Earplug attached to an elastic band

Abstract

An earplug selectively insertable into an ear canal for protection of the ear is attached to an elastic band that can be looped around the ear to retain the earplug immediately adjacent the ear even when the plug is removed from the ear canal. The elastic band may be an endless band or a strap having end portions adjustably connected together as desired to form a band of the desired size.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to earplugs, and particularly to an earplug combined with an elastic band that retains the earplug close to the ear even when the earplug is not inserted in the ear canal.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Many persons are required to use earplugs for various reasons, such as to prevent water from reaching the wearer's inner ear during swimming and diving. Earplugs are also employed as protection from excessive and possibly harmful sound. A problem encountered with the use of a conventional earplug such as that shown in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,355,276, issued Oct. 12, 1920, to F. A. Schultz, can be that the plug is easily lost, either by becoming dislodged from the ear while in use, or by being misplaced when removed from the ear. Further, since it is usually inconvenient to remove the earplugs between dives or when out of the water temporarily, the wearer must put up with the annoyance of being hard of hearing at such times. As a result most people who want to wear earplugs, or who should wear them for some reason, tend not to bother with them. Even when one who does use earplugs when engaged in some activity, or when subjected to certain conditions, stops that activity or ceases being subjected to those conditions for awhile, the earplugs are difficult to store and handle so as to be ready for the next time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an earplug assembly which can be worn on an ear while removed from the ear canal and can be quickly and easily inserted into the ear canal when needed.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an earplug assembly that permits the earplug to be quickly and easily removed from an ear canal when the plug is not needed.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an earplug which is convenient to store and handle, and is not easily lost.

These and other objects are achieved according to the present invention by combining an earplug with an elastic band that retains the earplug on the ear even when the earplug is withdrawn from the ear canal itself.

According to one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the support is an elastic band that can be looped around the ear and connected to the earplug. Another preferred embodiment of an earplug support according to the present invention is an elastic strap having a pair of spaced ends. One of the ends has an aperture, and the other end can be pushed through the aperture to form an endless band that fits around the ear.

The endless elastic band preferably is formed as a half-oval to conform to the ear to provide a secure, comfortable fit. Another feature of the present invention is the provision of a projection on the earplug for facilitating removal of the plug from ear canal.

These and other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described in the following specification and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, side elevational view showing the plug portion of a banded earplug constructed according to the present invention and inserted into an ear cavity.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, side elevational view, similar to FIG. 1, but showing the plug portion of the banded earplug removed from the ear cavity.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a banded earplug according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 4--4 of FIG. 3, but showing a modified construction.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a modified embodiment of a banded earplug according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 6--6 of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings show a human head 10 with an ear 12 on which is arranged a banded earplug 14 according to the present invention. The earplug itself is best seen in FIG. 3 of the drawings.

The banded earplug 14 has a plug portion 16 provided with a flange 18 at one end and a flange 20 at the base thereof. The flange 20 is, itself, connected to a support in the form of an endless elastic band 22 to retain the plug portion 16 on the ear 12 when the plug portion is removed from the ear canal. An edge 24 of the flange is preferably made flush with an associated surface of the band 22 to eliminate excessive material and to facilitate fitting the plug portion 16 into the ear canal.

The band 22 is preferably formed by molding and is in the form of a half-oval, best seen in FIG. 3. This shape conforms generally to the shape of the ear and permits a secure, comfortable fit of the band around the ear.

A projection 25 may be provided on the outwardly directed surface 26 of the flange 20 to facilitate removal of the earplug 14 from the ear. Although the projection 25 is illustrated adjacent the juncture of the band 22 and the flange 20 and oriented parallel to the edge 24 of the flange 20, it is to be understood that the projection may be disposed and oriented otherwise if advantageous to do so.

Although the endless band 22 and the flange 20 may be formed as separate elements and suitably connected together, by a conventional adhesive suitable for the purpose, FIG. 4 of the drawings shows a modification of earplug 14 in which a flange 20' and an endless band 22' are formed, or molded, in one piece to provide a portion 27 connecting a plug portion 16' to the band 22'.

FIGS. 5 and 6 of the drawings show a modified embodiment of a banded earplug according to the present invention with a strap 28 attached to the earplug 16 in a manner similar to that for attachment of the earplug 16 to the band 22. Further, it is to be understood that the plug portion 16 could be formed in one piece the elastic strap 28 by conventional molding techniques, and the like. The elastic strap 28 has a pair of spaced ends 30 and 32. The end 30 is provided with an aperture 34, and the end 32 is adjustably inserted in the aperture 34 to form an endless band that can be looped snugly around the wearer's ear 12. The end 32 may have a plurality of serially arranged pairs of the barbs 36 for engaging opposite edges of the aperture 34 by a selective pair of the barbs 36. In this manner, the end 32 can be inserted in the aperture 34, adjusted to provide a predetermined size of the loop formed by the strap 28, and retained at the predetermined size by interaction of the barb 36 and the edges of the aperture 34. The end 32 is also preferably provided with a pointed tip 38 arranged to facilitate insertion of the end 32 into the aperture 34.

It is to be understood that banded earplugs formed according to the present invention could be constructed in different or modified designs from those shown in the drawings. In particular, the designs illustrated in the drawings have been found to work well for earplugs used by swimmers. But, a slightly different configuration of the banded earplugs may be better when the earplugs are to be used for sound deadening.

The endless elastic band encircling the ear need not be tight and causes no discomfort when the plug portion is removed temporarily from the ear canal. Also, when the plug portion is inserted into the ear canal the endless elastic band conforms nicely to the ear. See FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings.

As can be readily appreciated from the above description and from the drawings, a banded earplug according to the present invention is convenient to store and handle, is not easily lost, and is convenient to put into and take out of the ear canal. A wearer can flip the plug portion out of the ear canal while in the water after a dive, and the like, and can reinsert the plug portion with only one finger while either in or out of the water. Further, the plug portion need not be pushed in tightly.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An earplug comprising a plug portion of a size and configuration suitable for being inserted into an ear canal for protecting the same; and an elastic band for completely encircling the wearer's ear adjacent the wearer's head, the band being elastically but flexibly attached to the plug portion for retaining the plug portion adjacent the ear when the plug portion is removed from the ear canal.

2. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the elastic band comprises: a strap having a pair of spaced ends, one of the ends having an aperture to receive the other of the ends adjustably inserted in the aperture to form an endless band to fit around the wearer's ear, a central part of the elastic band being connected to the plug portion.

3. A structure as defined in claim 2, wherein the other of the ends of the strap is provided with a plurality of serially arranged pairs of barbs for engaging opposite edges of the aperture to hold the one end of the band relative to a selected one of the pairs of barbs, the extremity of the other of the ends of the strap having a pointed tip to facilitate its insertion into the aperture.

4. A structure as defined in claim 3, wherein the plug portion and the elastic band are molded in one piece.

5. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the elastic band is an endless band connected to the plug portion, and capable of being looped around the wearer's ear to hold onto the ear snugly.

6. A structure as defined in claim 5, wherein the plug portion and the endless elastic band are molded in one piece.

7. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the plug portion and the elastic band are molded in one piece.

8. A structure as defined in claim 5, wherein the endless elastic band is formed in the shape of a half-oval conforming to the shape of the wearer's ear immediately adjacent the wearer's head for permitting a secure, comfortable fit of the band on the wearer's ear.

9. A structure as defined in claim 5, further comprising a projection provided on the earplug and arranged to facilitate removal of the plug portion from the wearer's ear.

10. A molded, elastic earplug comprising an elongated plug portion having one end of a size and configuration suitable for being inserted into an ear canal to protect the same, a flange on said end, and a base at the other end; a freely flexible band integrally molded with the plug portion and attached to the base and of a size to be looped around the wearer's ear to hold the plug portion adjacent the wearer's ear even when the plug is not inserted into the wearer's ear canal; and a projection extending from the base portion on the surface thereof that faces outwardly when the plug portion is inserted into the wearer's ear canal, the projection forming a convenient lever to flip the plug portion out of the wearer's ear canal when the wearer so desires.