CUSTOM MOULDED HEARING PROTECTION AND COMMUNICATION SYSTEMThe invention relates to reusable personally custom moulded earpieces that mirror the shape of the individuals ear cavity and inner ear canal and that protects the individuals hearing from potentially damaging noise and where required provides built in two-way communications.
Such personally moulded earpieces are well known, but suffer from the following disadvantages. The earpiece sea to external noise is not guaranteed. They can be uncomfortable for the individual particularly when worn for extended periods. Other types of hearing protection, such as disposable plugs or ear defenders are also well known, but suffer from the following disadvantages. In most circumstances earplugs are not fitted correctly and therefore afford no or little protection. After removal of the earplugs at break times, if new clean earplugs are not fitted there is a potential for dirt to enter the ear, which can lead to infections. Ear Defenders are generally uncomfortable to wear over extended periods they apply pressure to the outer ear and generally do not allow for airflow to keep the ear cool and dry. The microphone in communication Ear Defenders is particularly prone to external noise interference and damage due to its mounting position.
The invention is a personally moulded solid material earpiece with the inner ear canal protrusion being an equivalent expanded foam material that is permanently bonded to or integral with the earpiece. The total earpiece is moulded from a positive impression taken from the individual's ear and therefore takes the precise shape of the individual's ear cavity and inner ear canal. The invention is applicable to a variety of types of personally moulded earpieces intended to meet the individual's preference and/or working environment.
The invention has the following advantages. (A) The object of the invention is to provide a positive seal by the earpiece to the individual's inner ear canal that is not compromised by the users ability to fit the earpiece correctly, since the whole earpiece must be inserted into the ear cavity to achieve the required comfort. The seal being on the ear canal protrusion is then in the correct place within the ear to provide maximum protection against damaging noise. (B) The object of the seal provided by the earpiece is to prevent potentially damaging noise'leaking'around the outside of the personally moulded earpiece where it is in contact with the inner ear canal. The expanded foam tip provides a perfect seal to the users inner ear canal shape since it is moulded from the individual's ear impression. (C) The object of the material used for the earpiece is to provide a consistent level of comfort that allows for prolonged wearing and that has no effect when in contact with the skin or earwax. The material is a non-allergenic soft silicone rubber with an equivalent but expanded silicone rubber forming the inner ear canal protrusion.
A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:Figure 1, shows a side view of the solid construction custom moulded earpiece with an expanded foam protrusion.
Figure 2, shows a side view of the vented construction custom moulded earpiece with an expanded foam protrusion, which incorporates a passive reverse cone noise filter.
Figure 3, shows a side view of the solid construction custom moulded earpiece with an expanded foam protrusion with the built in two-way communications system which can be either hard wired to the radio system or be a wireless configuration to the radio system.
Figure 4, shows a side view of the vented construction custom moulded earpiece with an expanded foam protrusion, which incorporates a passive reverse cone noise filter and the built in two-way communications system which can be either hard wired to the radio system or be a wireless configuration to the radio system.
CUSTOM MOULDED HEARING PROTECTION AND COMMUNICATION SYSTEMAs shown in Figure 1, the earpieces (1) are moulded from solid silicone with the inner ear canal protrusion (2) being an expanded foam silicone. This dra ing illustrates a type referred to as'SolidEarpieces'. This completely block external sound. The si one foam protrusion (2) prevents'leakage'of damaging noise around the earpiecesAs shown in Figure 2, the earpieces (1) are moulded from solid silicone with the inner ear canal protrusion (2) being an expanded foam silicone. This drawing illustrates a type referred to as'VentedEarpieces'. The construction incorporates an external noise and dust filter (3) fitted into a drilled hole in each moulding. The construction incorporates an internal passive reverse cone noise filter (4) fitted into a
drilled hole in each moulding. This allows normal speech or warnings to be heard through the noise filter but the filter then attenuates potentially damaging noises. The silicone foam protrusion (2) prevents 'leakage'of damaging noise around the earpieces.
As shown in Figure 3, the earpieces (1) are moulded from solid silicone with the inner ear canal protrusion (2) being an expanded foam silicone. This drawing illustrates'Solid'construction moulded earpieces with a built in two-way communications system (5) by means of an internal speaker and microphone that are either hard wired to the radio system or have a wireless configuration (6). The communications system also incorporates a passive reverse cone noise filter (7) that protects the ear from over volume of the speaker. In addition this reverse cone filter (7) also amplifies the voice vibrations from the inner ear to the microphone improving the quality of the transmitted voice. This system completely blocks external sound but enables the user to communicate by radio link (5) without the need to move out of the noisy environment. The silicone foam protrusion (2) prevents'leakage'of damaging noise around the earpiece.
As shown in Figure 4, the earpieces (1) are moulded from solid silicone with the inner ear canal protrusion (2) being an expanded foam silicone. This drawing illustrates'Vented'construction moulded earpieces incorporating an internal passive reverse cone noise filter (4) and built in two way communications system (5) by means of an internal speaker and microphone that is either hard wired to the radio system or has a wireless configuration (6). The communications system also incorporates a passive reverse cone noise filter (7) that protects the ear from over volume of the speaker. In addition this reverse cone noise filter (7) also amplifies the voice vibrations from the inner ear to the microphone improving the quality of the transmitted voice. The system allows external normal speech or warnings to be heard through the filter (4) but this then attenuates potentially damaging noises-The system also enables the user to communicate by radio link (5) without the need to move out of the noisy environment.
The silicone foam protrusion (2) prevents'leakage'of damaging noise around the earpiece.