The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 09, 1996
Filed:
Aug. 24, 1994
Ward B Krause, Spotsylvania, VA (US);
Other;
Abstract
A bi-directionally insertable elastomeric ear plug for sealing an ear canal has an outer body defining two identical expansible and collapsible fluid chambers. A fluid, preferably air, is sealed within the outer body, and a passageway is defined between the two fluid chambers for selectively placing the chambers in fluid communication with each other. An elastically displaceable wall bounding the passageway acts as a two-way pressure responsive valve operative to close the passageway and thereby maintain an equilibrium condition with one of the chambers expanded and the other collapsed, and to temporarily open the passageway when one of the chambers is squeezed. The collapsed chamber is insertable into an ear canal with the aid of an elongated semi-rigid core member extending within the outer body. Thereafter, the expanded chamber can be squeezed to expand the collapsed chamber inside of the ear canal to obtain a comfortable yet tight form-fitting seal.