3m Innovative Properties Company

Ravi Thomas

Jeffrey L Hamer

Kenneth F Teeters

Jacob H Ely

Paul D Henry

Robert C Coffin

Matthew V Stonebraker, Jr

James D Brown

Michael J Pescetto

David M Lutgring

Gregory George Tamer

Andrew Linton

Tim Stern

William P Atwood

Mark White

Robert Karlsson

Mark A Yoder

Niklas D B Emilsson

Yi-Chi Huang

Ken F Teeters

Jeff L Hamer

Andrew R Linton

Timothy J Stern

Battery

An earplug comprises a core and a sound-attenuating body attached to the core, the sound-attenuating body comprising a tip cavity extending proximally from the tip of the sound-attenuating body and comprising a distal opening. The tip cavity side wall includes a plurality of protrusions extending inwardly toward the longitudinal axis of the core. The plurality of protrusions may include from 2 to 12 protrusions. A method of making an earplug includes covering at least a portion of a core with a material including unactivated foaming agent; inserting an end of the core and at least a portion of the material into a mold cavity; and activating the foaming agent to create a sound-attenuating body. The sound-attenuating body has a base, tip, and tip cavity with a plurality of protrusions. The mold cavity may include a boss with a cup and plurality of cut-outs on the cup for forming the protrusions.

Push-to-fit earplug with tip cavity

Hearing protector

The present description provides an earplug. One exemplary earplug described herein includes a stem and a sound attenuating body attached to the stem. The sound attenuating body includes a leading end, a base end, a tip region positioned rearward of the leading end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the leading end and the base end. An array of cavities is positioned within the tip region and spaced around the longitudinal axis and provides a collapsible volume.

Push-to-fit earplug having an array of cavities

Hearing protection devices, e.g., push-to-fit earplugs, having a tip cavity in the sound attenuating body and methods of manufacturing the hearing protection devices are described herein.

Earplug with tip cavity and methods of manufacturing the same

Push to talk handheld device having a stepped body for buttons

Push to talk handheld device having a curvature near the body and cable connection

Earplug

Earplug tip

Push to talk handheld device with body scallops around buttons

Ear tip

Growing community of inventors

Avon, IN, United States of America

Ravi Thomas