portion.

In some embodiments the substantially cylindrical portion is in the range of 3mm to 7mm in diameter, or is in the range of 4mm to 6mm in diameter.

In some embodiments the inserts are substantially barbell-shaped.

Beneficially a barbell-shaped insert is symmetrical with two substantially cylindrical portions of a size to fit an earbud tip and such inserts may therefore be used in two different orientations whilst material is not wasted (in comparison to a cylindrical insert).

In some embodiments the inserts each comprise at least one magnetic component.

By providing each insert with at least one magnetic component the earplugs formed by the kit may be removed and/or inserted using a magnetic handling device.

In some embodiments the kit comprises an earplug handling device comprising at least one magnetic component wherein earplugs are attachable to the handling device with a magnetic bond when the earplug is in position in a user's ear such that a user may remove the earplug from their ear using the handling device.

By providing earplugs and a handling device that may be magnetically attached together a user may readily remove earplugs regardless of the user's dexterity and finger size. This is ideal for use with earbud tips that have been converted to earplugs in accordance with the present invention as they may be readily removed without the system providing handling stems for the earplugs.

In some embodiments the handling device is operable to form a magnetic bond of a first strength with an earplug in order to remove the earplug from a user's ear and to form a magnetic bond of a second strength with an earplug in order to position an earplug in a user's ear, wherein the first strength is greater than the second strength.

In some embodiments the handling device comprises a first magnetic component operable to form a magnetic bond of a first strength with an earplug and comprises a second magnetic component operable to form a magnetic bond of a second strength with an earplug.

In some embodiments a handling device comprises two magnetic components that are each operable to form a magnetic bond with a respective earplug when an earplug is in position in a user's ear such that a user may remove two earplugs from their ears using the handling device.

In some embodiments the kit comprises a storage article for the handling device, the storage article comprising at least one magnetic component to attach the handling device to the article.

In some embodiments the storage article is an item of neckwear or jewellery.

In some embodiments a magnetic component is a neodymium magnet with a grade of N30, or N35, or N40, or N45, or N52.

S

In some embodiments a magnetic component is a magnetic material, for example a magnetic metal such as iron or steel.

In some embodiments the inserts are each provided with at least one stem that extends outside of the assembled earplugs.

By providing each insert with a stem that extends outside of the assembled earplugs a user may readily insert and remove the earplug with their fingers regardless as to whether or not the inserts are magnetic. Thus, for example, non-magnetic plastic inserts with stems may be employed.

In some embodiments the kit comprises a pair of headphone earbud tips each having an aperture therethrough.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of forming a pair of ear plugs comprising the steps of: providing the kit of any preceding statement of invention; providing a pair of headphone earbud tips each having an aperture therethrough; positioning the inserts such that they are releasably retained in the apertures and the resulting assembly forms a pair of earplugs.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided an earplug system comprising: a pair of headphone earbud tips each having an aperture therethrough; a pair of inserts for the earbud tips; wherein a user may position the inserts such that they are releasably retained in the apertures and the resulting assembly forms a pair of earplugs.

In order that the present invention may be more fully understood a specific embodiment will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pair of earbud tips and a pair of inserts; Figure 2 is a perspective view of an insert; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a pair of earplugs formed using the earbud tips and inserts of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a perspective view of an earplug handling device; Figure 5 is a cross-section of the earplug handling device of Figure 4; Figure 6 illustrates two types of neodymium magnet used to create the earplug handling device of Figure 4; and Figure 7 is a perspective view of the earplug handling device of Figure 4 attached to a pendant of a lanyard.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, in accordance with the present invention a user may create a pair of earplugs 3a, 3b from pair of headphone earbud tips la, lb and a pair of inserts 2a, 2b.

Headphone earbud tips la, lb are of the kind used with in-ear headphones and are made of a foam material, although in other embodiments they may be made of any suitable material such as rubber or silicone.

Earbud tips la, lb are identical in shape and size and each have an aperture 4a, 4b that extends through its respective ear bud tip la, lb. In the present embodiment earbud tips la, lb each comprise an aperture that is at its narrowest 3mm in diameter.

In the course of the normal use of earbuds la, lb the apertures 4a, 4b are used to conduct sound from headphone speakers.

In the present invention apertures 4a, 4b are used to house inserts 2a, 2b, that may be positioned inside earbuds tips la, lb by a user so as to adapt earbuds la, lb into earplugs 3a, 3b.

When inserts 2a, 2b are housed within earbud tips la, lb apertures 4a, 4b are substantially blocked by inserts 2a, 2b such that fluid communication of air (and thus sound) is through apertures 4a, 4b does not occur.

S

As illustrated in figure 2, insert 2a is barbell-shaped, having terminal discs 5a, 5b joined together by an intermediary cylindrical portion Sc. Discs 5a, 5b are identical in size and shape.

Discs 5a, 5b are of a size to be snugly housed by apertures 4a, 4b. In general, to be snugly housed and securely retained, yet easy to fit, should be around lmm greater in diameter than the narrowest part of the aperture of an earbud tip.

In the present embodiments discs 5a, 5b are 4mm in diameter. Inserts 2a is 7mm in length.

Insert 2b is identical in shape and size to insert 2a.

In other embodiments differently sized and shaped inserts may be employed depending upon the particular earbud that is to be converted into an earplug. The most important aspect of any insert is that the aperture through the relevant earbud tip is blocked such that fluid communication of air (and thus sound) is prevented.

For example an insert may be cylindrical or may be 'T'-shaped, having a stem extending from the centre of a cylindrical disc.

It is anticipated that in most embodiments an insert will be provided with at least one substantially cylindrical portion so as to fit snugly into a cylindrical aperture of an earbud tip.

In most embodiments a diameter of such a cylindrical portion will be at least lmm greater than the diameter of the narrowest portion of the aperture of the earbud.

Farbud tips typically come with apertures in the range of 3mm to 5mm at their narrowest portions. Thus the diameter of cylindrical portions will typically be in the range of 4mm to 6mm in diameter. For example the diameter of cylindrical portions may be 4mm, 4.5mm, 5mm, 5.5mm, or 6mm.

In the event of earbud tips being produced with apertures in the range of 2mm to 6mm at their narrowest portions then the diameter of cylindrical portions may be in the range of 3mm to 7mm.

Turning to Figures 4 to 6 an earplug handling device 6 for use with earplugs 3a, 3b is illustrated Handling device 6 is substantially cylindrical aside from an indentation 7 approximately midway between each end of handling device 6. The body of handling device 6 is formed of silicone rubber.

Indentation 7 is provided to assist a user in gripping handling device 6.

At a first end of handling device 6 is provided first magnet-housing chamber 8, which is sized to snugly house and retain a barbell-shaped neodymium magnet 10.

When magnet 10 is housed inside first magnet-housing chamber 8 a disc-shaped section 10a of radius 2.25mm is located at the first end of handling device 6.

At a second end of handling device 9 is provided second magnet-housing chamber 9, which is sized to snugly house and retain T shaped neodymium magnet 11.

Neodymium magnet 11 is grade N35 and is 5mm in length. The radius of the disc-shaped head llb at an end of magnet 11 is 2mm and the radius of the cylindrical stem lb is lmm.

When magnet 11 is housed inside second magnet-housing chamber 9 a free end of the cylindrical stem ha of radius lmm is located at the second end of handling devices.

End of magnet 11 is recessed around lmm from the end of tool 6 so as to reduce the strength of the magnetic bond that it makes with earplugs 3a, 3b.

In use handling device 6 may be employed both to insert earplugs 3a, 3b into a user's ears and to extract them from a user's ears.

In a first mode of use a user may attach an earplug 3a, 3b to the second end of handling device 6 where magnet 11 is located.

A user may then insert earplug 3a, 3b into their ear, and once earplug 3a, 3b has been positioned the user may detach handling device 6 from earplug 3a, 3b by simply pulling on handling device 6 (and if necessary by a slight angling of handling device 6) such that the magnetic bond between handling device 6 and earplug 3a, 3b is broken.

When a user wishes to remove an earplug 3a, 3b from their ear the user may position the first end of handling device 6, where magnet 10 is located, adjacent the earplug 3a, 3b that is to be removed.

The magnetic bond between disc-shaped section 102 of magnet 10 of handling device 6 is greater in strength than the magnetic bond between cylindrical stem 11a of magnet 11 of handling device 6.

Thus, once earplug 3a, 3b is attached to magnet 10 of handling device 6 a user may simply pull earplug 3a, 3b from their ear using handling device 6.

Turning to Figure 7 a storage unit 12 for handling device 6 is illustrated.

Storage unit 12 comprises a lanyard 13 having a stainless steel pendant 14 to which handling device 6 may be magnetically attached, as illustrated. In other embodiments a pendant may comprise a magnet.

Storage unit 12 allows a user to readily store and transport handling device 6.

It is to be noted that the inserts referred to in the present specification are not intended to include any form of headphone or speaker device. The inserts of the present invention lack any electronic capability or circuitry, and in many embodiments will be formed of a single material such as a magnetic metal.

In this specification an apparatus/method/product "comprising" certain features is intended to be interpreted as meaning that it includes those features, but that it does not exclude the presence of other features.

Many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

Claims: 1. An earplug assembly kit for forming a pair of ear plugs from a pair of headphone earbud tips each having an aperture therethrough, the kit comprising: a pair of inserts; wherein a user may position the inserts such that they are releasably retained in the apertures and the resulting assembly forms a pair of earplugs.
2. The kit of claim 1 wherein the inserts comprise at least one substantially cylindrical portion.
3. The kit of claim 2 wherein the substantially cylindrical portion is in the range of 3mm to 7mm in diameter, or is in the range of 4mm to 6mm in diameter.
4. The kit of any preceding claim wherein the inserts are substantially barbell-shaped.
5. The kit of any preceding claim wherein the inserts each comprise at least one magnetic component.
6. The kit of any claim 5 comprising an earplug handling device comprising at least one magnetic component wherein earplugs are attachable to the handling device with a magnetic bond when the earplug is in position in a user's ear such that a user may remove the earplug from their ear using the handling device.
7. The kit of any claim 6 wherein the handling device is operable to form a magnetic bond of a first strength with an earplug in order to remove the earplug from a user's ear and to form a magnetic bond of a second strength with an earplug in order to position an earplug in a user's ear, wherein the first strength is greater than the second strength.
8. The kit of any claim 6 or 7 wherein the handling device comprises a first magnetic component operable to form a magnetic bond of a first strength with an earplug and comprises a second magnetic component operable to form a magnetic bond of a second strength with an earplug.
9. The kit of any claim 6 wherein a handling device comprises two magnetic components that are each operable to form a magnetic bond with a respective earplug when an earplug is in position in a user's ear such that a user may remove two earplugs from their ears using the handling device.S
10. The kit of any preceding claim comprising a storage article for the handling device, the storage article comprising at least one magnetic component to attach the handling device to the article.
11. The kit of claim 10 wherein the storage article is an item of neckwear or jewellery.
12. The kit of any of claims S to 11 wherein a magnetic component is a neodymium magnet with a grade of N30, or N35, or N40, or N45, or N52.
13. The kit of any of claims 5 to 12 wherein a magnetic component is a magnetic material, for example a magnetic metal such as iron or steel.
14. The kit of any preceding claim wherein the inserts are each provided with at least one stem that extends outside of the assembled earplugs.
15. The kit of any preceding claim comprising a pair of headphone earbud tips each having an aperture therethrough.
16. A method of forming a pair of ear plugs comprising the steps of: providing the kit of any preceding claim; providing a pair of headphone earbud tips each having an aperture therethrough; positioning the inserts such that they are releasably retained in the apertures and the resulting assembly forms a pair of earplugs.
17. An earplug system comprising: a pair of headphone earbud tips each having an aperture therethrough; a pair of inserts for the earbud tips; wherein a user may position the inserts such that they are releasably retained in the apertures and the resulting assembly forms a pair of earplugs.
18. The earplug system of claim 17 incorporating the kit of any of claims 1 to 15.S