# US 2014/0190493 A1 · Hearing Protection Devices and Kits Including Adjustable Sound-Attenuation Assemblies > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0190493 A1 - Document ID: US20140190493A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/735,177 - Filed: 2013-01-07 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-07 - Assignees: So Others May Hear, LLC - Applicants: So Others May Hear, LLC - Inventors: Jeremiah Smith - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190493A1 ## CPC - A61F 11/08: internal, e.g. earplugs - A61F 11/085: {including an inner channel} - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) ## Abstract Hearing protection devices and kits may include an earplug body and an adjustable sound attenuation assembly composed of an attenuator case and an attenuator insert that is removably insertable into the attenuator case. The attenuator case has a hollow barrel portion that accommodates the attenuator insert and a hollow extension portion connected to the hollow barrel portion. The hollow extension portion includes a soundpath channel therethrough defining a soundpath axis. The attenuator insert is rotatable within the hollow barrel portion of the attenuator case about a rotation axis that is noncollinear with the soundpath axis. The attenuator insert has a thickness along the soundpath axis that varies with respect to a rotation angle of the attenuator insert within the attenuator case. Thereby, sound waves that enter the soundpath channel through the distal opening are attenuated proportionally to the thickness of the attenuator insert along the soundpath axis. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A hearing protection device comprising: an earplug body; and an adjustable sound attenuation assembly, wherein: the earplug body comprises: a canal portion that is insertable into an ear canal of an ear; a canal opening at a proximal end of the canal portion that opens into the ear canal when the canal portion is inserted into the ear canal; and an outer portion that is disposed in the concha bowl of the ear when the canal portion is inserted into the ear canal; the adjustable sound attenuation assembly comprises: an attenuator case disposed in the earplug body; and an attenuator insert that is removably insertable into the attenuator case; the attenuator case comprises: a hollow barrel portion that accommodates the attenuator insert therein; and a hollow extension portion connected to the hollow barrel portion, the hollow extension portion of the attenuator case being disposed in the canal portion of the earplug body; the hollow extension portion has a soundpath channel defined therethrough, the soundpath channel having a distal opening into the hollow barrel portion and a proximal opening opposite the distal opening, the soundpath channel defining a soundpath axis; the attenuator insert is rotatable within the hollow barrel portion of the attenuator case about an insert rotation axis, the insert rotation axis being noncollinear with the soundpath axis; the attenuator insert has a thickness along the soundpath axis that varies with respect to a rotation angle of the attenuator insert within the attenuator case; sound waves that enter the soundpath channel through the distal opening are attenuated proportionally to the thickness of the attenuator insert along the soundpath axis. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The hearing protection device of claim 1, wherein the thickness of the attenuator insert along the soundpath axis is defined by a distance from a flat proximal end of the attenuator insert to a sloped distal surface of the attenuator insert, the sloped distal surface having a gradual slope from a zero-attenuation groove of the attenuator insert to a maximum attenuation portion of the attenuator insert. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The hearing protection device of claim 1, wherein the attenuator insert comprises a zero-attenuation groove defining a rotation angle of 0° when the zero-attenuation groove is disposed over the distal opening, such that when the rotation angle is 0° the thickness of the attenuator insert along the soundpath axis is zero and the sound waves that enter the soundpath channel through the distal opening are unattenuated. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The hearing protection device of claim 3, wherein the thickness of the attenuator insert along the soundpath axis increases gradually as the attenuator insert is rotated in a first direction from the rotation angle of 0° to a maximum attenuation rotation angle and increases abruptly as the attenuator insert is rotated in a second direction opposite the first direction from the rotation angle of 0° to the maximum attenuation rotation angle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The hearing protection device of claim 4, wherein the maximum attenuation rotation angle is less than 90° relative to the rotation angle of 0° in the second direction. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The hearing protection device of claim 4, wherein the maximum attenuation rotation angle is less than 270° relative to the rotation angle of 0° in the first direction. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The hearing protection device of claim 1, wherein the soundpath axis is above the insert rotation axis when the canal portion of the earplug body is inserted into the ear canal, such that the soundpath axis extends into an upper portion of the ear canal and thereby minimizes intersection of the soundpath axis with deposits of cerumen in a lower portion of the ear canal. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The hearing protection device of claim 1, wherein the attenuator insert is formed from a surgical-grade rubber that reduces vibrations caused by incoming sound waves. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The hearing protection device of claim 1, wherein the attenuator case comprises a case protrusion and the attenuator insert comprises a retaining groove that engages the case protrusion and secures the attenuator insert into the attenuator case when the attenuator insert is inserted into the attenuator case. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The hearing protection device of claim 1, wherein the hollow barrel portion of the attenuator case is substantially cylindrical. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The hearing protection device of claim 1, wherein the hollow extension portion of the attenuator case is substantially cylindrical. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The hearing protection device of claim 1, wherein the attenuator insert further comprises a handle for rotating the attenuator insert. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The hearing protection device of claim 1, wherein the canal portion of the earplug body, the outer portion of the earplug body, or both, comprise cuttable portions for custom sizing of the hearing protection device for a wearer of the hearing protection device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The hearing protection device of claim 1, wherein an outer surface of the earplug body is decorated with customized indicia. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The hearing protection device of claim 14, further comprising a placard mounted on the outer surface of the earplug body, the placard comprising the customized indicia. ### Claim 16 A hearing protection kit comprising: at least one earplug body having an attenuator case therein; and at least one attenuator insert, wherein: each earplug body comprises: a canal portion insertable into an ear canal of an ear; a canal opening at a proximal end of the canal portion that opens into the ear canal when the canal portion is inserted into the ear canal; and an outer portion that is disposed in the concha bowl of the ear when the canal portion is inserted into the ear canal; the attenuator case comprises: a hollow barrel portion that accommodates the attenuator insert therein; and a hollow extension portion connected to the hollow barrel portion, the hollow extension portion of the attenuator case being disposed in the canal portion of the earplug body; the hollow extension portion has a soundpath channel defined therethrough, the soundpath channel having a distal opening into the hollow barrel portion and a proximal opening opposite the distal opening, the soundpath channel defining a soundpath axis; each attenuator insert is rotatable within the hollow barrel portion of the attenuator case about an insert rotation axis, the insert rotation axis being noncollinear with the soundpath axis; the at least one attenuator insert has a thickness along the soundpath axis that varies with respect to a rotation angle of the at least one attenuator insert within the at least one attenuator case; the at least one attenuator insert has a maximum thickness along the soundpath axis that defines a maximum attenuation of the at least one attenuator insert; when the kit is assembled with the at least one attenuator insert inserted into the at least one attenuator case, sound waves that enter the soundpath channel through the distal opening are attenuated proportionally to the thickness of the attenuator insert along the soundpath axis. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The hearing protection kit of claim 16, comprising a plurality of attenuator inserts. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The hearing protection kit of claim 17, wherein the plurality of attenuator inserts comprises an assortment of attenuator inserts having different maximum attenuations. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The hearing protection kit of claim 16, wherein an outer surface of the at least one earplug body is decorated with customized indicia. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The hearing protection kit of claim 16, further comprising a placard that is mountable on an outer surface of the at least one earplug body, the placard comprising customized indicia.