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US 7,743,771 B2Granted
Earplug with articulating stem and locking features
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorRobert N. Falco
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A hearing protection device is provided including a stem, a protrusion formed on the stem, an articulation point formed on the stem, and a sound attenuating element including a cavity, where the protrusion is disposed in locking engagement within the cavity to releasably attach the stem to the sound attenuating element, and where the stem is configured to at least partially articulate about the articulation point.
Claims20
An hearing protection device, comprising:
- a stem;
- a protrusion formed on the stem;
- an articulation point formed on the stem;
- and
- a sound attenuating element including a cavity;
- wherein the protrusion is disposed in locking engagement within the cavity to releasably attach the stem to the sound attenuating element;
- and
- wherein the stem is configured to at least partially articulate about the articulation point.
5 more elements
A hearing protection device, comprising:
- an elongated stem member including an attachment portion and a handle portion;
- a protrusion formed on the attachment portion of the stem member;
- an area of reduced stem member cross-sectional area delimited by the attachment portion proximate to the protrusion;
- and
- a sound attenuating element including a cavity formed at an interior thereof;
- wherein the attachment portion is disposed within the cavity;
- wherein the protrusion is disposed within the cavity in locking engagement with a mating element of the sound attenuating element to releasably attach the stem member to the sound attenuating element;
- wherein the area of reduced stem member cross-sectional area delimits an articulation point of the stem member;
- and
- wherein the stem member and the sound attenuating element disposed thereon are configured to at least partially articulate about the articulation point.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.