US 11,737,923 B2Granted

Apparatus and methods for ear protection and enhancement

AssigneeMdideafactory, Inc.

InventorsMichael J. O'Leary, Daniel Joseph Braun, Randy Wayland, Robert F. Gazdzinski

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Abstract

Apparatus for protection of the ear and ear canal, and related methods of use and operation. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a selectively actuated valve which permits a varying or modulated size of aperture to be created by the wearer while the apparatus is in use, so as to accommodate varying functions, such as complete occlusion (e.g., for use in swimming or other aquatic activities such that water can be completely excluded) or partial occlusion (e.g., such that sounds can be heard by the wearer, whether in air or under water). In one implementation, the apparatus is retained within the ear canal of the wearer by virtue of the apparatus' shape and coordination with one or more natural features or contours of the anatomy in the ear region, without having to be inserted more than superficially into the outer portion of the ear canal.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An apparatus for use on a living being, the apparatus comprising:

a body, the body comprising a substantially tapered exterior shape and formed at least in part of an at least partly compliant material, the at least partial compliance and the substantially tapered exterior shape cooperating to enable the apparatus to be at least partially retained within an ear canal of the living being, the body further comprising at least one channel that connects to an interior surface of the body;
first selectively actuatable apparatus configured to enable selective expansion and contraction of only a portion of the body in a direction transverse to a direction of insertion of the apparatus into the ear canal;
a second selectively actuatable apparatus, the second selectively actuatable apparatus configured to variably occlude at least a portion of the at least one channel so as to variably control flow of at least one of air, sound waves, or water to the interior surface;
and
an inner cavity disposed within the body, the inner cavity comprising one or more electronic components, the one or more electronic components comprising:
(i) processor apparatus;
(ii) audio generation apparatus in data communication with the processor apparatus, the audio generation apparatus configured to transmit human-audible frequency signals;
and
(iii) a storage apparatus in data communication with the processor apparatus and having at least one computer program stored thereon, the at least one computer program comprising a plurality of instructions, which when executed, cause the processor apparatus to:
receive a signal from the second selectively actuatable apparatus indicative of a position thereof;
and
based at least on the signal, selectively generate or not generate audio signals for transmission within the ear canal.

9 more elements

An apparatus for use in an ear of a living being, the apparatus comprising:

a body, the body comprising:
a retention element configured to be at least partly retained within a conchal bowl of the living being;
a substantially tapered portion configured to be at least partly retained within an ear canal of the living being, the substantially tapered portion configured to control an insertion depth of the apparatus into the ear canal of the living being;
and
at least one channel connecting to an interior surface of the body;
and
a selectively actuatable valve apparatus, the selectively actuatable valve apparatus configured to, variably occlude at least a portion of the at least one channel so as to enable variable control of flow of at least one of water or air to the interior surface, the selectively actuatable valve apparatus configured to be automatically actuated based on detecting of a prescribed condition, the prescribed condition comprising a presence of at least water in a prescribed portion of the apparatus for use in the ear.

4 more elements

An apparatus for use in an ear of a living being, the apparatus comprising:

a body, the body comprising:
a retention element configured to be at least partly retained within a conchal bowl of the living being;
a substantially tapered portion configured to be at least partly retained within an ear canal of the living being, the substantially tapered portion configured to control an insertion depth of the apparatus into the ear canal of the living being;
and
at least one channel connecting to an interior surface of the body;
and
a selectively actuatable valve apparatus, the selectively actuatable valve apparatus configured to, variably occlude at least a portion of the at least one channel so as to enable variable control of flow of at least one of water or air to the interior surface, the selectively actuatable valve apparatus configured to be automatically actuated based on detecting of a prescribed condition, the prescribed condition comprising a temperature or change in temperature of the at least one of the water or the air in a prescribed portion of the apparatus for use in the ear.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/780,661Filed 3 Feb 2020 · continuation
Priority: 4 Apr 2016
Published: US 2020/0253784 A113 Aug 2020
Granted: 29 Aug 2023
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

A61F 11/08
Protective devices for the ears: internal, e.g. earplugs
H04R 1/1083
Earpieces; Attachments therefor ; Earphones; Monophonic headphones: reduction of ambient noise
A61F 11/14
Protective devices for the ears: external, e.g. earcaps or earmuffs
H04R 25/604
Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles: of acoustic or vibrational transducers

Family

Application62/318,106Us provisional application · filed 4 Apr 2016
Application15/478,130Parent of this continuation · filed 3 Apr 2017
US 2020/0253784 A1Pre-grant publication · published 13 Aug 2020
US 2017/0281416 A1Published application
US 11,737,923 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.