# US 2014/0190494 A1 · Selective attenuating earplug > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0190494 A1 - Document ID: US20140190494A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/734,268 - Filed: 2013-01-04 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-04 - Assignees: 3M Innovative Properties Company - Applicants: 3M Innovative Properties Company - Inventors: Jacob Ely - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190494A1 ## CPC - A61F 11/12: External mounting means - A61F 11/08: internal, e.g. earplugs - A61F 11/085: {including an inner channel} - A61F 2250/0004: adjustable - A61F 2250/0069: Sealing means - 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 A selective attenuating earplug is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a selective attenuating earplug includes a switch adjustable between a first position and a second position, and the switch includes at least one cantilever spring arm. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A selective attenuating earplug, comprising: a tip having a first end and a second end; a body attached to the tip; an acoustic channel extending from a first end of the tip to an aperture of the body; and a switch adjustable between a first position in which the aperture is at least partially open to allow passage of sound through the aperture and the acoustic channel and a second position in which the aperture is blocked; wherein the switch comprises a first cantilever spring arm including a shape that interacts with a feature on a surface of the body, and the shape is biased against the feature on the surface of the body to maintain the switch in the first position or the second position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The selective attenuating earplug of claim 1, wherein the first cantilever spring arm includes a protrusion that interacts with a first recess on the surface of the body to maintain the switch in the first position and interacts with a second recess on the surface of the body to maintain the switch in the second position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The selective attenuating earplug of claim 1, wherein the protrusion of the first cantilever spring arm follows an arcuate path when switched between the first position and the second position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The selective attenuating earplug of claim 1, wherein the first cantilever spring arm is curved when the switch is in the first position or the second position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The selective attenuating earplug of claim 1, wherein the switch rotates about an axis that is not parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tip. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The selective attenuating earplug of claim 1, wherein the switch further comprises a sealing pad that is biased towards the aperture and blocks the aperture when the switch is in the second position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The selective attenuating earplug of claim 6, wherein the switch further comprises a second cantilever spring arm and the sealing pad is integrally formed with the second cantilever spring arm. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The selective attenuating earplug of claim 6, wherein the sealing pad moves across the aperture when switched between the first position and the second position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The selective attenuating earplug of claim 7, wherein the second cantilever spring arm comprises an articulation portion comprising an area of reduced thickness proximate the sealing pad. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The selective attenuating earplug of claim 7, wherein the second cantilever spring arm comprises an articulation portion comprising a stepped portion proximate the sealing pad. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The selective attenuating earplug of claim 1, wherein an acoustic filter is positioned in the acoustic channel. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The selective attenuating earplug of claim 1, further comprising a connector having a first end positioned in a cavity of the second end of the tip and a second end positioned in a cavity of the body, the acoustic channel extending through the connector. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The selective attenuating earplug of claim 1, wherein the tip comprises one or more flanges. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The selective attenuating earplug of claim 1, further comprising a cord coupled to the body. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The selective attenuating earplug of claim 1, wherein the tip and the body are integrally formed. ### Claim 16 A selective attenuating earplug, comprising: a sound attenuating tip having a first end and a second end; a body coupled to the sound attenuating tip; an acoustic channel extending from a first end of the sound attenuating tip to an aperture of the body; and a switch comprising a first cantilever spring arm having a sealing pad, the switch adjustable between a first position in which the aperture is at least partially open to allow passage of sound through the aperture and the acoustic channel and a second position in which the aperture is blocked by the sealing pad; wherein the first cantilever spring arm biases the sealing pad towards the aperture in a first position and towards a surface of the body in a second position. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The selective attenuating earplug of claim 16, wherein the sealing pad moves across the aperture when switched between the first position and the second position. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The selective attenuating earplug of claim 16, wherein the first cantilever spring arm is curved when the switch is in the first position or the second position. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The selective attenuating earplug of claim 16, wherein the switch rotates about an axis that is not parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tip. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The selective attenuating earplug of claim 16, wherein the sealing pad follows an arcuate path when switched between the first position and the second position. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) The selective attenuating earplug of claim 16, further comprising a second cantilever spring arm that includes a shape that interacts with a feature on a surface of the body, and the shape is biased against the feature on the surface of the body to maintain the switch in the first position or the second position. ### Claim 22 A hearing protection device, comprising: first and second selective attenuating earplugs joined by a cord, wherein each of the first and second selective attenuating earplugs comprise a tip having a first end and a second end; a body attached to the tip; an acoustic channel extending from a first end of the tip to an aperture of the body; and a switch adjustable between a first position in which the aperture is at least partially open to allow passage of sound through the aperture and the acoustic channel and a second position in which the aperture is blocked; wherein the switch comprises a first cantilever spring arm including a shape that interacts with a feature on a surface of the body, and the shape is biased against the feature in the surface of the body to maintain the switch in the first position or the second position.