Self-fitting hearing protector

Claim 1

An ear protector adapted to be inserted into the ear, said ear protector comprising a resiliently yeildable elongated tubular envelope of substantially circular cross-section, said envelope being shaped generally as a bullet and tapering gradually and unidirectionally from a large diameter base end to a smaller diameter and rounded tip end, the base end of said envelope being open and the tip end of said envelope being closed, said envelope being made of a silicone polymer elastomer and being capable of being stretched to a length at least seventy-five percent greater than its original relaxed length and then returning to its original relaxed length, a mass of deformable polymer material filling and sustaining said envelope and conforming substantially to the shape of said envelope, said mass being deformed when said envelope is stretched in length and reduced in diameter for insertion into the ear canal, and then tending to resume its initial shape under the urging of said resiliently yieldable envelope as the latter returns toward its original length and diameter and swells into substantial conformance with the contour of the ear canal, a plug telescoped into and bonded to the open base end of said envelope and serving to close said base end to retain said mass within said envelope, and a handle projecting outwardly from said plug to Facilitate insertion of the envelope into and removal of the envelope from the ear canal.