WO2020180901A1 - Système de bouchon d'oreille à évent pour atténuation sonore - Google Patents

Système de bouchon d'oreille à évent pour atténuation sonore Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2020180901A1
WO2020180901A1 PCT/US2020/020850 US2020020850W WO2020180901A1 WO 2020180901 A1 WO2020180901 A1 WO 2020180901A1 US 2020020850 W US2020020850 W US 2020020850W WO 2020180901 A1 WO2020180901 A1 WO 2020180901A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
plug body
internal conduit
membrane wall
exterior surface
earplug
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/US2020/020850
Other languages
English (en)
Other versions
WO2020180901A8 (fr
Inventor
Monika PUGLIANO
Ozden USLU
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Microsonic Inc
Original Assignee
Microsonic Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US16/294,913 external-priority patent/US20190201243A1/en
Application filed by Microsonic Inc filed Critical Microsonic Inc
Publication of WO2020180901A1 publication Critical patent/WO2020180901A1/fr
Publication of WO2020180901A8 publication Critical patent/WO2020180901A8/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F11/00—Methods or devices for treatment of the ears or hearing sense; Non-electric hearing aids; Methods or devices for enabling ear patients to achieve auditory perception through physiological senses other than hearing sense; Protective devices for the ears, carried on the body or in the hand
    • A61F11/06—Protective devices for the ears
    • A61F11/08—Protective devices for the ears internal, e.g. earplugs
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F11/00—Methods or devices for treatment of the ears or hearing sense; Non-electric hearing aids; Methods or devices for enabling ear patients to achieve auditory perception through physiological senses other than hearing sense; Protective devices for the ears, carried on the body or in the hand
    • A61F11/06—Protective devices for the ears
    • A61F11/08—Protective devices for the ears internal, e.g. earplugs
    • A61F11/085—Protective devices for the ears internal, e.g. earplugs including an inner channel

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to sound attenuation devices that are inserted into the auditory canal of the ear. More particularly, the present invention is related to sound attenuation devices that provide both decibel filtering and frequency filtering.
  • Such amorphous materials are inserted into the auditory canal and seal the auditory canal.
  • the shape of the auditory canal changes .
  • the amorphous material becomes deformed and gaps appear around the material . The gaps create openings though which loud sounds can propagate .
  • fix molded earplugs have both advantages and disadvantages.
  • An advantage of fix molded earplugs is that the earplug can be engineered to attenuate only certain decibel levels and certain frequency ranges . Such precision earplugs are typically
  • protection device does not perform as intended and the user is likely to avoid using the device.
  • sensitivity is due to accumulation of sound pressure levels within the ear canal, especially that occur in low frequencies . This causes a hollow or echoic perception to low frequency sounds and vibrations that can be distracting and/or discomforting.
  • the present invention is an earplug device that is placed in the ear canal to attenuate sound frequencies within a selected frequency range.
  • the earplug has a plug body.
  • the plug body has a first end, an opposite second end, and an exterior surface that extends from the first end to the second end.
  • the exterior surface can be shaped to fit an average ear or can be custom molded to the anatomy of a specific person.
  • a vent channel is formed into the exterior surface of the plug body.
  • the vent channel is narrow and extends between the first end and the second end of the plug body.
  • the vent channel enables the pressure within the ear canal behind the earplug to equalize with ambient air pressure.
  • the vent channel also enables a low level of sound to pass the earplug, therein enabling a person wearing the earplugs to understand spoken communications .
  • An opening is formed in the plug body at the first end.
  • the opening leads to an internal conduit within the plug body.
  • the internal conduit is formed in the plug body at the first end.
  • the internal conduit and the membrane wall both act upon incoming acoustic signals to both lower volume and attenuate certain undesired frequency ranges .
  • FIG. 1 is a side view of an exemplary
  • an earplug shown in conjunction with the auditory canal of an ear
  • FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the earplug of Fig. 1, shown engaged within the auditory canal;
  • FIG. 3 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the exemplary earplug of Fig. 1 viewed along section line 3-3;
  • FIG. 4 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the exemplary earplug in conjunction with an incoming audio signal and a reflected signal.
  • the present invention earplug system is typically sold in pairs for protecting both the left ear and the right ear, only one earplug is herein illustrated and described. It will be understood that the second earplug for the full set would have a mirrored geometry and would be manufactured and utilized in the same manner.
  • the illustrated embodiment is selected for simplicity of description and represents one of the best modes contemplated for the invention. The illustrated embodiment, however, is merely exemplary and should not be considered a limitation when interpreting the scope of the appended claims .
  • the earplug 10 has a fitted plug body 12 that is generally horn shaped. That is, the plug body 12 has a first end 14 with a large diameter and a second end 16 with a small diameter, similar to the horn of trumpet.
  • the plug body 12 has an exterior surface 18.
  • the exterior surface 18 is anatomically shaped so that it matches the contours of the outer ear canal 20 and the incisura 21 that leads into the outer ear canal 20.
  • the exterior surface 18 of the plug body 12 matches the shape of the outer ear canal 20 with the exception of a vent channel 25.
  • the vent channel 25 is a groove or depression formed into the exterior surface 18 of the plug body 12.
  • the vent channel 25 extends between the first end 14 of the plug body 12 and the second end 16 of the plug body 12.
  • the vent channel 25 does not become occluded when the earplug 10 is placed in the ear canal 20. This leaves a long narrow opening past the earplug 10 that enables air pressure within the ear canal 20 to gradually equalized with ambient pressure. This eliminates the occurrence of any occlusion effect that would otherwise occur from uneven pressures.
  • the vent channel 25 has a preferred cross- sectional area of between 1 mm 2 and 5 mm 2 .
  • the long narrow vent channel 25 is not straight. Rather, the vent channel 25 follows the complex curvature of the exterior surface 18 of the fitted plug body 12.
  • the narrow size and complex shape of the vent channel 25 has the effect of attenuating loud noise, while enabling a small percentage of the softer sounds to pass.
  • the earplug 10 will, therefore, attenuate loud sounds across the hearing spectrum, yet will still enable a person to hear spoken words .
  • the narrow complex shape of the vent channel 25 causes air pressure on either side of the earplug 10 to equalize slowly. This gradual venting prevents the popping and ringing of ears in barometrically dynamic
  • the plug body 12 can be injection molded or 3D printed using a soft elastomeric material or soft curable polymer.
  • the plug body 12 of the earplug 10 contacts the skin of the ear across the entire exterior surface 18 of the plug body 12 with the exception of the vent channel 25. As such, there is substantial material-to-ear contact across the exterior surface 18 of the earplug 10 from the first end 14 to the second end 16. The result is that although mandible movement of the user may create temporary gaps in the material-to-ear contact, the gaps are localized. The gaps never extend completely from the first end 14 to the second end 16.
  • the integrity of the earplug 10 is not compromised and no sound energy can pass to the ear in an unintended manner.
  • the earplug 10 has a bell opening 22 at the first end 14 of the plug body 12.
  • the bell opening 22 tapers down into an internal channel 24 that travels through the plug body 12 toward the second end 16.
  • the dimensions and length of the internal channel 24 are designed to produce an acoustic waveguide.
  • the diameter of the internal channel 24 limits the amplitude of any acoustic signal entering the waveguide. The average diameter can be varied between 0.5 mm and 5 mm depending upon the size of the plug body 12 and the level of amplitude
  • the membrane wall 28 is engineered to create a specific level of amplitude and frequency filtering above and beyond that created by the dimensions of the internal channel 24. The thicker the membrane wall 28, the more sound energy is absorbed. Likewise, the thicker the membrane wall 28, the more
  • the preferred thickness of the membrane wall 28 is between 0.2 mm and 2 mm
  • the membrane wall 28 be curved.
  • the curved shape provides rigidity to the membrane wall 28 and prevents the membrane wall 28 from vibrating in sympathy with incoming acoustical energy. The result is that the membrane wall 28 will absorb acoustical energy rather than vibrate and will propagate that energy toward the second end 16 of the plug body 12.
  • the internal channel 24 terminates the internal channel 24, can be used to attenuate incoming audio signals 30.
  • the degree of attenuation can be controlled. Since the internal channel 24 and the membrane wall 28 together form an acoustic waveguide structure, it will be understood that these elements can be resonance-tuned to attenuate specific frequency ranges . This is accomplished by altering the dimensions of the internal channel 24 and the thickness of the membrane wall 28 so that incoming audio signals 30 within specific frequency ranges will be efficiently absorbed and/or reflected. This is achieved, in part, by having the incoming audio signals 30 impinge upon the membrane wall 28 at or near the largest amplitude of its waveform 32. This causes a reflected waveform 33 in an inverted phase to the incoming audio signals 30. The waveforms 32, 33 cancel each other and frequency filtering is accomplished. Accordingly, the length of the internal channel 24 should not be at or near a positive integer multiple of the undesired
  • the dimensions of the vent channel 25, the internal channel 24 and the thickness of the membrane wall 28 can also be designed to allow certain frequencies within the incoming audio signals 30 to pass.
  • the length of the internal channel 24 is controlled so that desirable frequencies within the incoming audio signals 30 travel through the internal channel 24 and impinge upon the membrane wall 28 near a null in the frequency waveform 34. This prevents the creation of an out-of-phase reflection and the incoming audio signals 30 can pass through the earplug 10 losing only the energy that is absorbed by the membrane wall 28. This can be accomplished by making the length of the internal chamber 24 a positive integer multiple of a desirable frequency that is to pass.
  • earplugs 10 can be custom designed to attenuate acoustic signals in certain frequency ranges but enable a person to hear other acoustic signals in desirable frequency ranges .
  • the internal channel 24 and the membrane wall 28 act as a tuned acoustic waveguide
  • the internal channel 24 and the membrane wall 28 must be manufactured to precise dimensions . This can be accomplished by taking an impression of the actual ear canal 20. The impression can then be scanned and used to create a mold, or can be used as a model for a 3D printer.
  • the earplug 10 need not be custom manufactured. Rather, the earplug 10 can be mass produced using injection molding. The earplug 10 can be molded in a variety of sizes, such as small, medium and large. Using such a manufacturing technique, the earplug 10 can be mass produced for average people who have average ear anatomy.
  • the earplug 10 can be mass produced at low cost. Accordingly, the earplugs 10 can be marketed at low cost for disposable purposes, such as for use at music concerts or car races . It will be understood that the embodiment of the present invention that is illustrated and described is merely exemplary and that a person skilled in the art can make many variations to that embodiment. All such embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims .

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Biomedical Technology (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Biophysics (AREA)
  • Otolaryngology (AREA)
  • Psychology (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
  • Vascular Medicine (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Headphones And Earphones (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un dispositif de bouchon d'oreille (10) qui est placé dans le conduit auditif (20) pour atténuer des fréquences sonores dans une plage de fréquences sélectionnée. Le dispositif de bouchon d'oreille (10) comprend un corps de bouchon (12) pourvu d'une première extrémité (14), d'une seconde extrémité (16) et d'une surface extérieure (18) qui s'étend de la première extrémité (14) à la seconde extrémité (16). Un canal d'évent étroit (25) est formé dans la surface extérieure (18) du corps de bouchon pour égaliser une pression d'air par le passage d'un petit volume d'air à travers le dispositif de bouchon d'oreille (10) vers le canal auditif (20).
PCT/US2020/020850 2019-03-06 2020-03-03 Système de bouchon d'oreille à évent pour atténuation sonore Ceased WO2020180901A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US16/294,913 2019-03-06
US16/294,913 US20190201243A1 (en) 2017-11-17 2019-03-06 Vented Sound Attenuation Earplug System

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2020180901A1 true WO2020180901A1 (fr) 2020-09-10
WO2020180901A8 WO2020180901A8 (fr) 2021-04-29

Family

ID=72337569

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2020/020850 Ceased WO2020180901A1 (fr) 2019-03-06 2020-03-03 Système de bouchon d'oreille à évent pour atténuation sonore

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2020180901A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL2029018B1 (en) * 2021-08-23 2023-03-03 Elacin Int B V A hearing protector comprising a housing that is placeable in an auditory duct of a person, as well as a method of manufacturing such a hearing protector.

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4094315A (en) * 1976-10-29 1978-06-13 Charles Leight Ear plug
US5044463A (en) * 1989-11-30 1991-09-03 Cabot Corporation Molded foam earplug and method for making same
US6401859B1 (en) * 2000-09-25 2002-06-11 Phonak Ag Custom-molded ear-plug, and process for producing a custom-molded ear-plug device
US20030159878A1 (en) * 2000-04-06 2003-08-28 Jorgen Hakansson Earplug
US20060067551A1 (en) * 2004-09-28 2006-03-30 Cartwright Kristopher L Conformable ear piece and method of using and making same
US20080314393A1 (en) * 2007-06-22 2008-12-25 Ricky Wayne Purcell Self-conforming sound attenuation earplug
US20130051592A1 (en) * 2011-08-25 2013-02-28 Magnatone Hearing Aid Corporation Ear tip piece for hearing instruments

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4094315A (en) * 1976-10-29 1978-06-13 Charles Leight Ear plug
US5044463A (en) * 1989-11-30 1991-09-03 Cabot Corporation Molded foam earplug and method for making same
US20030159878A1 (en) * 2000-04-06 2003-08-28 Jorgen Hakansson Earplug
US6401859B1 (en) * 2000-09-25 2002-06-11 Phonak Ag Custom-molded ear-plug, and process for producing a custom-molded ear-plug device
US20060067551A1 (en) * 2004-09-28 2006-03-30 Cartwright Kristopher L Conformable ear piece and method of using and making same
US20080314393A1 (en) * 2007-06-22 2008-12-25 Ricky Wayne Purcell Self-conforming sound attenuation earplug
US20130051592A1 (en) * 2011-08-25 2013-02-28 Magnatone Hearing Aid Corporation Ear tip piece for hearing instruments

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL2029018B1 (en) * 2021-08-23 2023-03-03 Elacin Int B V A hearing protector comprising a housing that is placeable in an auditory duct of a person, as well as a method of manufacturing such a hearing protector.

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2020180901A8 (fr) 2021-04-29

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