Tragus-pressing exoskeleton-type earplug with improved noise blocking properties

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention provides an earplug for blocking noise, the earplug comprising: a bridge band which is worn on a user's head by being brought into close contact so as to surround at least a portion of a side of the user's head, and formed to have predetermined elasticity in an inward direction which is the direction pressing the tragi of both ears of a user; and a pair of tragus covers which are coupled to respective ends of the bridge band and press the tragi of the user in the inward direction so that the tragi block the external auditory canals, thereby blocking the transmission of sound wave energy to the external auditory canals, wherein at least one side of the bridge band further includes an auxiliary elastic part for pressing both ends of the bridge band in the directions facing each other.

Description

Exoskeleton earplugs with improved noise isolation for compression applications

[0001] The present invention relates to an exoskeleton-type earplug with improved noise blocking properties for compression.

[0002] In modern society, exposure to high levels of noise is increasing in various environments, including workplaces, public transportation, and leisure spaces. There is a growing demand for effective solutions to protect hearing from this noise pollution and secure quiet personal spaces.

[0003] Typically, earmuffs are installed on the left and right ends of the frame to cover the ears. Inside, a foam-type inner material is installed to block out noise. A foam-type wire-type packing is installed around the perimeter to facilitate a close fit with the face and block out noise.

[0004] Another type of earplug is a foam-type earplug that blocks noise by inserting it into the ear canal, which blocks the ear hole.

[0005] However, these earplugs are bulky and offer limited noise-blocking effectiveness relative to their price. Foam earplugs also don't offer sufficient noise-blocking, and because they're made with chemicals, many users complain of itching, otitis media, and earwax embolism due to contact with the soft skin of the ear canal.

[0006] In other words, traditional earplugs often offer insufficient noise reduction and can be uncomfortable when worn for extended periods. Furthermore, they can interfere with hearing important sounds (such as alarms or conversations). They still face challenges such as limited effectiveness in high-noise environments, discomfort when worn for extended periods, and a lack of adaptability to various ear shapes and sizes.

[0007] (Patent Document 1) Korean Patent No. 10-1441822 (published on September 17, 2014)

[0008] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to propose an earplug structure that is comfortable for the user to wear for a long time, can be freely adjusted according to the shape of the user's ear, and can evenly press the ear canal to effectively block external sound wave energy.

[0009] In order to solve the above problem, one embodiment of the present invention provides an earplug for blocking noise, comprising: a bridge band that is formed to fit tightly so as to surround at least a portion of a side of a user's head, so as to be worn on the user's head, and having a predetermined elasticity in an inward direction that presses the tragus of both ears of the user; and a pair of tragus covers respectively connected to both ends of the bridge band, the tragus covers pressing the user's tragus in the inward direction to block the external auditory canal, thereby blocking sound wave energy transmitted to the external auditory canal; and further comprising an auxiliary elastic member on at least one side of the bridge band that presses the both ends of the bridge band in a direction facing each other.

[0010] The above auxiliary elastic member may be formed in any one of the following methods: 1) a first method in which it is connected in parallel to the bridge band by being connected to one side and the other side of the bridge band; 2) a second method in which it is inserted in the middle of the bridge band along the extension direction of the bridge band, thereby being connected in series to the bridge band; and 3) a third method in which it is provided at each end of the bridge band, but is provided between the both ends and the migration cover so as to press the migration cover inward.

[0011] The bridge band includes a rear curved portion that is curved to wrap around the back of the user's head; and a helix portion that extends forward from the rear curved portion and is curved in a shape corresponding to the helix of the user so as to be secured to the helix; and the migration cover can be coupled to the lower end of the helix portion.

[0012] The above-mentioned two-wheeled part and the transfer cover are mutually connected through a rotating connecting part, and the rotating connecting part is connected so that the transfer cover can rotate in a first rotational direction in which the transfer cover pressurizes the transfer or a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction, thereby enabling the transfer cover to pressurize or depressurize the transfer.

[0013] The bridge band comprises: a first band portion curved to wrap at least a portion of an upper surface of a user's head; a second band portion extending downward from a lower end of the band portion; and a first connecting portion connecting the first and second band portions; wherein the second band portion is connected to the lower-positioned traverse cover through a second connecting portion, and the first and second connecting portions are connected so as to be rotatable in a first rotational direction in which the traverse cover presses the traverse or in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction, and are formed so as to be rotated equally by a preset angle in the first and second rotational directions, and a first unit angle of the first connecting portion is formed to be greater than a second unit angle of the second connecting portion, and the first connecting portion can be rotated only in the first rotational direction, and rotation in the second rotational direction can be suppressed.

[0014] The effects of the present invention are as follows.

[0015] The present invention uses a part of the user's body to block the external auditory canal, thereby preventing external auditory canal inflammatory reactions caused by foreign substances.

[0016] In addition, compared to conventional headset types, the lightweight and open structure can minimize discomfort felt by the wearer in a high temperature and humidity environment, and the earmuffs can be freely rotated and used according to the shape of the user's ears, maximizing compatibility.

[0017] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the principle of an earplug according to one embodiment of the present invention blocking external noise, where (a) shows a state where the earplug is not worn, and (b) shows a state where the earmuff is pressed against the earmuff to block sound wave energy from being transmitted to the external auditory canal.

[0018] Figures 2 (a) to (c) are schematic diagrams showing a state in which auxiliary elastic parts are combined in various forms in an earplug according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 3 schematically shows a state of use of an earplug according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 4 shows a schematic diagram of an earplug in use and a front view according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the earplug of Fig. 4, with (a) showing the state before the migration cover is rotated, and (b) showing the state after the migration cover is rotated.

[0022] Fig. 6 shows a cross-section AA' of the first connecting portion based on the earplug of Fig. 4.

[0023] Fig. 7 shows a BB' cross-section of the second connecting portion based on the earplug of Fig. 4.

[0024] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The following description is intended only to illustrate the embodiments and is not intended to limit or restrict the scope of the rights of the present invention. Anything readily inferred from the detailed description and examples of the invention by those skilled in the art should be construed as falling within the scope of the present invention.

[0025] The terms used in this invention are described as general terms widely used in the technical fields related to the invention. However, the meaning of the terms used in this invention may vary depending on the intentions of engineers working in the relevant field, the emergence of new technologies, examination standards, or precedents. Some terms may be arbitrarily selected by the applicant, in which case the meanings of such arbitrarily selected terms will be explained in detail. The terms used in this invention should be interpreted not simply based on their dictionary meanings, but rather based on their meanings reflecting the overall context of the specification.

[0026] Terms such as “comprises” or “comprising” used in the present invention should not be construed to necessarily include all of the components or steps described in the specification, and should also be construed to include cases where some components or steps are not included, and cases where additional components or steps are further included.

[0027] The terms described below are defined based on their functions within the present invention, and may vary depending on the intent or custom of the user, operator, or designer. Therefore, their definitions should be based on the contents of this specification.

[0028] Hereinafter, an earplug according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings. Although referred to as an "earplug" in this application, it should be noted in advance that the present invention does not have a structure that covers the entire ear or is inserted into the ear.

[0029] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the principle of an earplug according to one embodiment of the present invention blocking external noise, where (a) shows a state where the earplug is not worn, and (b) shows a state where the earmuff is pressed against the earmuff to block sound wave energy from being transmitted to the external auditory canal.

[0030] Referring to FIG. 1, external noise can enter the external auditory canal in the form of sound wave energy. An earplug (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention blocks such sound wave energy from entering the external auditory canal. The tragus cover (120) can block the entrance of the external auditory canal by pressing the tragus located at the entrance of the external auditory canal. The tragus refers to the vertically convex portion located in front of the auricle, next to the ear hole, and its size and shape vary from person to person.

[0031] The inner ear canal contains the eardrum, the semicircular canals, the cochlea, and other structures, allowing sound energy to be transmitted through the eardrum. For reference, the external auditory canal in adults is approximately 2.5 to 3 cm long, 7 to 9 mm in diameter, and generally curves in an S shape. The outer third of the external auditory canal is composed of cartilage, a continuation of the auricular cartilage, while the inner two-thirds may be composed of bone.

[0032] Figures 2 (a) to (c) are schematic diagrams showing the state in which the auxiliary elastic part is combined in various forms in an earplug according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] Referring to FIG. 2 together, the earplugs (100-1, 100-2, 100-3) have a basic configuration of a bridge band (110) and an ear cover (120a, 120b), and may further include an auxiliary elastic member (111-1, 111-2, 111-3a, 111-3b).

[0034] (a) of FIG. 2 illustrates a state in which the auxiliary elastic member (111-1) is connected in parallel to the bridge band (110) (first method), (b) illustrates a state in which the auxiliary elastic member (111-2) is connected in series to the bridge band (110) (second method), and (c) illustrates a state in which the auxiliary elastic members (111-3a, 111-3b) are connected between both ends of the bridge band (110) and the migration covers (120a, 120b) (third method).

[0035] The first to third methods are all based on a curved bridge band (110) that wraps around the user's head, and can be distinguished by the joining positions of the auxiliary elastic parts (111-1, 111-2, 111-3a, 111-3b). The bridge band (110) uses mechanical elasticity to apply pressure from the outside toward the inside to be fixed to the user's head. The user is fixed to the user's head not only by the main covers (120a, 120b), but also by the bridge band (110), so that the earplug according to one embodiment of the present invention can be prevented from coming off even when the user engages in daily activities.

[0036] As a modified example of the form illustrated in FIG. 2, the length of the auxiliary elastic parts (111-1, 111-2, 111-3a, 111-3b) can be configured to be adjustable by the user. Since the size and shape of the user's head are all different, the design can be made so that it can be used by various users by adjusting the length of the auxiliary elastic parts (111-1, 111-2, 111-3a, 111-3b).

[0037] Fig. 3 schematically illustrates a state of use of an earplug according to another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Fig. 3, the bridge band (210) includes a rear curved portion (210-1) and a two-wheeled portion (210-2).

[0038] The rear curved portion (210-1) refers to a curved portion that wraps around the back of the user's head. The earplug (200) illustrated in FIG. 3 includes support portions (210a, 210b) on the left and right sides, respectively, to ensure a more stable fit on the user's head. The support portions (210a, 210b) are preferably formed relatively wide so as to be supported on the outer side of the ear.

[0039] The aforementioned two-wheeled portion (210-2) can be attached to the ends of the support portions (210a, 210b). The two-wheeled portion (210-2) extends forward from the rear curved portion (210-1), but is formed to be curved in a shape corresponding to the two-wheeled portion so as to be secured to the user's two-wheeled portion (Helix). It can be fixed in close contact with the indented portion formed by the two-wheeled portion of the ear.

[0040] A migration cover (220) can be coupled to the lower end of the two-wheeled unit (210-2). Here, the migration cover (220) can be coupled by a rotational connecting part (222). The rotational connecting part (222) fixes the migration cover (220), but fixes the migration cover (220) so that the migration cover (220) can rotate in the first rotational direction in which the migration is pressed or in the opposite direction (second rotational direction).

[0041] After the user secures the bridge band (210) of the earplug (200) according to one embodiment of the present invention to the head, the user can adjust the rotation angle of the ear flap (220) to block out noise. When the ear flap (220) is rotated in the first rotational direction, the ear flap is pressed more strongly, thereby tightly blocking the external auditory canal.

[0042] Meanwhile, the present invention only describes the function of blocking external sound energy, but in addition to sound energy, it can also block external foreign substances or moisture, etc. As an example, by controlling the rotation angle of the migration cover (220), it can be used not only in swimming pools but also in work sites where a lot of foreign substances are floating in the air.

[0043] Since the detailed shapes of the user's two ears are not identical, the rotation angles of the left and right ears can also be adjusted differently. The detailed structure of the rotation connecting part (222) will be described later.

[0044] Meanwhile, the migration cover (220) may be made of a biocompatible material having a low Young's modulus of 10 MPa or less to uniformize the pressure profile applied to the migration and prevent inflammation caused by the material itself.

[0045] Figure 4 shows a schematic diagram of an earplug in use and a front view according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0046] Referring to Fig. 4, the bridge band includes a first band portion (310) and a second band portion (312a, 312b). To ensure a comfortable fit for the user, the first band portion (310) may be formed to be relatively wider than the second band portions (312a, 312b), thereby increasing the contact area. The first band portion (310) is configured to wrap around the upper surface of the user's head, and thus may adhere to the user's head due to its own weight.

[0047] A connecting portion (310a, 310b) may be formed at both ends of the first band portion (310). The connecting portions (310a, 310b) do not mean separate structures, but may be understood to mean both end sides. The connecting portions (310a, 310b) are respectively connected to the first connecting portions (311a, 311b). The first connecting portions (311a, 311b) connect the first band portion (310) and the second band portions (312a, 312b). The second band portions (312a, 312b) are formed as a pair.

[0048] Here, the first connecting portion (311a, 311b) is configured such that the second band portion (312a, 312b) can rotate in the first rotational direction based on the central axis (not shown) of the first band portion (310). That is, the first connecting portion (311a, 311b) only allows the second band portion (312a, 312b) to rotate in one direction. This is to prevent the earplug (300) from being removed from the head or from being displaced from its original position during the user's activities. This is particularly true when the user engages in large-scale exercise.

[0049] In other words, the first connecting portion (311a, 311b) is structured so that it can only rotate in the first rotational direction, and rotation in the opposite direction is suppressed. Fig. 6 shows a cross-section of the first connecting portion along line AA' based on the earplug of Fig. 4. For a more detailed description, refer to Fig. 6 first. A rotation groove (310a2) is formed in the connecting portion (310a1), and the rotation groove (310a2) includes a curved section (310a2_1) and a straight section (310a2_2).

[0050] The end of the second band portion (312a) may be provided with a protruding rotating body corresponding to the above-described rotating groove (310a2). The protruding rotating body (311a1) also includes a curved portion (311a1_1) and a straight portion (311a1_2), and the protruding rotating body (311a1) needs to be formed of a flexible material and be formed of a material that can be compressed when an external force is applied. According to the user's artificial rotation, the curved portion (311a1_1) is configured to be rotatable along the curved section (310a2_1). However, rotation in the opposite direction may be suppressed. Here, an example structure including a total of four rotating blade portions (k1, k2, k3, k4) is shown, but the number of rotating blade portions (k1, k2, k3, k4) may be changed, and accordingly, the shape of the rotating groove (310a2) may also be changed to correspond thereto.

[0051] A second connecting portion (313a, 313b) may be connected to the lower portion of the second band portion (312a, 312b) so that a migration cover (320a, 320b) can be rotatably connected. The second connecting portion (313a, 313b) may be connected to the lower portion of the second band portion (312a, 312b) and may be configured to cover the outer surface of the lower portion.

[0052] Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the state before the migration cover is rotated in the earplug of Fig. 4 (a) and the state after the migration cover is rotated in the earplug of Fig. 4 (b), and Fig. 7 shows a BB' cross-section of the second connecting part in the earplug of Fig. 4.

[0053] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 7 together, the second connecting portion (313a) is formed with a rotation groove (313a2), and a portion (313a1) other than the rotation groove (313a2) is relatively protruding.

[0054] The end of the migration cover (310a) includes a protruding portion having a shape corresponding to the rotation groove (313a2). Unlike the first connecting portion (311a, 311b) described above, the second connecting portion (313 a) is formed only with a curved section, and thus rotation in both the first and second rotation directions is possible. In addition, the first unit angle of the first connecting portion (311a, 311b) is formed to be larger than the second unit angle of the second connecting portion (313a, 313b), so that the rotation of the second connecting portion (313a, 313b) can be controlled more precisely.

[0055] The migration cover (310a) is a part that directly applies pressure to the user's migration. If the migration is applied too strongly, it may cause pain and skin problems to the user. Therefore, it is desirable to design it so that it can naturally rotate in the first or second rotational direction depending on the user's actions.

[0056] Referring to Fig. 7, an inwardly indented section (320a1_2) is naturally formed between curved sections (320a1_1), and six rotary blade parts (p1 to p6) are provided. However, as described above, the number of rotary blade parts may be changed. Since the number of rotary blade parts determines the unit angle, the second connecting section (313a) needs to be designed by taking into consideration the shapes of the first connecting sections (311a, 311b).

[0057] The above embodiments of the present invention are merely illustrative and the present invention is not limited thereto. Anything that has substantially the same configuration and achieves the same operational effects as the technical concepts described in the claims of the present invention is included within the technical scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. As earplugs that block out noise, A bridge band, which is formed to be worn on the user's head by closely wrapping at least a portion of the user's head side, and has a predetermined elasticity toward the inward direction that presses the tragus of both ears of the user; and A pair of ear flaps, each of which is connected to both ends of the bridge band, which press the user's ear flap inward to block the external auditory canal, thereby blocking sound wave energy transmitted to the external auditory canal; At least one side of the above bridge band, Further comprising an auxiliary elastic member that presses the two ends of the bridge band in a direction facing each other; Earplugs.

2. In claim 1, The above auxiliary elastic part is, 1) A first method of being connected in parallel to the bridge band by being connected to one side and the other side of the bridge band; 2) Insert into the middle of the bridge band along the extension direction of the bridge band. By doing so, a second method of connecting in series to the bridge band; and 3) A third method provided at each end of the bridge band, wherein the third method is provided between the two ends and the migration cover so as to press the migration cover in the inner direction; formed in any one of the following methods: Earplugs.

3. In claim 1, The above bridge band, A curved rear portion to wrap around the back of the user's head; and A wheel part extending forward from the rear curved part and curved in a shape corresponding to the wheel so as to be mounted on the user's wheel (Helix); The lower part of the above-mentioned two-wheeled part is joined with the above-mentioned migration cover. Earplugs.

4. In claim 3, The above two-wheeled part and the transfer cover are mutually connected through a rotating connecting part, The above rotating connecting part, The above-mentioned migration cover is coupled to be rotatable in a first rotational direction that pressurizes the migration or a second rotational direction that is opposite to the first rotational direction, so that the migration cover can pressurize or depressurize the migration. Earplugs.

5. In claim 1, The above bridge band, A first band portion curved to surround at least a portion of the upper surface of the user's head; A second band portion extending downward from the lower end of the above band portion; and A first connecting portion connecting the first and second band portions; The above second band section, It is connected through the above-mentioned lower-positioned migration cover and the second connecting part, The first and second connecting parts, The above-mentioned migration cover is coupled so as to be rotatable in a first rotational direction that pressurizes the migration or a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction, but is formed so as to be rotated equally by a preset angle in the first and second rotational directions, The first unit angle of the first connecting portion is formed to be larger than the second unit angle of the second connecting portion, The above first connecting part is rotated only in the first rotational direction, and rotation in the second rotational direction is suppressed. Earplugs.

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