Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
6~
Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an individual ear clip for
use in flattening protruding ears.
Background of the Invention
Many people are faced with the problem of having
noticeably protruding ears which detract from the person's
appearance. In some cases, only one ear may protrude and in
other cases, both ears may protrude. At the present time,
the only reliable method of flattening the ear to the head
is to perform surgery. This method has its obvious unappealing -
drawbacks.
To the knowledge of the present inventor, no one
: .
has yet developed an individual ear clip for the flattening
of protruding ears, which is reliable, comfortable and
essentially unnoticeab].e. The prior art attempts have produced
ear clips which are awkward to use and extremely bulky so that --
they are easily noticed.
The present invention provides an individual ear
clip which fits on the ear auricle and which is secured to
the hair of the user for the flattening of a protruding ear
auricle. The ear clip comprises a resilient clip portion
which clips over the auricle helix and a body portion including
a first relatively flat section for fitting against the inner
surface of the helix, a second relatively flat section for
fitting in the auricle concha, and a narrow bent section
joining the first and second sections and for fitting over the
auricle antihelix. The ear clip is provided with hair securing
means for tautly securing the ear clip to the user's hair, thereby
flattening the protruding ear auricle.
Brief Description of the Drawing;
~7~
The above as well as other features and advantages
of the present invention, will become apparent from the
following detailed description of the preferred embodiments,
wherein:
Figure 1 is a perspective view looking down on a
preferred structure of the ear clip according to this inven-
tion. -
Figure 2 is a side view of an ear auricle with
the clip of Figure 1 secured in position.
Figure 3 is a rear view of the ear auricle shown
in Figure 2.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments
Referring to Figure 1, the ear clip generally
indicated at 1 includes a clip portion 3 and a body portion 5.
The body portion includes first and second essentially flat
sections 7 and 9 respectively. These sections are preferably
elongated with respect to the remainder of the ear clip as
shown in Figure 1. Joining the first and second flat sections
is a bent or curved section 11. Ear clip 1 is provided with
hair securing means which according to this embodiment, is
in the form of an additional section 13 extending from clip
portion 3.
Figure 2 shows a protruding ear auricle generally -~
indicated at 14. The ear auricle comprises a helix 15 having
an inner surface 17 an antihelix 21 and a concha 19.
When ear clip 1 is fitted on ear auricle 14, clip ~ ;
portion 3 is clipped over helix l5 with first section 7 abutting
the inner sur~ace 17 of the helix. Second section 9 is located
in the auricle concha and bent section 11 fits over the auricle
-30 antihelix. As will be seen in Figure 3, additional hair securing
- 2 -
. . . ' :
~3'7136~
section 13 firmly abuts the back of the ear auricle.
The ear clip is made from resilient durable material
such as a spring steel core covered with a plastic coating.
Due to the resiliency of the clip, it accommodates various
ear shapes and sizes. The clip portion is simply spread open
and clamped over the auricle helix. The entire ear clip is
preferably provided with a soft rubber lining thereby making
it comfortable to the user and ensuring a firm fi-t to the ear
auricle.
First section 7 preferably has an elongated arcuate
shape, such that the rear wall 8 of section 7 curves and con-
forms with the inner surface 17 of the helix. Second section
9 may have the identical configuration to first section 7
for ease of manufacture of the ear clip.
A person desiring to flatten a protruding ear first
places the ear clip on the auricle as shown in Figures 2 and 3.
When the clip is in place, second section 13 is lifted slightly
from the back of the ear and strands of hair 23 are fitted be-
tween section 13 and the back of the ear auricle. The strands of -
hair are then pulled until they are taut, thereby flattening
the ear auricle to the side of the head. The degree of tautness
of the hair determines the amount of flattening. The rubber
lining on section 13 will of course assist in holding the hair `
between the section and the back of the ear auricle. ;
With the present invention, should a person have
only one ear auricle which protrudes with respect to the other
auricle, it is possible to flatten the protruding auricle such
that both auricles have the same appearance. In cases where both
auricles protrude, two clips are used and both auricles are
flattened to the desired position.
- 3 -
- : . . . . . . . . . . . , . , . :
~7B6g~
.
The size and shape of the clip, are such that it is
virtually unnoticeable, especially when the user drapes a few
strands of hair over the portion of the ~ar fitted with the
ear clip. Although the size of the clip can obviously be
varied, the preferred dimensions are as follows: the clip
portion has a height of approximately 1/4 inches; the first and
second sections have a length of approximately 3/4 inches;
and the bent section joining the elongated flat sections has
a height of approximately 3/32 inches.
There are of course other methods in which the ear
clip could be clipped to the hair of the user. For example
the hair could be clipped directly in the clip portion, or the
clip could be provided with additional clamping or threading
means for tautly holding the hair of the user and flattening
the ear auricle to the side of the head.
Although various preferred embodiments of the inven-
~~ tion have been described herein in detail, it will be apparent
` to one skilled in the art that variations may be made thereto
without departing from the spirit of the invention or the
~; ~0 scope of the apended claims.
~, . ~ . I
,, , I
.
..... , - ,: `: ~ ' ~ : :. ..
; .-: ~ , . . .
- -
`
,, . . ~ .
,
, : ~
' : . . ~ . : .
