Patent Publication Number: US-2007113320-A1

Title: Earmuff having anatomically correct ear cups

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      This Application is a continuation of U. S. Ser. No. 10/706,429, filed on Nov. 12, 2003, which claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/445,744, filed on Feb. 7, 2003, the entire contents of each are hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates generally to the field of protective earmuffs for encompassing and shielding the ears of a person from harmful and annoying noise, and more particularly but not by way of limitation, to protective earmuffs having anatomically correct ear cups. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of an earmuff having anatomically correct ear cups constructed in accordance with the present invention, the ear cups being illustrated in a protective position over a person&#39;s ears.  
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the earmuff having anatomically correct ear cups of  FIG. 1  supported about a person&#39;s neck, the ear cups being in a non-protective position and rotated approximately 170 degrees.  
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the anatomically correct right-hand ear cup of the earmuff of  FIG. 1  illustrating an ear receiving chamber of the anatomically correct right-hand ear cup.  
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a back side of the anatomically correct right-hand ear cup of  FIG. 3  showing the connection of first end mount thereto.  
       FIG. 5  is an exploded view of a connector assembly of the earmuff having anatomically correct ear cups of  FIG. 1  illustrating the mechanism for allowing axial and lateral rotation of the ear cups.  
       FIG. 6  is a bottom plan view of a dome-shaped housing of the connector assembly of  FIG. 5 .  
       FIG. 7  is a side elevational view of the dome-shaped housing and a post of the connector assembly of  FIG. 5 .  
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of another embodiment of an ear muff having anatomically correct ear cups.  
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the anatomically correct right-hand ear cup of the earmuff of  FIG. 8  illustrating an ear receiving chamber of the anatomically correct right-hand ear cup.  
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a back side of the anatomically correct right-hand ear cup of  FIG. 9 .  
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a head band of the earmuff of  FIG. 8  having a first and second end mount connected thereto.  
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the earmuff of  FIG. 8  in a folded, storage position. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
      Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , shown therein is an earmuff  10  having anatomically correct ear cups constructed in accordance with the present invention. The earmuff  10  includes a head band  14 , an anatomically correct right-hand ear cup  16  (also referred to herein as right-hand ear cup  16 ), an anatomically correct left-hand ear cup  18  (also referred to herein as left-hand ear cup  18 ), a first end mount  20 , for connecting the right-hand ear cup  16  to the head band  14 , and a second end mount  22  for connecting the left-hand ear cup  18  to the head band  14 .  
      The term “anatomically correct ear cups” as used herein is to be understood to mean that the ear cups of the earmuff are configured to substantially cover the ears and the auditory ossicles of the person wearing the earmuff, and ear receiving chambers of the ear cups are configured to substantially correspond to the shape of the right and left ears of the person.  
      As shown in  FIG. 1 , the head band  14  is curved to generally conform to the crown of a person&#39;s head and has a right-hand end portion  24  adapted to slidably receive the first end mount  20 , a medial portion  26  and a left-hand end portion  28  adapted to slidably receive the second end mount  22 . A head pad  30  is connected to the medial portion  26  of the head band  14 .  
      The interconnection of the first and second end mounts  20  and  22  to the head band  14  so as to provide adjustment of the length of the first and second end mounts  20  and  22 , and thus the distance of the right-hand ear cup  16  and the left-hand ear cup from the head band  14 , is well known. Thus, no further description of the interconnection of the first and second end mounts  20  and  22  to the head band  14  is believed necessary to enable one skilled in the art of protective earmuffs for encompassing and shielding ears of a person from harmful and annoying noise to understand and practice the present invention.  
      As will be described in more detail herein after, the interconnection of the first and second end mounts  20  and  22  to the right-hand ear cup  16  and the left-hand ear cup  18 , respectively, permits the right and left-hand ear cups  16 ,  18  to be axially rotated so that the right and left ear cups are in proper covering alignment with the person&#39;s right and left ears as shown in  FIG. 1 , while also permitting the right and left ear cups  16  and  18  to be laterally moved to a comfortable, non-interfering position away from a person&#39;s body when the head band  14  is disposed in a storage position about a person&#39;s neck as shown in  FIG. 2 .  
      It should be noted that the right-hand ear cup  16  and the left-hand ear cup  18  are identical in construction and are mirror images of one another. Thus, only the right-hand ear cup  16  and its connection to the first end mount  20  will be described in detail herein after.  
      The right-hand ear cup  16  is provided with a back side portion  32  and a front side portion  34  having a chamber  36  formed therein ( FIG.3 ). The right-hand ear cup  16  is shaped such that, when the right-hand ear cup  16  is positioned over the right ear of a person, the right-hand ear cup  16  covers the right ear of the person and the auditory ossicles associated with the right ear. The right-hand ear cup  16  is further provided with a volume expansion ring  38  detachably connected to the front side portion  34  of the right-hand ear cup  16  so as to be in a covering position over the chamber  36  of the right-hand ear cup  16 . The volume expansion ring  38  is provided with an opening  40  extending there through which is shaped and sized to receive the person&#39;s right ear when the right-hand ear cup  16  is disposed over the person&#39;s right ear. Since the volume expansion is detachably connected to the right-hand ear cup  16 , different and/or a plurality of volume expansion rings can be employed in place of the volume expansion ring  38  for providing attenuation adjustment when required.  
      As more clearly shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , back side portion  32  of the right-hand ear cup  16  is provided with recessed or indented portions  42 . The indented portion  42  on an upper portion of the back side portion  32  of the right-hand ear cup  16  enables the person using the earmuff  10  to wear a hard hat or other types of hats or caps without interfering with the use of the earmuff  10 ; and the indented portion  42  on a lower portion of the back side  32  of the right-hand ear cup  16  provides gun clearance when the person using the earmuff  10  is firing a shoulder gun for recreation and/or sport.  
      The back side portion  32  of the right-hand ear cup  16  is connected to a distal end portion  44  of the first end mount  20  via a first connector assembly  46  ( FIG. 4 ) and the left-hand ear cup  18  is similarly connected to a second connector assembly  47  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) which permits one to axially rotate the right-hand ear cup  16  and the left-hand ear cup  18  to ensure a proper fit of the right-hand ear cup  16  over the right ear and its associated auditory ossicles and the left-hand ear cup  18  over the left ear and its associated auditory ossicles, as well as placement of the head band  14  on the person&#39;s head, while at the same time permitting the right-hand ear cup  16  and the left-hand ear cup  18  to be laterally rotated approximately 170 degrees when the earmuff  10  is worn in a storage position around a person&#39;s neck ( FIG. 2 )  
      It should be noted that the first connector assembly  46  for connecting the right-hand ear cup  16  to the first end mount  20  and the second connector assembly  47  for connecting the left-hand ear cup  18  to the second end mount  22  are identical in construction and function. Thus, only the first connector assembly  46  for connecting the right-hand ear cup  16  to the distal end portion  44  of the first end mount  20  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 5-7 .  
      The back side portion  32  of the right-hand ear cup  16  is provided with a substantially planar connecting area  48  adapted to receive a housing or cap of the first connector assembly  46 , such as substantially dome-shaped housing  50 . Centrally disposed within the substantially planar connecting area  48  is a post  52  having an enlarged circular shaped head  54  on its distal end. As will be setforth in more detail herein after, the inter connection of the dome-shaped housing  50  and the post  52  permits the desired axial rotation of the right-hand ear cup  16 .  
      As more clearly shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the dome-shaped housing  50  is provided with a substantially T-shaped slot  56  adapted to receive the post  52  and its enlarged circular shaped head  54 . Thus, upon positioning the post  52  in the T-shaped slot  56 , the dome-shaped housing  50  is connected to the post  52  and the enlarged circular shaped head  54  of the post  52  permits the dome-shaped housing  50  to axially rotate about the post  52 .  
      Referring now to  FIG. 5 , the distal end portion  44  of the first end mount  20  defines a yoke  58  having a substantially U-shaped opening  60 . A pair of lugs  62  and  64  extend from the yoke  58  a predetermined distance into the substantially U-shaped opening  60  substantially as shown. To connect the yoke  58  to the dome-shaped housing  50 , and thereby secure the dome-shaped housing  50  on the post  52 , and the yoke  58  is spread open a distance sufficient to allow the lugs  62  and  64  to be aligned with the T-shaped slot  56  in the dome-shaped housing  50 . Thereafter, the yoke is released and the lugs  62  and  64  are inserted into the T-shaped slot  56  thereby securing the right-hand ear cup  16  to the first end mount  20  via the dome-shaped housing  50 , the post  52  and the yoke  58 .  
      As previously stated, the inter connection of the right-hand ear cup  16  to the first end mount  20  permits the right-hand ear cup  16  to axially rotated about the post  52 . To stabilize the right-hand ear cup  16  in a desired position, the back side portion  32  of the right-hand ear cup  16  is provided with a plurality of rib members  66  extending outwardly from the post  52  and terminating substantially adjacent the outer perimeter of the substantially planar connecting area  48 ; and the dome-shaped housing  50  is provided with a plurality of teeth  68 . The teeth  68  are spaced a distance from one another so that when the dome-shaped housing  50  is connected the right-hand ear cup  16 , the rib members  66  formed on the back side of the right-hand ear cup  16  are positioned between adjacent teeth  68  of the dome-shaped housing  50 . Thus, once the right-hand ear cup  16  is rotatably moved to a desired position, the rib members  66  and the teeth  68  cooperate to maintain the right-hand ear cup  16  in the desired position.  
      As previously stated, the inter connection of the left-hand ear cup  18  to the second end mount  22  is identical to that described above with reference to the right-hand ear cup  16  and the first end mount  20 . Thus, the right and left-hand ear cups  16  and  18  can be axially rotated independently of each other, and the inter connection of the first and second end mounts  20  and  22  to the right hand and left-hand cups  16  and  18  via the first and second connector assemblies  46  and  47 , permit the right and left-hand cups  16  and  18  to be laterally rotated to a storage position independently of one another.  
      While the first connector assembly  46  has been shown as having a dome-shaped housing  50 , it should be understood that the housing of the first and second connector assemblies  46  and  47  can be of any configuration as long as the inner connection of the housings to their respective end mounts permits the right-hand ear cup  16 , and the left-hand ear cup  18  to be laterally rotated as described above.  
      Referring now to  FIG. 8 , shown therein is another embodiment of an earmuff  70  having anatomically correct ear cups constructed in accordance with the present invention. The earmuff  70  includes a head band  74 , an anatomically correct right-hand ear cup  76  (also referred to herein as right-hand ear cup  76 ), an anatomically correct left-hand ear cup  78  (also referred to herein as left-hand ear cup  78 ), a first end mount  80  for connecting the right-hand ear cup  76  to the head band  74 , and a second end mount  82  for connecting the left-hand ear cup  78  to the head band  74 .  
      The head band  74  is curved to generally conform to the crown of a person&#39;s head and has a right-hand end portion  84  adapted to slidably receive the first end mount  80 , a medial portion  86  and a left-hand end portion  88  adapted to slidably receive the second end mount  82 . A head pad  90  is connected to the medial portion  86  of the head band  74 .  
      The interconnection of the first and second end mounts  80  and  82  to the head band  74  so as to provide adjustment of the length of the first and second end mounts  80  and  82 , and thus the distance of the right-hand ear cup  76  and the left-hand ear cup  78  from the head band  74 , is well known. Thus, no further description of the interconnection of the first and second end mounts  80  and  82  to the head band  74  is believed necessary to enable one skilled in the art of protective earmuffs for encompassing and shielding ears of a person from harmful and annoying noise to understand and practice the present invention. As will be described in more detail herein after, the interconnection of the first and second end mounts  80  and  82  to the right-hand ear cup  76  and the left-hand ear cup  78 , respectively, permits alignment of the right and left-hand ear cups  76  and  78  within a distal end portion of the first and second end mounts  80  and  82 .  
      It should be noted that the right-hand ear cup  76  and the left-hand ear cup  78 , and the first and second end mount  80  and  82  are identical in construction and are mirror images of one another. Thus, only the right-hand ear cup  76  and its connection to the first end mount  80  will be described in detail herein after.  
      The right-hand ear cup  76  is provided with a back side portion  92  ( FIG. 10 ) and a front side portion  94  having a chamber  96  formed therein ( FIG. 9 ). The right-hand ear cup  76  is shaped such that, when the right-hand ear cup  76  is positioned over the right ear of a person, the right-hand ear cup  76  covers the right ear of the person and the auditory ossicles associated with the right ear. The right-hand ear cup  76  is further provided with a volume expansion ring  98  detachably connected to the front side portion  94  of the right-hand ear cup  76  so as to be in a covering position over the chamber  96  of the right-hand ear cup  76 . The volume expansion ring  98  is provided with an opening  100  extending there through which is shaped and sized to receive the person&#39;s a right ear when the right-hand ear cup  76  is disposed over the person&#39;s right ear. Since the volume expansion ring  98  is detachably connected to the right-hand ear cup  76 , different and/or a plurality of volume expansion rings can be employed in place of the volume expansion ring  98  for providing attenuation adjustment when required.  
      The back side portion  92  of the right-hand ear cup  76  is provided with recessed or indented portions  102 . The indented portion  102  on an upper portion of the back side portion  92  of the right-hand ear cup  76  enables the person using the earmuff  70  to wear a hard hat or other types of hats or caps without interfering with the use of the earmuff  70 ; and the indented portion  102  on a lower portion of the back side portion  92  of the right-hand ear cup  76  provides gun clearance when the person using the earmuff  70  is firing a shoulder gun for recreation and/or sport.  
      Shown in  FIG. 11 , a yoke  104  is pivotally connected to a distal end  106  of the first end mount  80 , and the yoke  104  defines an opening  108  adapted to receive the right-hand ear cup  76 . Disposed near a distal end  109  of the yoke  104  are housings  110  containing a plurality of step portions  112  adapted to pivotally receive pivot pins  114  and  116  disposed on opposite sides of the right-hand ear cup  76  substantially as shown. Similar, a yoke  118  is pivotally connected to a distal end  120  of the second end mount  82 , and the yoke  118  defines an opening  122  adapted to receive the left-hand ear cup  78 . Disposed near a distal end  124  of the yoke  118  are housings  126  containing a plurality of step portions  128  adapted to pivotally receive pivot pins (not shown) of the left-hand ear cup  78 . Thus, the right-hand ear cup  76  can be aligned within the opening  100  in the yoke  104  and the left-hand ear cup  78  can be aligned within the opening  122  in the yoke  118 , since the first and second end mounts  80  and  82  can be adjusted length wise in a conventional manner such that the right-hand ear cup  76  and the left-hand ear cup  78  are secured in a proper fitting position. The pivotal connection of the distal end  106  of the first end mount  80  to yoke  104 , in combination with the pivotal connection of the right-hand ear cup  76  to the yoke  104 , and the pivotal connection of the distal end  120  of the second end mount  82  to the yoke  118 , in combination with the pivotal connection of the left-hand ear cup  78  to the yoke  118  permits the ear muff  70  to be stored in a folded position substantially as shown in  FIG. 12 .  
      The ear muffs  10  and  70  herein described are desirably fabricated of a combination or plastic materials, rubber and metal. In addition, it is clear from the above description that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objects and to obtain the advantages mentioned herein as well as those inherent in the invention. While presently preferred embodiments of the invention have been described for purposes of this disclosure, it will be understood that numerous changes may be made which will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and which are accomplished within the spirit of the invention disclosed and claimed.