Modular ear plug

Abstract

The invention relates to an ear plug (10) configured to provide isolation by sealing the entrance to the ear canal, having a main body (20) comprising at least one longitudinal body (22) extending into the ear canal and at least one outer layer (21) outside the ear canal. Accordingly, its novelty is that it comprises at least one step (221) on said longitudinal body (22) protruding outward from the longitudinal body (22), it comprises at least one additional layer (30) positioned between said step (221) and said outer layer (21), said additional layer (30) is removably connected between the step (221) and the outer layer (21).

Description

[0001] MODULAR EAR PLUG

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The invention relates to an ear plug configured to provide isolation by sealing the entrance to the ear canal, having a main body comprising at least one longitudinal body extending into the ear canal and at least one outer layer outside the ear canal.

[0004] PRIOR ART

[0005] Ear plugs are part of personal protective equipment used in a variety of situations. They are often used to reduce noise, prevent water from entering the ear, or block out external sounds during sleep. Ear plugs, which are made of various materials, are small devices that can be easily inserted and removed from the ear canal. They are designed in different shapes, sizes, and materials according to the purpose of use and personal preferences. Ear plugs are particularly important for maintaining hearing health in noisy environments and are often used by workers on construction sites, at music concerts, and in factories.

[0006] Ear plugs are generally produced as a hard-bodied type made of silicone material or a soft-bodied type made of foam material. Hard body plugs made of silicone material have a longer service life; however, in terms of sound insulation, they are less effective than foam plugs. In contrast, soft-bodied earplugs made of foam material provide better sound insulation but have a shorter lifespan than silicone plugs. For this reason, users' preference often varies depending on their needs and frequency of use. While foam plugs are preferred in situations that require high sound insulation, silicone plugs are more suitable for long-term and frequent use. As a result, both types of plugs have advantages as well as disadvantages, resulting in the need for different types of plugs for different needs.

[0007] As a result, all the above-mentioned problems have made it imperative to make an innovation in the relevant technical field.

[0008] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an ear plug for eliminating the above-mentioned disadvantages and bringing new advantages to the relevant technical field.

[0009] An object of the invention is to introduce an ear plug that is modularly configured to allow use in different areas.

[0010] Another object of the invention is to introduce an ear plug with an increased service life.

[0011] In order to achieve all the objects mentioned above and that will emerge from the following detailed description, the present invention is an ear plug configured to provide isolation by sealing the entrance to the ear canal, having a main body comprising at least one longitudinal body extending into the ear canal and at least one outer layer outside the ear canal. Accordingly, its novelty is that it comprises at least one step on said longitudinal body protruding outward from the longitudinal body, it comprises at least one additional layer positioned between said step and said outer layer, said additional layer is removably connected between the step and the outer layer. This results in an ear plug that can be used with a foam layer when needed or with a silicone body only when needed.

[0012] A possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that it comprises three steps on the longitudinal body; a first step, a second step, and a third step, with the additional layer positioned between the third step, which is the step closest to the outer layer, and the outer layer. The additional layer thus fits into and seals the entrance to the ear canal where the hard silicone body fails to seal.

[0013] Another possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that said additional layer is more flexible than the main body.

[0014] Another possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the additional layer is configured to have a tapering form, such that it gradually narrows from the outer layer towards the step.

[0015] Another possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the main body is manufactured from silicone material, while the additional layer is manufactured from foam material. Another possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the additional layer comprises a hole to allow it to snap-fit into the main body.

[0016] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0017] Fig. 1 shows a representative isometric view of the inventive ear plug with the additional layer attached.

[0018] Fig. 2 shows a representative isometric view of the inventive ear plug with the additional layer removed.

[0019] Fig. 3 shows a representative side view of the inventive ear plug with the additional layer attached.

[0020] Fig. 4 shows a representative side view of the inventive ear plug with the additional layer removed.

[0021] Fig. 5 shows a representative side cross-sectional view of the inventive ear plug in the ear canal with the additional layer attached.

[0022] Fig. 6 shows a representative side cross-sectional view of the inventive ear plug in the ear canal with the additional layer removed.

[0023] Fig. 7 shows a representative isometric view of the inventive earplug with the additional layer attached at the beginning of the process of removing the additional layer.

[0024] Fig. 8 shows a representative isometric view of the inventive ear plug during the process of removing the additional layer.

[0025] Fig. 9 shows a representative isometric view of the inventive ear plug during the process of removing the additional layer.

[0026] Fig. 10 shows a representative isometric view of the inventive ear plug with the main body and the additional layer separated from each other. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] In this detailed description, the subject of the invention is explained by way of example only for a better understanding of the subject, which shall not create any limiting effect.

[0028] Fig. 1 shows a representative isometric view of the inventive ear plug (10) with the additional layer (30) attached. Said ear plug (10) is configured to provide sound or fluid isolation for the ear canal by at least partially closing the ear canal of the person. To achieve this, the ear plug (10) comprises at least one longitudinal body (22) extending into the ear canal and at least one outer layer (21 ) outside the ear canal. Said longitudinal body (22) fills the ear canal, said the outer layer (21 ) covers the entrance to the ear canal. Accordingly, the outer layer (21 ) is configured with a larger surface area than the longitudinal body (22).

[0029] There is at least one step (221) provided on the longitudinal body (22). Said step (221) is in the form of a projection extending outward from the longitudinal body (22). The step (221) is manufactured from the same material as the longitudinal body (22) and is integrated with the longitudinal body (22). The step (221 ) can flex to bend towards the outer layer (21 ) as it enters the person's ear canal (fig. 5-fig. 6). Accordingly, the step (221 ) essentially has a larger surface area than the person's ear canal. Thanks to this structure, the step (221 ) increases the insulation by completely filling the ear canal.

[0030] In a possible embodiment, there are a plurality of steps (221) on the longitudinal body (22). Thus, the insulation in the ear canal is improved. The steps (221) are configured such that the surface area of each is larger than the previous one, towards the outer layer (21) on the longitudinal body (22). Thus, the step (221 ) structures adapt to the expanding form of the ear canal and the level of insulation is increased.

[0031] In the preferred embodiment, there are three steps (221 ) on the longitudinal body (22); a first step (221.1), a second step (221.2), and a third step (221.3). The first step (221 .1 ) is the farthest step (221 ) from the outer layer (21 ), while the third step (221 .3) is the closest to the outer layer (21 ) (221 ). The second step (221 .2) is positioned between the first step (221.1) and the third step (221.3). In this case, the surface areas of the steps (221 ) are ordered from small to large; first step (221.1), second step (221.2), and third step (221 .3). There are predetermined distances between the steps (221 ). The inventive ear plug (10) comprises at least one additional layer (30). Said additional layer (30) is removably connected to the main body (20). The additional layer (30) is manufactured from a material that is more flexible than the main body (20). In the preferred embodiment, the main body (20) is silicone and the additional layer (30) is foam. The additional layer (30) is removably connected to the main body (20). The additional layer (30) is positioned between the step (221) and the outer layer (21). Accordingly, between the step (221) and the outer layer (21), there is at least one slot (222) provided on the main body (20). The additional layer (30) can be placed on top of the slot (222) if desired. In the multi-step (221 ) configuration, the additional layer (30) is essentially positioned between the closest step (221 ) to the outer layer (21 ), and the outer layer (21 ). With this structure, the additional layer (30), which is more flexible than the main body (20), fully fills the entrance of the ear canal when the ear plug (10) is inserted into the person's ear, particularly improving sound insulation.

[0032] The additional layer (30) comprises at least one hole (31). Said hole (31) is essentially a cavity formed through the additional layer (30). With this structure, the hole (31) allows the additional layer (30) to be connected to the main body (20) by snap-fit. The hole (31 ) is sized so that there is no gap between it and the longitudinal body (22) in order to provide a seal when it fits into its slot (222) on the longitudinal body (22).

[0033] The additional layer (30) has a tapering form (I). Said tapering form (I) describes that the surface area of the additional layer (30) decreases as it moves from the outer layer (21 ) to the step (221). This structure provides a conforming form to the entrance of the ear canal and improves insulation.

[0034] Figs. 7-10 show the step-by-step process of removing the additional layer (30). Accordingly, to remove the additional layer (30), the flexible outer layer (21 ) is compressed, and then the additional layer (30) is pulled in the opposite direction of the longitudinal body (22), fully removing the additional layer (30) from the main body (20). Here, both the main body (20) and the additional layer (30) are flexible, therefore removal and attachment can be carried out effortlessly. All these process steps are followed in reverse for the attachment of the additional layer (30). Thanks to the additional layer (30) in the ear plug (10), the advantages of silicone and foam ear plugs (10), which are known in the present art, are combined in a single body. Due to the removable connection of the additional layer (30), the additional layer (30) can be removed in areas where the use of the foam layer would be inappropriate, such as where the ear plug (10) would be exposed to water, and the inventive earplug (10) can function with only the silicone main body (20). When the use of foam layer is needed and the insulation is desired to be increased, the additional layer (30) can be easily attached to the slot (222). In addition, thanks to the removable structure, it is also possible to replace the additional layer (30) at the end of its life.

[0035] The scope of protection of the invention is specified in the appended claims and cannot be limited to what is described for illustrative purposes in this detailed description. It is clear that a person skilled in the art can produce similar embodiments in the light of what is explained above, without deviating from the main theme of the invention.

[0036] REFERENCE NUMERALS GIVEN IN THE DRAWING

[0037] 10 Ear Plug

[0038] 20 Main Body

[0039] 21 Outer Layer

[0040] 22 Longitudinal Body

[0041] 221 Step

[0042] 221.1 First Step

[0043] 221 .2 Second Step

[0044] 221 .3 Third Step

[0045] 222 Slot

[0046] 30 Additional Layer

[0047] 31 Hole

[0048] (I) Tapering Form

Claims

CLAIMS1. An ear plug (10) configured to provide isolation by sealing the entrance to the ear canal, having a main body (20) comprising at least one longitudinal body (22) extending into the ear canal and at least one outer layer (21 ) outside the ear canal, characterized in that the ear plug (10) comprises at least one step (221 ) on said longitudinal body (22) protruding outward from the longitudinal body (22), the ear plug (10) comprises at least one additional layer (30) positioned between said step (221 ) and said outer layer (21), said additional layer (30) is removably connected between the step (221) and the outer layer (21 ).

2. An ear plug (10) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the ear plug (10) comprises three steps (221) on the longitudinal body (22); a first step (221.1 ), a second step (221.2), and a third step (221.3), with the additional layer (30) positioned between the third step (221.3), which is the step (221 ) closest to the outer layer (21 ), and the outer layer (21 ).

3. An ear plug (10) according to claim 1 , characterized in that said additional layer (30) is more flexible than the main body (20).

4. An ear plug (10) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the additional layer (30) is configured to have a tapering form (I); such that the additional layer (30) gradually narrows from the outer layer (21) towards the step (221).

5. An ear plug (10) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the main body (20) is manufactured from silicone material; while the additional layer (30) is manufactured from foam material.

6. An ear plug (10) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the additional layer (30) comprises a hole (31 ) to allow the additional layer (30) to snap-fit into the main body (20).

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