Silicone Ear Cups with Drainage Holes for Water and Heat Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ear protection devices are ineffective in preventing water and heat from entering the ear during showering and hair styling, due to unreliable attachment, poor sealing, and inadequate material thickness.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising two oval-shaped silicone cups with drainage holes connected by a nylon arch via ball-joint connectors, allowing for secure, adjustable, and water-resistant ear protection from both water and high temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If plastic cups are used for ear protection, then they provide basic protection from water and heat, but they melt upon contact with electrical hair styling devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from plastic to silicone, which fundamentally alters the temperature resistance characteristic. Silicone material maintains its structural integrity at temperatures up to 300°C, preventing the melting issue while maintaining the protective function against water and heat from hair styling devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses silicone material which combines multiple desirable properties: water resistance, heat resistance, flexibility, and safety. This single material solution replaces the need for separate plastic cups and provides comprehensive protection without the melting defect of plastic materials.
2Ease of operation
If cups are made of thin material to reduce weight and improve comfort, then they are more comfortable to wear, but they provide inadequate protection from high temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from thin plastic to silicone with appropriate thickness. Silicone material provides sufficient thermal insulation even at reasonable thicknesses, blocking heat from hair styling devices while maintaining comfort during extended wear periods.
3Stability of the object's composition
If rigid wire arcs are used to connect cups, then structural stability is improved, but the device becomes difficult to adapt to different ear contours and positions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces rigid wire arcs with flexible silicone strips that can dynamically adapt to different ear shapes and positions. The flexible material maintains structural integrity while allowing the cups to conform to individual ear contours, solving the contradiction between stability and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameter from rigid wire to flexible silicone, fundamentally altering the mechanical properties. This allows the connecting element to bend and flex according to different ear geometries while maintaining sufficient structural support for stable cup positioning.
4Ease of operation
If cups are made loose to facilitate easy placement, then ease of operation is improved, but sealing reliability deteriorates and gaps remain for water penetration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses flexible silicone material for the cups that can gently conform to the ear shape. This flexibility allows the cups to be easily placed and adjusted while maintaining tight sealing contact with the ear contours, preventing water penetration without requiring rigid tight-fitting designs.
5Object-affected harmful factors
If silicone material is used instead of plastic, then heat resistance and water resistance are improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from plastic to silicone, which does increase manufacturing complexity slightly, but this is offset by the superior performance characteristics. The silicone material provides comprehensive protection against water and heat while maintaining flexibility and comfort, justifying the minor increase in manufacturing complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device effectively prevents water and heat from entering the ear canal by ensuring secure attachment, tight sealing, and using high-strength silicone that can withstand high temperatures, thus providing reliable protection during showering and hair styling.
Implementation Method 1
cups made of silicone with drainage holes
Implementation Method 2
cups made of silicone... provide effective protection from high temperatures
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed in the present invention is an ears protection device from water during washing of head or taking a shower and from heat when using hot hair-styling tools or hairdryer. The device comprises cups made of silicone with drainage holes, connected via an arch made of nylon or other plastic material, designed to protect the ear from water during showering and from heat when using hot hair-styling tools or a hairdryer.