MXPA97008065A - Band for the head with a double mater construction - Google Patents

Abstract

A protective headset is described which includes a pair of ear protectors and a resilient headband or headband which holds the ear protectors at opposite ends of the headband. This forms a band which positions the ear protectors so that they remain next to the opposite ears of a person. The headband is made of a combination of hard and soft materials. The hard material forms as a primary support element for the ear protectors to extend between the ear protectors and provide resilience, such that the ear protectors will lie next to the opposite ears of the person. The main support element includes at least one region having a structure for receiving the soft material to provide sound attenuation to reduce the sound transmitted through the headband to the ear protectors.

Description

HEADBAND WITH A DOUBLE MATERIAL CONSTRUCTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a headband hearing protector (or headband), which generally includes a band for the head or headband that supports a headband. pair of ear protectors. The headband presses the ear protectors around and partially to the outer end of a user's ear canal. In particular, the present invention describes a band for the head or headband of a double material construction, to reduce the transmission of sound to the ear canal through the headband. In general, there are a variety of different types of ear protectors currently in use. A type is a protector for the ears which is inserted deep enough into the ear canal. As an example, a type of such an ear protector is made of a slow recovery, resilient, foamed cellular material (or foam), such that the ear protector can be compressed and inserted into the ear canal. There are some times, however, when you do not want to insert an ear protector deep into the ear canal. Another type of protective hearing device includes a headband that presses a pair of ear protectors around and partially to the outer end of the ear canal. This type of structure avoids the need to insert an ear protector deep into the ear canal and is generally defined as a protector for the band ears for the semi-audible head. REF: 25909 Normally, the head band or headband is made of a hard plastic or metal, to provide sufficient resilience to press the ear protectors to lie against and partially to the ear canal, to produce the desired attenuation of the sound. One problem with this type of headband is that there is an annoying problem of sound transmission through the band to the user's ear canal. This occurs most commonly when the band is rubbed against the wearer's clothing, skin fibers or against any other object. The independent hearing protection evaluation laboratories evaluate these protectors on a regular basis and the subjects systematically complain about the noise generated by the band or headband, usually from the diadem that comes into contact with the clothing. The sound is generated in the ear when the vibrations of the diadem are transmitted to the ear protectors. The vibrations generate sound pressure in the small volume of air between the tip of the hearing protector and the eardrum membrane. Because the volume of air is small and the membrane is extremely sensitive to pressure variation, these vibrations of the hearing protector are perceived as relatively loud sounds that usually cover a wide frequency range. Broadband noise is generally considered annoying and can potentially mask useful sounds, such as spoken communication or important machine operating sounds. The development of a semiaudible headband of the hearing protector that reduces the noise transmitted would be beneficial for the users of this type of protection. The bands or headbands are normally worn under the chin and by this the band can be put in contact with the user's clothes, the user's skin etc. in the course of the movement of the head in different positions. Even if the band is worn in other positions, such as on or around the head, this can still create problems. If the band comes in contact with any object, this produces the transmission of sound through the band to the user's ear canal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention significantly reduces the transmission of sound through the headband to the user's ear canal. This is done by constructing the headband of two types of material: a hard plastic and a soft plastic. As an example, the headband may have a main support element made of a hard resilient plastic. The main support element provides resilience, in such a way that the ear protectors can lie next to and partially in the user's ears. The hard plastic main support element includes at least one region having a structure designed to receive a soft plastic material. Soft plastic dampens vibrations, to provide sound attenuation to reduce the sound transmitted through the headband to the ear protectors. The headband can be constructed using different manufacturing methods. These methods include co-injection molding of the type currently used to make products such as tooth brush handles which have co-injected plastics. Other methods include molding the hard plastic main support element with the region formed as a cavity and then the soft plastic material is inserted into the cavity formed in the hard plastic support element. In any case, the headband with the construction of the double molded material has the advantage of reducing the amount of sound transmitted through the band when compared to a headband that is formed with only the typical hard material. The bands for the head of the hearing protector, semi-audible, manufactured by the applicant were evaluated by an independent laboratory. Both headbands had the same physical configuration and one band for the head was of standard construction of a single plastic material and the other band for the head was of double-molding band construction, in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. The objective of the evaluation was to determine if either one of the two bands was less susceptible to the transmission of vibration. To measure the vibration characteristics of the bands, the bands were fixed on a thyme and stimulated with a rotating alveolar ball. An accelerometer was placed at the point of the stimulus and a second accelerometer was placed at the end of the band, where the hearing protector would normally be located. This configuration provided the best vibration measurement of the ear protector that could occur as a result of a rubbing or rubbing of physical contact with the band. The crossed spectrum of the two accelerometers was used as a measure of susceptibility to vibration. In this case, the crossed spectrum is the frequency spectrum of the stimulus point divided by the frequency spectrum of the tip of the band. The crossed spectrum is not dependent on the magnitude of the stimulus. This is critical in this experiment since it would be extremely difficult to accurately repeat the physical location of the bands in reference to the foam ball. In addition, the characteristics of the foam ball may have changed slightly during the test, as the particles are rubbed or as the ball compresses slightly. Again, measurements were not made for these changes since the cross-spectrum was used. Examination of the cross-spectrum readings reveal that, in general, the double-molding band is less susceptible to vibration in the range of 2000 - 5000 Hz. Within this range, the double-molding band is damped and less resonant than the standard band. These characteristics make the frequency response more flat, without the resulting peaks that are present in the transfer function of the standard band. In other frequency ranges, there is less difference between the two bands. Measurements indicated that the double-molding band also appears to vibrate somewhat less at about 6000 Hz and the standard band tends to vibrate less at about 7000 Hz. A clear understanding of the invention will be had with reference to the following description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 illustrates a protective headband or headband hearing aid, constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention and shown positioned below the chin of a user; Figure 2 is a rear view of the headband hearing protector; Figure 3 is a side view of the headband hearing protector; Figure 4 is a front view of the headband hearing protector; Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the headband, taken along lines 5-5 of Figure 2; and Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the headband hearing protector, taken along lines 6-6 of Figure 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 shows a protective device 10 for headband ears or headband of the present invention and is formed by a band or headband 12 for the head and ear protectors 14. It shows that the device is used under the chin of a user. If the portion 12 of the headband is rubbed or rubbed against the clothes or skin of a wearer or comes into contact with a solid object, there may be transmission of sound through the band 12 for the head to the guards 14 for the ears and then to the user's ear canal. The transmission of sound can be very annoying to the user and could even limit the use for the purposes of protection against sound. Normally, the ear protectors 14 have a shape for providing partial insertion of the ear protector 14 to the outer end of the ear canal, as well as covering the external entrance to the ear canal. This partial insertion of the ear protector 14 can elevate the transmission of sound through the band 12 for the head to the ear canal.

The ear protectors 14 are usually made of a soft plastic material such as urethane foam, PVC or PVC foam. The present invention significantly reduces the amount of sound transmitted through the headband when constructing the headband of double materials. Specifically, a hard resilient plastic material forms a main support element to hold the ear protectors 14 positioned against the ear canal. A soft plastic material reduces the transmission of sound through the headband. As can be seen in the drawings and specifically in Figures 2-6, the head band 12 includes a main support element 16, constructed of a hard resilient plastic. For example, the element 16 may be made of polycarbonate or polypropylene, also as other hard polymers. The main support element 16 includes at least one region having a structure for receiving the soft material. In the specific example shown in the drawings, the region is formed by the cavities 18 positioned at the opposite ends of the element 16. As can be seen in the drawings, each cavity extends substantially along the length of the main support element 16 along one side and with a series of smaller holes 20 extending from the cavity 18 through the main support element to the other side. As can be seen in Figure 6, each cavity 18 with the extending holes 20 forms an elongated cavity within the support member 16 to receive a separate soft plastic insert material 22. The soft plastic material 22 fills each cavity 18 and extends through the smaller holes 20 to provide a substantial amount of soft plastic material arranged longitudinally along the length of the band 12 for the head in the adjacent areas to the protectors 14 for the ears. The soft flexible plastic material 22 can be a material such as "Monprene" which is a trademark for a particular soft polymer sold by the QST, Incorporated. Another example of a soft plastic may be "Kraton" which is a similar polymer sold by Shell Chemical Co. It will be appreciated that other similar soft polymers may be used by material 22. Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a protective apparatus for ears with headband or headband and specifically for the headband portion which holds the ear protectors. The headband is formed of double materials which include a hard plastic main support element having at least one region having a structure for receiving a soft plastic to provide sound attenuation to reduce the sound transmitted to the head. through the headband to the hearing protector. The headband can be constructed by using one of a variety of common methods. One method is a coinjection molding technique and this method is currently used to make products such as toothbrushes. The handle of the toothbrush is constructed from a soft plastic coinjected to a hard plastic handle. Other techniques that could be used would be to actually mold the hard main support element first, again using injection molding techniques. Then, after the main hard plastic element is molded, a soft plastic material can be injected into a cavity initially formed in the main support element.

It will also be appreciated that the ear protectors 14 can take a variety of forms, which include that shown in the present application, as well as shapes which do not enter the ear canal and would be referred to generally as "lid ear". Although the present invention has been described with reference to a particular embodiment, it will be appreciated that various adaptations and modifications can be made and the invention will only be limited by the appended claims. It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known by the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is the conventional one for the manufacture of the objects to which it relates. Having described the invention as above, the content of the following is claimed as property.

Claims (14)

1. Claims 1 A protective device for the head band ears, characterized in that it includes: a pair of ear protectors, a resilient headband, which holds at the opposite ends of the headband, the protectors for the ears. the ears, to form a band which positions the ear protectors that will remain next to the opposite ears of a person, the headband is formed of a combination of hard and soft materials and has the following structure, the material Hard is formed as a main supporting element for the ear protectors, to extend between the ear protectors and provide residency, such that the ear protectors will lie on the sides of the opposite ears of the person, the The main support element includes at least one region that has a structure for receiving the soft material, and the soft material becomes medium. you at least one region to provide sound attenuation to reduce the sound transmitted through the headband to the ear protectors.
2. 2. The protective device for the head band ears according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one region extends completely through the main support element in at least one position, such that the matenal Soft also extends through the main support element.
3. 3. The protective device for the head band ears according to claim 1, characterized in that two regions are formed at the opposite ends of the main support element.
4. 4. The protective device for the head band ears according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one region is formed with a continuous depression extending along the length of the main support element.
5. 5. The headband hearing protective apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that a plurality of additional adjacent holes extend completely through the main support element from the continuous depression.
6. 6. The protective device for the head band ears according to claim 1, characterized in that the hard and soft materials are made of plastic.
7. 7. The protective device for the head band ears according to claim 6, characterized in that the hard plastic can be of the following group of plastics, namely polycarbonate, polypropylene and similar hard polymers and the soft plastic can be of the following group of plastics, namely, "Monprene" (trademark for the soft polymer sold by QST Incorporated), "Kraton" (trademark for the soft polymer sold by Shell Chemical Co.) and a similar soft polymer.
8. 8. A headband, for holding the ear protectors at the opposite ends of the headband, for positioning the ear protectors so that they lie next to the opposing ears of a user, characterized in that it includes: the band for The head is formed by a combination of hard and soft materials and has the following structure, the hard material is formed as a main supporting element so that the ear protectors extend between the ear protectors and provide resilience, such In such a way that the ear protectors can lie next to the opposite ears of a person, the main support element includes at least one region that has a structure for receiving the soft material and the soft material is received by the at least a region to provide sound attenuation to reduce the sound transmitted through the headband to the protectors res for the ears.
9. 9. The headband according to claim 8, characterized in that the at least one region extends completely through the main support element in at least one position, in such a way that the soft material also extends through the main support element.
10. 10. The headband according to claim 8, characterized in that two regions are formed at opposite ends of the main support element.
11. 11. The headband according to claim 8 characterized in that the at least one region is formed with a continuous depron extending along the length of the main support element.
12. 12. The headband in accordance with the claim ?? (characterized in that a plurality of additional adjacent deprons extend completely through the main support element from the continuous depron.
13. 13. The headband according to claim 8, characterized in that the hard and soft materials consist of plastic.
14. 14. The headband according to claim 8, characterized in that the hard plastic can be of the following group of plastics, namely polycarbonate, polypropylene and similar hard polymers and the soft plastic can be of the following group of plastics, namely " Mon prene "(trademark for the soft polymer sold by QST Incorporated)," Kraton "(trademark for the soft polymer sold by Shell Chemical Co.) and a similar soft polymer.