HEARING PROTECTION APPARATUS

Abstract

A hearing protection apparatus has a pair of assemblies, each assembly including a body, an attachment facility connected to the body and configured to removably receive a lower edge of a hat, a retractable tether extending from the body and having a free end, and an earplug attached to the free end of the retractable tether. The attachment facility may be a clip defining an upwardly open channel. There may be a hat having opposed right and left edge locations each proximate to a wearer's ear, and the attachment facilities may be connected respectively to the right and left edge locations. A retraction actuator may be connected to the body and operable to retract the tethers to a retracted condition in response to actuation of the retraction actuator. There may be separate retraction actuators for each assembly, the retraction actuators being operable independently of each other.

Claims

1. A hearing protection apparatus for connection to a hat having a periphery with a lower edge comprising: a pair of assemblies; each assembly comprising: a body; an attachment facility connected to the body and configured to removably receive a lower edge of a hat; a retractable tether extending from the body and having a free end; and an earplug attached to the free end of the retractable tether.

2. The hearing protection apparatus of claim 1 wherein the attachment facility is a clip defining an upwardly open channel.

3. The hearing protection apparatus of claim 1 including a hat having opposed right and left edge locations each proximate to a wearer's ear, and wherein the attachment facilities are connected respectively to the right and left edge locations.

4. The hearing protection apparatus of claim 1 including a retraction actuator connected to the body and operable to retract the retractable tethers to a retracted condition in response to actuation of the retraction actuator.

5. The hearing protection apparatus of claim 4 including separate retraction actuators for each assembly, the retraction actuators being operable independently of each other.

6. The hearing protection apparatus of claim 4 wherein the retraction actuator includes a button having an actuation surface.

7. The hearing protection apparatus of claim 6 wherein the actuation surface faces peripherally away from the hat.

8. The hearing protection apparatus of claim 1 wherein each body defines a receptacle configured to receive the earplug.

9. The hearing protection apparatus of claim 8 wherein each earplug has a free end and the receptacle is a bore receiving the free end.

10. The hearing protection apparatus of claim 9 wherein the hat is a helmet and the attachment facility includes a connector configured to connect to the helmet.

11. A hearing protection apparatus comprising: a hat having a periphery with a lower edge and opposed right and left side locations each associated with a respective one of a wearer's ears; a pair of assemblies, each removably connected to a respective one of the right and left side locations; each assembly comprising: a body; an attachment facility connected to the body and configured to removably receive the lower edge of the hat; a retractable tether extending from the body and having a free end; and an earplug attached to the free end of the retractable tether.

12. The hearing protection apparatus of claim 11 wherein the attachment facility is a clip defining an upwardly open channel.

13. The hearing protection apparatus of claim 11 including a retraction actuator connected to the body and operable to retract the tethers to a retracted condition in response to actuation of the actuator.

14. The hearing protection apparatus of claim 13 including separate retraction actuators for each assembly, the retraction actuators being operable independently of each other.

15. The hearing protection apparatus of claim 13 wherein the retraction actuator includes a button having an actuation surface.

16. The hearing protection apparatus of claim 15 wherein the actuation surface faces peripherally away from the hat.

17. The hearing protection apparatus of claim 11 wherein each body defines a receptacle configured to receive the earplug.

18. The hearing protection apparatus of claim 17 wherein each earplug has a free end and the receptacle is a bore receiving the free end.

19. The hearing protection apparatus of claim 18 wherein the hat is a helmet and the attachment facility includes a connector configured to connect to the helmet.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. 1A is a top isometric view of the current embodiment of a hearing protection apparatus constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention in use attached to the lower edge of a hat with an earplug inserted into a wearer's ear.

[0012] FIG. 1B is a top isometric view of the current embodiment of a hearing protection apparatus constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention in use attached to the lower edge of a hat with an earplug stored within a receptacle.

[0013] FIG. 2A is a top isometric view of the hearing protection apparatus of FIG. 1B detached from the hat.

[0014] FIG. 2B is a bottom isometric view of the hearing protection apparatus of FIG. 1B detached from the hat.

[0015] FIG. 2C is a bottom isometric view of the hearing protection apparatus of FIG. 1A detached from the hat.

[0016] FIG. 2D is a side view of the hearing protection apparatus of FIG. 1B detached from the hat.

[0017] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the hearing protection apparatus of FIG. 1A detached from the hat.

[0018] FIG. 4 is a top isometric view of a first alternative embodiment of the hearing protection apparatus with an attachment facility suitable for use with a Picatinny rail-style clamp.

[0019] FIG. 5 is a top isometric view of a second alternative embodiment of the hearing protection apparatus with an attachment facility in the form of a wider clip with texture.

[0020] The same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the various figures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE CURRENT EMBODIMENT

[0021] An embodiment of the hearing protection apparatus of the present invention is shown and generally designated by the reference numeral 10.

[0022] FIGS. 1A-3 illustrate the improved hearing protection apparatus 10 of the present invention. More particularly, FIGS. 1A &B show the hearing protection apparatus in use connected to a hat 12 having a periphery 14 with a lower edge (i.e. band) 16. The hearing protection apparatus includes a pair of assemblies 18, each assembly having a body 20. An attachment facility 22 is connected to the body and configured to removably receive the lower edge of the hat. A retractable tether 24 extends from the body and has a free end 26. An earplug 28 is attached to the free end of the retractable tether. In the current embodiment, the attachment facility is a clip 30 defining an upwardly open channel 32 that receives the lower edge of the hat. The hat has opposed right and left edge locations 34, 36 each proximate to a wearer's ear 38, 40. The attachment facilities are connected respectively to the right and left edge locations. It should be appreciated that the clip can also be located on the side or top of the unit with the open channel facing in any suitable orientation.

[0023] A retraction actuator 42 is connected to the body 20 and operable to retract the retractable tethers 24 to a retracted condition in response to actuation of the retraction actuator. Each assembly 18 has a separate retraction actuator, the retraction actuators being operable independently of each other. The retraction actuator includes a button 44 having an actuation surface 46. In the current embodiment, the actuation surface faces peripherally away from the hat 12. The retraction actuator does not maintain the retractable tether under tension when the earplug is worn within the wearer's ears 38, 40, making the earplug comfortable to wear. In the current embodiment, the earplug is a rubber-tipped earplug that can be twisted into an ear very quickly with only one hand and blocks out sound very well.

[0024] Each body 20 defines a receptacle 48 configured to receive the earplug 28. Each earplug has a free end 50, and the receptacle is a bore receiving the free end. Insertion of the earplug into the receptacle prevents the earplug from becoming contaminated with dirt and debris when not in use and prevents the introduction of contamination into the wearer's ears 38, 40. Storage of the earplug within the receptacle also decreases the chance of the earplug snagging on an object in the environment.

[0025] FIG. 4 illustrates a first alternative embodiment of the improved hearing protection apparatus 100 of the present invention. More particularly, the hearing protection apparatus 100 is adapted for use when the hat is a helmet. The hearing protection apparatus 100 has an attachment facility 102 that is a Picatinny rail-style connector 104 configured to connect to a Picatinny rail-style connector on the helmet (not shown).

[0026] FIG. 5 illustrates a second alternative embodiment of the improved hearing protection apparatus 200 of the present invention. More particularly, the hearing protection apparatus 200 has an attachment facility 202 that is a wider clip 204 than the clip 30 and includes texture 206 for improved grip on a surface received within the upwardly open channel 208 defined by the wider clip.

[0027] While current embodiments of a hearing protection apparatus have been described in detail, it should be apparent that modifications and variations thereto are possible, all of which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. Although hats and helmets have been disclosed, the hearing protection apparatus is also suitable for use with hardhats, binocular harnesses, backpack straps, and Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment (MOLLE) webbing. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

[0028] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.