Bacou USA Safety, Inc.

Howard Leight Industries, LLC

Bacou-Dalloz USA Safety, Inc.

Howard S. Leight and Associates, Inc.

Bacon USA Safety, Inc.

Sperlan Hearing Protection, LLC

Thomas W Fleming

Edwin Woo

Howard S Leight

John Allen Jenkins, Jr

William Nyugen

Bill Nyugen

An earplug with a stem () and with fins (-) extending at rearward and radially-outward inclines from the stem, is constructed for comfort and for high noise blocking. The stem has a multiplicity of air pockets () lying in an imaginary band () that lies on the earplug axis (). The band has opposite band sides () spaced radially inward of the periphery () of the stem, the air pockets helping to block the passage of noise. A plurality of the fins are of constant thickness with parallel front and rear surfaces (), and with the fins being stubby with a fin thickness (T) at least 20% of the fin length (E), and with the front surface () of each fin being at least 20% longer than the fin length (E), all as seen in a sectional view taken along the earplug axis (). Stem peripheral parts () that lie between adjacent fins, extend continuously at rearward and radially inward inclines of more than 15&#xb0;.

Fin earplug

An earplug of the type that has a stem () and a plurality of flanges (), is constructed to be stiff enough to be easily inserted into the ear canal, and to thereafter press with minimal force against the walls of the ear canal for comfort. The earplug is molded of an elastomeric material whose stiffness decreases considerably, such as at least 4%, when it is warmed from room temperature (about 72&#xb0; F.) to ear canal temperature (about 100&#xb0; F.). Each flange has a radially inner portion () that extends straight at an angle (B) that is within 15&#xb0; of a radial direction () (a direction perpendicular to the stem axis), and has a radially outer portion () that extends straight and at an angle (C) that is within 20&#xb0; of an axial direction ().

Conforming earplug

Flange earplug

An earplug is provided for use by an airplane passenger, which more slowly increases the pressure of air in the passenger's ear canal than the rate of increase in cabin air pressure as the airplane descends near the end of a flight. The earplug has a cavity ( ) that is open to the front end ( ) of the earplug, and with a restrictor ( ) at the front end of the cavity that allows air to pass between the cavity and ear canal, and the cavity to collapse, only at a very slow rate. As the environmental air pressure increases near the end of a flight, the earplug is slowly compressed in diameter and compresses the cavity.

Pressure regulating earplug

Earplug

Earplug with low angle flanges

A banded earmuff for protecting a worker's hearing, includes a band ( ) formed of a wire frame ( ) and a flexible polymer sheath ( ) around much of the wire frame and a pair of pods ( ) that press around the wearer's ears. The wire frame includes parallel wire lengths ( ) with opposite end parts joined by loops ( ). Each pod that seals around the ear has a mount ( ) that is coupled to the wire length end parts. Each mount has a groove ( ) with opposite sides that receive the pair of wire length end parts. This allows the pod to pivot on the wire length end parts, and to also slide along them. The sheath is molded with a pair of slits ( ), and middle length parts of the wire frame are installed through the slits into passages ( ) in the sheath.

Wire band earmuff

Earplug container

An attachment (10) for safety eyeglasses includes a mount (30) that mounts on an eyeglass temple bar, an earplug (32) that can fit into the ear canal to block noise, and a coupling (34) that connects the mount to the earplug. The mount includes a tube of elastomeric material that can be stretched over the temple bar to fix its position and prevent 'jiggling'. The coupling includes a wire of resilient plastic that is wound into a tight helix. The diameter of the helix is about 1 cm, which allows it to be stored between the rear of the outer ear and the skull, to minimize earplug motion when the earplug is not inserted into the ear canal.

Earplug attachment for eyeglasses

Pair of earmuffs

Earplug dispenser

An earplug is described, with a metal insert that enables the earplug to be detected if it falls in a vat of food or other material during industrial processing, wherein the insert can be very easily attached, with or without a cord, to even an earplug body formed of resilient foam. The earplug includes a molded earplug body (12) having an axis (16) extending in forward and rearward directions. The earplug includes a detectable insert (14) attached to the rear portion (22) of the body, the insert comprising a fastener having a shaft (32) extending through a hole (30) in the rearward portion of the body and having a pair of flanges (34, 36) at opposite sides of the rearward portion, with foam body material compressed between the flanges. A cord (96) is attached to the earplug, the cord having a wrapped end part (110) that is wrapped around the shaft and which is compressed between a flange (34) and the compressed portion of the earplug body.

Discoverable earplug

Growing community of inventors

San Diego, CA, United States of America

Thomas W Fleming