EAR PROTECTION

Abstract

An ear protector is provided that comprises a hollow body defining a cavity suitable for receiving an ear; a first fastening means; and a second fastening means. The hollow body is provided with an orifice that has an open configuration, in which an ear can pass through the orifice, and a reduced size configuration, in which said ear cannot pass through the orifice. The hollow body has a stretched configuration, in which an ear can be freely moved with respect to the cavity, and an engaging configuration, in which at least a portion of the hollow body has a reduced size as compared to the stretched configuration and in which said ear cannot be freely moved with respect to the cavity. The first fastening means substantially encircles the orifice and is elastic in nature, wherein the elastic nature of the first fastening means serves to bias the orifice into the reduced size configuration and wherein the first fastening means can be stretched to place the orifice into the open configuration. The second fastening means substantially encircles the first fastening means and is elastic in nature, wherein the elastic nature of the second fastening means serves to bias the hollow body into the engaging configuration and wherein the second fastening means can be stretched to place the hollow body into the stretched configuration.

Claims

1. An ear protector that comprises: a hollow body that defines a cavity suitable for receiving an ear, a first fastening means, and a second fastening means, wherein the hollow body is provided with an orifice that has an open configuration in which an ear can pass through the orifice and a reduced size configuration in which said ear cannot pass through the orifice, wherein the hollow body has a stretched configuration in which an ear can be freely moved with respect to the cavity and an engaging configuration in which at least a portion of the hollow body has a reduced size as compared to the stretched configuration and in which said ear cannot be freely moved with respect to the cavity, wherein the first fastening means substantially encircles the orifice and is elastic in nature, wherein the elastic nature of the first fastening means serves to bias the orifice into the reduced size configuration and wherein the first fastening means can be stretched to place the orifice into the open configuration, and wherein the second fastening means substantially encircles the first fastening means and is elastic in nature, wherein the elastic nature of the second fastening means serves to bias the hollow body into the engaging configuration and wherein the second fastening means can be stretched to place the hollow body into the stretched configuration.

2. The ear protector of claim 1, wherein when the ear protector is in use, with the ear inside the cavity, the first fastening means applies an engagement force to a first location which is at or near the base of the ear, and the second fastening means applies an engagement force to a second discrete location on the ear, located away from the base of the ear.

3. The ear protector of claim 1, wherein when the ear protector is in use, with the ear inside the cavity, the location at which the second fastening means applies an engagement force to the ear comprises one or more of the following locations on the ear: the tragus, the antitragus, the lobule, the cavum concha, the helix, the triangular fossa and the sacaphoid fossa.

4. The ear protector of claim 1, wherein when the ear protector is in use, with the ear inside the cavity, the second fastening means applies an engagement force to the ear at the tragus and optionally at one or more of the lobule, the cavum concha, and the triangular fossa.

5. The ear protector of claim 1, wherein the shortest distance between the second fastening means and the first fastening means is: (a) 5 mm or more, or (b) 10 mm or more, or (c) 15 mm or more.

6. The ear protector of claim 1, wherein the cavity has a cross-sectional shape that is substantially kidney-shaped, substantially oval or substantially D-shaped.

7. The ear protector of claim 1, wherein the first fastening means is formed from the same material as the hollow body and wherein the first fastening means is thicker than the hollow body.

8. The ear protector of claim 1, wherein the second fastening means is formed from the same material as the hollow body and wherein the second fastening means is thicker than the hollow body.

9. The ear protector of claim 1, wherein the first fastening means, the second fastening means and the hollow body are formed from the same material.

10. The ear protector of claim 1, wherein the second fastening means is provided as a raised portion that protrudes from the hollow body.

11. The ear protector of claim 1, wherein the hollow body is formed from a polymeric material.

12. The ear protector of claim 11, wherein the hollow body is formed from a natural or synthetic rubber.

13. The ear protector of claim 12, wherein the hollow body is formed from latex.

14. The ear protector of claim 1, wherein the first fastening means is formed from a polymeric material.

15. The ear protector of claim 14, wherein the first fastening means is formed from a natural or synthetic rubber.

16. The ear protector of claim 15, wherein the first fastening means is formed from latex.

17. The ear protector of claim 1, wherein the second fastening means is formed from a polymeric material.

18. The ear protector of claim 17, wherein the second fastening means is formed from a natural or synthetic rubber.

19. The ear protector of claim 18, wherein the second fastening means is formed from latex.

20. The ear protector of claim 1, wherein the shortest distance between the first fastening means and the orifice is: (a) 15 mm or less, or (b) 10 mm or less, or (c) 5 mm or less.

21. The ear protector of claim 1, wherein the ear protector is provided with a protrusion on the outer surface of the hollow body.

22. The ear protector of claim 21, wherein when the ear protector is in use, with the ear inside the cavity, the protrusion is located on the helix of the ear.

23. The ear protector of claim 21, wherein the shortest distance between the protrusion and the orifice is 25 mm or more.

24. An ear protection kit comprising two ear protectors, each being as defined in claim 1.

25. The ear protection kit of claim 24, wherein one ear protector is for a left ear and the other ear protector is for a right ear.

26. The ear protection kit of claim 24, wherein the kit further comprises a chemical-based hair treatment product.

27. The ear protection kit of claim 24, wherein the kit further comprises a heat-based hair treatment product.

28. The ear protection kit of claim 24, wherein the kit further comprises a hair treatment accessory.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0110] The invention will be further illustrated in a non-limiting manner by the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0111] FIG. 1 is a view of an ear protector according to the invention.

[0112] FIG. 2 is an illustration to assist understanding of how the ear protector of FIG. 1 can be secured to an ear. In this illustration the ear protector is shown as transparent so that the ear as contained therein can be seen, and the protrusion is not shown.

[0113] FIG. 3 is a view of a second ear protector according to the invention.

[0114] FIG. 4 is an illustration to assist understanding of how the ear protector of FIG. 3 can be secured to an ear. In this illustration the ear protector is shown as transparent so that the ear as contained therein can be seen, and the protrusion is not shown.

[0115] FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 each illustrate an ear protector 1 according to the invention. The ear protector 1 has a hollow body 2 that defines a cavity 2a suitable for receiving an ear. The hollow body 2 is formed from latex or other flexible and stretchable plastic material. The hollow body 2 has an orifice 3 which allows access to the cavity 2a. The orifice 3 is substantially oval in shape.

[0116] The orifice 3 has an open configuration in which an ear can pass through the orifice and a reduced size configuration in which said ear cannot pass through the orifice.

[0117] In this regard, the ear protector 1 has a first fastening means 5a, wherein the first fastening means 5a substantially encircles the orifice 3 and is elastic in nature. The first fastening means 5a is formed from latex or other elastic plastic material. In one embodiment it is the same material as the hollow body 2, but having greater thickness. The elastic nature of the first fastening means 5a serves to bias the orifice 3 into the reduced size configuration. However, the first fastening means 5a can be stretched, e.g. by the user's fingers, to place the orifice 3 into the open configuration.

[0118] The hollow body 2 has a stretched configuration in which an ear can be freely moved with respect to the cavity 2a and an engaging configuration in which at least a portion of the hollow body 2 has a reduced size as compared to the stretched configuration and in which said ear cannot be freely moved with respect to the cavity 2a.

[0119] In this regard, the ear protector 1 has a second fastening means 5b, wherein the second fastening means 5b substantially encircles the first fastening means 5a and is elastic in nature. The second fastening means 5b is formed from latex or other elastic plastic material. In one embodiment it is the same material as the hollow body 2, but having greater thickness.

[0120] As shown in FIG. 3, the second fastening means 5b can form a raised portion that extends outwardly from the hollow body 2.

[0121] The elastic nature of the second fastening means 5b serves to bias the hollow body 2 into the engaging configuration. However, the second fastening means 5b can be stretched, e.g. by the user's fingers, to place the hollow body 2 into the stretched configuration.

[0122] The ear protector 1 is also provided with a protrusion 4 on the outer surface of the hollow body 2. The protrusion 4 is sized and shaped to be able to be held by a person, between their thumb and adjacent index finger.

[0123] The ear protector 1 therefore can have the first fastening means 5a stretched and the second fastening means 5b stretched, such that an ear can pass through the orifice 3 and can be located into the cavity 2a. This may suitably be performed using a person's fingers.

[0124] Once the ear protector 1 is in place, i.e. with the ear is received within the cavity 2a, the first and second fastening means 5a, 5b can be allowed to return to their unstretched form. The elastic nature of the first fastening means 5a serves to bias the orifice 3 into the reduced size configuration and the elastic nature of the second fastening means 5b serves to bias the hollow body 2 into the engaging configuration. Thus the orifice 3 is sized such that the ear cannot pass through the orifice, and the hollow body 2 has a reduced size as compared to the stretched configuration, such that the ear cannot be freely moved in and out of the cavity 3.

[0125] Therefore the ear protector 1 is secured onto the ear using a double rim arrangement. The ear protector 1 is secured on the ear by the first fastening means 5a and by the second fastening means 5b.

[0126] The first fastening means 5a serves to bias the orifice 3 such that most or all of the orifice 3 contacts the ear that is received within the cavity 2a. The first fastening means 5a applies an engagement force to the ear at this location where contact occurs. This contact occurs at or near the base of the ear, i.e. where the ear attaches to the head.

[0127] The second fastening means 5b serves to bias the hollow body 2 such that a portion of the hollow body at the location of the second fastening means 5b contacts the ear that is received within the cavity 2a. The second fastening means 5b applies an engagement force to the ear at this location where contact occurs.

[0128] The ear protector 1 of the present invention is therefore advantageous, because there are two discrete locations, at the positions of the first fastening means 5a and the second fastening means 5b, where the ear protector 1 is secured on the ear. Engagement forces can therefore be applied in two separate places, improving the stability of the ear protector 1 on the ear even when it is knocked or rubbed. This therefore allows for enhanced manipulation of the ear during the hair treatment process without displacing the ear protector 1, for example it is possible to move the ear to access hair behind it.

[0129] In addition, the person whose hair is being treated will find the ear protector 1 of the present invention more comfortable to wear. The ear protector 1 will feel more secure on their ear. In addition, the engagement forces that secure the ear protector 1 to the ear can be provided over a larger area, due to the use of two discrete fastening means 5a, 5b, and this can mean that discomfort from one localised force is minimised.

[0130] The protrusion 4 can be used to move the ear forwards or downwards away from the area of the head behind the ear. This can facilitate access to hair behind the ear. The protrusion 4 can be used to facilitate removal of the ear protector 1 from the ear after the hair treatment is complete. It will be seen that the protrusion 4 is located at a position away from the orifice 3, so as to provide good leverage when it is held and moved.