Abstract:
Disclosed is a protective sterile cover for the human ear. The cover may allow for the user to hear while protecting an ear that is sensitive to infection, and generally to protect an ear from water, fluids, hair and hair colorants, dust and other substances.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to the field of protective covers for the human body. More particularly, the invention relates to an ear cover. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The ear, and especially the eardrum thereof, is very sensitive to infection, especially after ear surgery, upon entrance of water, other fluids and dust. 
         [0003]    Also, rinsing the heads of babies may induce infections via accidental insertion of water into the ear. Carpentries, locksmith&#39;s workshop and other sites also are environments where non-desirable particles might enter the ear. Barbers and hairstylists also make efforts to prevent water, hair and dye entering the ear. 
         [0004]    Ear corks are disadvantaged in that they block hearing. It is generally unaccepted to insert ear corks into children&#39;s ear, due to pain of not feeling the exact depth of insertion, and due to endangering perforation of the eardrum. 
         [0005]    All the methods described above have not yet provided satisfactory solutions to the long felt need of protecting the ears while not reducing the hearing quality. 
         [0006]    The problem is severe after ear surgery. Lack of a satisfactory solution to this problem where a patient has failed to take care, might cause complications of the surgical and medical care. 
         [0007]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for protecting the ear while not reducing hearing quality. 
         [0008]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a solution to the above-mentioned and other problems of the prior art. 
         [0009]    Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The present invention provides sterilization to the ear by covering the external ear, for preventing entrance of water and dust. This feature is very significant especially after ear surgery. 
         [0011]    In one aspect, the present invention is directed to an ear cover ( 10 ), comprising:
       a first sheet ( 12 ), the margin ( 16 ) thereof corresponding to an extent of an external ear ( 22 ), forming a pouch, for surrounding the helix ( 26 ) of the external ear ( 22 ); and   adhering means ( 14 ) disposed at a certain portion of the margin ( 16 ) of the first sheet ( 12 ), for sticking the margin portion to a front portion of the external ear ( 22 ), thereby sealing the cover ( 10 ) to the ear.       
 
         [0014]    The first sheet ( 12 ) may be hollowed ( 32 ), for inserting medical tools therethrough, thereby the first sheet ( 12 ) provides sterilization to the ear by covering the external ear ( 22 ) during ear surgery. 
         [0015]    At least a center portion ( 32 ) of the first sheet ( 12 ) may comprise a second sheet characterized to allow sound waves ( 54 ) to propagate therethrough with minimal reduction, thereby a user wearing the ear cover ( 10 ) is capable of hearing through the first sheet ( 12 ) substantially at the same level as without the ear cover ( 10 ). 
         [0016]    Said at least center portion ( 32 ) of the first sheet ( 12 ) may comprise the entirety of the first sheet ( 12 ). 
         [0017]    At least a center portion ( 32 ) of the first sheet ( 12 ) may comprise an optically transparent sheet, thereby providing esthetics as if the ear is not covered. 
         [0018]    According to one embodiment, the second sheet ( 12 ) may comprise a thin and light sheet, thereby allowing sound waves ( 54 ) to propagate therethrough by minimally interrupting the propagation of the sound waves ( 54 ). 
         [0019]    The second sheet may be loose. 
         [0020]    The second sheet may comprise a material member selected from a group including: polyethylene, nylon. 
         [0021]    According to another embodiment, the second sheet may comprise a sound membrane, thereby allowing sound waves ( 54 ) to propagate therethrough by receiving the sound waves ( 54 ) and transferring them forward to an eardrum of the ear. 
         [0022]    The sound membrane sheet may be stretched by the first sheet ( 12 ), thereby providing the sound waves ( 54 ) receipt and the transfer thereof. 
         [0023]    According to this embodiment, the sound membrane sheet may comprise a material member selected from a group including: a thin polymer, polycarbonate. 
         [0024]    The first sheet ( 12 ) excluding the center ( 32 ) may comprise a relatively thick and flexible sheet, thereby providing improved mechanical characteristics for fastening the helix ( 26 ). 
         [0025]    The first sheet ( 12 ) excluding the center ( 32 ) may comprise a material member selected from a group including: latex, silicon. 
         [0026]    In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a method for manufacturing ear covers ( 10 ), the method comprising the steps of
       providing a relatively large sheet ( 34 );   placing a shaped knife on the sheet ( 34 ) for cutting thereof to a plurality of sheets ( 12 ), each shaped to cover one external ear ( 22 );   attaching adhering means ( 14 ) to each cut sheet ( 12 ); and   attaching an elastic band to margins ( 16 ) of the cut sheets ( 12 ), for shrinking thereof.       
 
         [0031]    The step of attaching the elastic band to the margins may comprise sewing. 
         [0032]    The reference numbers have been used to point out elements in the embodiments described and illustrated herein, in order to facilitate the understanding of the invention. They are meant to be merely illustrative, and not limiting. Also, the foregoing embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated in conjunction with systems and methods thereof which are meant to be merely illustrative, and not limiting. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0033]    Embodiments and features of the present invention are described herein in conjunction with the following drawings: 
           [0034]      FIG. 1  depicts an ear cover according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0035]      FIG. 2  depicts the ear cover of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0036]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the ear cover of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0037]      FIG. 4 , shows the functions of the ear cover of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0038]      FIG. 5  depicts steps of manufacturing ear covers of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
       [0039]    It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0040]    The present invention will be understood from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, which are meant to be descriptive and not limiting. For the sake of brevity, some well-known features, methods, systems, procedures, components, circuits, and so on, are not described in detail. 
         [0041]      FIG. 1  depicts an ear cover according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0042]    The term “external ear” refers herein to the “pinna” which is the visible part of the ear residing outside of the head. 
         [0043]    An ear cover  10  includes a sheet  12 , that is shrunken to a form of a pouch having an opening  24  for inserting the external ear  22  therethrough. Sheet  12  is shrunken by an elastic band sewn or adhered to the margin  16  of sheet  12  by stitches  52 A,  52 B, etc. 
         [0044]    Thus, margin  16  of sheet  12  surrounds the protruding rim  26  (helix) of external ear  22 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 2  depicts the ear cover of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0046]    The elastic band is sufficient for attaching only the zones of external ear  12 , having protrusions, which in  FIGS. 1 and 2  are depicted up, left and down. 
         [0047]    The zone of external ear  22  which does not protrude, and is shown at the right side, i.e., not belonging to helix  26 , is adhered to sheet  12  by adhering means  14 , these being a sticker. Sticker  14  is adhere-able to the front portion of external ear  22  upon separating a cover  18  therefrom. 
         [0048]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the ear cover of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0049]    Opening  24  is depicted at the left. Sticker  14  and its  10  cover  18  are depicted on sheet  12  near opening  24 . Margin  16  and the elastic band is depicted sewn inside and outside the page, for shrinking sheet  12 , such that sheet  12  is not outspread. 
         [0050]    According to a first embodiment, shrunken sheet  12  occupies the entire surface. 
         [0051]    According to a second embodiment, the center  32  may constitute a different material than shrunken sheet  12 . 
         [0052]    According to a third embodiment, center  32  may be hollowed. 
         [0053]      FIG. 4  shows the functions of the ear cover of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0054]    According to all embodiments, center  32  is designed to allow sound waves  54  to propagate therethrough with minimal reduction, such that the wearer can clearly hear substantially at the same level as without wearing ear cover  10 . 
         [0055]    According to all embodiments, center  32  preferably is optically transparent, for viewing the ear, for providing esthetics as if the ear is not covered. 
         [0056]    According to the third embodiment, center  32  is hollowed, and both the sound and the optical transparencies are obvious. This embodiment is intended for providing sterilization to external ear  22 , while allowing a doctor to insert tools through hollowed center  32  into the internal ear  30  during ear surgery. 
         [0057]    According to the first and second embodiments, in which center  32  is not hollowed, center  32  may constitute the embodiments of transferring sound waves  54  either by minimal interrupt, or via coherency. 
         [0058]    The embodiment of transferring sound waves  54  by minimal interrupt consists of transferring sound waves  54  through a very thin and light sheet, such as a polyethylene or nylon sheet. According to this embodiment, the sheet at least at center  32  may be loose. 
         [0059]    According to this embodiment, shrunken sheet  12 , which fastens ear cover  10  to external ear  22 , and the sheet of center  32 , may both constitute the same single sheet. 
         [0060]    According to the embodiment of transferring sound waves  54  via coherency, the sheet at center  32  functions as a sound drum/membrane, receiving sound waves  54  from the environment and transferring it forward to the eardrum. According to this embodiment, the sheet, at least at center  32 , must be stretched and feature characteristics of a sound membrane. A thin and transparent polymer, such as polycarbonate, may be suitable for the sheet of center  32 . 
         [0061]    According to this embodiment, shrunken sheet  12 , which fastens ear cover  10  to the external ear  22 , and the sheet of center  32 , preferably constitute different sheets, namely shrunken sheet  12  may be made of relatively thick latex or silicon, having preferred mechanical features for fastening external ear  22 , and center  32  constitutes of the very thin polycarbonate being also optically transparent. 
         [0062]      FIG. 5  depicts steps of manufacturing ear covers of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0063]    The following description and the figure refers to the embodiment that shrunken sheet  12 , which fastens ear cover  10  to external ear  22 , and the sheet of center  32  may both constitute the same single sheet. 
         [0064]    At step A, a large sheet  34  is cut to a plurality of small sheets  12 , by placing a shaped knife thereon. Each small sheet  12  is sized to cover one external ear  22 . The size may preferably be adapted to the appropriate ear size, depending whether it is for a baby, child or adult. 
         [0065]    At step B, sticker  14  and its cover  18  are attached to each sheet  12 . 
         [0066]    At step C, an elastic band is sewn to each margin  16  of each sheet  12  by stitches  52 A,  52 B, etc. 
         [0067]    In the figures and/or description herein, the following reference numerals have been mentioned:
       numeral  10  denotes an ear cover according to one embodiment of the present invention;   numeral  12  denotes a shrunken sheet which fastens to the external ear; this shrunken sheet has an opening for wearing on the ear; this shrunken sheet may include a hole at the center or it may include another sheet at the center thereof;   numeral  14  denotes a sticker attached to the shrunken sheet, for adhering it to the front portion of the external ear;   numeral  16  denotes a margin of the sheet; an elastic band is sewn to this margin for shrinking the margin;   numeral  18  denotes a cover of the sticker;   numeral  22  denotes the external ear;   numeral  24  denotes an opening for wearing the ear cover;   numeral  26  denotes the helix of the external ear;   numeral  30  denotes the internal ear;   numeral  32  denotes a center portion of the shrunken sheet, which faces the external side of the external ear, for allowing sound to enter the inner ear; according to one embodiment, this center portion is hollowed; according to another embodiment, this center comprises a material allowing propagation of sound;   numeral  34  denotes a large sheet for producing a plurality of shrunken sheets therefrom;   numerals  52 A,  52 B, etc. denote stitches of the elastic band with the margin of the shrunken sheet; and   numeral  54  denotes a sound wave.       
 
         [0081]    The foregoing description and illustrations of the embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the above description in any form. 
         [0082]    Any term that has been defined above and used in the 15 claims, should to be interpreted according to this definition. 
         [0083]    The reference numbers in the claims are not a part of the claims, but rather used for facilitating the reading thereof. These reference numbers should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any form.