Sound-attenuating earcups

Claim 2

An earcup adapted to be pressed against the head of a wearer in surrounding relation to the wearer''s ear, including a. a rigid cup-shaped shell with a rim having an elliptically annular plane surface facing away from said shell and defining an elliptically annular opening into the shell interior, dimensioned to surround the wearer''s ear; wherein the improvement comprisEs: b. a softly resilient sound-attenuating pad adapted for engagement with the head of a wearer along an area encircling the wearer''s ear, comprising: i. an elliptically annular base having one side secured to said shell rim and engaging said plane surface, and ii. an elliptically annular sealing portion projecting from the base in a direction away from said one side, and having a sealing surface for engaging the wearer''s head with elliptically annular outer and inner peripheries surrounding said opening and being spaced apart substantially equidistantly from each other at all points around the periphery of said opening, said sealing portion having a dimension between the rim-engaging base and said sealing surface outer periphery which varies around the periphery of the earcup, said dimension increasing toward the front from the top to a first maximum in the front portion of said sealing surface outer periphery, then decreasing gradually to a minimum adjacent the bottom, then increasing upwardly toward the back to a maximum in the rear portion of said sealing surface outer periphery and then decreasing gradually to another minimum adjacent the top.

Claim 3

An earcup as defined in claim 1, wherein said sealing surface includes an elliptically annular channel disposed between said outer periphery and said inner periphery thereof, and said sealing portion comprises outer and inner flanges respectively projecting radially outward and radially inward with respect to the axis of said shell, and said outer and inner peripheries of said sealing surface respectively comprising head-engaging surfaces of said outer and inner flanges.

Claim 4

An earcup as defined in claim 1, wherein said sealing surface extends substantially rectilinearly from any given point on said outer periphery thereof to the nearest adjacent point on said inner periphery thereof.

Claim 5

An earcup as defined in claim 3, wherein said sealing surface slopes inwardly with respect to the axis of said shell, toward said opening, with a pitch that varies smoothly and continuously around the periphery of the earcup between maxima and minima respectively positioned at the localities of said maxima and minima of the sealing portion dimension between the rim-engaging base and said sealing surface outer periphery.

Claim 6

An earcup as defined in claim 1, wherein said sealing portion has a dimension between the rim-engaging base and said sealing surface inner periphery such that at each said minimum sealing portion dimension between said rim-engaging base and said sealing surface outer periphery, said sealing surface outer periphery is spaced at least as far from the rim-engaging base as is the nearest adjacent point on said sealing surface inner periphery, and every other point on said outer periphery is spaced farther from the rim-engaging base than is said sealing surface inner periphery.

Claim 7

An earcup adapted to be pressed against the head of a wearer in surrounding relation to the wearer''s ear, including a. a rigid cup-shaped shell with a rim having an elliptically annular plane surface facing away from said shell and defining an elliptically annular opening into the shell interior, dimensioned to surround the wearer''s ear; wherein the improvement comprises: b. a softly resilient sound-attenuating pad adapted for engagement with the head of a wearer along an area encircling the wearer''s ear, comprising: i. an elliptically annular base having one side secured to said shell rim and engaging said plane surface, and ii. outer and inner elliptically annular flanges projecting from the base in a direction away from said one side, said flanges surrounding said opening and being spaced apart substantially equidistantly from each other at all points around the periphery of said opening, said outer and inner flanges respectively projecting in a radially outward direction and in a radially inward direction with respect to the axis of said shell, so that said flanges are deflected from thEir respective unstressed positions when in engagement with the wearer''s head, said flanges defining between them a channel which is stressed in tension by said deflection of said flanges so as to hold the flanges firmly but lightly against the wearer''s head, said flanges having smooth rounded contours, the surface of said channel extending in a smooth continuous curve from said outer flange to said inner flange, and said outer flange has a head-engaging surface and a dimension between the rim-engaging base and said head-engaging surface which varies around the periphery of the earcup, said dimension increasing rapidly toward the front from a first minimum at the top to a first maximum in the front portion of said outer flange, then decreasing gradually to a minimum at the bottom, then increasing gradually upwardly toward the back to a maximum about two-thirds of the way to the top and then decreasing gradually to another minimum at the top.

Claim 8

An earcup adapted to be pressed against the head of a wearer in surrounding relation to the wearer''s ear, including a. a rigid cup-shaped shell with a rim having an elliptically annular plane surface facing away from said shell and defining an elliptically annular opening into the shell interior, dimensioned to surround the wearer''s ear; wherein the improvement comprises: b. a softly resilient sound-attenuating pad adapted for engagement with the head of a wearer along an area encircling the wearer''s ear, comprising: i. an elliptically annular base having one side secured to said shell rim and engaging said plane surface, and ii. outer and inner elliptically annular flanges projecting from the base in a direction away from said one side, said flanges surrounding said opening and being spaced apart substantially equidistantly from each other at all points around the periphery of said opening, said outer and inner flanges respectively projecting in a radially outward direction and in a radially inward direction with respect to the axis of said shell, so that said flanges are deflected from thEir respective unstressed positions when in engagement with the wearer''s head, said flanges defining between them a channel which is stressed in tension by said deflection of said flanges so as to hold the flanges firmly but lightly against the wearer''s head, said flanges having smooth rounded contours, the surface of said channel extending in a smooth continuous curve from said outer flange to said inner flange, and said outer flange has a head-engaging surface and a dimension between the rim-engaging base and said head-engaging surface which varies around the periphery of the earcup, said dimension increasing rapidly toward the front from a first minimum at the top to a first maximum in the front portion of said outer flange, then decreasing gradually to a minimum at the bottom, then increasing gradually upwardly toward the back to a maximum about two-thirds of the way to the top and then decreasing gradually to another minimum at the top.

Claim 9

An earcup as defined in claim 6, wherein said inner flange has a head-engaging surface and a dimension between the rim-engaging base and said head-engaging surface of said inner flange which is substantially constant around the periphery of said opening and is less than the corresponding dimension of said outer flange at every point around the periphery of said earcup.

Claim 10

An earcup as defined in claim 6, wherein the improvement further comprises means for equalizing the pressure inside the earcup with the external pressure, said pressure-equalizing means including a grommet of resilient material inserted in an aperture in said shell, said grommet having a helically threaded hole extending therethrough from the inside to the outside of the shell, and a helically threaded spool within said hole, the helical threads on the spool loosely fitting the threads on the grommet so as to provide a tortuous open passage of small cross section for flow of air between the inside and outside of said shell, said passage being effective to equalize pressure inside and outside the shell and to attenuate sound waves passing therethrough from the outside to the inside of the shell.

Claim 11

An earcup as defined in claim 6, wherein said base is hollow, defining an elliptically annular chamber.

Claim 12

An earcup as defined in claim 6, wherein said channel includes a third elliptically annular flange with smoothly rounded contours intermediate said outer and inner flanges and projecting from said channel in a direction away from said rim-engaging side of said base.

Claim 13

An earcup as defined in claim 6, wherein said shell rim comprises an elliptically annular discrete rigid rim member mounted on the edge of said shell, and wherein said pad further includes an annular flap projecting from said base in a direction away from said outer and inner flanges and overlying the junction between said rim member and said shell.

Claim 14

An earcup as defined in claim 11, wherein said rim member includes an annular lip projecting outwardly from the edge of said shell, and further including an annular resilient member including a helical spring carried by said flap and adapted to surround and grip the outer surface of said shell on the side of said lip away from the wearer''s head to retain said pad in position on said shell rim.

Claim 15

A softly resiliently sound-attenuating pad adapted to be secured to an elliptically annular rim of a rigid earcup shell for engagement with the head of a wearer along an area encircling the wearer''s ear, wherein said rim defines an opening dimensioned to surround the wearer''s ear, said pad comprising: a. an elliptically annular base having one side adapted to be secured to said shell rim in engagement with an elliptically annular plane surface thereof; and b. outer and inner elliptically annular flanges projecting from the base in a direction away from said one side, said flanges surrounding said opening and being spaced apart substantially equidistantly from each other at all points around the periphery of said opening, said Outer and inner flanges respectively projecting in a radially outward direction and in a radially inward direction with respect to the axis of said shell, so that said flanges are deflected from their respective unstressed positions when in engagement with the wearer''s head, said flanges defining between them a channel which is stressed in tension by said deflection of said flanges so as to hold the flanges firmly but lightly against the wearer''s head, said flanges having smooth rounded contours, the surface of said channel extending in a smooth continuous curve from said outer flange to said inner flange, said outer flange having a head-engaging surface and a dimension between the rim-engaging base and said head-engaging surface which varies around the periphery of the earcup, said dimension increasing rapidly toward the front from a first minimum at the top to a first maximum in the front portion of said outer flange, then decreasing gradually to a minimum at the bottom, then increasing gradually upwardly toward the back to a maximum about two-thirds of the way to the top and then decreasing gradually to another minimum at the top.

Claim 16

A softly resiliently sound-attenuating pad adapted to be secured to an elliptically annular rim of a rigid earcup shell for engagement with the head of a wearer along an area encircling the wearer''s ear, wherein said rim defines an opening dimensioned to surround the wearer''s ear, said pad comprising: a. an elliptically annular base having one side adapted to be secured to said shell rim in engagement with an elliptically annular plane surface thereof; and b. outer and inner elliptically annular flanges projecting from the base in a direction away from said one side, said flanges surrounding said opening and being spaced apart substantially equidistantly from each other at all points around the periphery of said opening, said Outer and inner flanges respectively projecting in a radially outward direction and in a radially inward direction with respect to the axis of said shell, so that said flanges are deflected from their respective unstressed positions when in engagement with the wearer''s head, said flanges defining between them a channel which is stressed in tension by said deflection of said flanges so as to hold the flanges firmly but lightly against the wearer''s head, said flanges having smooth rounded contours, the surface of said channel extending in a smooth continuous curve from said outer flange to said inner flange, said outer flange having a head-engaging surface and a dimension between the rim-engaging base and said head-engaging surface which varies around the periphery of the earcup, said dimension increasing rapidly toward the front from a first minimum at the top to a first maximum in the front portion of said outer flange, then decreasing gradually to a minimum at the bottom, then increasing gradually upwardly toward the back to a maximum about two-thirds of the way to the top and then decreasing gradually to another minimum at the top.

Claim 17

An earcup adapted to be pressed against the head of a wearer in surrounding relation to the wearer''s ear, including a. a rigid cup-shaped shell with a rim having an elliptically annular plane surface facing away from said shell and defining an elliptically annular opening into the shell interior, dimensioned to surround the wearer''s ear; wherein the improvement comprises: b. a softly resilient sound-attenuating pad adapted for engagement with the head of a wearer along an area encircling the wearer''s ear, comprising i. an elliptically annular base having one side secured to said shell rim and engaging said plane surface, and ii. an elliptically annular sealing portion projecting from the base in a direction away from said one side, and having a sealing surface for engaging the wearer''s head with elliptically annular outer and inner peripheries surrounding said opening and being spaced apart substantially equidistantly from each other at all points around the periphery of said opening, said sealing surface being adapted to engage the wearer''s head substantially continuously at all points between said outer and inner peripheries and extending substantially rectilinearly between any given point on said outer periphery thereof to the nearest adjacent point on said inner periphery thereof, said sealing portion having a dimension between the rim-engaging base and said sealing surface outer periphery which varies around the periphery of the earcup, said dimension increasing toward the front from the top to a first maximum in the front portion of said sealing surface outer periphery about one-third of the way to the bottom, then decreasing gradually to a minimum just forwardly of the bottom, then increasing upwardly toward the back to a maximum about one-third of the way to the top and then decreasing gradually to another minimum just rearwardly of the top, said sealing portion further having a dimension between the rim-engaging base and said sealing surface inner periphery such that at each said minimum sealing portion dimension between said rim-engaging base and said sealing surface outer periphery, said sealing surface outer periphery is spaced at least as far from the rim-engaging base as is the nearest adjacent point on said sealing surface inner periphery, and every other point on said outer periphery is spaced farther from the rim-engaging base than is said sealing surface inner periphery.

Claim 18

An earcup adapted to be pressed against the head of a wearer in surrounding relation to the wearer''s ear, including a. a rigid cup-shaped shell with a rim having an elliptically annular plane surface facing away from said shell and defining an elliptically annular opening into the shell interior, dimensioned to surround the wearer''s ear; wherein the improvement comprises: b. a softly resilient sound-attenuating pad adapted for engagement with the head of a wearer along an area encircling the wearer''s ear, comprising i. an elliptically annular base having one side secured to said shell rim and engaging said plane surface, and ii. an elliptically annular sealing portion projecting from the base in a direction away from said one side, and having a sealing surface for engaging the wearer''s head with elliptically annular outer and inner peripheries surrounding said opening and being spaced apart substantially equidistantly from each other at all points around the periphery of said opening, said sealing surface being adapted to engage the wearer''s head substantially continuously at all points between said outer and inner peripheries and extending substantially rectilinearly between any given point on said outer periphery thereof to the nearest adjacent point on said inner periphery thereof, said sealing portion having a dimension between the rim-engaging base and said sealing surface outer periphery which varies around the periphery of the earcup, said dimension increasing toward the front from the top to a first maximum in the front portion of said sealing surface outer periphery about one-third of the way to the bottom, then decreasing gradually to a minimum just forwardly of the bottom, then increasing upwardly toward the back to a maximum about one-third of the way to the top and then decreasing gradually to another minimum just rearwardly of the top, said sealing portion further having a dimension between the rim-engaging base and said sealing surface inner periphery such that at each said minimum sealing portion dimension between said rim-engaging base and said sealing surface outer periphery, said sealing surface outer periphery is spaced at least as far from the rim-engaging base as is the nearest adjacent point on said sealing surface inner periphery, and every other point on said outer periphery is spaced farther from the rim-engaging base than is said sealing surface inner periphery.

Claim 19

An earcup adapted to be pressed against the head of a wearer in surrounding relation to the wearer''s ear, including a. a rigid cup-shaped shell with a rim having an elliptically annular plane surface facing away from said shell and defining an elliptically annular opening into the shell interior, dimensioned to surround the wearer''s ear; wherein the improvement comprises: b. a softly resiliEnt sound-attenuating pad adapted for engagement with the head of a wearer along an area encircling the wearer''s ear, comprising: i. an elliptically annular base having one side secured to said shell rim and engaging said plane surface, and ii. an elliptically annular sealing portion projecting from the base in a direction away from said one side, and having a sealing surface for engaging the wearer''s head with elliptically annular outer and inner peripheries surrounding said opening and spaced apart, said surface extending substantially rectilinearly between any given point on said outer periphery thereof to the nearest adjacent point on said inner periphery thereof, said sealing portion having a dimension between the rim-engaging base and said sealing surface outer periphery which varies smoothly and continuously around the periphery of the earcup between maxima and minima, and said sealing surface sloping inwardly with respect to the axis of said shell, toward said opening, with a pitch that varies smoothly and continuously around the periphery of the earcup between maxima and minima respectively positioned at the localities of said maxima and minima of the sealing portion dimension between the rim-engaging base and said sealing surface outer periphery.

Claim 20

An earcup adapted to be pressed against the head of a wearer in surrounding relation to the wearer''s ear, including a. a rigid cup-shaped shell with a rim having an elliptically annular plane surface facing away from said shell and defining an elliptically annular opening into the shell interior, dimensioned to surround the wearer''s ear; wherein the improvement comprises: b. a softly resiliEnt sound-attenuating pad adapted for engagement with the head of a wearer along an area encircling the wearer''s ear, comprising: i. an elliptically annular base having one side secured to said shell rim and engaging said plane surface, and ii. an elliptically annular sealing portion projecting from the base in a direction away from said one side, and having a sealing surface for engaging the wearer''s head with elliptically annular outer and inner peripheries surrounding said opening and spaced apart, said surface extending substantially rectilinearly between any given point on said outer periphery thereof to the nearest adjacent point on said inner periphery thereof, said sealing portion having a dimension between the rim-engaging base and said sealing surface outer periphery which varies smoothly and continuously around the periphery of the earcup between maxima and minima, and said sealing surface sloping inwardly with respect to the axis of said shell, toward said opening, with a pitch that varies smoothly and continuously around the periphery of the earcup between maxima and minima respectively positioned at the localities of said maxima and minima of the sealing portion dimension between the rim-engaging base and said sealing surface outer periphery.

Claim 21

A softly resilient sound-attenuating pad adapted to be secured to an elliptically annular rim of a rigid earcup shell for engagement with the head of a wearer along an area encircling the wearer''s ear, wherein said shell defines an elliptically annular opening dimensioned to surround the wearer''s ear, said pad comprising: a. an elliptically annular base having one side adapted to be secured to said shell rim in engagement with an elliptically annular plane surface thereof; and b. an elliptically annular sealing portion projecting from the base in a direction away from said one side, and having a sealing surface for engaging the wearer''s head with elliptically annular outer and inner peripheries surrounding said opening and being spaced apart substantially equidistantly from each other at all points around the periphery of said opening, said sealing portion having a dimension between the rim-engaging base and said sealing surface outer periphery which varies around the periphery of the earcup, said dimension increasing toward the front from the top to a first maximum in the front portion of said sealing surface outer periphery, then decreasing gradually to a minimum adjacent the bottom, then increasing upwardly toward the back to a maximum in the rear portion of said sealing surface outer periphery and then decreasing gradually to another minimum adjacent the top.

Claim 22

A softly resilient sound-attenuating pad adapted to be secured to an elliptically annular rim of a rigid earcup shell for engagement with the head of a wearer along an area encircling the wearer''s ear, wherein said shell defines an elliptically annular opening dimensioned to surround the wearer''s ear, said pad comprising: a. an elliptically annular base having one side adapted to be secured to said shell rim in engagement with an elliptically annular plane surface thereof; and b. an elliptically annular sealing portion projecting from the base in a direction away from said one side, and having a sealing surface for engaging the wearer''s head with elliptically annular outer and inner peripheries surrounding said opening and being spaced apart substantially equidistantly from each other at all points around the periphery of said opening, said sealing portion having a dimension between the rim-engaging base and said sealing surface outer periphery which varies around the periphery of the earcup, said dimension increasing toward the front from the top to a first maximum in the front portion of said sealing surface outer periphery, then decreasing gradually to a minimum adjacent the bottom, then increasing upwardly toward the back to a maximum in the rear portion of said sealing surface outer periphery and then decreasing gradually to another minimum adjacent the top.

Claim 23

A pad as defined in claim 16, wherein said sealing surface extends substantially rectilinearly from any given point on said outer periphery thereof to the nearest adjacent point on said inner periphery thereof, and slopes inwardly with respect to the axis of said shell, toward said opening, with a pitch that varies smoothly and continuously around the periphery of the earcup between maxima and minima respectively positioned at the localities of said maxima and minima of the sealing portion dimension between the rim-engaging base and said sealing surface outer periphery.

Claim 24

A pad as defined in claim 17, wherein said first maximum of said sealing portion dimension is positioned about one-third of the way to the bottom of the shell, said minimum adjacent the bottom is positioned just forwardly of the bottom of the shell, said maximum in the rear portion of said sealing surface outer periphery is positioned about one-third of the way to the top of the shell, and said minimum adjacent the top is positioned just rearwardly of the top.

Claim 25

A softly resilient sound-attenuating pad adapted to be secured to an elliptically annular rim of a rigid earcup shell for engagement with the head of the wearer along an area encircling the wearer''s ear, wherein said rim defines an opening dimensioned to surround the wearer''S ear, said pad comprising: a. an elliptically annular base having one side adapted to be secured to said shell rim in engagement with an elliptically annular plane surface thereof; and b. an elliptically annular sealing portion projecting from the base in a direction away from said one side, and having a sealing surface for engaging the wearer''s head with elliptically annular outer and inner peripheries surrounding said opening and spaced apart, said surface extending substantially rectilinearly between any given point on said outer periphery thereof to the nearest adjacent point on said inner periphery thereof, said sealing portion having a dimension between the rim-engaging base and said sealing surface outer periphery which varies smoothly and continuously around the periphery of the earcup between maxima and minima, and said sealing surface sloping inwardly with respect to the axis of said shell, toward said opening, with a pitch that varies smoothly and continuously around the periphery of the earcup between maxima and minima respectively positioned at the localities of said maxima and minima of the sealing portion dimension between the rim-engaging base and said sealing surface outer periphery.

Claim 26

A softly resilient sound-attenuating pad adapted to be secured to an elliptically annular rim of a rigid earcup shell for engagement with the head of the wearer along an area encircling the wearer''s ear, wherein said rim defines an opening dimensioned to surround the wearer''S ear, said pad comprising: a. an elliptically annular base having one side adapted to be secured to said shell rim in engagement with an elliptically annular plane surface thereof; and b. an elliptically annular sealing portion projecting from the base in a direction away from said one side, and having a sealing surface for engaging the wearer''s head with elliptically annular outer and inner peripheries surrounding said opening and spaced apart, said surface extending substantially rectilinearly between any given point on said outer periphery thereof to the nearest adjacent point on said inner periphery thereof, said sealing portion having a dimension between the rim-engaging base and said sealing surface outer periphery which varies smoothly and continuously around the periphery of the earcup between maxima and minima, and said sealing surface sloping inwardly with respect to the axis of said shell, toward said opening, with a pitch that varies smoothly and continuously around the periphery of the earcup between maxima and minima respectively positioned at the localities of said maxima and minima of the sealing portion dimension between the rim-engaging base and said sealing surface outer periphery.

Claim 27

An earcup as defined in claim 1, wherein said sealing surface is corrugated and slopes inwardly with respect to the axis of said shell, toward said opening, with a pitch that varies smoothly and continuously around the periphery of the earcup between maxima and minima respectively positioned at the localities of said maxima and minima of the sealing portion dimension between the rim-engaging base and said sealing surface outer periphery.

Claim 28

An earcup as defined in claim 20, wherein the corrugated sealing surface comprises plural parallel elliptically annular ribs defining plural parallel elliptically annular grooves between them.