Diaphragm ear valve

Claim 2

In a sonic ear protector device wherein an ear canal fitting which includes a sound passage conveys sound waves reaching the passage, the combination with said fitting of a sound transmitter coupled with said fitting, the transmitter comprising parallel generally rigid plates spaced apart and a diaphragm between said plates locked around its periphery by said plates, a sound passage aperture through each plate in axial alignment, a sound passage aperture through the diaphragm axially offset from the sound passage apertures through the plates, the diaphragm being laterally spaced from the adjacent plates when reposing in generally flattened condition and the apertures in the plates and diaphragm in conjunction with the space on each side of the diaphragm affording a transmitter sound passage of sinuous configuration in communicating relationship with the sound passage of said fitting, the diaphragm including a relatively thin flexible membrane and a central annular sealing portion of relatively thicker cross section to provide a ring seal, whereby when said diaphragm is forced against either of said plates by the overpressure of sound waves said sealing portion will bear against the plate against which it is forced and create a seal closing off said transmitter sound passage.

Claim 3

The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said sound passage apertures through said plates are axially aligned with said central annular sealing portion of said diaphragm and the diameter of said central annular sealing portion is greater than the diameter of said apertures in said plates.

Claim 4

The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said central annular sealing portion of said diaphragm includes opposed sealing faces of concave configuration whereby said overpressure of sound waves will distort one of said faces to close off said transmitter sound passage.

Claim 5

The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said sound passage apertures through said plates taper inwardly towards said diaphragm.

Claim 6

The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said diaphragm includes an annular peripheral bead and said plates include opposed retainer grooves of a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of said diaphragm and said bead whereby when said bead is seated in said grooves said diaphragm will be radially stretched.

Claim 7

The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said central annular sealing portion includes a sound passage aperture and an annular bead around said aperture, aNd said plates each include an annular seat wherein when said diaphragm is flexed said bead will engage one of said seats and provide a ring seal closing off said sound path.

Claim 8

In a sonic ear protector device wherein an ear canal fitting which includes a sound passage conveys sound waves reaching the passage, the combination with said fitting of a sound transmitter coupled with said fitting, the transmitter comprising a pair of plates spaced apart and a diaphragm between said plates locked around its periphery, a sound passage aperture through each plate, a sound passage through the diaphragm axially offset from the sound passage apertures through the plates, the diaphragm being laterally spaced from the adjacent plates when reposing in generally flattened condition and the apertures in the plates and diaphragm in conjunction with the space on each side of the diaphragm affording a transmitter sound passage of sinuous configuration in communicating relationship with the sound passage of said fitting, the diaphragm including a relatively thin flexible membrane and a central sealing portion of relatively thicker cross section to provide a seal, and a sealing surface on each plate on opposite sides of said sealing portion, said diaphragm being movable by sound wave pressure thereon to seat said sealing portion on either of said sealing surfaces to close said transmitter sound passage.

Claim 9

In a sonic ear protector device wherein an ear canal fitting which includes a sound passage conveys sound waves reaching the passage, the combination with said fitting of a sound transmitter coupled with said fitting, the transmitter comprising a pair of plates spaced apart and a diaphragm between said plates locked around its periphery, a sound passage aperture through each plate, a sound passage through the diaphragm axially offset from the sound passage apertures through the plates, the diaphragm being laterally spaced from the adjacent plates when reposing in generally flattened condition and the apertures in the plates and diaphragm in conjunction with the space on each side of the diaphragm affording a transmitter sound passage of sinuous configuration in communicating relationship with the sound passage of said fitting, the diaphragm including a relatively thin flexible membrane and a central sealing portion of relatively thicker cross section to provide a seal, and a sealing surface on each plate on opposite sides of said sealing portion, said diaphragm being movable by sound wave pressure thereon to seat said sealing portion on either of said sealing surfaces to close said transmitter sound passage.

Claim 10

The invention defined in claim 7 wherein said sound passage apertures through said plates are axially aligned with said central sealing portion of said diaphragm and the diameter of said central sealing portion is greater than the diameter of said apertures in said plates.

Claim 11

The invention defined in claim 7 wherein said central sealing portion of said diaphragm includes opposed sealing faces of concave configuration.

Claim 12

The invention defined in claim 7 wherein each of said sound passage apertures through said plates taper inwardly towards said diaphragm.

Claim 13

The invention defined in claim 7 wherein said diaphragm includes an annular peripheral bead and said plates include opposed retainer grooves of a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of said diaphragm and said bead whereby when said bead is seated in said grooves said diaphragm will be radially stretched.

Claim 14

The invention defined in claim 7 wherein said central sealing portion includes a sound passage aperture and an annular bead around said aperture, and said sealing surfaces each include an annular seat for mating with said bead.

Claim 15

In an ear protector having an exterior housing, an outer sound passage, an inner sound passage, a sinuous central sound passage interconnecting said outer and inner sound passages and valve means for preventing transmission of excessive changes in sound level from the outer sound passage through the sinuous central sound passage to the inner sound passage, the improvement comprising: a relatively flexible diaphragm with its periphery fixedly and sealably secured between the inner and outer sound passages; first and second valve surfaces carried on opposite sides of said diaphragm near the center thereof; first and second relatively fixed valve surfaces supported within said exterior housing and respectively spaced from opposite sides of said diaphragm adjacent the valve surfaces of said diaphragm; an aperture forming a sound passage through the diaphragm; said valve surfaces on the diaphragm surrounding said aperture; the diaphragm valve surfaces being spaced from the adjacent fixed valve surfaces when the diaphragm is reposing in generally flattened condition; the sinuous sound passage extending from the outer sound passage, between the opposed valve surfaces on one side of said diaphragm, through the aperture in the diaphragm, between the opposed valve surfaces on the other side of the diaphragm to the inner sound passAge; and the diaphragm being sufficiently flexible so that it will be deflected by a selected change in sound level from its flattened condition by a sufficient amount that one diaphragm valve surface will in cooperation with its facing fixed valve surface close the sinuous sound passage to protect the ear.

Claim 16

In an ear protector having an exterior housing, an outer sound passage, an inner sound passage, a sinuous central sound passage interconnecting said outer and inner sound passages and valve means for preventing transmission of excessive changes in sound level from the outer sound passage through the sinuous central sound passage to the inner sound passage, the improvement comprising: a relatively flexible diaphragm with its periphery fixedly and sealably secured between the inner and outer sound passages; first and second valve surfaces carried on opposite sides of said diaphragm near the center thereof; first and second relatively fixed valve surfaces supported within said exterior housing and respectively spaced from opposite sides of said diaphragm adjacent the valve surfaces of said diaphragm; an aperture forming a sound passage through the diaphragm; said valve surfaces on the diaphragm surrounding said aperture; the diaphragm valve surfaces being spaced from the adjacent fixed valve surfaces when the diaphragm is reposing in generally flattened condition; the sinuous sound passage extending from the outer sound passage, between the opposed valve surfaces on one side of said diaphragm, through the aperture in the diaphragm, between the opposed valve surfaces on the other side of the diaphragm to the inner sound passAge; and the diaphragm being sufficiently flexible so that it will be deflected by a selected change in sound level from its flattened condition by a sufficient amount that one diaphragm valve surface will in cooperation with its facing fixed valve surface close the sinuous sound passage to protect the ear.

Claim 17

The ear protector of claim 13 wherein at least one of said inner and outer sound passages comprises a plurality of openings.

Claim 18

In an ear protector device for protecting the ear from damaging sound wave pressure levels and changes in pressure level, said ear protector device having a housing defining an outer sound passage for receiving sound waves and an inner sound passage through which received sound waves are communicated to the inner ear, the invention of improved sound valve means mounted in said housing longitudinally between said outer and inner sound passages to control and attenuate the flow of sound therebetween, said improved sound valve means comprising: structure defining first and second spaced apart surfaces, at least one sound passage being defined in said structure to open on said first surface and to communicate with said outer and sound passage, at least one other sound passage being defined in said structure to open on said second surface and to communicate with said inner sound passage; and diaphragm means mounted longitudinally between and spaced apart from said first and second surfaces for controlling the flow of sound therebetween, said diaphragm means having at least one aperture defined therein laterally offset from the points at which the sound passages open in said surfaces so that sound flowing from said outer to said inner sound passage follows a sinuous path through said valve means, said diaphragm means having a relatively thin membrane portion surrounding a thicker sealing portion, and a sealing surface on each of said first and second surfaces associated with said inner and outer sound passages, said sealing surfaces being in lateral alignment with said sealing portion, said sealing portion being movable by sound wave pressure on said diaphragm and being positioned for seating on one of said sealing surfaces to close said sinuous sound path.

Claim 19

In an ear protector device for protecting the ear from damaging sound wave pressure levels and changes in pressure level, said ear protector device having a housing defining an outer sound passage for receiving sound waves and an inner sound passage through which received sound waves are communicated to the inner ear, the invention of improved sound valve means mounted in said housing longitudinally between said outer and inner sound passages to control and attenuate the flow of sound therebetween, said improved sound valve means comprising: structure defining first and second spaced apart surfaces, at least one sound passage being defined in said structure to open on said first surface and to communicate with said outer and sound passage, at least one other sound passage being defined in said structure to open on said second surface and to communicate with said inner sound passage; and diaphragm means mounted longitudinally between and spaced apart from said first and second surfaces for controlling the flow of sound therebetween, said diaphragm means having at least one aperture defined therein laterally offset from the points at which the sound passages open in said surfaces so that sound flowing from said outer to said inner sound passage follows a sinuous path through said valve means, said diaphragm means having a relatively thin membrane portion surrounding a thicker sealing portion, and a sealing surface on each of said first and second surfaces associated with said inner and outer sound passages, said sealing surfaces being in lateral alignment with said sealing portion, said sealing portion being movable by sound wave pressure on said diaphragm and being positioned for seating on one of said sealing surfaces to close said sinuous sound path.

Claim 20

The invention defined in claim 15, wherein said diaphragm means is mounted with its membrane portion radially stretched so that when sound waves are not being sensed it quickly returns to an at rest position.

Claim 21

The invention defined in claim 15, wherein: said diaphragm means has only one of said apertures defined therein, said aperture being defined centrally in said diaphragm means; said sealing portion is an annular bead around said aperture; said sealing surfaces each have an annular seat defined therein for mating with said bead; and the sound passages opening in said first and second surfaces open at points radially outside of said annular seats defined therein.

Claim 22

The invention defined in claim 15, wherein: only one sound passage is defined to open in each of said first and second surfaces which opens centrally therein; said sealing portion is centrally located on said diaphragm means and comprises opposed sealing faces of concave configuration which are larger than the sound passages defined to open centrally in said first and second surfaces; and said aperture defined in said diaphragm means is positioned radially outside of said sealing portion.