Patent US3602329A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3602329A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Conformal ear enclosure
Assignee: CBS Broadcasting Inc
•
Filing: 1970-01-07
•
Granted: 1971-08-31
•
Expires: 1990-01-07
Abstract
Abstract A circumaural ear enclosure, including a rigid cup of reentrant shape and having a contour so as to be mounted within a protective helmet, for improving communication and safeguarding the hearing of personnel working in noisy environments. An air seal is obtained between the cup and the head of the user by a gel-filled cushion surrounding the ear, and attenuation of noise in a predetermined range of frequencies is maximized by dividing the cup into inner and outer cavities of unequal size with a partition on which the transducer is mounted and which includes means for providing frequency selective coupling between the cavities. This coupling is provided by a predominantly resistive element in parallel with a predominantly inertance element, these elements having values so as to assure maximum transducer response while maintaining high noise attenuation characteristics, with special emphasis to providing high noise attenuation at a particular frequency.
Inventors
- 👤 Benjamin B Bauer
- 👤 Alfred L Di Mattia
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 22:32
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04R; H04R1/00; H04R1/20; H04R1/22; H04R1/225; A; A42; A42B; A42B3/00; A42B3/04; A42B3/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
A circumaural ear enclosure comprising a rigid, nonporous cup adapted to enclose the ear and define an acoustic cavity therearound, a cushion member mounted around the edge of the cup and adapted to effect a substantially airtight seal with the region of the head surrounding the ear, a partition dividing said cup into an inner cavity adapted to receive the ear and an outer cavity, and a transducer positioned within said cup, said partition including a passage defining predominantly an acoustic resistance and inertance operative in parallel to provide frequency dependent coupling between said inner and outer cavities.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
98 words
A circumaural ear enclosure comprising a rigid, nonporous cup adapted to enclose the ear and define an acoustic cavity therearound, a cushion member mounted around the edge of the cup and adapted to effect a substantially airtight seal with the region of the head surrounding the ear, a partition dividing said cup into an inner cavity adapted to receive the ear and an outer cavity, and a transducer positioned within said cup, said partition including a passage defining predominantly an acoustic resistance and inertance operative in parallel to provide frequency dependent coupling between said inner and outer cavities.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
An ear enclosure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said acoustic resistance comprises at least one opening in said partition covered with thin perforated sheet material and wherein said inertance comprises a tube extending through said partition.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
An ear enclosure as claimed in claim 2 wherein the values of said acoustic resistance and inertance are so related to the volumes of said inner and outer cavities as to substantially completely couple said inner and outer cavities at frequencies below approximately 200 Hertz, and to substantially decouple said cavities at frequencies above approximately 200 Hertz.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
74 words
An ear enclosure as claimed in claim 2 wherein the values of said acoustic resistance and inertance are so related to the volumes of said inner and outer cavities as to substantially completely couple said inner and outer cavities at frequencies below approximately 200 Hertz, to substantially decouple said cavities at frequencies above approximately 200 Hertz, and to enhance the sound absorption capability within said inner cavity at a frequency of approximately 200 Hertz.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
An ear enclosure as claimed in claim 3 wherein said tube is longer than the thickness of said partition and projects into said outer cavity.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
An ear enclosure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cup is of reentrant shape, said cushion and said inner cavity having a first diameter and said outer cavity having a diameter substantially larger than said first diameter and a height substantially smaller than its radius.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
An ear enclosure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cup and said partition are formed of rigid plastic material, and wherein at least part of said outer cavity is filled with a porous sound absorbing material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
137 words
A circumaural ear enclosure comprising: a rigid, nonporous cup adapted to enclose the ear and define an acoustic cavity therearound, a cushion member mounted around the edge of said cup and adapted to effect a substantially airtight seal with the region of the head surrounding the ear, a rigid partition dividing said cup into an inner cavity adapted to receive the ear and an outer cavity, a transducer mounted in cooperative relationship with said enclosure with its sound emitting surface operative into said inner cavity, said partition having at least one opening therein covered with thin perforated sheet material defining predominantly an acoustic resistance, and an additional opening extending through said partition defining predominantly an acoustic inertance, said openings being in a parallel arrangement and operative to provide frequency dependent coupling between said inner and outer cavities.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
137 words
A circumaural ear enclosure comprising: a rigid, nonporous cup adapted to enclose the ear and define an acoustic cavity therearound, a cushion member mounted around the edge of said cup and adapted to effect a substantially airtight seal with the region of the head surrounding the ear, a rigid partition dividing said cup into an inner cavity adapted to receive the ear and an outer cavity, a transducer mounted in cooperative relationship with said enclosure with its sound emitting surface operative into said inner cavity, said partition having at least one opening therein covered with thin perforated sheet material defining predominantly an acoustic resistance, and an additional opening extending through said partition defining predominantly an acoustic inertance, said openings being in a parallel arrangement and operative to provide frequency dependent coupling between said inner and outer cavities.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
An ear enclosure as claimed in claim 8 wherein said additional opening is in the form of a tube which is longer than the thickness of said partition and projects into said outer cavity.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-08-30 | 1975-03-01 | 1975-08-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-30 | 1979-03-01 | 1979-08-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-30 | 1983-03-01 | 1983-08-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |