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Patent 1292099 Summary

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Claims and Abstract availability

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(12) Patent: (11) CA 1292099
(21) Application Number: 560740
(54) English Title: PRESSURE RING FOR EAR COVER
(54) French Title: BAGUE DE PRESSION POUR CACHE-OREILLE
Status: Deemed expired
Bibliographic Data
(52) Canadian Patent Classification (CPC):
  • 2/78
  • 2/70.1
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):
  • H04R 25/00 (2006.01)
(72) Inventors :
  • PALMAER, TORE (Sweden)
  • PALMAER, LEIF (Sweden)
(73) Owners :
  • PALMAER, TORE (Not Available)
  • PALMAER, LEIF (Not Available)
  • FINNVEDEN HOLDING AB (Not Available)
(71) Applicants :
(74) Agent: MARKS & CLERK
(74) Associate agent:
(45) Issued: 1991-11-19
(22) Filed Date: 1988-03-07
Availability of licence: N/A
(25) Language of filing: English

Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT): No

(30) Application Priority Data: None

Abstracts

English Abstract






ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A pressure ring for an earmuff, an earphone,
or the like, wherein the earmuff, or the like, includes
a sealing ring which is applied against the head of the
wearer around the ears and the pressure ring is behind
and applies pressure to the sealing ring at the top,
contact surface of the pressure ring. The contact sur-
face is taller above the base surface of the pressure
ring at the peripheral outer edge of the pressure ring
than at the peripheral inner edge of the pressure ring
so that the sealing ring is concave and the surface of
the ear cover over the ear is concave. At least the
peripheral outer edge of the contact surface varies in
height between the taller upper and lower ends of the
pressure ring, on the one hand, and the central region
of the pressure ring, on the other hand. At least one
groove channel wraps at least partially around the
pressure ring and extends into the pressure ring from
the contact surface. Barriers in the channel block the
channel from extending completely around the pressure
ring. Openings communicate between adjacent concentric
grooves of the channel. The barriers and openings are
placed to define short-length sound traps in the chan-
nel.


Claims

Note: Claims are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.


THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OR
PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:



1. A pressure ring for an ear cover, ear-
muff, or the like, wherein the ear cover includes a
sealing ring to be applied against the wearer's head
around the ear, the pressure ring being disposed behind
and outside the sealing ring;
the pressure ring having a base surface on
the side thereof outward of the sealing ring; the pres-
sure ring including an arched contact surface for dis-
posal behind the sealing ring, the contact surface be-
ing shaped for effecting substantially tight contact
against the wearer's head around the ear, the pressure
ring having an outer edge toward the outer periphery
thereof and an inner edge defining an inner periphery
of the ring, the contact surface of the pressure ring
having different height levels above the base surface
of the pressure ring between the inner edge and the
outer edge of the pressure ring.

2. The pressure ring of claim 1, wherein the
contact surface at the outer edge is generally at a
greater height above the base surface of the contact
surface at the pressure ring than at the inner edge.

3. The pressure ring of claim 2, wherein the
height above the base of the contact surface at least
at the outer edge surface of the pressure ring is vari-
able around the pressure ring.

4. The pressure ring of claim 3, wherein the
pressure ring has opposite upper and lower ends and has



-9-

- 10 -


a central region between the opposite ends, and the
height above the base surface of the contact surface is
greater at the upper and lower ends of the pressure
ring than at the central region of the pressure ring.

5. The pressure ring of claim 4, wherein the
height of the contact surface above the base surface at
the inner edge of the contact surface is higher at the
upper and lower ends than at the central region of the
pressure ring.

6. The pressure ring of claim 3, wherein the
height above the base surface of the contact surface at
the outer edge is greater than the height above the
base surface of the contact surface at the inner edge
by an average of 2.5 ? 0.9 mm.

7. The pressure ring of claim 1, wherein be-
tween the outer edge and the inner edge of the pressure
ring, at least one channel extends from the inside of
the pressure ring facing the sealing ring toward the
outside of the pressure ring at the base surface and
extends along at least a substantial portion of the
circumferential length of the pressure ring.

8. The pressure ring of claim 7, wherein the
channel further includes at least one sound trap de-
fined in the channel.

9. The pressure ring of claim 7, wherein the
channel is of such length around the pressure ring and
is so shaped as to extend at least once at least almost
entirely around the pressure ring.


- 11 -

10. The pressure ring of claim 9, wherein
the channel is of such length around the pressure ring
and is so shaped as to extend around the pressure ring
a plurality of times, with each successive passage of
the channel around the ring being spaced further from
the inner edge and closer to the outer edge.

11. The pressure ring of claim 10, wherein
the channel further includes at least one sound trap
defined in the channel.

12. The pressure ring of claim 10, wherein
the channel is comprised of a plurality of concentric
grooves defined in the pressure ring extending into the
pressure ring in a direction outward from the contact
surface toward the base surface of the pressure ring.

13. The pressure ring of claim 12, wherein
the pressure ring includes barriers along the length of
at least some of the grooves of the channel for block-
ing that channel from extending completely around the
pressure ring.

14. The pressure ring of claim 13, further
comprising openings extending between adjacent grooves
and connecting the grooves for elongating the channel
which is comprised of a plurality of the grooves.

15. The pressure ring of claim 14, wherein
the openings connecting adjacent grooves are near to
but spaced around the ring a short distance from at
least some of the barriers for defining sound traps in


- 12 -


a groove between the opening to a groove and the barri-
er near to that opening.

16. The pressure ring of claim 12, further
comprising openings extending between adjacent grooves
and connecting the grooves for elongating the channel
which is comprised of a plurality of the grooves.

17. The pressure ring of claim 10, wherein
the contact surface at the outer edge is generally at a
greater height above the base surface of the contact
surface at the pressure ring than at the inner edge;
the height above the base surface of the contact sur-
face at least at the outer edge surface of the pressure
ring is variable around the pressure ring.

18. The pressure ring of claim 17, wherein
the pressure ring has opposite upper and lower ends and
has a central region between the opposite ends, and the
height above the base surface of the contact surface is
greater at the upper and lower ends of the pressure
ring than at the central region of the pressure ring.

19. A pressure ring for an ear cover, ear-
muff, or the like, wherein the ear cover includes a
sealing ring to be applied against the wearer's head
around the ear, the pressure ring being disposed behind
and outside the sealing ring;
the pressure ring having a base surface on
the side thereof outward of the sealing ring; the pres-
sure ring including an arched contact surface for dis-
posal behind the sealing ring, the contact surface be-
ing shaped for effecting substantially tight contact
against the wearer's head around the ear, the pressure
ring having an outer edge toward the outer periphery



- 13 -


thereof and an inner edge defining an inner periphery
of the ring, between the outer edge and the inner edge
of the pressure ring, at least one channel extends from
the inside of the pressure ring facing the sealing ring
toward the outside of the pressure ring at the base
surface and extends along at least a substantial por-
tion of the circumferential length of the pressure
ring.

20. The pressure ring of claim 19, wherein
the channel is of such length around the pressure ring
and is so shaped as to extend around the pressure ring
a plurality of times, with each successive passage of
the channel around the ring being spaced further from
the inner edge and closer to the outer edge.

Description

Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.


ZQ9~




PRESSURE RING FOR EAR COVER

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention rela~es to a pressure
ring for an ear cover, like an earmuff, earphones, or
the like product, which is designed to include a seal-
ing ring.
Known earmuffs, earphones, or the like, in-
clude an ear covering cup that is provided with a seal-
ing ring to provide tight contact against the head in
the region of the wearer's ear. The sealing ring is
supported by a flat pressure ring behind the sealing
ring. The pressure ring is in the form of a separate
ring or is an integrated part of ~he ear covering cup.
Rressure is applied on the earmuff by a headband, so
that the sealing ring and the pressure ring behind it
are elastically deformed into contacting the wearer's
head. It has been found that the contact pressure has
caused certain persons discomfort when they wear the
above described earmuffs for long periods of time. It
has also proven difficult to obtain sufficiently ti~ht
contact against the head. One solution to these prob-
lems has been to increase the thickness of the sealing
ring. But this has resulted in a deteriorated dampen-
ing effect.

~Z9;~



SUMM~RY OF THE INVENTION
~ . . _ _
The object of the present invention is to
eliminate the above drawbacks of known ear covers, like
earmuffs, or the like, and to provide a pressure ring
of the type described in the introduction which satis-
factorily fits against the head without causing discom-
fort or deteriorating the properties of the earmuff.
According to the invention, a pressure ring
has an arched, concave contact sur~ace to effect sub-
stantially tight contact against the head in the region
around the wearer's ear. The con~act surface has an
inner peripheral edge and an outer peripheral edge
which are located at different heights above the base
surface of the pressure ring creating the concavity.
The height of at least the outer peripheral
edge and also perhaps of the inner peripheral edge
above the base surface are suitably higher at the upper
and lower ends of the pressure ring than in the central
region of the pressure ring between those ends.
According to the invention, the pressure ring
may also be provided with a channel extending into the
pressure ring from the inside or sealing ring facing
side toward the outside of the pressure ring. This
channel runs along a substantial portion of the circum-
ference of the pressure ring. The channel suitably
runs once or several times around the pressure ring.
The channel is designed to produce one or more sound
traps.~
According to a preferred embodiment, the
channel may be comprised of a number of concentric
grooves located between the contact surface and base
surface of the sealing ring. Each of the grooves is

~Z92~



provided with a barrier blocking the groove from ex-
tending around the entire circumference of the pressure
ring and an opening connec~ing that groove to adjacent
grooves. The barrier and opening are arranged so as to
make the channel as long as possible.
Other ob]ects and features of the invention
are described with reference to the accompanying draw-
ings.

~RIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a plan view of a pressure ring
according to the invention.
Fig. 2 shows a cross-section through the
pressure ring in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 shows a cross-section through an
alternative embodiment of the pressure ring according
to the invention, also shown here schematically fitted
into an earmuff.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The Figures show two embodiments of a pres-
sure ring for an ear cover. For each embodiment, a
pressure ring 2 and a sealing ring 3 (shown in Fig. 3)
designed for an earmuff 1 (also shown in Fig. 3) are
shown. The pressure ring 2 is suitably oval in shape,
comprising an upper end 4 to the right in Fig. 1, a
lower end 5 to the left and a central region 6 between
them. The annular pressure ring 2 is provided with a
base surface 7 at its outside or bottom in Fig. 2, a
contact surface 8 at its inside or top and an outer
surface 9 beneath the base. The outer surface 9 is
provided with attachment means 10 for attaching the
base to the earmuff, cup, or the like.

~L~9'~ 99




The annular pressure ring 2 also comprises a
radially inner or peripheral edge 11 at its contact
surface and a radially outer or peripheral edge 12 also
at its contact surface.
A channel 13 extends from the radial inside
of the pressure ring at an opening 14 ~o its radial
outside at a hole 15. The channel 13 may comprise con-
centric grooves 16 communicating with each other via
radially ext~nding, narrow width openings 17. Each
groove 16 is lim;ted by a barrier 18 which prevents
each groove from closing upon itself. The channel 13
may also be provided with a number of short circumfer-
ential length sound traps 19, where a groove 16 pro-
jects past a respective radial opening 17 into that
groove.
The pressure ring 2, according to the inven-
tion, may be made as a homogenous unchanneled unit, but
is preferably provided with the channel 13. From a
manufacturing point of view, this is very suitable and
also reduces the weight of the pressure ring, as com-
pared with a homogeneous one. The pressure ring 2 may
~hus suitably be produced from a plastic material by
means of injection molding. However, other materials
and fabrication methods are of course feasible.
An additional advantage of the channel 13 is
that pressure is equalized between the inside and out-
side of the earmuff. Known earmuffs are provided with
a small hole in their cup to achieve pressure equaliza-
tion. But; some sound has been found to penetrate
through the hole, deteriorating the protective quali-
ties of ~he earmuff. In the present invention, pene-
tration of sound is limited by the channel 13 being

99

-- 5 --


made as long as possible. This is achieved by the
channel 13 running along a substantial portion of the
circumference of the pressure ring 2, and preferably
around once or possibly even several times as shown in
Fig. ~. The channel may be in the form of a spiral or
zig-æag pattern. However, the embodiment shown in Fig.
1 has proven advantageous from the manufacturing point
of view and has also enabled one or more sound traps 19
to be inclùded.
The proposed channel may thus be designed
with concentric grooves 16, each having a height dimen-
s,ion in the direction between the contact surface 8 and
the base surface 7 of the sealing ring. Each of the
grooves 16 is provided with its own barrier 18 which
blocks the groove 16 and prevents it making a full cir-
cuit around the pressure ring. A radially directed
opening 17 joins the groove 16 to adjacent grooves.
The barrier 18 and opening 17 are thus substantially
arranged to make the channel 13 as long as possible.
In the embodiment shown, the barrier 18 and opening 17
have been spaced from each other in order to form a
sound trap 19 at the end of each groove lS for further
inhib;ting spreading of the sound.
A number of measurements have been performed
on several people to determine the dimensions of the
pressure ring 2 so that the contac~ surface 8 will fit
as tightly against the head as possible. It has been
found-that the topography of the head is most uniform
closest to the ear, has recesses at the temple and be-
hind the jaw which are located diagonally opposite each
other, and is raised close to the ear, and is more
prominent in women than in men. Based on these mea-

~Z92~9

-- 6 --


surements, it is possible to adjust the pressure ring
to fit the left or right ear, the upper or lower side
and also to fit for men or women. The shape of the
ring can be adjusted to the topo~raphy of the region
around the ear, thus reducing the con~act pressure
without the earmuff falling off or giving increased
dampening effect, especially by allowing the use of a
thinner ring.
According to the invention, the inner edge 11
and outer edge 12 at the contact surface 8 are located
at different levels or heights above the base surface 7
of the pressure ring. Although it is advisable to
shape the pressure ring 2 to fit the right or left ear,
from a practical point of view it may be advanta~eous
to shape the pressure rinys 2 symmetrically. To this
end, the levels or heights of the inner edge 11 and of
the outer edge 12 above the base surface 7 are located
higher at the upper and lower ends 4, 5 than at the
central region 6 of the pressure ring. This height
difference in edge 12 can be seen in Fig. 2. The
accompanying table illustrates it also. The average
height difference between the level of the inner edge
11 and the level of the outer edge 12 is 2.5 + 0.9 mm.
As a result, the pressure ring is arched or concave,
giving the sealing ring above it a concave inside sur-
face and making the surface of the ear cover against
the head concave.
To obtain the required information for shap-
ing the pressure ring around the entire ear cover, a
number of measurements were taken around the ear at a
distance corresponding to the limit of the inner edse

Z~199



and also at a distance corresponding to the limit of
the outer edge. Ten measurements were performed around
each ear and the results are shown in the following
table where U denotes the top of the ear; N denotes the
bottom of the ear; A-D denote points measured evenly
around each side of the ear; i denotes the inner mea-
surement path; and y denotes the outer measurement
path.
The sealing ring 3 for any embodiment is
shown in Fig. 3. It may be of foam plastic covered
with a non-porous protective layer. The protective
layer may also extend along the inside of the foam
plastic ring in order to increase the dampening func-
tion of the channels. The pressure ring in Fig. 3 is
of shorter height at its outer edge than that of Fig.
2.
Of course, the invention can be modified with
respect to the fit if~ for instance, measurements in
other countries give different average values. Certain
adjustments may also be required for extra equipment
such as audio headphones, walkie-talkies, etc.
Although the present invention has been de-
scribed in connection with a plurality of preferred em-
bodiments thereof, many other variations and modifica-
2S tions will now become apparent to those skilled in the
art. It is preferred, therefore, that the present in-
vention be limited not by the specific disclosure here-
in, but only by the appended claims.

2~9


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Representative Drawing
A single figure which represents the drawing illustrating the invention.
Administrative Status

For a clearer understanding of the status of the application/patent presented on this page, the site Disclaimer , as well as the definitions for Patent , Administrative Status , Maintenance Fee  and Payment History  should be consulted.

Administrative Status

Title Date
Forecasted Issue Date 1991-11-19
(22) Filed 1988-03-07
(45) Issued 1991-11-19
Deemed Expired 1994-05-21

Abandonment History

There is no abandonment history.

Payment History

Fee Type Anniversary Year Due Date Amount Paid Paid Date
Application Fee $0.00 1988-03-07
Registration of a document - section 124 $0.00 1988-06-17
Owners on Record

Note: Records showing the ownership history in alphabetical order.

Current Owners on Record
PALMAER, TORE
PALMAER, LEIF
FINNVEDEN HOLDING AB
Past Owners on Record
None
Past Owners that do not appear in the "Owners on Record" listing will appear in other documentation within the application.
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Document
Description 
Date
(yyyy-mm-dd) 
Number of pages   Size of Image (KB) 
Representative Drawing 2000-07-12 1 17
Drawings 1993-10-23 2 38
Claims 1993-10-23 5 170
Abstract 1993-10-23 1 36
Cover Page 1993-10-23 1 13
Description 1993-10-23 8 343