JPH0240972Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] (Field of industrial application) This invention is used by passengers or crew members onboard an aircraft to prevent ear pain caused by the pressure difference between the outside and outside of the eardrum when the aircraft descends. Regarding earplugs.

(Prior Art) Aircraft usually fly at a height of 10,000 meters, and at this height, the interior of the aircraft is pressurized to about 0.8 atmospheres so as not to make passengers uncomfortable. The reason why the air pressure during flight is not set to 1 atm, the same as on the ground, is because
This is to eliminate the need to increase the pressure resistance of the aircraft and to reduce the weight of the aircraft. During the descent, the aircraft descends at a speed of approximately 90 meters per minute from the above-mentioned high point to a point above ground where the pressure is 1 atmosphere, and the cabin pressure increases accordingly. In this case, the increased cabin pressure is applied to the outer surface of the eardrum, and the pressure in the tympanic cavity inside the eardrum tends to be lower than the cabin pressure.
This pressure difference acts on the eardrum. Here, if the Eustachian tube function is normal, by repeatedly opening the Eustachian tube, such as unconsciously swallowing, it is possible to draw outside air into the tympanic cavity inside the eardrum and eliminate the pressure difference between the outside and outside of the eardrum. If the ear's function is reduced due to a cold or ear disease, the Eustachian tube does not open properly and the pressure difference between the outside and outside of the eardrum increases, putting pressure on the eardrum and causing intense pain, resulting in aero-otitis media. . In fact, it has been reported that approximately 1 in 5 crew members who frequently go up and down airplanes suffer from aviation otitis media, which is also referred to as an occupational disease. This means that many employees are required to take time off, and the damage caused by this time off is also significant.

In order to prevent the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the eardrum from occurring due to the sudden increase in cabin pressure during descent, it may be possible to plug the ears with earplugs used for swimming, but earplugs for swimming can prevent air from leaking out. It leaks and is useless. It should be noted that this does not pose much of a problem when the aircraft is climbing because the climbing is done more slowly than when it is descending.

(Problems to be solved by the invention) In view of the above-mentioned points, the present invention completely eliminates outside air in order to prevent the occurrence of earache and otitis media due to the sudden increase in pressure difference between the outside and outside of the eardrum that occurs when an aircraft descends. The purpose of the present invention is to provide earplugs for aircraft that can be used to block noise.

(Means for Solving the Problem) In order to achieve this object, the aircraft earplug of the present invention has a bag-like shape with a closed inner end and a circular cross section, and includes a rubber material to be inserted into the external auditory canal, and the rubber material. A metal or resin block having an outer end opening fixed thereto, and a through hole provided in the block being slidably inserted thereinto,
It consists of a push rod whose tip part can come into contact with the inner surface of the inner end of the rubber material and whose outer end protrudes outward from the outer end of the block, and the push rod pushes the rubber material. As a result, the rubber material stretches into a cylindrical shape and has a small diameter that can be inserted into the ear canal.
The present invention is characterized in that when the push rod is released, the rubber material is elastically restored and comes into pressure contact with the inner wall of the external auditory canal.

(Example) An example of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
The figure shows an example of the earplug of the present invention, and in the figure, 1 is the external auditory canal (the so-called ear hole), 2 is the eardrum, 3 is the eardrum,
Reference numeral 4 denotes an earplug according to the present invention that is inserted into the external auditory canal 1. The earplug 4 has a bag-like shape with a closed inner end and a circular cross section. A metal or resin block 7 whose end opening is fixed with a tightening band 6 or the like, adhesive or fitting, and a flat plate at the tip that is slidably inserted into a through hole 8 provided in the block 7. Part 9a
The push rod 9 is provided so as to be able to come into contact with the inner surface of the inner end of the rubber material 5, and whose outer end 9b projects outward from the outer end of the block 7.

When using this earplug 4, by pushing the rubber material 5 with the push rod 9 as shown by the two-dot chain line a, the rubber material 5 is expanded into a cylindrical shape as shown by the two-dot chain line b, and the small diameter The earplug 4 is inserted into the ear canal 1 in a relaxed state, and by releasing the push rod 9 after insertion, the rubber material 5 restores its elasticity as shown by the solid line c and comes into pressure contact with the inner wall of the ear canal 1. is ear canal 1
It is attached in close contact with the

When implementing the present invention, various changes and additions may be made to the shapes and combinations of the rubber material 5, block 7, push rod 9, etc., without departing from the gist of the present invention. It is possible.

(Effects of the invention) As described above, the earplug of the invention has a bag-like shape with a closed inner end and a circular cross section, and has a rubber material that is inserted into the external auditory canal and an outer end opening of the rubber material that is fixed. It is slidably inserted into a metal or resin block and a through hole provided in the block, so that the tip part can come into contact with the inner surface of the inner end of the rubber material, and the outer end part is attached to the outside of the block. It consists of a push rod that protrudes outward from the end, and when the push rod pushes the rubber material, the rubber material stretches into a cylindrical shape and has a small diameter that can be inserted into the external auditory canal, and then the push rod is released. As a result, the rubber material is elastically restored and pressed into contact with the inner wall of the ear canal, making it possible to create earplugs that can be worn in close contact with the ear canal, and when used when an aircraft descends, there will be no air leakage and the eardrum will be closed. It is possible to alleviate the sudden pressure difference that is applied to the ear, and prevent the occurrence of ear pain and otitis media.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawing is a side sectional view showing an embodiment of the earplug according to the present invention in a worn state.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A rubber material with a closed inner end and a circular cross-sectional bag shape to be inserted into the ear canal, a metal or resin block to which the outer end opening of the rubber material is fixed, and a rubber material that is inserted into a through hole provided in the block. a push rod that is movably inserted through the block, has a tip end that can come into contact with the inner surface of the inner end of the rubber material, and an outer end that projects outward from the outer end of the block; By pushing the rubber material with a rod, the rubber material expands into a cylindrical shape and has a small diameter that can be inserted into the external auditory canal, and when the push rod is released, the rubber material becomes multiple due to its elasticity and comes into pressure contact with the inner wall of the external auditory canal. Aircraft earplugs characterized by comprising: