Hearing protection system for use within a helmet

Abstract

An ear seal assembly comprises a front panel, an outer panel, a hidden panel, a rear panel, and an acoustic transparent fabric inner panel, wherein a front edge of the acoustic transparent fabric inner panel is positioned at a right angle along an inside circumference of the front panel and a rear edge of the acoustic transparent fabric inner panel is positioned at a right angle along an inside circumference of the hidden panel.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENTS[0001]The present U.S. Utility Patent Application claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61 / 371,993, entitled “HEARING PROTECTION SYSTEM FOR USE WITHIN A HELMET,” (Attorney Docket No. SPL002), filed Aug. 9, 2010, pending, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and made part of the present U.S. Utility Patent Application for all purposes.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT[0002]NOT APPLICABLEINCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC[0003]NOT APPLICABLESTATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT[0004]NOT APPLICABLEINCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC[0005]NOT APPLICABLEBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0006]1. Technical Field of the Invention[0007]This invention relates generally to hearing protection and more particularly to ambient noise reduction while utilizing a helmet.[0008]2. ...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

An audio signal may also be combined with the noise cancelling circuitry in a manner that does not allow the audio signal to be reduced by the system.

Helmets are heavier may cause more undesired fatigue to the user.

Headphones utilizing larger ear-cups that accommodate more noise absorbing material are more difficult to fit inside of a helmet without substantially increasing the size of the helmet.

Headphones utilizing ear-cups that readily fit inside of a helmet may not provide a satisfactory level of passive ambient noise reduction when the headphone is utilized in a helmet being used in extremely loud environment (e.g., military helicopters, military jets, military tanks, military transport vehicles, autoracing etc.).

Conventional noise canceling circuitry and ambient noise absorbing materials within helmet headphones are inadequate and a more robust noise reduction approach is needed.

Use of one or more of the helmet accessories can add a substantial amount of weight to the combination of the accessories and the helmet.

A helmet system, that includes the helmet and the one or more accessories, introduces more fatigue to the user especially when utilizing the helmet system for longer periods of time.

Some accessories may introduce a more substantial moment of weight on one side of the helmet versus the opposite side creating a center of gravity issue.

For example, helmets equipped with night vision goggles tend to be very front heavy causing the helmet to gradually slipped down in the front over time.

Detached ancillary devices may be cumbersome to accommodate one putting on or taking off the helmet system.

Images