US 7,740,104 B1 · Multiple resonator attenuating earplug

Abstract

A non-vented shell earplug for insertion into the ear canal has multiple chambers configured as coupled acoustic resonators. Each chamber is provided with an acoustic element having inertia and resistance coupling the chamber to its neighbor to form multiple resonant chambers. The dimensions of the individual acoustic elements set the frequency response of the earplug, and determine the attenuation characteristics of the resonators. Unlike the single chamber resonator of the prior art, the multiple-resonator earplug provides attenuation in both low and high frequency segments of the noise spectrum. Additionally, the present invention teaches placing loudspeaker and/or sound sensing transducer for sound communication purposes and active noise control within the earplug, with their sound field patterns directed into a chamber for coupling to the ear canal. The use of multiple resonators enhances the high frequency communications response of the earplug.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A nonvented earplug having a sound hole for coupling said earplug to a user's ear canal, said earplug comprising:

a) an enclosure encompassing a volume, said enclosure comprising an earshell having a faceplate facing away from a user when the earplug is worn in a user's ear canal, and an end opposite the faceplate, shaped to form a generally airtight seal when inserted in the ear canal, the earshell having no openings to the volume except for a sound hole at the end which provides an acoustic connection between the volume and the ear canal of the wearer;
b) said volume subdivided by at least one bulkhead into a plurality of chambers,
c) a plurality of acoustic inertance elements, wherein each one of said plurality of chambers is connected to at least one other of said plurality of chambers by an inertance element of said plurality of acoustic inertance elements passing through a bulkhead, whereby said plurality of chambers and said plurality of inertance elements form a plurality of acoustic resonators, and
d) one of said plurality of acoustic resonators is coupled to said sound hole.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Multiple resonator attenuating earplug

Life of this patent

Multiple resonator attenuating earplug

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17