# US 5,703,670 A · Earplugs adapted to eyeglasses and combination thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,703,670 A - Document ID: US5703670A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/752,248 - Filed: 1996-11-19 - Granted: 1997-12-30 - Earliest claimed: 1996-11-19 - Inventors: Shawn R. Callard - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5703670A ## CPC - A61F 11/12: External mounting means - G02C 11/00: Non-optical adjuncts; Attachment thereof (G02C7/16 takes precedence) - 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) - G02C: SPECTACLES; SUNGLASSES OR GOGGLES INSOFAR AS THEY HAVE THE SAME FEATURES AS SPECTACLES; CONTACT LENSES (trial frames for testing the eyes A61B3/04; goggles or eyeshields not having the same features as spectacles A61F9/00) ## Abstract An earplug assembly adapted for joinder to eyeglass temples, preferably by means of an axial connector providing semirigid connection to one end of an elongated telescoping member for rotation in a single plane, an earplug being joined at the other end of the telescoping member for rotation in at least one plane containing the telescoping member, together with a combination comprising eyeglasses and the earplug assembly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An earplug assembly for connection to eyeglasses, the assembly comprising a telescoping member which includes an elongated arm adapted at one end for connection to a temple of the eyeglasses and sized to permit the other end to slide into a first end of an elongated, hollow collar for slidable engagement therewith, together with a hinge block carrying an earplug and a retained member, said retained member occupying a mating retainer at a second end of said collar for rotation in at least one plane containing the telescoping member; whereby the earplug accommodates itself to the direction of the external auditory canal into which the earplug is inserted. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The earplug assembly of claim 1 wherein said collar further includes a row of docking holes along its length to receive a protuberance carried by said elongated arm, thereby providing stepwise variation in the length of the telescoping member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The earplug assembly of claim 1 wherein one of said retained member and said mating retainer is ball-like in shape and the other is a mating socket. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The earplug assembly of claim 1 wherein said retained member is a hinge passed through a retainer slot in said collar and retained by a hinge pin which passes through both the collar and the hinge. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The earplug assembly of claim 1 which further comprises a tooth slot in said collar to receive a tooth projecting from said elongated arm, thereby limiting the range of motion of the elongated arm in the collar. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The earplug assembly of claim 1 wherein the one end of said elongated arm is adapted for semi-rigid connection to the temple of said eyeglasses. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The earplug assembly of claim 6 wherein the adaptation is achieved by terminating the one end with an adaptive fitting having a mating face and provided with a hole through which to pass a fastener. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The earplug assembly of claim 7 wherein the mating face makes an obtuse angle with the telescoping member. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The earplug assembly of claim 1 wherein said telescoping member is round in cross-section. ### Claim 10 An earplug assembly for connection to eyeglasses, the assembly comprising a telescoping member which includes an elongated arm adapted at one end for connection to a temple of the eyeglasses by terminating the one end with an adaptive fitting having a mating face and provided with a hole through which to pass a fastener, the mating face making an obtuse angle with the telescoping member, the elongated arm being sized to permit the other end to slide into a first end of an elongated, hollow collar for slidable engagement therewith; said collar having a row of docking holes along its length to receive a protuberance carried by said elongated arm to provide stepwise variation in the length of the telescoping member, as well as a tooth slot in said collar to receive a tooth projecting from said elongated arm to limit the range of motion of the elongated arm in the collar; together with a hinge block carrying an earplug which can project toward the ear of one wearing the combination and a retained member which is a hinge passed through a retainer slot at a second end of said collar and retained by a hinge pin which passes through both the collar and the hinge; whereby the earplug is rotatable in the plane containing the telescoping member and accommodates itself to the direction of an external auditory canal into which the earplug is inserted. ### Claim 11 An eyeglass/earplug combination which comprises a pair of eyeglasses having a right temple and a left temple, each temple having connected to it an earplug assembly, the earplug assemblies being mirror images of each other; each earplug assembly comprising: a telescoping member which includes an elongated arm adapted at one end for connection to a temple of the eyeglasses and sized to permit the other end to slide into a first end of an elongated, hollow collar for slidable engagement therewith, together with a hinge block carrying an earplug and a retained member, said retained member occupying a mating retainer at a second end of said collar for rotation in at least one plane containing the telescoping member; whereby the earplug accommodates itself to the direction of an external auditory canal into which the earplug is inserted. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The combination of claim 11 wherein said collar further includes a row of docking holes along its length to receive a protuberance carried by said elongated arm, thereby providing stepwise variation in the length of the telescoping member. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The combination of claim 11 wherein one of said retained member and said mating retainer is ball-like in shape and the other is a mating socket. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The combination of claim 11 wherein said retained member is a hinge passed through a retainer slot in said collar and retained by means of a hinge pin which passes through both the collar and the hinge. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The combination of claim 11 which further comprises a tooth slot in said collar to receive a tooth projecting from said elongated arm, thereby limiting the range of motion of the elongated arm in the collar. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The combination of claim 11 wherein the one end of said elongated arm is connected semi-rigidly to the temple of said eye glasses for rotation in a single plane which is substantially parallel to the side of a wearer's head. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The combination of claim 16 wherein semi-rigidity is achieved by terminating the one end with an adaptive fitting having a mating face and provided with a hole in the fitting and a corresponding hole in the temple through which is passed a fastener. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The combination of claim 17 wherein the mating face makes an obtuse angle with the telescoping member; thereby permitting the earplug assembly, when not in use, to be retained by frictional contact between the telescoping member and the temple. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The combination of claim 11 wherein the eyeglasses are safety eyeglasses. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The combination of claim 11 wherein the temples are equipped with means for adjusting their length.