Abstract The invention relates to an ear protecting device of the kind comprising two shells intended to be placed over the ears to be protected and interconnected by a resilient holder means or yoke to which the shells are secured in a manner permitting adjusting their position to the individual shape of the head of the user. Each shell contains an absorber for standing sound waves and an annular soft sealing pad bearing against the head of the user around the ear. In order to give the pad required rigidity for effective absorption of the standing sound waves combined with sufficient flexibility at the edge zone bearing against the head of the bearer to avoid points of leakage, the annular pad of the invention is provided at at least one of its circumferences with a flange limiting deformation in radial direction. Such flange may be provided at the outer or the inner circumference of the pad or, if desired, at both the inner and the outer circumference. Preferably the flange is formed with an outer portion projecting towards, and producing a recess in, the pad. According to a preferred embodiment the annular pad is composed of a substantially even bottom portion of some relatively stiff material and a covering portion connected to said bottom portion and made of some relatively more flexible material, said bottom and covering portions encasing a yielding, but not easily compressible medium such as a liquid.
Inventors
👤 Tord Rune Lundin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number—
JurisdictionUS
Data Sourcegoogle_patents
Last Synchronized2026-10-27 22:13
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F11/00; A61F11/06; A61F11/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
In a hearing protection device of the type having a shell containing a sound absorbing means and having a resilient annular sealing pad means located on the shell circumference for placement over the ear and against the head of a user the improvement in the annular sealing pad resulting in increased damping of sound comprising restraining flange means located on the annular sealing pad, and in contact relationship with the shell, the flange means limiting the deformation of the annular sealing pad in a radial direction sufficiently to provide acoustic rigidity for damping of sound while retaining flexibility of the sealing pad edge portion opposite its base to enable leakage proof bearing against the head of the user.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
118 words
In a hearing protection device of the type having a shell containing a sound absorbing means and having a resilient annular sealing pad means located on the shell circumference for placement over the ear and against the head of a user the improvement in the annular sealing pad resulting in increased damping of sound comprising restraining flange means located on the annular sealing pad, and in contact relationship with the shell, the flange means limiting the deformation of the annular sealing pad in a radial direction sufficiently to provide acoustic rigidity for damping of sound while retaining flexibility of the sealing pad edge portion opposite its base to enable leakage proof bearing against the head of the user.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A hearing protection device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the restraining flange means is located at both the inside and outside periphery of the sealing pad.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
87 words
A hearing protection device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the annulaar sealing pad comprises an oval ring-like pad of yieldable but not easily compressible material secured to a rigid annular disc by means of a flexible U-shaped cover, the disc portion being positioned adjacent the shell circumferential edge, the flange means being secured to the shell circumferential edge, the flange means having a portion projecting into and deforming the ring-like pad and extending over the disc to removably retain the sealing pad joined to the shell.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A hearing protection device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the yeildable but not easily compressible material is a liquid medium.