Abstract:
An outer covering for protecting an ear includes a water-resistant material forming a pouch for protecting an ear from moisture intrusion wherein the pouch has a curved opening disposed along an edge of the pouch for receiving the ear there into, thereby forming a kidney shape for the pouch when viewed from a side view, wherein the curved opening is capable of being stretched over the ear and returning to a substantially consistent dimension and shape and fitting around and adhering the pouch to the ear.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is based on, and claims priority from prior co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/792,194, filed on Apr. 17, 2006, the entire teachings thereof being hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to the protection of ears, and more particularly relates to a device for protecting ears from moisture intrusion. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The ear is the sense organ of the body that detects sound and equilibrium in most vertebrates. The word “ear” may be used correctly to describe the whole ear, or just the visible portion. In humans, and almost all vertebrates, the only visible portion of the ear is the outer ear. Referring to  FIG. 1 , shown is a cross-sectional view of a human ear. The outer ear includes the pinnae  102  (also called auricle), the ear canal  104 , and the very most superficial layer of the ear drum (also called the tympanic membrane) (not shown). The complicated design of the human outer ear and the ear canal helps capture and guide sound toward the ear drum. Unfortunately, this same design, which is efficient at collecting sounds, is also efficient at guiding liquids into the ear canal as well. 
         [0004]    Not only can moisture present in the ear canal be an annoyance, it can oftentimes result in infection and injury and problems with balance and equilibrium. Examples of common situations where moisture intrusion can occur includes water introduced during showers and baths, water introduced while having one&#39;s hair washed at a beauty salon, water introduced during rainstorms, chemicals introduced during hair dying or curling, blood introduced during a surgery, and many others. In addition to damage or annoyance that can be caused to the ear itself, there are other reasons one may wish to avoid moisture intrusion into the ear. One such reason is the presence of an electronic hearing aid. For most hearing aids, moisture can easily ruin or damage the aid and should be strictly avoided. Another such reason for avoiding moisture intrusion in the ear is the presence of cotton or other materials present in the ear for the purpose of healing the ear or protecting the ear. 
         [0005]    Some ear covers have been developed that attempt to protect the ear from moisture. One such cover is a miniature shower-cap-shaped plastic cover with a round opening. The opening is intended to be placed over the pinna and rest on the portion of the outer ear that makes contact with the head. This portion  100  is shown in  FIG. 1 . However, the round opening does not properly follow the oblong shape of the outer ear and does not fit securely against the portion  100  of the ear that meets the head. In addition, this prior-art device is made of a plastic material that is baggy, non-stretchy, and does not conform to the human ear. Furthermore, it is difficult to remove once it has been placed over the ear. This is especially true when the device is wet. 
         [0006]    Other devices provide draw strings and/or chin straps and other methods of placing tension on the ear covers, thereby causing them to stay on the head. However, these covers are complicated, expensive to make, time consuming to apply, and difficult to use. In addition, the covers with chin straps allow moisture to enter the ear at certain angles, since the tension is only placed on the covers from one direction. 
         [0007]    Therefore a need exists to overcome the problems with the prior art as discussed above. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    Briefly, in accordance with the present invention, disclosed is an outer cover for protecting an ear. The device includes a water-resistant material forming a pouch for protecting an ear from moisture intrusion. The device also includes a curved opening disposed along an edge of the pouch for receiving the ear there into, thereby forming a kidney shape for the pouch when viewed from a side view, wherein the curved opening is capable of being stretched over the ear and returning to a substantially consistent dimension and shape and fitting around and adhering the pouch to the ear. 
         [0009]    In accordance with another feature, an embodiment of the present invention includes a loop following the curved opening, where the loop is capable of being stretched and returning to a substantially consistent dimension and fitting around and adhering the water-resistant pouch to an ear. 
         [0010]    In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, a tab is coupled to the loop, where the tab is provided for causing the loop to stretch when the tab is pulled. 
         [0011]    In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, the water-resistant material is capable of being stretched and returning to a substantially consistent dimension and shape. 
         [0012]    In accordance with the present invention, a method for protecting an ear, includes covering an ear with an ear cover, where the ear cover is made of a water-resistant material forming a water-resistant pouch for protecting an ear. The ear cover has a curved opening in the pouch rendering the pouch kidney shaped and the curved opening capable of being stretched and returning to a substantially consistent dimension and shape and fitting around and adhering the water-resistant pouch to an ear. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and to explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a side cross-sectional view of an outer human ear. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a side view of a protective ear cover in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a front view of the protective ear cover of  FIG. 2  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the protective ear cover of  FIGS. 2 and 3  covering the outer ear of  FIG. 1  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a side view of an alternate embodiment of the protective ear cover of  FIG. 2  with a tab attached in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward. It is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting; but rather, to provide an understandable description of the invention. 
         [0020]    The present invention, according to an embodiment, overcomes problems with the prior art by providing an ear covering device that is constructed of a stretchable material that conforms to an ear. The inventive cover has an opening defined by an edge that is lined with an elastic band that tightly couples the cover to the base  100  of the human ear. 
         [0021]    Described now is an exemplary ear-covering device for use with embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0022]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a side view of one embodiment of the present invention is shown. The embodiment shown provides an ear cover  200  that includes a pouch of water-proof, or at least water-resistant, material  202  that is formed in the shape of a kidney. The terms “water proof” and “water resistant,” as used herein, are intended to mean a material that prevents water from passing through the material from a first side to a second side of the material. A “kidney shape” is defined herein as the well-known C-type shape of the human kidney organ. This shape can be seen in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0023]    In one embodiment of the present invention, the inside edge  206  of the kidney shape is lined with a loop  204 , which can be, for example, a band of elastic or other similarly stretchable material. This stretchable band is advantageous in that it allows the inside edge  206  of the ear cover  200  to be expanded so as to fit around the outer ear  102  of  FIG. 1  and then be automatically contracted into a smaller diameter opening and fit snuggly around the base portion  100  of the ear that meets the head. In this way, the ear cover  200  adheres the ear  102 . The term “adhere,” as used herein, means to fit to the natural shape of the ear so as not to fall off easily. 
         [0024]    The oblong kidney shape of the present invention allows it to follow the natural shape of the ear, which is also oblong. This natural fit avoids areas of unnecessary extra material, which bags up and is easily unintentionally hit or pulled and may be uncomfortable. 
         [0025]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a front view of the ear cover of  FIG. 1  is shown, according to one embodiment of the present invention. The view of  FIG. 3  is looking directly into an opening  300  formed by the inside edge  206  of the kidney-shaped ear protector  200 . The opening  300  accommodates the pinna, or outer portion of an ear. In other words, the outer portion of an ear will be substantially completely covered and protected from moisture because it is inside the pouch  300  formed by the water-resistant material  202 . 
         [0026]    Because the edge  206  of the cover  200  is stretchable, the edge  206  may become wider and fit around the outer ear and then contract again to its original shape and dimension and fit snuggly around the base  100  of the ear. The ear is then surrounded and shielded from water by the water-proof material  202 . This is shown in  FIG. 4 , where the ear cover  200  is placed over an ear  400 . As can be seen, the edge  206  fits snuggly against the base  100  of the ear  400 . The ear canal is now protected by the cover  200  from any type of moisture intrusion. Embodiments of the present invention may be used, for example, in hair salons, operating rooms, saunas, showers, rain storms, and many others. 
         [0027]    In one embodiment, the water-proof material  202  is a flexible, bendable, stretchable plastic. Stretchable plastic materials are thin flexible membranes that may be deformed and, upon release of the deforming force, will return to their original shape and dimension. These materials are known in the art and used for applications such as trash bags and plastic wraps for storing food items. By utilizing a stretchable plastic material for the water-proof material  200 , the material may be stretched to fit snuggly over the outside portion of the ear. A snug fit not only provides improved comfort over the prior art devices, but also provides improved water resisting ability and lessens the probability of the ear cover being accidentally removed due to contact with a person or object. 
         [0028]    In another embodiment of the present invention, as shown in  FIG. 5 , a tab  500  is attached to the ear cover  200  along the edge  206 . The tab  500  may be made of any material and be any shape, but is, in one embodiment, a small length of material formed into a loop. In some embodiments, the tab  500  is simply an extension of the elastic material that forms the loop  205 , where stitching  502  creates an extra loop that defines the tab  500 . The tab  500  is easy for a user to grasp between their fingers or, alternatively, they can insert their finger inside of the loop. When the cover  200  is wet, and especially when it is constructed of stretchable of flexible plastic material that fits snuggly against the ear, the cover  200  may be relatively difficult to pull off of the ear. Also, chemicals, such as dyes or other coloring chemicals, may be on the cover  200  that a user wishes to avoid contact with. The tab  500  provides a great advantage in that it makes the cover  200  easy to remove. A simple tug on the tab  500  causes the edge  206  of the cover to stretch and allows the ear to escape from within the pouch  300 . 
         [0029]    In another embodiment, a second tab  502  is attached to a side of the edge  206  opposite the first tab  500 . The second tab  502  allows the cover  200  to be more easily removed because both tabs  500  and  502  may be pulled in opposite directions allowing the inside edge  206  to expand and release the ear  102 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 6  shows one additional embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment of  FIG. 6 , the ear cover  200  is provided with an extra pouch area  602  of the main pouch  202 . The extra pouch area  602  creates a small pocket in the material making up the main pouch  202 . This extra pouch area  602  is useful for accommodating those users that are wearing earrings or otherwise do not want their earlobes in close direct contact with the material making up the pouch  202 . 
         [0031]    In still other embodiments, the outer covering  200  for protecting an ear may be provided with various sizes of openings  206  to accommodate users of various sizes. In addition, the outer covering  200  for protecting an ear may be provided with a graphic design, such as characters, figures, logos, and other types graphics on its outer surface. A few examples are shown in  FIG. 7 . The graphics are advantageous in that children may like characters, such as Disney characters on their ear protectors, while adults may prefer more sophisticated designs, such as Ralph Lauren trademarked designs. These are only a few examples and the present invention is not so limited. 
         [0032]    A protective ear cover has been described. The cover has been discussed with reference to human ears; however the invention is not so limited and may also be used on animals. The inventive cover protects the ear from intrusion of moisture, which may include water, soap, chemicals and the like. The covers can be provided in varying sized to accommodate a plurality of ear sizes. In addition, the material used for the cover can be transparent, so that water intrusion can be visually observed, or can be any color, pattern, and degree of opaqueness. Embodiments of the present invention are advantageous in that they provide a cover that is disposable, easy to store, and, therefore, very utilitarian and practicable in design and size. 
         [0033]    Although specific embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, those having ordinary skill in the art will understand that changes can be made to the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is not to be restricted, therefore, to the specific embodiments, and it is intended that the appended claims cover any and all such applications, modifications, and embodiments within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0034]    The terms “a” or “an”, as used herein, are defined as one, or more than one. The term “plurality”, as used herein, is defined as two, or more than two. The term “another”, as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having”, as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term “coupled”, as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically.