Acoustical hearing protective devices utilizing dynamically stiff foam and methods of producing same
AssigneeCabot Safety Intermediate Corporation
InventorsRoss Gardner, Jr., Gregory L. Simon
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An earmuff cushion and other foam hearing protective components such as earplugs and pods for semi-aural hearing protectors and earplugs providing improved attenuation are described. The cushion and other foam hearing protective components are comprised of a dynamically stiff foam material having a low static stiffness, and a high dynamic stiffness, which produces improved attenuation in the earmuff and other hearing protective devices in which it is used. Earmuffs made from the cushion, semi-aural hearing protectors, earplugs, and improved methods of making the hearing protective devices are also described.
Claims57
A semi-aural hearing protector comprising:
- a generally U-shaped connecting band;
- and
- a pair of pods fastened to opposite ends of the generally U-shaped connecting band, the pods having a forward portion for contact with the ear of a wearer and comprising a dynamically stiff foam component for contact with the ear of the wearer, wherein the foam component has a low static stiffness and a high dynamic stiffness, resulting in the semi-aural device having higher sound attenuation;
- and wherein the foam component has a dynamic spring constant of at least about 300 pounds per inch and a dynamic loss factor of at least about 0.25.
A semi-aural hearing protector comprising:
- a generally U-shaped connecting band;
- and
- a pair of pods fastened to opposite ends of the generally U-shaped connecting band, the pods having a forward portion for contact with the ear of a wearer and comprising a foam component for contact with the ear of the wearer, and a stiffener at least partially disposed within the foam component such that the stiffener pulls the foam component into the ear upon insertion to maximize attenuation.
A foam component for a semi-aural hearing protector wherein:
- the foam component has a low static stiffness and a high dynamic stiffness, resulting in the semi-aural device having higher sound attenuation;
- the foam component has a dynamic spring constant of at least about 300 pounds per inch and a dynamic loss factor of at least about 0.25;
- and
- the foam component having a forward portion for contact with the ear.
A pod having a forward pod portion for contact with the wearer's ear for a semi-aural hearing protector comprising
- a foam component having a rearward portion and a forward foam portion for insertion into a wearer's ear canal;
- and
- a stiffener having a tip portion, wherein at least the tip portion is at least partially disposed within the foam component and the stiffener extends outwardly from the rearward portion of the foam component, the tip portion having increased bendability.
An earplug hearing protector comprising a dynamically stiff foam component having a forward portion for contact with the ear of the wearer, wherein:
- the foam has a low static stiffness and a high dynamic stiffness, resulting in the earplug having higher sound attenuation;
- and
- a dynamic spring constant of at least about 300 pounds per inch and a dynamic loss factor of at least about 0.25.
An earplug comprising
- a foam component, wherein the foam component has a forward portion for contact with a wearer's ear;
- and
- a stiffener having a tip portion of increased bendability, wherein at least the tip portion of the stiffener is at least partially disposed within the foam component such that the stiffener pulls the foam component into the ear during insertion to maximize attenuation, and further wherein the forward portion of the foam component ahead of the stiffener is at least about 0.25 inches long and the cross-section of the foam component at the tip of the stiffener is at least about 0.46 inches in diameter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.