US2545552A

US2545552A - Ear muff

Info

Publication number: US2545552A
Application number: US110147A
Authority: US
Inventors: Mason S Leeming
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1949-08-13
Filing date: 1949-08-13
Publication date: 1951-03-20
Anticipated expiration: 1968-03-20

Description

March 20, 1951 M, s, LEEMING 2,545,552

EAR MUFF Filed Aug. 13, 1949 head covering, I M h covering to position them on or remove them from the earof thewearer.

Patented Mar. 20, 1951 ef AIRS MUFF Mason SrLeemirig. Skokie, Ill. Applicatidn'A'iigii'st 13, rsia'sfisr-Nc. 110,147

- ward to handle, interferewiththe wearingof the or require removal of the head I Thus it ls one ofthe objects or this invention to provide a'device which has no wires or metal tapes to interfere with the fitting of the wearers headpovering or cause unsightly bulges to occur and mar .the appearance of the head covering.

It is a further objectof this inventionto pro- 3 Claims. (Cl.- 2 209) wearer l2.

Each device comprises an ear-envell3 and an upwardly-extending v lli formed gat oneend of member [3' and shown, in this. ipstanceintegral oping 7 member therewith. ear-enveloping member l.3 is.cll

like in design and is shaped substantiallytoponform 'to .,the'shape of the. ear I I..., When;th ;de-

Y vice-is worn, the ear H ofthe wearer :is enclosed by member |3, and the upper end 1.4 ofsthetongue l( I is wedgedbetween the head covering] 5 ;of; the

.. wearer and the side of 'J his head .l 6, asgshownlin Fig.3. The member LiSissnpported in avertical plane -by the top. ill of the ear: and, is supported in atransverse planeby tongue 11.4. ,-.'lhe; memvide a device which is not bulky or awkward to handle and may be readily positioned about the ear without first requiring preliminary adjustments to be made on the device.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a device which may be positioned over the ear or removed therefrom without requiring removal of the wearers head covering.

It'is a still further object of this invention to provide a device which is simple and compact in construction, effective in operation, comfortable to wear, and inexpensive to produce.

Further and additional objects will appear from the description, accompanying drawings, and appended claims.

In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, an ear muff is provided comprising an ear-enveloping member and a tongue upwardly extending therefrom. The tongue is smooth on both sides and is constructed of thin, relatively flexible material and. is adapted, when the device is worn, to be wedged between the head covering of the wearer and the side of the head.

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference should be made to the drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the device.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the device taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary cut-away view of the device shown operatively positioned on the ear of the wearer.

Fig. 4 is a rear elevational view of a modified form of the device.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the modified form of the device taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1 through 3, a pair of ear muffs I0, only one being shown, is provided adapted to be placed individually about the ears ll of the b'erl3 prevents .the device.. ,from sliding Withrespect to,.-the.ear. once it has ,beenpositioned: thereon. The tongue is bowedeinjslightlysolhat me ber l3 will snugly engage the ear. The smooth- .ness and flatness of the tongue enables it to be readily inserted between the hat or head covering and the head of the wearer without an unsightly bulge being formed in the head covering. A fabric or fur lining I8 is mounted on the inside of the member l3 which engages the ear and provides warmth and protection therefor.

A modified form of ear muff I9 is shown in Figs. 4 and 5, wherein a stiffening wire 20 is provided at the outer edge of the enveloping member 2| forming a beaded edge 22, which encircles the ear and causes the ear to be more firmly embraced by the member. The wire 20 serves also to retain the proper shape of the member 2|. The tongue 23 is the same shape as tongue I4 of device I0, but is a separate piece and not integral with the member 2|. The tongue 23 is sewn, or secured by other similar means, to member 2| at point 24 as shown in Fig. 5.

The devices are constructed of durable lightweight, nonporous material, such as leather. It is to be understood, of course, that other materials, such as lightweight metal or plastic may be used if desired.

The devices are small and compact and, when not used, may be conveniently carried in a pocket or handbag.

Thus it willbe seen that an ear muff has been provided which enables it to be positioned about the ear of the wearer without requiring the head covering of the wearer to be removed. Furthermore, a device has been provided which will not interfere with the fitting of the head covering and does not require preliminary adjustment of the device prior to it being positioned about the ear.

While several embodiments have been shown above, it will be understood, of course, that the 3 invention is not to be limited thereto, since many modifications may be made and it is contemplated therefore, by the appended claims, to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

Iclaim:

1. An ear-protecting device for use with a head covering comprising a. cup-like member shaped substantially to conform to the periphery of an ear and engageable therewith and having a flanged top portion extending inwardly from the upper portion of said member fo engaging the top of the ear to prevent downward movement of the cup-like member on the ear, and a wedgelike tongue firmly united with said flanged top portion extending upwardly from the outer edge of said top portion; said tongue being thin and uninterruptedly smooth on both sides and wedgeable between a head covering and the head of the wearer.

2. An ear-protecting device for use with a head covering comprising a cup-like member shaped substantially to conform to the periphery of an ear and engageable therewith and having a flanged top portion extending inwardly from the upper portion of said member fo engaging the top of the ear to prevent downward movement of the cup-like member on the ear, and a wedgelike tongue firmly united with said flanged top portion extending upwardly from the outer edge of said top portion; said tongue being thin and uninterruptedly smooth on both sides and wedgeable between a head covering and the head of the wearer, said cup-like member being provided with an insulating lining.

3. An ear-protecting device for use with a head covering comprising a cup-like member shaped substantially to conform to the periphery of an ear and engageable therewith and having a flanged top portion extending inwardly from the upper portion of said member for engaging the top of the ear to prevent downward movement of the cup-like member on the ear, and a wedgelike tongue firmly united with said flanged top portion extending upwardly from the outer edge of said top portion; said tongue being thin and uninterruptedly smooth on both sides and wedgeable between a head covering and the head of the wearer, said cup-like member being provided with stifiening means adjacent its edge.

MASON S. LEEMING.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Switzerland May 20, 1914