Hearing protector with spring element and carrier

Abstract

In a first aspect, the present disclosure relates to a hearing protector 10 comprising two ear muffs 12A, 12B, each ear muff having a cushion 16A, 16B, a cup 14A, 14B and a carrier 24A, 24B. The hearing protector 10 further comprises a headband 18, or alternatively two helmet mounts, with two ear muff attachment means 22A, 22B and spring elements 30A, 30B. The carriers 24A, 24B and the cushions 16A, 16B form a first mass-spring system. The cups 14A, 14B and the spring elements 30A, 30B form a second mass-spring system. The spring elements 30A, 30B are constructed and arranged such that the cups 14A, 14B and the carriers 24A, 24B are mechanically decoupled from each other. An advantage of such a hearing protector 10 is that it can be designed such that the aspects of comfort and noise attenuation can be addressed more independently from each other. In addition, the force or pressure applied by the headband 18 or alternatively by the helmet mounts to the carriers and thereby to the cushions 16A, 16B does not affect the spring elements 30A, 30B, thereby designing such a hearing protector 10 in a way that the properties such as noise attenuation and wearing comfort do not conflict with each other. In a second aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method of retrofitting a hearing protector with spring elements 30A, 30B and carriers 24A, 24B, thereby providing the advantages and effects as described above.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to a hearing protector having a spring element and a carrier. Background Technology

[0002] Hearing protectors are typically used in noisy environments to protect the wearer's hearing from noise at potentially harmful levels. Generally, a hearing protector has two earmuffs or cups that cover the wearer's ears and are connected to each other via a headband. Each cup is also typically formed from a rigid shell equipped with a noise-attenuating material, such as foam.

[0003] Hearing protectors are generally expected to be user-friendly, especially encouraging people in noisy environments to actually wear them for longer periods. While noise attenuation appears to be the most important characteristic of hearing protectors, wearing comfort also plays a crucial role. For example, hearing protectors with good noise attenuation characteristics may be uncomfortable to wear, especially for extended periods, such as wearing them throughout a workday. Therefore, even brief interruptions in wearing them can lead to hearing loss.

[0004] For example, hearing protectors are disclosed in WO2006 / 58319 or WO 2019 / 104172.

[0005] Sometimes, hearing protectors become less comfortable if they are uncomfortable to wear. A hearing protector designed for good noise attenuation may result in lower comfort, and vice versa; that is, noise attenuation and wearing comfort can influence each other. These characteristics of hearing protectors can act in opposite directions, or even conflict with each other. The noise attenuation characteristics of a hearing protector can depend on the pressure the earmuffs apply to the wearer's ear and head, respectively. Furthermore, the weight of the hearing protector can be important for noise attenuation. On the other hand, these characteristics can ultimately lead to lower wearing comfort with such hearing protectors, as they may cause skin irritation due to the applied pressure. Moreover, such hearing protectors may be heavy, causing discomfort.

[0006] Therefore, there is a need to design a hearing protector that balances characteristics such as noise attenuation and wearing comfort. A hearing protector needs to offer good wearing comfort while providing sufficient noise attenuation, or vice versa. Summary of the Invention

[0007] In a first aspect, this disclosure relates to a hearing protector comprising two earmuffs, each earmuff including a pad having noise attenuation characteristics, a cup defining a hollow space and having noise attenuation characteristics, and a carrier including at least one earmuff mounting member. The hearing protector also includes a U-shaped headband for carrying the two earmuffs, and alternatively, two helmet mounts for carrying the two earmuffs at a protective helmet. The headband or helmet mount includes two ends, each end having an earmuff attachment means for attaching the earmuffs to the headband. The pad is connected to the carrier such that the pad is carried by the carrier. Thus, from the perspective of noise attenuation, the carrier can be mechanically decoupled from the user's head. The earmuff attachment means of the headband or helmet mount engages with the earmuff mounts of the earmuffs such that the earmuffs are carried by the headband or helmet mount. Each earmuff includes a spring element connecting the cup to the carrier. The carrier and the pad form a first mass-spring system. The cup and the spring element form a second mass-spring system. The spring element is configured and arranged such that the cup and the carrier are mechanically decoupled from each other. The advantage of this type of hearing protector is that it can be designed so that comfort and noise attenuation aspects can be addressed more independently of each other. Notably, the pad itself exhibits noise attenuation characteristics and contributes to overall noise reduction. This is because the mechanical interaction between the cup and the carrier is decoupled independently of the pad, i.e., configured separately from the pad. The mass of the earmuff is divided into two sub-masses by the spring element. The spring system, independent of the mass of the cup and the spring element, can be designed to provide the force or pressure required to properly seal the pad to the wearer's ear and skin, respectively. Furthermore, the force or pressure applied by the headband to the carrier and thus to the pad does not affect the spring element or the cup, resulting in neither static compression nor increased stiffness. It should be noted that the carrier typically provides the force required to firmly hold the earmuff in place, i.e., to reliably cover or seal the wearer's ear, resulting in two configurable resonances: the pad-carrier and the spring element-cup, respectively. Furthermore, the arrangement according to this disclosure prevents the spring element from being compressed by the pressure applied to the carrier and provides proper positioning and pressure of the pad on the wearer's skin, which is necessary for noise attenuation and sealing.

[0008] Within the meaning of this disclosure, mechanical decoupling is understood as a frequency-dependent variation in the transmission of vibrations acting on one part of the hearing protector to another part of the hearing protector. For example, vibrations acting on the cup will have a variable transmission to the carrier, depending on the frequency, and indirectly a variable transmission to the sound pressure level of the internal air cavity of the hearing protector. Mechanical decoupling may be affected at sound frequencies (e.g., 20-20 kHz), but is also important at lower frequencies and will be dominated by the resonance of the mass spring system. This system primarily comprises two configurable resonances: a pad-carrier resonance and a spring element-cup resonance.

[0009] For earmuffs, noise attenuation within the meaning of this disclosure is understood to consist of noise attenuation and sound absorption. Noise attenuation refers to sound energy reflected away from the earmuff and thus not reaching the user's eardrum, while sound absorption, on the other hand, refers to sound energy being converted into heat. In other words, this achieves a reduction in noise affecting the wearer's ears relative to the noise level around the wearer. On one hand, noise attenuation can be passively achieved through the construction of the hearing protector, for example, by using sound-insulating and / or sound-absorbing materials, such as plastics, foam, or fusible materials. The low-frequency portion of sound attenuation is controlled by a system of masses, springs, and dampers. In this disclosure, a second-order system is proposed, consisting of two masses corresponding to the carrier and the cup, and two springs corresponding to the padding and spring elements. In contrast, conventional earmuffs would consist of a first-order system, where the masses correspond to the combination of the cup and the carrier, and the springs correspond to the padding. Additionally, there are additional masses, dampers, and springs, such as the internal air cavity of the cup and the headband, but for simplicity, first-order or second-order systems are chosen respectively. On the other hand, noise attenuation can also be active, where the hearing protector is configured with a so-called noise cancellation function. Noise cancellation is typically provided by electronic components, including a microphone for picking up sound from the outside or inside of the earmuff, a speaker for emitting sound into the wearer's ear inside the earmuff, and components for converting the sound picked up by the microphone into the sound emitted by the speaker. Typically, this conversion involves a phase shift between the picked-up sound and the emitted sound, causing the sound waves emitted by the speaker to be directed towards a lower amplitude than would be achieved by simply penetrating the sound amplitude, thus compensating for the sound penetrating into the earmuff.

[0010] Within the meaning of this disclosure, a cup is part of the earcup of a hearing protector and is generally formed of a substantially rigid shell. The cup defines a hollow space and is preferably shaped as a hemispherical or substantially hemispherical shape. The cup has a closed end and a preferred annular edge, the closed end facing away from the wearer's ear during use, and the annular edge facing the wearer's ear during use. The cup typically has noise-attenuating properties due to its material, due to the noise-attenuating material therein, and / or due to its shape and / or geometry. The cup may be contained within a hearing protector component inside the hollow shape, or may be attached to a component, such as an electronic component, such as a speaker, printed circuit board, sensor, microphone, or battery, at other locations (e.g., on the outside or top of the cup). Within the meaning of this disclosure, a cup generally refers to a mass component, wherein the cup of a hearing protector typically has a dedicated mass. Generally, the higher the mass, the better the noise attenuation, because a higher mass requires more acoustic energy to move. Therefore, for a cup with a higher mass, the resulting sound pressure level at the ear will be lower. Ways to increase mass include choosing the shape and / or material of the cup and / or adding additional weight to an existing cup that already has a certain weight.

[0011] Within the meaning of this disclosure, the carrier is part of the earcup of a hearing protector. The carrier connects the earcup cup to the earcup padding on one side and the earcup to a headband on the other. The carrier includes earcup mounting members for attaching the earcup to the headband. The earcup mounting members engage or connect to earcup attachment devices present at the headband. The carrier is adapted to carry the padding. The carrier may be annular and may be shaped and sized substantially according to the shape and size of the earcup cup and / or padding. The carrier provides the required force or pressure to press the padding against the wearer's skin, thereby achieving a seal within precise noise attenuation.

[0012] Within the meaning of this disclosure, the pad is used to seal the space formed by the corresponding earmuff at the wearer's head when the hearing protector is worn. Preferably, the pad is shaped to extend around the wearer's ear. Earmuffs configured in this way are also referred to as "over-ear" earmuffs in the fields of hearing protectors and headphones. The pad also mechanically decouples the carrier, allowing it to achieve the stiffness and internal damping experienced by the pad spring as a mass (i.e., the carrier), which enables noise attenuation of the internal air cavity of the hearing protector. The pad is preferably generally elliptical. Other shapes of pads are also conceivable, such as those that do not extend around the wearer's ear but are placed on the wearer's ear, thus representing "on-ear" earmuffs. Preferably, the pad comprises a soft, conformable, and / or compressible material that conforms to the wearer's skin and / or ear, thereby achieving a seal and allowing only a very small amount of noise to enter the interior of the earmuff. Typical suitable materials may include foamed plastic materials, such as polyethylene (PE). The foaming material may include open-cell or closed-cell foam or a material endowed with shape-adaptive properties. Additionally, the cushioning pad may include a sheath encapsulating a soft material that helps prevent sound transmission through the pad. The sheath may be a plastic material selected from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). Furthermore, the pad may be formed into a hollow shape defining a tubular interior, which may be filled with gas or air to provide air suspension. Those skilled in the art will recognize other configurations for providing a cushioning pad that adapts to and seals the wearer's head.

[0013] Within the meaning of this disclosure, a headband is an elongated, strap-like portion that connects the two earmuffs of a hearing protector, allowing the earmuffs to be placed on or above the wearer's ears. The headband is typically U-shaped with two ends, allowing it to fit over the wearer's head and facilitate positioning the earmuffs on or above the wearer's ears. The headband applies a force or pressure to the earmuffs and padding respectively to ensure an accurate fit of the hearing protector. Typically, this force or pressure is in the range of 1N to 10N, as measured according to European Standard EN 352-1 of October 2002 or as defined in that document. Typically, the headband includes attachment devices for releasably or securely attaching the earmuffs thereto. Each earmuff of the hearing protector is typically attached to one end of the headband. When a helmet is used with the earmuffs, the headband may be used in place of the helmet attachment device for the earmuffs (see, for example, European Product Standard EN 352-3 of October 2002). Therefore, it will be clear to those skilled in the art that it is not the headband, but the helmet mount that can be arranged to carry the earmuffs by means of the protective helmet or to attach the earmuffs to the protective helmet. Thus, the earmuffs are ultimately carried by the protective helmet to which the helmet mount can be attached.

[0014] Within the meaning of this disclosure, a spring element is an element that connects a carrier to the cup of a hearing protector. The spring element facilitates the mechanical decoupling of the carrier from the cup of the earmuff, enabling it to achieve the stiffness and internal damping experienced by the mass (i.e., the cup and the carrier). It should be noted that, in addition to the spring element according to this disclosure, the padding of the hearing protector may also typically provide a spring function. The spring element helps to divide the mass of the earmuff into two masses, thereby creating a second-order mass spring system. The spring element may be annular and may include a mechanically damping material, such as an elastomer. It should be noted that the material and shape of the spring element contribute to the decoupled spring function. The spring element can be configured to compensate for noise attenuation by creating a comfort effect through stiffness / damping variations within the padding.

[0015] In another aspect, this disclosure relates to a method of modifying a hearing protector using a spring element and a carrier. The hearing protector includes two earmuffs, each earmuff comprising a pad with noise attenuation characteristics, a cup defining a hollow space and having noise attenuation characteristics, wherein each cup includes an earmuff mount. The hearing protector also includes a U-shaped headband for carrying the two earmuffs, and alternatively, two helmet mounts for carrying the two earmuffs at a protective helmet. The headband or each helmet mount includes two ends, each end having an earmuff attachment means for attaching the earmuffs to the headband or helmet mount. The pad is connected to the cup such that the pad is carried by the cup. The earmuff attachment means of the headband or helmet mount engages with the earmuff mounts of the earmuffs such that the earmuffs are carried by the headband or helmet mount. The method includes the following steps: removing the padding from the cup; removing the earmuff from the headband or helmet mount by separating the earmuff mounting part of the cup from the earmuff attachment device; assembling a spring element at the cup such that the spring element is supported by the cup; assembling a carrier to the opposite side of the cup assembly of the spring element such that the carrier is supported by the spring element; assembling the padding to the opposite side of the spring element assembly of the carrier such that the padding is supported by the carrier; and assembling the earmuff to the headband or helmet mount. The advantage of this method of modifying a hearing protector with a spring element and carrier is that conventional hearing protectors are equipped such that the aforementioned advantages and effects of a hearing protector with a spring element and carrier can be achieved even for hearing protectors that originally did not have a spring element and carrier.

[0016] In one implementation, the spring element of the hearing protector is ring-shaped. The advantage of this shape is that it resembles the other, typically ring-shaped components of the hearing protector. Furthermore, the ring shape allows other components to be arranged within it without space constraints. Additionally, the spring element provides extra space for the wearer's ear canal, thus offering more design options.

[0017] In another embodiment, the spring element of the hearing protector comprises an elastomeric material. Such elastomeric materials can help facilitate mechanical decoupling from the padded carrier provided by the cup's spring element. Elastomeric materials generally exhibit good mechanical damping properties. Such materials are also suitable for manufacturing spring elements with a stiffness similar to that of the padding. Preferably, the spring element of the hearing protector comprises a material selected from thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU), synthetic rubber, foam or foamed materials, silicone resins, metals, and / or combinations thereof. Such materials generally exhibit good mechanical damping properties. Such materials are also suitable for spring elements with a similar stiffness to the padding.

[0018] In another embodiment, the spring element of the hearing protector is constructed and arranged such that the resonant frequency of the pad together with the carrier is similar to or higher than the resonant frequency of the cup together with the spring element. The advantage of this arrangement is that it achieves good attenuation characteristics, particularly in the frequency range above the resonant frequency.

[0019] In another embodiment, the cup of the hearing protector comprises a rigid material. Such rigid materials contribute to a robust and reliable design for both the cup and the hearing protector. Specifically, the rigid material helps provide good shape retention properties for the cup. Rigid materials are typically selected from ABS, PP, PA, PC, and PVC, and generally exhibit a stiffness of 1000 MPa to 3000 MPa. Alternatively, the cup may be made of a semi-rigid material, such as a high-stiffness elastomer or a composite of rigid plastic and elastomer. Rigid or semi-rigid materials help the cup provide specific resonant frequencies; for example, this can be used to control certain resonant frequencies at high frequencies. However, these resonant frequencies differ from those controlled by a mass / spring system.

[0020] In one embodiment, the cup of the hearing protector comprises a moldable material, preferably an injection-molded material, wherein the material is preferably selected from polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), polyvinyl chloride, metal, or combinations thereof. An advantage of such moldable materials is that they can be easily manufactured into the desired shape of the cup, particularly with the desired weight and thickness of the walls defining the hollow space. Composites of different materials are also conceivable, such as composites of metals with polymeric materials (e.g., polyethylene or polypropylene). Such composites may be advantageous because the metals in such compounds typically exhibit good mechanical stability and electromagnetic interference protection properties. It should be noted that this also affects resonance at higher frequencies; however, it differs from the resonance affected by mass / spring systems.

[0021] In another embodiment, the cup of the hearing protector has a hemispherical shape. Typically, this hemispherical shape has a closed end and an open end, the closed end facing away from the wearer's ear during use, and the open end facing the wearer's ear during use. The open end can be connected to a spring element of the hearing protector. It should be noted that deviations from a perfect hemisphere, such as having an oval or elliptical cross-section in one or more planes, are also understood to be hemispherical shapes within the meaning of this disclosure. The advantage of such hemispherical shapes is that, while defining a hollow space, there are no sharp edges or corners.

[0022] In another embodiment, the cup of the hearing protector includes an edge connected to or attached to a spring element, wherein the edge is preferably annular. The advantage of such an edge is that it simplifies the connection to the carrier, particularly for annular edges connected to a preferred annular carrier.

[0023] In another embodiment, the carrier of the hearing protector is annular. The advantage of this annular shape of the carrier is that it resembles other typically annular components of the hearing protector. Furthermore, the annular shape allows for the arrangement of other components without space limitations, such as components that protrude into the carrier and are housed within the earmuff.

[0024] In a preferred embodiment, the shape and size of the hearing protector's pad and carrier are substantially identical. The advantage of such shape and size is that it facilitates easy and reliable assembly. Those skilled in the art will understand that this includes an arrangement in which, for comfort and / or to prevent the carrier from contacting the skin, the cross-section of the pad is slightly larger than the cross-section of the carrier.

[0025] In another preferred embodiment, the shape and size of the spring and cup of the hearing protector are substantially identical to each other. The advantage of such shape and size is that it facilitates easy and reliable assembly.

[0026] In another preferred embodiment, the shape and size of the liner, carrier, spring element, and cup are substantially consistent with each other. The advantage of such shape and size is that it facilitates easy and reliable assembly.

[0027] In one embodiment, the carrier of the hearing protector comprises a rigid material. Such rigid materials contribute to a robust and reliable design for both the carrier and the hearing protector. Specifically, the rigid material helps provide good shape retention properties for the carrier and facilitates the positioning of the earmuffs attached thereto. In particular, the rigid carrier allows for the application of appropriate force or pressure to the earmuffs for proper positioning and sealing of the padding attached to the carrier. Rigid materials are typically selected from ABS, PP, PA, PC, and PVC, and exhibit a stiffness ranging from 1000 MPa to 3000 MPa. Alternatively, the carrier may be made of a semi-rigid material, such as a high-hardness elastomer or a composite of rigid plastic and elastomer.

[0028] In another embodiment, the carrier of the hearing protector comprises a moldable material, preferably an injection-molded material, wherein the material is preferably selected from polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), polyvinyl chloride, metal, or combinations thereof. The advantage of such moldable materials is that they can be easily manufactured into the desired shape required for the carrier, particularly possessing the desired mechanical stability necessary for the proper positioning of the earcups attached to the carrier. Compounds of different materials, such as metals combined with polymeric materials (e.g., polyethylene or polypropylene), are also conceivable. Such compounds may be advantageous because the metals in such compounds typically exhibit good mechanical stability and electromagnetic interference protection properties.

[0029] In yet another embodiment, the cup and / or carrier of the hearing protector also include electronic components, which preferably include a speaker, a printed circuit board (PCB), a sensor, a microphone, and / or a battery. The advantage of arranging the components of the hearing protector within the cup and / or carrier is that it achieves a compact and robust design. Furthermore, it avoids or reduces the effects of moisture, corrosion, and / or mechanical damage to such components. When arranged in this way, the components do not protrude from the hearing protector. Additionally, this provides the components with added mass, which helps improve sound attenuation.

[0030] In another embodiment, the hearing protector's carrier further includes an inner hemisphere connected to the carrier and arranged within the cup, creating a gap between the inner hemisphere and the cup. Such an inner hemisphere arranged within the cup of the hearing protector is advantageous because the hollow space defined by the cup is thus divided into two subspaces, where the double-walled structure facilitates good noise attenuation and provides an additional air cavity in addition to the hollow space defined by the cup. Preferably, the gap between the inner hemisphere and the cup comprises noise-attenuating material and / or electronic components. Such materials may include, for example, polyurethane foam, PVC foam, or melamine foam. Such electronic components may include, for example, a speaker, microphone, sensor, or other electronic components of an active noise cancellation unit, an active communication unit, and / or other components required to operate the hearing protector. This arrangement is useful because it provides a space-saving and compact arrangement of electronic components within the cup of the hearing protector. Furthermore, the mass of the cup may be increased as a result. The arrangement of the noise-attenuating material is advantageous because it further supports the sound insulation and noise attenuation characteristics of both the cup and the hearing protector. It's important to note that maximizing the inner hemisphere can be beneficial because the sound pressure delivered to the ear is essentially the sound energy per unit volume within the cavity. A larger volume results in lower sound pressure, meaning less sound energy per unit volume. On the other hand, the air cavity of the gap will affect the stiffness seen through the cup, which is combined with the stiffness of the spring element.

[0031] In another embodiment, the hearing protector's pad is constructed and arranged such that it covers the wearer's ear. Typically, the pad is annular or oval in shape to fit around the wearer's ear. This "overlapping" arrangement is advantageous because the pad provides a good seal with the wearer's skin, thereby contributing to the hearing protector's good noise cancellation characteristics.

[0032] In another embodiment, the hearing protector's pad comprises a conformable and / or compressible material such that, during use, the pad conforms to the wearer's skin, thereby forming a sound seal between the earmuff and the wearer's skin. The conformable and / or compressible material compensates for, for example, uneven and irregularly shaped surfaces provided by the wearer's skin. Good skin contact and comfort can be achieved due to the deformation of the padding material. The advantage of such conformable materials for pads is that they conform to the wearer's skin and / or ear, resulting in a good seal and comfort, and no or only minimal noise entering the earmuff. Preferably, the pad comprises a foam or fusible material. The foam or fusible material may comprise open-cell or closed-cell foam. Such foam or fusible materials exhibit good conformability and / or compressibility, thus representing an easy and reliable way to provide conformable and / or compressible materials for the pad.

[0033] In another embodiment, the pad may comprise a combination of different materials. For example, the pad may comprise a surface layer made of a fairly robust material and may also comprise a fairly soft, conformable, and / or compressible material. The advantage of such a combination is that it provides reasonable rigidity while offering conformability and / or compressibility to the pad. It is also conceivable that the pad has an airtight outer layer filled with a fluid (e.g., air), which provides the desired conformability and / or compressibility. Such solutions provide increased conformability and / or compressibility, resulting in improved comfort and / or sealing properties of the pad. Other composites, such as materials with different conformability and / or compressibility, are also conceivable, such that a softer material is positioned towards the wearer's skin during use, while a fairly robust material is positioned away from the wearer's skin during use.

[0034] In another embodiment, the hearing protector includes an active noise cancellation unit and / or an active communication unit, which are arranged in one or both cups or at one or both cups. The active noise cancellation unit or function described above can provide improved noise attenuation characteristics for the hearing protector. The active communication unit can provide additional functionality to the hearing protector, namely, enabling voice communication with other persons, reproduction of entertainment audio and / or ambient sounds. Simultaneously, such a unit can increase the weight of the cups, resulting in an increase in the mass of the cups within the meaning of a mass spring system. It should be noted that some components of the active noise cancellation unit and / or active communication unit can be placed outside the cups, such as sensors that can be placed outside the cups.

[0035] In one embodiment, the speaker, sensor, and / or accelerometer are arranged in the gap between the inner hemisphere and the cup of the hearing protector. The advantage of this arrangement is that the components placed in the gap, particularly the sensor, are protected by this location from impacts within the cavity, such as when walking while wearing the hearing protector.

[0036] In one embodiment, the hearing protector includes an active noise cancellation unit configured and arranged to provide noise cancellation in a frequency region close to the resonant frequency of the hearing protector. The advantage of such an active noise cancellation unit is that it compensates for noise attenuation in a frequency region where passive attenuation is low.

[0037] In one implementation, the resonant frequencies of the hearing protector's pads and carrier are selected, along with the resonant frequencies of the spring element and cup, such that these resonant frequencies are suitable for a specific noise environment. This arrangement enables customized noise attenuation of the hearing protector for a particular noise environment. It is also conceivable that the pads and carrier are constructed and arranged in conjunction with the resonant frequencies of the cup and spring element to achieve low-frequency, high-frequency, or flat sound attenuation characteristics. This is advantageous because it improves the overall noise attenuation across different noise environments.

[0038] In another embodiment, the spring element of the hearing protector is constructed and arranged such that the resonant frequency of the pad together with the carrier, when combined with the resonant frequency of the cup together with the spring element, is suitable for the frequency characteristics of a particular noise environment. The advantage of this arrangement is that it achieves good noise attenuation, and even improves noise levels for a particular noise environment.

[0039] The present invention has been described in the various embodiments described above. Those skilled in the art will understand that one, several, or all of the embodiments described above can be combined with each other.

[0040] The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate specific embodiments of the invention by way of example: Attached Figure Description

[0041] Figure 1 This is a schematic cross-sectional front view of a hearing protector according to an embodiment of this disclosure.

[0042] Figure 2 This is a schematic front view of an embodiment of a hearing protector according to this disclosure, worn by a wearer.

[0043] Figure 3 This is a perspective view of the earmuffs and headband or helmet mounting components of a hearing protector according to an embodiment of this disclosure.

[0044] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 The image shows a schematic cross-sectional perspective view of the earcups.

[0045] Figure 5 yes Figure 3 The diagram shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the earcups.

[0046] Figure 6 This is a perspective view of the earmuffs and headband or helmet mounting components of a hearing protector according to an embodiment of this disclosure.

[0047] Figure 7 yes Figure 6 The diagram shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the earcups.

[0048] Figure 8 yes Figure 6 The image shows a schematic cross-sectional perspective view of the earcups.

[0049] Figure 9 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the earmuff of a hearing protector according to an embodiment of this disclosure.

[0050] Figure 10 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the earmuff of a hearing protector according to an embodiment of this disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0051] Figure 1 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of a hearing protector 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The hearing protector 10 includes two earmuffs 12A, 12B connected and carried by a headband 18. It should be understood that two helmet mounts (not shown here) may be present instead of the headband 18 to carry the earmuffs 12A, 12B. Each of the earmuffs 12A, 12B includes earmuff mounts 20A, 20B, each of which is attached via earmuff mounts 20A, 20B to a corresponding earmuff attachment device 22A, 22B of the headband 18. Thus, the earmuffs 12A, 12B are carried by the headband 18. Each of the earmuffs 12A, 12B includes cups 14A, 14B defining a hollow space therein. The hollow space can accommodate certain parts of the hearing protector 10, such as the printed circuit board 36 on which electronic components 32 and 34 are mounted, and the sensor 44A or microphone 46A for one of the earmuffs 12A and 12B. Figure 1 As shown. However, it is conceivable that the two earcups 12A and 12B include Figure 1 The portion shown refers only to one of the earcups 12A and 12B. Earcups 12A and 12B may also include components for use with... Figure 1The electronic components 40A and 40B of the speakers 42A and 42B shown, such as amplifiers 40A and 40B, are part of an active noise cancellation unit and / or part of an active communication unit. The earcups 12A and 12B also each include carriers 24A and 24B. Figure 1 Not shown in the image, see [link / reference]. Figure 2 Earmuff mounts 20A and 20B are part of and extend from carriers 24A and 24B. Each of carriers 24A and 24B has pads 16A and 16B attached thereto. Pads 16A and 16B comprise soft, comfortable, and / or compressible material to seal earmuffs 12A and 12B to the skin of the wearer 100. Figure 1 Not shown in the image, see [link / reference]. Figure 2 The pads 16A, 16B and the carriers 24A, 24B are preferably annular and preferably substantially identical in shape and size to facilitate an easy and reliable connection between them. The carriers 24A, 24B and / or the pads 16A, 16B may include attachment devices, such as adhesives or mechanical attachment devices (not shown here), to facilitate attachment to each other. The earcups 12A, 12B also each include spring elements 30A, 30B (in... Figure 1 Invisible in the middle, visible Figure 2 Each of the spring elements 30A and 30B is attached to each of the carriers 24A and 24B on the side opposite to the pads 16A and 16B.

[0052] Figure 2 A schematic front view shows a device worn by a user or wearer 100, such as... Figure 1 A similar embodiment of the hearing protector 10 is shown. The hearing protector 10 is worn such that each earmuff fits above the wearer's ear (not shown here). The hearing protector 10 shown here includes... Figure 1 The same parts and components are shown, and it also includes a microphone 74 disposed at a microphone boom 70 extending from one of the earcups 12B and an antenna 72 extending from one of the earcups 12A. The microphone 70 and antenna 72 may be part of the active communication unit of the hearing protector 10, but the antenna 72 may also transmit different signals besides voice signals, such as those from… Figure 1The data signal of sensor 46A is shown. The hearing protector 10 includes two earmuffs 12A and 12B connected and carried by a headband 18. Each earmuff 12A and 12B includes earmuff mounts 20A and 20B, and each of the earmuffs 12A and 12B is attached to a corresponding earmuff attachment device 22A and 22B of the headband 18 via the earmuff mounts 20A and 20B. Thus, the earmuffs 12A and 12B are carried by the headband 18. It should be understood that two helmet mounts (not shown here) may be present instead of the headband 18 for carrying the earmuffs 12A and 12B. Each earmuff 12A and 12B includes cups 14A and 14B that define a hollow space therein. In this hollow space, some parts of the hearing protector 10 may be accommodated, such as a printed circuit board 36 on which electronic components 32 and 34 are mounted, a sensor 44A or microphone 46A for one of the earmuffs 12A and 12B, such as Figure 1 As shown. However, it is conceivable that the two earcups 12A and 12B include Figure 1 The portion shown refers only to one of the earcups 12A and 12B. Earcups 12A and 12B may also include components for use with... Figure 1 The electronic components 40A, 40B of the speakers 42A, 42B shown, such as amplifiers 40A, 40B, are part of an active noise cancellation unit and / or part of an active communication unit. The earcups 12A, 12B also each include carriers 24A, 24B. Earcup mounts 20A, 20B are part of and extend from carriers 24A, 24B. Each of the carriers 24A, 24B has pads 16A, 16B attached thereto. Pads 16A, 16B comprise a soft, comfortable, and / or compressible material, thereby sealing the earcups 12A, 12B to the skin of the wearer 100. Pads 16A, 16B and carriers 24A, 24B are preferably annular and preferably substantially identical in shape and size to achieve an easy and reliable connection between them. Carriers 24A, 24B and / or pads 16A, 16B may include attachment means, such as adhesive or mechanical attachment means (not shown here), for attaching to each other. Earmuffs 12A, 12B also each include spring elements 30A, 30B, each of which is attached to each of the carriers 24A, 24B on the side opposite to the pads 16A, 16B. Figure 2 As shown, each of the earcups 12A and 12B includes cups 14A and 14B, with each of the cups 14A and 14B attached to the spring elements 30A and 30B on the side opposite to the position where the carriers 24A and 24B are attached to the spring elements 30A and 30B.

[0053] Figure 3 A perspective diagram shows the details as follows: Figure 1One of the earmuffs 12B of the hearing protector 10 shown. As shown, the earmuff 12B is attached to the earmuff attachment device 22B of the headband 18 (only a portion of it is shown here) via its earmuff mount 20B extending from the carrier 24B. It should be understood that there may be two helmet mounts (only a portion of them is indicated by 18 here) for carrying the earmuffs 12A and 12B, instead of the headband 18. Figure 3 As shown, the earcup 12B includes a cup 14B attached to one side of the spring element 30B. A carrier 24B is attached to the opposite side of the spring element 30B from the side where the cup 14B is attached. A pad 16B is attached to the opposite side of the carrier 24B from the side where the spring element 30B is attached. Preferably, as Figure 3 As shown, the pad 16B, carrier 24B, and spring element 30B are annular. Furthermore, the cup 14B of the earcup 12B has an open side opposite to the closed side, this open side having a preferably annular edge, through which the cup 14B is attached to the aforementioned preferably annular spring element 30B. It should be understood that, as Figure 3 The construction details shown and described above, although only shown and mentioned for one of the earcups, may also exist on both earcups.

[0054] Figure 4 A more detailed illustration is shown in the perspective schematic cross-sectional view, such as... Figure 3 The earcup 12B is shown. As shown, attachment devices 16D and 24D are arranged to connect the pad 16B to the carrier 24B on one side. Furthermore, attachment devices 24F and 30D are arranged to attach the spring element 30B to the opposite side of the attachment pad 16B of the carrier 16B. Attachment devices 30F and 14D are arranged on the opposite side of the attachment carrier 16B of the spring element 30B to facilitate attachment of the cup 14B to the spring element 30B. One, some, or all of attachment devices 16D, 24D, 24F, 30D, 30F, and 14D can be formed as adhesive or mechanical attachment devices, such as threaded portions, bayonet or snap-fit ​​connections. However, it is also conceivable to form one, some, or all of attachment devices 16D, 24D, 24F, 30D, 30F, and 14D as a combination of adhesive and mechanical attachment devices. Figure 4 An opening 17B, preferably annular, in the pad 16B is also shown, which facilitates the enclosure of the wearer's ear (not shown here) through the earmuff 12B. It should be understood that, as Figure 4 The construction details shown and described above, although only shown and mentioned for one of the earcups, may also exist on both earcups.

[0055] Figure 5 It is shown in a more simplified way as follows Figure 1A schematic cross-sectional side view of the earmuff 12B of the hearing protector 10 is shown. As shown, a pad 16B is attached to one side of the headband attachment device 24B. A spring element 30B is attached to the opposite side of the attachment pad 16B of the carrier 24B. Furthermore, a cup 14B is attached to the opposite side of the attachment carrier 24B of the spring element 30B. Similar to... Figure 4 The padding 16B includes an opening 17B that facilitates the enclosure of the wearer's ear (not shown) through the earmuff 12B. It should be understood that, as Figure 5 The construction details shown and described above, although only shown and mentioned for one of the earcups, may also exist on both earcups.

[0056] Figure 6 The earmuff 12B of a hearing protector 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown in perspective. Unlike the aforementioned embodiments, the earmuff 12B also includes an attachment ring 31B. The attachment ring 31B is shown for only one earmuff 12B, but it should be understood that both earmuffs 12A and 12B may include attachment rings 31A and 31B. The attachment ring 31B is positioned between the spring element 30B and the carrier 24B such that, unlike the aforementioned embodiments, one side of the attachment ring 31B is attached to one side of the carrier 24B, i.e., the opposite side of the side attached to the attachment pad 16B, and the other side is attached to one side of the spring element 30B, i.e., the opposite side of the side attached to the cup 14B. Figure 6 A portion of the headband 18 is also shown. It should be understood that there may be two helmet mounts (here only 18 indicates a portion of them) for carrying the earmuffs 12A and 12B, instead of the headband 18.

[0057] Figure 7A schematic cross-sectional side view shows the earcups 12B of a hearing protector 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment, an inner hemisphere 24H is arranged as part of a carrier 24B. The inner hemisphere 24H may be an integral part of the carrier 24B, or may be attached to the carrier 24B using a suitable adhesive or mechanical attachment. The inner hemisphere 24H defines a hollow space on one side and, together with a cup 14B, a gap 24J between the inner hemisphere 24H and the cup 24B on the other. It should be understood that the inner hemisphere 24H and the gap 24J may be present on one or both of the earcups 12A and 12B, respectively. As described above, the inner hemisphere 24H divides the hollow space defined by the cup 14B into two hollow spaces or subspaces, which results in and contributes to improved noise attenuation using a double-walled structure. This additional air cavity can also be used in active systems to position speakers and / or microphones / sensors (not shown here). As shown, attachment devices 16D, 24D are arranged to connect the pad 16B to the carrier 24B on one side. Furthermore, attachment devices 24F and 30D are arranged opposite to one side of the attachment pad 16B of the carrier 16B to attach the spring element 30B. Attachment devices 30F and 14D are arranged opposite to one side of the attachment carrier 16B of the spring element 30B to facilitate attachment of the cup 14B to the spring element 30B. One, some, or all of attachment devices 16D, 24D, 24F, 30D, 30F, and 14D can be formed as adhesive or mechanical attachment devices, such as threaded portions, bayonet or snap-fit ​​connections. However, it is also conceivable to form one, some, or all of attachment devices 16D, 24D, 24F, 30D, 30F, and 14D as a combination of adhesive and mechanical attachment devices. Figure 7 It is also shown above Figure 1 and Figure 2 A portion of the headband 18 is shown. It should be understood that two helmet mounts (here only 18 indicates a portion of them) may exist to support the earmuffs 12A and 12B, instead of the headband 18. As mentioned above, except... Figure 4 In addition to the arrangement, Figure 7 An attachment ring 31B between the spring element 30B and the carrier 24B is also shown. Therefore, as... Figure 7 As shown, there are additional attachment devices 31D and 31F to attach the attachment ring 31B to the attachment device 24F of the carrier 24B on one hand and to the attachment device 30D of the spring element 30B on the other hand. Figure 7 An opening 17B, preferably annular, in the pad 16B is also shown, which facilitates the covering of the wearer's ear (not shown here) through the earmuff 12B. Additionally, Figure 7A gasket 16B is shown, which has a hollow shape defining a tubular interior 17D therein. For example, the interior 17D can be filled with gas or air, providing a soft gasket 16B without using foam or foaming materials, but with air suspension, thereby achieving the required shapeability or compressibility of the gasket 16B. It should be noted that while the interior 17D, the attachment ring 31B, and the inner hemisphere 24H with gap 24J are... Figure 7 These features are shown together, but only one, some, or all of these features are present in earcups 12B. It should also be noted that one, some, or all of these features are present in one or both of earcups 12A and 12B.

[0058] Figure 8 A perspective cross-sectional side view is shown as follows Figure 7 The earcups 12B of the hearing protector 10 are shown. In the illustrated embodiment, an inner hemisphere 24H is arranged as part of a carrier 24B. The inner hemisphere 24H may be an integral part of the carrier 24B, or may be attached to the carrier 24B using a suitable adhesive or mechanical attachment. The inner hemisphere 24H defines a hollow space within itself and, together with the cup 14B, defines a gap 24J therebetween. It should be understood that the inner hemisphere 24H and the gap 24J may be present on one or both of the earcups 12A and 12B, respectively. As described above, the inner hemisphere 24H divides the hollow space defined by the cup 14B into two hollow spaces or subspaces, which results in / facilitates improved noise attenuation using a double-walled structure. This additional air cavity can also be used in active systems to position speakers and / or microphones / sensors (not shown here). As shown, attachment devices 16D, 24D are arranged to connect the pad 16B to the carrier 24B on one side. Furthermore, attachment devices 24F and 30D are arranged opposite to one side of the attachment pad 16B of the carrier 16B to attach the spring element 30B. Attachment devices 30F and 14D are arranged opposite to one side of the attachment carrier 16B of the spring element 30B to facilitate attachment of the cup 14B to the spring element 30B. One, some, or all of attachment devices 16D, 24D, 24F, 30D, 30F, and 14D can be formed as adhesive or mechanical attachment devices, such as threaded portions, bayonet or snap-fit ​​connections. However, it is also conceivable to form one, some, or all of attachment devices 16D, 24D, 24F, 30D, 30F, and 14D as a combination of adhesive and mechanical attachment devices. Figure 8 It is also shown above Figure 1 and Figure 2 A portion of the headband 18 is shown. It should be understood that two helmet mounts (here only 18 indicates a portion of them) may exist to support the earmuffs 12A and 12B, instead of the headband 18. As mentioned above, except... Figure 4 In addition to the arrangement, Figure 8An attachment ring 31B between the spring element 30B and the carrier 24B is also shown. Therefore, as... Figure 8 As shown, there are additional attachment devices 31D and 31F to attach the attachment ring 31B to the attachment device 24F of the carrier 24B on one hand and to the attachment device 30D of the spring element 30B on the other hand. Figure 8 An opening 17B, preferably annular, in the pad 16B is also shown, which facilitates the covering of the wearer's ear (not shown here) through the earmuff 12B. Additionally, Figure 8 A gasket 16B is shown, which has a hollow shape defining a tubular interior 17D therein. For example, the interior 17D can be filled with gas or air, providing a soft gasket 16B without using foam or foaming materials, but with air suspension, thereby achieving the required shapeability or compressibility of the gasket 16B. It should be noted that while the interior 17D, the attachment ring 31B, and the inner hemisphere 24H with gap 24J are... Figure 8 These features are shown together, but only one or some of them are present in earcups 12B. It should also be noted that one, some, or all of these features are present in one or both of earcups 12A and 12B.

[0059] Figure 9 It is shown in a more simplified way as follows Figure 7 and Figure 8 The diagram shows a schematic cross-sectional perspective view of the earmuff 12B of the hearing protector 10. As shown, a pad 16B is attached to one side of the headband attachment device 24B. A spring element 30B is attached to the opposite side of the attachment pad 16B of the carrier 24B. Furthermore, a cup 14B is attached to the opposite side of the attachment carrier 24B of the spring element 30B. Similar to... Figure 4 The pad 16B includes an opening 17B that facilitates the enclosure of the wearer's ear (not shown) through the earmuff 12B. In addition... Figure 4 In addition, Figure 9 It also shows the relationship with Figure 7 and Figure 8 The attachment ring 31B is arranged in the same manner as described above between the carrier 24B and the spring element 30B. Similar to... Figure 7 and Figure 8 The liner 16B includes an interior 17D formed therein, which can be filled with gas or air to provide air suspension for the liner 16B. Additionally, Figure 9 As shown, the gap 24J between the inner hemisphere 24H and the cup 14B is filled with a noise-attenuating or vibration-damping material, as shown by 24L. Suitable materials for filling include, for example, polyurethane foam and mineral wool. It should be noted that although the inner 17D, the attachment ring 31B, and the inner hemisphere 24H with the gap 24J are... Figure 9These features are shown together, but only one, some, or all of these features are present in earcups 12B. It should also be noted that one, some, or all of these features are present in one or both of earcups 12A and 12B.

[0060] Figure 10 A schematic cross-sectional view with perspective is shown as follows Figure 9 The hearing protector 10 shown has an earmuff 12B, but lacks the noise-attenuating material 24L arranged in the gap 24J between the inner hemisphere 24H and the cup 14B. Instead, electronic components, including a speaker, microphone, and sensors, indicated by 48B, are arranged in the gap 24J, such as portions of an active noise cancellation unit, an active communication unit, and / or other electronic components of the hearing protector 10, such as sensors, batteries, control units, etc. As shown, a pad 16B is attached to one side of the headband attachment device 24B. A spring element 30B is attached to the opposite side of the attachment pad 16B of the carrier 24B. Furthermore, the cup 14B is attached to the opposite side of the attachment carrier 24B of the spring element 30B. Similar to... Figure 4 The pad 16B includes an opening 17B that facilitates the enclosure of the wearer's ear (not shown) through the earmuff 12B. In addition... Figure 4 In addition, Figure 10 It also shows the relationship with Figure 7 and Figure 8 The attachment ring 31B is arranged in the same manner as described above between the carrier 24B and the spring element 30B. Similar to... Figure 7 and Figure 8 The gasket 16B includes an interior 17D formed therein, which can be filled with gas or air to provide air suspension for the gasket 16B. It should be noted that while the interior 17D, the attachment ring 31B, and the inner hemisphere 24H with the gap 24J are... Figure 10 These features are shown together, but only one or some of them are present in earcups 12B. It should also be noted that one, some, or all of these features are present in one or both of earcups 12A and 12B.

Claims

1. A hearing protector (10), the hearing protector comprising: Two earcups (12A, 12B), each earcup includes: Pads with noise attenuation characteristics (16A, 16B). A cup with a defined hollow space and noise attenuation characteristics (14A, 14B). The carrier (24A, 24B) includes at least one earmuff mounting component (20A, 20B); A U-shaped headband (18) for carrying the two earmuffs (12A, 12B), and alternatively for carrying two helmet mounts of the two earmuffs (12A, 12B) at a protective helmet, the headband (18) or each of the helmet mounts comprising: two ends, each end having earmuff attachment means (22A, 22B) for attaching the earmuffs (12A, 12B) to the headband (18) or the helmet mount; The pads (16A, 16B) are connected to the carrier (24A, 24B) such that the pads (16A, 16B) are carried by the carrier (24A, 24B). The headband (18) or the earmuff attachment device (22A, 22B) of the helmet mount engages the earmuff mount (20A, 20B) of the earmuff (12A, 12B) such that the earmuff (12A, 12B) is carried by the headband (18) or the helmet mount. Each of the earmuffs (12A, 12B) includes a spring element (30A, 30B) connecting the cup (14A, 14B) to the carrier (24A, 24B). The carrier (24A, 24B) and the pad (16A, 16B) form a first mass spring system, and the cup (14A, 14B) and the spring element (30A, 30B) form a second mass spring system; and The spring elements (30A, 30B) are configured and arranged such that frequency-dependent changes transmitted to the first mass spring system by vibrations acting on the second mass spring system cause the cup (14A, 14B) and the carrier (24A, 24B) to be mechanically decoupled from each other.

2. The hearing protector (10) according to claim 1, wherein the spring elements (30A, 30B) are annular.

3. The hearing protector (10) according to claim 1, wherein the spring element (30A, 30B) comprises an elastomer material selected from thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU), synthetic rubber, foam materials, silicone resins, metals and / or combinations thereof.

4. The hearing protector (10) according to claim 1, wherein the spring elements (30A, 30B) are configured and arranged such that the resonant frequency of the pads (16A, 16B) together with the carrier (24A, 24B) is equal to or higher than the resonant frequency of the cup (14A, 14B) together with the spring elements (30A, 30B).

5. The hearing protector (10) according to claim 1, wherein the cup (14A, 14B) comprises a moldable material selected from polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), polyvinyl chloride, metal, or combinations thereof.

6. The hearing protector (10) according to claim 1, wherein the cup (14A, 14B) has a hemispherical shape.

7. The hearing protector (10) according to claim 1, wherein the carrier (24A, 24B) is annular.

8. The hearing protector (10) according to claim 1, wherein the carrier (24A, 24B) comprises a moldable material, wherein the material is selected from polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), polyvinyl chloride, metal or combinations thereof.

9. The hearing protector (10) according to claim 1, wherein the cup (14A, 14B) and / or the carrier (24A, 24B) further comprises electronic components (32, 34, 40A, 40B), wherein the electronic components (32, 34, 40A, 40B) include a speaker, a printed circuit board (PCB) (36), a sensor, a microphone and / or a battery.

10. The hearing protector (10) according to claim 1, wherein the carrier (24A, 24B) further comprises an inner hemisphere (24G, 24H) connected to the carrier (24A, 24B) and disposed within the cup (14A, 14B) such that a gap (24I, 24J) is formed between the inner hemisphere (24G, 24H) and the cup (14A, 14B), wherein the gap (24I, 24J) between the inner hemisphere (24G, 24H) and the cup (14A, 14B) comprises noise attenuation material and / or electronic components (48B).

11. The hearing protector (10) according to claim 10, wherein the speaker, sensor and / or accelerometer are arranged in the gap (24I, 24J) between the inner hemisphere (24G, 24H) and the cup (14A, 14B).

12. The hearing protector (10) according to claim 1 further includes an active noise cancellation unit and / or an active communication unit, the active noise cancellation unit and / or the active communication unit being arranged in one or both of the cups (14A, 14B) or at one or both of the cups (14A, 14B).

13. The hearing protector (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the spring elements (30A, 30B) are configured and arranged such that the resonant frequencies of the pads (16A, 16B) together with the carrier (24A, 24B) are adapted to the frequency characteristics of a particular noise environment when combined with the resonant frequencies of the cup (14A, 14B) together with the spring elements (30A, 30B).

14. A method for modifying a hearing protector using spring elements (30A, 30B) and a carrier (24A, 24B), the hearing protector (10) comprising: Two earcups (12A, 12B), each earcup includes: Pads with noise attenuation characteristics (16A, 16B); and A cup (14A, 14B) defining a hollow space and having noise attenuation characteristics, wherein each of the cups (14A, 14B) includes an earmuff mount (20A, 20B). A U-shaped headband (18) for carrying the two earmuffs (12A, 12B), and alternatively for carrying two helmet mounts of the two earmuffs at a protective helmet, the headband (18) or each of the helmet mounts comprising: two ends, each end having earmuff attachment means (22A, 22B) for attaching the earmuffs (12A, 12B) to the headband (18) or the helmet mount; The pads (16A, 16B) are connected to the cups (14A, 14B) such that the pads are supported by the cups (14A, 14B). The headband (18) or the earmuff attachment device (22A, 22B) of the helmet mount engages the earmuff mount (20A, 20B) of the earmuff (12A, 12B) such that the earmuff (12A, 12B) is carried by the headband (18) or the helmet mount. The method includes the following steps: Remove the liners (16A, 16B) from the cups (14A, 14B); The earmuffs (12A, 12B) are removed from the headband (18) or from the helmet mount by separating the earmuff mounts of the cups (14A, 14B) from the earmuff attachments (22A, 22B). The spring elements (30A, 30B) are assembled at the cup (14A, 14B) such that the spring elements are supported by the cup; On the opposite side of the cup (14A, 14B) assembled with the spring elements (30A, 30B), the carrier (24A, 24B) is assembled such that the carrier is supported by the spring elements. The gaskets (16A, 16B) are assembled to the opposite side of the carrier (24A, 24B) on the side where the spring element is assembled, such that the gaskets are supported by the carrier. Assemble the earmuffs (12A, 12B) to the headband (18) or the helmet mount.

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