US3618600A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ear stopple
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-04-01
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Granted: 1971-11-09
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Expires: 1989-04-01
Abstract
Abstract An ear protector comprising a generally mushroom-shaped soft rubber head and stem, with a harder soft rubber retainer sleeve therearound, and a frustoconical section on the stem between the end portion of the retainer sleeve and the head.
Inventors
- 👤 Harry E Douglass
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 08:44
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F11/00; A61F11/06; A61F11/08; A61F11/12; A61F2250/00; A61F2250/0014; A61F2250/0019
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
An ear protector comprised of relatively soft, yieldable, rubberlike material embodying a head engageable with the entrance to the ear canal, an integral, reduced stem extending outwardly from the center portion of said head, an end portion of said stem toward said head expanding in cross section in the direction toward said head, and a retainer sleeve of harder, yieldable, rubberlike material tightly surrounding said stem, with an end portion thereof confronting and engageable against said expanding portion of said neck.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
81 words
An ear protector comprised of relatively soft, yieldable, rubberlike material embodying a head engageable with the entrance to the ear canal, an integral, reduced stem extending outwardly from the center portion of said head, an end portion of said stem toward said head expanding in cross section in the direction toward said head, and a retainer sleeve of harder, yieldable, rubberlike material tightly surrounding said stem, with an end portion thereof confronting and engageable against said expanding portion of said neck.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The subject matter of claim 1, wherein said head is generally mushroom shaped in form.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
126 words
An ear protector comprised of relatively soft, yieldable, rubberlike material embodying a generally mushroom-shaped head adapted for engagement with the shoulder structure of the ear at the entrance to the auditory canal, a reduced stem having a forward end portion integrally joined with the center portion of said head, said stem extending rearwardly from said head, said end portion of said stem being of frustoconical shape, expanding progressively in cross section in the direction toward said head, and a retainer sleeve of harder, yieldable, rubberlike material tightly surrounding said stem, the end of said sleeve towards said head being spaced from said head to afford a region of said stem which is unconfined by said sleeve and is adapted to form a bulge under axial compression.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
126 words
An ear protector comprised of relatively soft, yieldable, rubberlike material embodying a generally mushroom-shaped head adapted for engagement with the shoulder structure of the ear at the entrance to the auditory canal, a reduced stem having a forward end portion integrally joined with the center portion of said head, said stem extending rearwardly from said head, said end portion of said stem being of frustoconical shape, expanding progressively in cross section in the direction toward said head, and a retainer sleeve of harder, yieldable, rubberlike material tightly surrounding said stem, the end of said sleeve towards said head being spaced from said head to afford a region of said stem which is unconfined by said sleeve and is adapted to form a bulge under axial compression.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
74 words
The subject matter of claim 3, wherein the frustoconical portion of said stem begins at a point located inwardly of the extremity of said end of said sleeve, and emerges from said sleeve to provide an unconfined tapering portion inwardly of said end of said sleeve adapted to form a bulge in front of said end of said sleeve when compressive pressure exerted between the opposite end of said retainer sleeve and said head.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The subject matter of claim 1, wherein the expanding portion of said stem is subStantially frustoconical in form.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
138 words
An ear protector comprised of relatively soft, yieldable, rubberlike material embodying a nose-shaped closure member adapted for engagement with the shoulder structure of the ear at the entrance to the auditory canal, a pressure-transmitting member joined centrally to the back of said nose-shaped closure member and projecting rearwardly therefrom, said pressure-transmitting member being formed with a sloping sidewall, so as to have a cross-sectional area which reduces from its juncture with the back of said nose-shaped closure member to a lesser area at its rearward extremity, and a stem member extending rearwardly from said rearward extremity of said pressure-transmitting member, and a retainer sleeve of harder, yieldable rubberlike material tightly surrounding said stem member with its forward end spaced rearwardly from said nose-shaped closure member, and positioned to make engagement with the sloping sidewall of said pressure-transmitting member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
138 words
An ear protector comprised of relatively soft, yieldable, rubberlike material embodying a nose-shaped closure member adapted for engagement with the shoulder structure of the ear at the entrance to the auditory canal, a pressure-transmitting member joined centrally to the back of said nose-shaped closure member and projecting rearwardly therefrom, said pressure-transmitting member being formed with a sloping sidewall, so as to have a cross-sectional area which reduces from its juncture with the back of said nose-shaped closure member to a lesser area at its rearward extremity, and a stem member extending rearwardly from said rearward extremity of said pressure-transmitting member, and a retainer sleeve of harder, yieldable rubberlike material tightly surrounding said stem member with its forward end spaced rearwardly from said nose-shaped closure member, and positioned to make engagement with the sloping sidewall of said pressure-transmitting member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
82 words
An ear protector comprised of a body of soft, yieldable, rubberlike material including a noselike portion engageable with the entrance to the ear canal and an integral portion projecting oppositely from said noselike portion, said projecting portion expanding progressively in the direction toward said noselike portion, and a retainer tightly surrounding said protecting portion and confronting and being engageable axially against the expanding portion of said body in response to exertion of pressure on said retainer in the direction of said body.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
82 words
An ear protector comprised of a body of soft, yieldable, rubberlike material including a noselike portion engageable with the entrance to the ear canal and an integral portion projecting oppositely from said noselike portion, said projecting portion expanding progressively in the direction toward said noselike portion, and a retainer tightly surrounding said protecting portion and confronting and being engageable axially against the expanding portion of said body in response to exertion of pressure on said retainer in the direction of said body.
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) | 1974-11-08 | 1975-05-10 | 1975-11-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-11-08 | 1979-05-10 | 1979-11-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-11-08 | 1983-05-10 | 1983-11-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |