US3644939A - Air damped hearing protector earseal - Google Patents
Air damped hearing protector earseal Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3644939A US3644939A US80064A US3644939DA US3644939A US 3644939 A US3644939 A US 3644939A US 80064 A US80064 A US 80064A US 3644939D A US3644939D A US 3644939DA US 3644939 A US3644939 A US 3644939A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- earcup
- earseal
- envelope
- hearing protector
- opening
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
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Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
- A61F11/00—Methods or devices for treatment of the ears or hearing sense; Non-electric hearing aids; Methods or devices for enabling ear patients to achieve auditory perception through physiological senses other than hearing sense; Protective devices for the ears, carried on the body or in the hand
- A61F11/06—Protective devices for the ears
- A61F11/14—Protective devices for the ears external, e.g. earcaps or earmuffs
Definitions
- ABSTRACT A hearing protector earcup having an earseal in the form of an annular envelope of highly flexible plastic sheet material held tightly against a rigid inwardly directed flange of the earcup. Capillary holes are provided through the rigid earcup flange in communication with larger openings in [2H Appl. Nor:
- Objectives of the present invention are to accomplish greater and longer lasting comfort in the wearing of earcup cal to the material of envelope 22.
- Extension 26 is connected to envelope 22, e.g., by heat sealing, and holds envelope 22 against flange 16.
- capillary holes 30 are formed in flange l6 behind wall 28 hearing protector devices and further to achieve greater attenuation of ambient noise, more particularly in the lower frequencies of sound.
- FIG. 1 is an illustration, in perspective, of use of a hearing protector earcup embodying the present invention
- FIG. 2 is a plan view of the hearing protector earcup showing a portion of its earseal lifted away from its main body for purposes of illustrating a featured part of the present construction
- FIG. 3 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of the hearing protector earcup taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;
- FIG. 4 is a graphic representation of one example of the improvement in hearing protection offered by the present invention.-
- FIGS. 1-3 of the drawing there is illustrated hearing protector earcup 10 which embodies the present invention.
- Earcup 10 is worn circumaurally and held tightly against the head with a spring steel-supporting headband 12 (FIG. 1) or its equivalent and comprises the usual rigid main body portion 14 having an earseal supporting flange 16 forming an elongated ear-receiving opening 18 in one side of cup 10.
- annular earseal 20 Positioned against rigid flange I6 is annular earseal 20 having an inner contour size and shape corresponding approximately to that of opening 18 and an outer peripheral contour size and shape corresponding to that of the outer edge of flange l6, i.e., the outer peripheral contour of main body portion 14 of the earcup.
- Earseal 20 comprises an annular peripherally heat sealed envelope 22 of thin and highly flexible plastic sheet material such as polyvinylchloride or its equivalent in function.
- Envelope 22 being contoured to the particular size and shape of supporting flange 16, contains an internal cushion 24 of soft and highly compliant foam rubber or the like which, in a relaxed or uncompressed state, is of substantially uniform thickness throughout.
- Earseal 20 is held against flange I6 by an annular rearwardly directed extension 26 (FIGS. 1 and 3) of a soft, flexible and somewhat elastic sheet material which is similar or identiof envelope 22 and openings 32 are provided in wall 28 of envelope 22 to establish communication between the interior of envelope 22 and the main inner ear-receiving enclosure 34 of earcup l0.
- Openings 32 being of considerably larger size (e.g., V4 in. in diameter) than capillary holes 30, assure clear communication between envelope 22 and enclosure 34 at all times with an allowance for considerable accidental rotational misalignment of earseal 20 relative to flange 16 of earcup 10.
- capillary is used herein to indicate the desirability of holes 30 being of small diametral size (e.g., within a range of from 0.006 in. to 0.015) wherewith air moving therethrough will meet with sufficient resistance to flow as to achieve strong damping of vibrations or motion of the earcup caused by resonance thereof to low frequency ambient sound. It is also pointed that the capillary holes 30 may be provided in numbers of l, 2 or more and that use of the expression number hereinafter is to be interpreted as meaning several such holes or as few as only one. Two holes 30 have been shown in the drawing for purposes of illustration only.
- earcup 10in With earcup 10in use as shown in FIG. l, for example, it is pressed firmly against the head by spring tension in headband 12 causing envelope 22 and its internally disposed soft foam rubber cushion 24 to quickly, accurately conform to the shape of areas of the head connected thereby due to venting of envelope 22 through openings 32 and capillary holes 30.
- This conformance of earseal 20 to the head shape provides the twofoldness of exceptional wearing comfort and superior noise attenuation; the latter being the result of tight circumaural sealing of the cup and vibration damping resulting from highly viscous (slow) airflow through capillary holes 30.
- Noise attenuation curves A and B (FIG. 4) graphically illustrate the results of actual testing of a hearing protector earcup such as that shown and described herein.
- Curve A represents the response (i.e., the amount of attenuation) in decibels of the experimental earcup with its capillary holes 30 sealed so as to prevent venting of the interior of envelope 22 through flange 16.
- curve B shows, with dotted outline, the considerable improvement in sound attenuation of lower frequency sound between and Hz. This improvement of l4 decibels or more, is directly attributable to the above-described inventive concept. It should be understood, however, that FIG. 4 is presented for illustration purposes only and does not represent limitations of the present invention.
- a perfect circumaural seal may cause an uncomfortable overpressure to develop at the eardrum when an inwardly directed holding force is applied to the earcup by headband 12, for example, the present invention also contemplates venting ear enclosure 34.
- a small diameter hole 36 (FIG. 3) through an outer wall of earcup 10 may be incorporated to maintain substantially constant earcup inner and outer air pressures.
- Hole 36 may be located beneath dust cap 38 (FIGS. I and 3) to avoid plugging thereof by direct exposure to dust and/or other foreign matter.
- a hearing protector earcup having an earseal in the form of an annular envelope of flexible sheet material held against a rigid inwardly directed lateral flange of the earcup comprising:
- said rigid flange having a number of capillary holes extending therethrough and said one side of said earseal envelope having at least'one opening therein, said opening being aligned with one of said capillary holes wherewith communication between the interiors of said envelope and said earcup through said opening and said one capillary hole is established for achieving a damping of vibrations of the earcup and enhanced wearing comfort.
- a hearing protector earcup including a ventilative opening extending through a side of said earcup for maintaining substantially equalized air pressure internally and externally of said earcup.
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- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Biomedical Technology (AREA)
- Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
- Biophysics (AREA)
- Otolaryngology (AREA)
- Psychology (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
- Vascular Medicine (AREA)
- Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Public Health (AREA)
- Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
- Headphones And Earphones (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims (5)
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US8006470A | 1970-10-12 | 1970-10-12 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US3644939A true US3644939A (en) | 1972-02-29 |
Family
ID=22155035
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US80064A Expired - Lifetime US3644939A (en) | 1970-10-12 | 1970-10-12 | Air damped hearing protector earseal |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
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US (1) | US3644939A (en) |
Cited By (29)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3875592A (en) * | 1973-01-10 | 1975-04-08 | Gentex Corp | Sound attenuating earcup |
US3922725A (en) * | 1973-12-21 | 1975-12-02 | Gullfiber Ab | Comfort cushion for ear muffs, in particular sound shells |
US4459707A (en) * | 1982-08-23 | 1984-07-17 | Cabot Corporation | Ear protecting device |
US4465159A (en) * | 1983-03-11 | 1984-08-14 | Cabot Corporation | Nonlinear ear protecting device |
US4658931A (en) * | 1985-06-11 | 1987-04-21 | Curry David G | Evacuated plenum hearing protection |
US4771454A (en) * | 1987-04-14 | 1988-09-13 | Wilcox Jr Edward R | Ruggedized ear protector and communications headset |
EP0407236A1 (en) * | 1989-06-29 | 1991-01-09 | Gentex Corporation | Earseal for sound-attenuating earcup assembly |
US5243709A (en) * | 1991-09-04 | 1993-09-14 | Natus Medical, Inc. | Acoustically sealing earmuff for an infant |
US5632048A (en) * | 1995-09-20 | 1997-05-27 | Protector Development | Protector hearing helmet |
US20050283882A1 (en) * | 2004-01-23 | 2005-12-29 | Elliott Berger | High attenuating earmuff device |
US20090161885A1 (en) * | 2007-10-02 | 2009-06-25 | Mark Donaldson | Component for noise reducing earphone |
US20090307730A1 (en) * | 2008-05-29 | 2009-12-10 | Mark Donaldson | Media enhancement module |
US20100027803A1 (en) * | 2005-05-27 | 2010-02-04 | Roman Sapiejewski | Supra-aural headphone noise reducing |
US20110002475A1 (en) * | 2009-07-06 | 2011-01-06 | Kabushiki Kaisha Audio-Technica | Earmuff and headphone |
US20110002474A1 (en) * | 2009-01-29 | 2011-01-06 | Graeme Colin Fuller | Active Noise Reduction System Control |
US20110003505A1 (en) * | 2009-03-06 | 2011-01-06 | Nigel Greig | In-flight entertainment system connector |
US20110075331A1 (en) * | 2009-05-04 | 2011-03-31 | Nigel Greig | Media Player Holder |
US20110188668A1 (en) * | 2009-09-23 | 2011-08-04 | Mark Donaldson | Media delivery system |
US20110211707A1 (en) * | 2009-11-30 | 2011-09-01 | Graeme Colin Fuller | Realisation of controller transfer function for active noise cancellation |
USRE43939E1 (en) | 1999-07-15 | 2013-01-22 | Bose Corporation | Headset noise reducing |
US8571227B2 (en) | 2005-11-11 | 2013-10-29 | Phitek Systems Limited | Noise cancellation earphone |
US8929082B2 (en) | 2010-05-17 | 2015-01-06 | Thales Avionics, Inc. | Airline passenger seat modular user interface device |
US9487295B2 (en) | 2010-11-15 | 2016-11-08 | William James Sim | Vehicle media distribution system using optical transmitters |
US9654854B2 (en) | 2011-06-01 | 2017-05-16 | Paul Darlington | In-ear device incorporating active noise reduction |
USD794603S1 (en) * | 2016-02-23 | 2017-08-15 | Ossic Corporation | Earphone |
USD849712S1 (en) * | 2017-03-30 | 2019-05-28 | Akg Acoustics Gmbh | Headphone |
USD851627S1 (en) * | 2017-05-11 | 2019-06-18 | Zound Industries International Ab | Headphone |
USD860161S1 (en) * | 2017-01-11 | 2019-09-17 | Shenzhen Jiuhu Technology Co., Limited | Foldable headphone |
USD987599S1 (en) * | 2021-04-06 | 2023-05-30 | Amzaleg's LLC | Ear phone cover |
Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2621751A (en) * | 1948-11-27 | 1952-12-16 | Rca Corp | Earcap for earphones |
US2672864A (en) * | 1951-07-18 | 1954-03-23 | Makara Frank | Audio mask |
-
1970
- 1970-10-12 US US80064A patent/US3644939A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2621751A (en) * | 1948-11-27 | 1952-12-16 | Rca Corp | Earcap for earphones |
US2672864A (en) * | 1951-07-18 | 1954-03-23 | Makara Frank | Audio mask |
Cited By (33)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3875592A (en) * | 1973-01-10 | 1975-04-08 | Gentex Corp | Sound attenuating earcup |
US3922725A (en) * | 1973-12-21 | 1975-12-02 | Gullfiber Ab | Comfort cushion for ear muffs, in particular sound shells |
US4459707A (en) * | 1982-08-23 | 1984-07-17 | Cabot Corporation | Ear protecting device |
US4465159A (en) * | 1983-03-11 | 1984-08-14 | Cabot Corporation | Nonlinear ear protecting device |
US4658931A (en) * | 1985-06-11 | 1987-04-21 | Curry David G | Evacuated plenum hearing protection |
US4771454A (en) * | 1987-04-14 | 1988-09-13 | Wilcox Jr Edward R | Ruggedized ear protector and communications headset |
EP0407236A1 (en) * | 1989-06-29 | 1991-01-09 | Gentex Corporation | Earseal for sound-attenuating earcup assembly |
US5243709A (en) * | 1991-09-04 | 1993-09-14 | Natus Medical, Inc. | Acoustically sealing earmuff for an infant |
US5632048A (en) * | 1995-09-20 | 1997-05-27 | Protector Development | Protector hearing helmet |
USRE43939E1 (en) | 1999-07-15 | 2013-01-22 | Bose Corporation | Headset noise reducing |
US20050283882A1 (en) * | 2004-01-23 | 2005-12-29 | Elliott Berger | High attenuating earmuff device |
US20100027803A1 (en) * | 2005-05-27 | 2010-02-04 | Roman Sapiejewski | Supra-aural headphone noise reducing |
US8111858B2 (en) | 2005-05-27 | 2012-02-07 | Bose Corporation | Supra-aural headphone noise reducing |
US8571227B2 (en) | 2005-11-11 | 2013-10-29 | Phitek Systems Limited | Noise cancellation earphone |
US20090161885A1 (en) * | 2007-10-02 | 2009-06-25 | Mark Donaldson | Component for noise reducing earphone |
US8666085B2 (en) | 2007-10-02 | 2014-03-04 | Phitek Systems Limited | Component for noise reducing earphone |
US20090307730A1 (en) * | 2008-05-29 | 2009-12-10 | Mark Donaldson | Media enhancement module |
US20110002474A1 (en) * | 2009-01-29 | 2011-01-06 | Graeme Colin Fuller | Active Noise Reduction System Control |
US20110003505A1 (en) * | 2009-03-06 | 2011-01-06 | Nigel Greig | In-flight entertainment system connector |
US20110075331A1 (en) * | 2009-05-04 | 2011-03-31 | Nigel Greig | Media Player Holder |
US8582796B2 (en) * | 2009-07-06 | 2013-11-12 | Kabushiki Kaisha Audio-Technica | Earmuff and headphone |
US20110002475A1 (en) * | 2009-07-06 | 2011-01-06 | Kabushiki Kaisha Audio-Technica | Earmuff and headphone |
US20110188668A1 (en) * | 2009-09-23 | 2011-08-04 | Mark Donaldson | Media delivery system |
US9818394B2 (en) | 2009-11-30 | 2017-11-14 | Graeme Colin Fuller | Realisation of controller transfer function for active noise cancellation |
US20110211707A1 (en) * | 2009-11-30 | 2011-09-01 | Graeme Colin Fuller | Realisation of controller transfer function for active noise cancellation |
US8929082B2 (en) | 2010-05-17 | 2015-01-06 | Thales Avionics, Inc. | Airline passenger seat modular user interface device |
US9487295B2 (en) | 2010-11-15 | 2016-11-08 | William James Sim | Vehicle media distribution system using optical transmitters |
US9654854B2 (en) | 2011-06-01 | 2017-05-16 | Paul Darlington | In-ear device incorporating active noise reduction |
USD794603S1 (en) * | 2016-02-23 | 2017-08-15 | Ossic Corporation | Earphone |
USD860161S1 (en) * | 2017-01-11 | 2019-09-17 | Shenzhen Jiuhu Technology Co., Limited | Foldable headphone |
USD849712S1 (en) * | 2017-03-30 | 2019-05-28 | Akg Acoustics Gmbh | Headphone |
USD851627S1 (en) * | 2017-05-11 | 2019-06-18 | Zound Industries International Ab | Headphone |
USD987599S1 (en) * | 2021-04-06 | 2023-05-30 | Amzaleg's LLC | Ear phone cover |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: AO,INC.SOUTHBRIDGE, MASS. A CORP OF DE. Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:AMERICAN OPTICAL CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:004056/0229 Effective date: 19820513 Owner name: WARNER-LAMBERT TECHNOLOGIES, INC., A TX CORP. Free format text: CONDITIONAL ASSIGNMENT;ASSIGNOR:AO, INC. A DE CORP.;REEL/FRAME:004041/0934 Effective date: 19820528 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: WARNER-LAMBERT CANADA, INC. Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:AO, INC., A DE CORP.;REEL/FRAME:004073/0046 Effective date: 19820528 Owner name: WARNER-LAMBERT TECHNOLOGIES, INC., A DE CORP. Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:AO, INC., A DE CORP.;REEL/FRAME:004073/0046 Effective date: 19820528 |
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AS | Assignment |
Owner name: IRVING TRUST COMPANY, NEW YORK Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:AO, INC.;REEL/FRAME:004073/0675 Effective date: 19820621 Owner name: IRVING TRUST COMPANY, ONE WALL ST, NEW YORK, N.Y. Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:AO, INC. A CORP. OF DEL.;REEL/FRAME:004073/0675 Effective date: 19820621 |
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AS | Assignment |
Owner name: AMERICAN OPTICAL CORPORATION, A CORP. OF DE. Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNORS:AO, INC., A DE. CORP.;WARNER-LAMBERT TECHNOLOGIES, INC., A TX CORP.;IRVING TRUST COMPANY, A NY CORP.;REEL/FRAME:004477/0409;SIGNING DATES FROM 19850923 TO 19851023 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: IRVING TRUST COMPANY, NEW YORK Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:AMERICAN OPTICAL CORPORATION;RADIAC ABRASIVES (EAST) INC.;RADIAC ABRASIVES (WEST) INC.;REEL/FRAME:004918/0235 Effective date: 19880527 Owner name: IRVING TRUST COMPANY Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:AMERICAN OPTICAL CORPORATION;RADIAC ABRASIVES (EAST) INC.,;RADIAC ABRASIVES (WEST) INC.,;REEL/FRAME:004918/0235 Effective date: 19880527 |