Ear protective device

Claim 1

A device for protecting the ear comprising: first and second cylindrical elements, each of said elements including an axial sound passageway therethrough and a concentric diaphragm support surface at one end thereof formed substantially flat within a plane normal to the longitudinal axis of said elements; and a diaphragm supported between said support surfaces; said first element further including a portion of the outer diameter reduced adjacent the end having the support surface and an elastomeric disc mounted annularly about the opposite end thereof; an inner cylindrical member telescopically adjustable to said first cylindrical element as by interfitting threads, together with frictional holding means in the form of a wave washer for maintaining selected positions of said inner member relative to said first element; said inner member constuting a concentric diaphragm stop surface formed substantially flat and within a plane normal to the longitudinal axis of said member; whereby when the inner member is adjusted to its innermost position relative to the first cylindrical element, the stop and support surfaces will lie in the same plane, and when adjusted away from this limit position the stop and support surfaces will lie in separated and parallel planes; said second element further comprised of a unitary cylindrical member including a concentric recess at the end adjacent the said support surface adapted to receive in fitting relation the reduced diameter portion of said first cylindrical element, and a concentric diaphragm stop surface at the same end thereof formed substantially flat in a plane normal to the longitudinal axis of said element; said stop surfacellying inward, radially and longitudinally of said second element with respect to the said support surface; a circumferential groove adjacent the end opposite that containing said recess and adapted for engagement as by finger-nails; whereby in assembled position, the stop surfaces are adapted to contact a portion of the central half of the area of the diaphragm that vibrates in response to sound of a predetermined limiting intensity and the viscous drag of air between the stop surfaces and diaphragm may be used to control the damping characteristics of the diaphragm for sound levels below the limit intensity established.

Claim 2

A device for protecting the ear comprising: first and second cylindrical elements, each of said elements including an axial sound passageway therethrough and a concentric diaphragm support surface at one end thereof formed substantially flat within a plane normal to the longitudinal axis of said elements; and a diaphragm supported between said support surfaces; said first element further including a portion of the outer diameter reduced adjacent the end having the support surface and an elastomeric disc mounted annularly about the opposite end thereof; an inner cylindrical member telescopically adjustable to said first cylindrical element as by interfitting threads, together with frictional holding means in the form of a wave washer for maintaining selected positions of said inner member relative to said first element; said inner member constuting a concentric diaphragm stop surface formed substantially flat and within a plane normal to the longitudinal axis of said member; whereby when the inner member is adjusted to its innermost position relative to the first cylindrical element, the stop and support surfaces will lie in the same plane, and when adjusted away from this limit position the stop and support surfaces will lie in separated and parallel planes; said second element further comprised of a unitary cylindrical member including a concentric recess at the end adjacent the said support surface adapted to receive in fitting relation the reduced diameter portion of said first cylindrical element, and a concentric diaphragm stop surface at the same end thereof formed substantially flat in a plane normal to the longitudinal axis of said element; said stop surfacellying inward, radially and longitudinally of said second element with respect to the said support surface; a circumferential groove adjacent the end opposite that containing said recess and adapted for engagement as by finger-nails; whereby in assembled position, the stop surfaces are adapted to contact a portion of the central half of the area of the diaphragm that vibrates in response to sound of a predetermined limiting intensity and the viscous drag of air between the stop surfaces and diaphragm may be used to control the damping characteristics of the diaphragm for sound levels below the limit intensity established.

Claim 3

A device for protecting the ear comprising: first and second cylindrical elements, each of said elements including an axial sound passageway therethrough and a concentric diaphragm support surface at one end thereof formed substantially flat within a plane normal to the longitudinal axis of said elements; and a diaphragm supported between said support surfaces; said first element further including a portion of the outer diameter reduced adjacent the end having the support surface and an elastomeric disc mounted annularly about the opposite end thereof; an inner cylindrical member telescopically adjustable to said first cylindrical element as by interfitting axial threads, together with frictional holding means in the form of a wave washer or the like for maintaining selected position of said inner member relative to said first element; said inner member constitutingaa concentric diaphragm stop surface formed substantially flat and within a plane normal to the longitudinal axis of said member; whereby when the inner member is adjusted to its innermost position relative to the first cylindrical element, the stop and support surfaces will lie in the same plane, and when adjusted away from the limit position the stop and support surfaces will lie in serarated and parallel planes; said second element further comprised of a unitary cylindrical member including a concentric recess at the end adjacent the support surface adapted to receive in fitting relation the reduced diAmeter portion of said first cylindrical element; and a concentric diaphragm stop surface at the same end thereof formed substantially flat in a plane normal to the longitudinal axis of said element; said stop surface lying inward radially and outward longitudinally of said second element with respect to said support surfaces; a circumferential groove adjacent the end opposite that containing said recess and adapted for engagement as by finger-nails; whereby in assembled position, the outer stop surface is adapted to contact a portion of the central half of the area of the diaphragm to substantially muffle sound below a first limit of sound intensity, and the inner stop surface is adapted to contact a portion of the central half of the area of the diaphragm that vibrates in response to sound above a second limiting intensity of sound, and the viscous drag of the air between stop surfaces and the diaphragm may be used to control the damping characteristics of the diaphragm vibration for sound levels between the two said limits of sound intensity.

Claim 4

A device for protecting the ear comprising: first and second cylindrical elements, each of said elements including an axial sound passageway therethrough and a concentric diaphragm support surface at one end thereof formed substantially flat within a plane normal to the longitudinal axis of said elements; and a diaphragm supported between said support surfaces; said first element further including a portion of the outer diameter reduced adjacent the end having the support surface and an elastomeric disc mounted annularly about the opposite end thereof; an inner cylindrical member telescopically adjustable to said first cylindrical element as by interfitting axial threads, together with frictional holding means in the form of a wave washer or the like for maintaining selected position of said inner member relative to said first element; said inner member constitutingaa concentric diaphragm stop surface formed substantially flat and within a plane normal to the longitudinal axis of said member; whereby when the inner member is adjusted to its innermost position relative to the first cylindrical element, the stop and support surfaces will lie in the same plane, and when adjusted away from the limit position the stop and support surfaces will lie in serarated and parallel planes; said second element further comprised of a unitary cylindrical member including a concentric recess at the end adjacent the support surface adapted to receive in fitting relation the reduced diAmeter portion of said first cylindrical element; and a concentric diaphragm stop surface at the same end thereof formed substantially flat in a plane normal to the longitudinal axis of said element; said stop surface lying inward radially and outward longitudinally of said second element with respect to said support surfaces; a circumferential groove adjacent the end opposite that containing said recess and adapted for engagement as by finger-nails; whereby in assembled position, the outer stop surface is adapted to contact a portion of the central half of the area of the diaphragm to substantially muffle sound below a first limit of sound intensity, and the inner stop surface is adapted to contact a portion of the central half of the area of the diaphragm that vibrates in response to sound above a second limiting intensity of sound, and the viscous drag of the air between stop surfaces and the diaphragm may be used to control the damping characteristics of the diaphragm vibration for sound levels between the two said limits of sound intensity.