US 12,678,334 B2 · Hearing protector with spring element and a carrier

Abstract

In a first aspect, the present disclosure relates to a hearing protector 10 including two earmuffs 12A, 12B each with a cushion 16A, 16B, a cup 14A, 14B and a carrier 24A, 24B. The hearing protector 10 further includes a headband 18, or alternatively two helmet mounts, with two earmuff attachment means 22A, 22B as well as a spring element 30A, 30B. The carrier 24A, 24B and the cushion 16A, 16B form a first mass-spring system. The cup 14A, 14B and the spring element 30A, 30B form a second mass spring system. The spring element 30A, 30B is configured and arranged such that the cup 14A, 14B and the carrier 24A, 24B are mechanically decoupled from each other. The advantage of such a hearing protector 10 is that the hearing protector 10 can be designed such that the aspects of comfort and noise attenuation can be addressed more independent of each other. Also, the force or pressure applied to the carrier by the headband 18, or alternatively by the helmet mounts, and thereby to the cushion 16A, 16B is not influencing the spring element 30A, 30B so as to design such a hearing protector 10 in a way that the properties such as noise attenuation and wearing comfort are not in conflict with each other. In a second aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method of retrofitting a hearing protector with a spring element 30A, 30B and a carrier 24A. 24B thereby providing the advantages and effects as laid out above.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A hearing protector comprising:

two earmuffs each comprising:
i. a cushion with noise attenuation properties;
ii. a cup defining a hollow space and having noise attenuation properties, the cup comprising a ring-shaped edge;
and
iii. a carrier comprising at least one earmuff mount, wherein the carrier is ring-shaped and shaped and sized in accordance to the shape and size of the cup;
a U-shaped headband for carrying the two earmuffs, alternatively two helmet mounts for carrying the two earmuffs at a protective helmet, the headband or each of the helmet mounts comprising
two ends, wherein each end comprises an earmuff attachment mechanism for attaching the earmuffs to the headband or to the helmet mounts;
wherein the cushion is connected to the carrier such that the cushion is carried by the carrier;
wherein the earmuff attachment mechanism of the headband or of the helmet mounts engages the earmuff mount of the earmuffs such that the earmuffs are carried by the headband or by the helmet mounts;
wherein each of the earmuffs comprises a spring element connecting the cup with the carrier on a side opposite the cushion, the ring-shaped edge of the cup is directly connected to or attached to the spring element;
wherein the carrier and the cushion form a first mass-spring system and wherein the cup and the spring element form a second mass spring system;
and
wherein the spring element is configured and arranged such that the cup and the carrier are mechanically decoupled from each other.

10 more elements

A method of retrofitting a hearing protector with a spring element and a carrier, the hearing protector comprising:

two earmuffs each comprising:
a cushion with noise attenuation properties;
and
a cup defining a hollow space and having noise attenuation properties, the cup comprising a ring-shaped edge, wherein the cups each comprise an earmuff mount;
a U-shaped headband for carrying the two earmuffs, alternatively two helmet mounts for carrying the two earmuffs at a protective helmet, the headband or each of the helmet mounts comprising two ends each having an earmuff attachment mechanism for attaching the earmuffs to the headband or to the helmet mounts;
wherein the cushion is connected to the cup such that the cushion is carried by the cup;
wherein the earmuff attachment mechanism of the headband or of the helmet mounts engages the earmuff mount of the earmuffs such that the earmuffs are carried by the headband or by the helmet mounts, the method comprising the steps of:
disassembling the cushion from the cup;
disassembling the earmuff from the headband or from the helmet mounts by disconnecting the earmuff mounts of the cup from the earmuff attachment mechanism;
assembling a spring element at the cup such that the spring element is carried by the ring-shaped edge of the cup;
assembling a carrier at the spring element at a side thereof opposite to where the cup is assembled to such that the carrier is carried by the spring element;
assembling the cushion to the carrier at a side thereof opposite to where the spring element is assembled to such that the cushion is carried by the carrier;
and
assembling the earmuffs to the headband or to the helmet mounts.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Hearing protector with spring element and a carrier

Life of this patent

Hearing protector with spring element and a carrier

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19