Glow in the dark earplugs
AssigneeStrand Industries, LLC
InventorRyan Parry
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An earplug includes a body made of a silicone material containing a phosphorescent material that causes the earplug to glow in the dark after exposure to light. A filter for reducing sound is positioned within the body. The silicone material includes 80-90% polydimethylsiloxane and 5-15% of the phosphorescent material, such as zinc sulfide, strontium aluminate, or rare-earth metal chelates. A fin extends from the body and fits into folds of an outer ear to secure the earplug in place. The body has a layered design with multiple sections that gradually decrease in diameter toward a tip of the earplug.
Claims9
An earplug device, comprising:
- a body made of a silicone material, wherein the silicone material comprises a phosphorescent material that causes the earplug to glow after being exposed to light;
- and
- a sound-impeding filter positioned within the body,
- wherein the body has a layered design with multiple sections that gradually decrease in diameter towards a tip of the earplug device, and
- wherein the sound-impeding filter is positioned within a narrow channel at the tip of the earplug device, and wherein the earplug device further comprises 2-5% silica as a reinforcing filler, 1-3% of a curing agent, 0.5-2% of a plasticizer, 0.1-0.5% of a fluorescent dye, and 0.05-0.1% of an antimicrobial agent.
A method of manufacturing an earplug device, comprising:
- mixing a silicone material with a phosphorescent material to form a mixture;
- molding the mixture into an earplug body shape;
- and
- curing the molded mixture;
- wherein the phosphorescent material is selected from the group consisting of zinc sulfide, strontium aluminate, and rare-earth metal chelates;
- wherein mixing the silicone material with the phosphorescent material comprises combining 80-90% polydimethylsiloxane and 5-15% of the phosphorescent material;
- further comprising adding 2-5% silica as a reinforcing filler, 1-3% of a curing agent, 0.5-2% of a plasticizer, 0.1-0.5% of a fluorescent dye, and 0.05-0.1% of an antimicrobial agent to the mixture.
A method of using an earplug device, comprising:
- exposing an earplug device to light, wherein the earplug device comprises a body made of a silicone material incorporating a phosphorescent material, wherein exposing the earplug device to light comprises exposing the earplug device to natural sunlight or artificial light for a duration of 5 to 30 minutes, wherein the phosphorescent material is selected from the group consisting of zinc sulfide, strontium aluminate, and rare-earth metal chelates;
- inserting the earplug device into an ear canal, wherein inserting the earplug device into the ear canal comprises positioning a fin extending from the body of the earplug device into folds of an outer ear to secure the earplug device in place;
- and
- blocking sound using a sound-impeding filter positioned within the body of the earplug device, wherein blocking sound comprises reducing an amplitude of sound waves entering the ear canal using the sound-impeding filter, wherein the body of the earplug device has a layered design with multiple sections that gradually decrease in diameter towards a tip of the earplug device, wherein the silicone material of the earplug device comprises 80-90% polydimethylsiloxane and 5-15% of the phosphorescent material, wherein the phosphorescent material comprises strontium aluminate doped with europium and dysprosium, wherein the earplug device further comprises 2-5% silica as a reinforcing filler, 1-3% of a curing agent, 0.5-2% of a plasticizer, 0.1-0.5% of a fluorescent dye, and 0.05-0.1% of an antimicrobial agent, and wherein the sound-impeding filter is positioned within a narrow channel at the tip of the earplug device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.