The present invention relates generally to the protection of ears, and more particularly relates to a device for protecting ears from moisture intrusion.
The ear is the sense organ of the body that detects sound and equilibrium in most vertebrates. The word “ear” may be used correctly to describe the whole ear, or just the visible portion. In humans, and almost all vertebrates, the only visible portion of the ear is the outer ear. Referring to
Not only can moisture present in the ear canal be an annoyance, it can oftentimes result in infection and injury and problems with balance and equilibrium. Examples of common situations where moisture intrusion can occur includes water introduced during showers and baths, water introduced while having one's hair washed at a beauty salon, water introduced during rainstorms, chemicals introduced during hair dying or curling, blood introduced during a surgery, and many others. In addition to damage or annoyance that can be caused to the ear itself, there are other reasons one may wish to avoid moisture intrusion into the ear. One such reason is the presence of an electronic hearing aid. For most hearing aids, moisture can easily ruin or damage the aid and should be strictly avoided. Another such reason for avoiding moisture intrusion in the ear is the presence of cotton or other materials present in the ear for the purpose of healing the ear or protecting the ear.
Some ear covers have been developed that attempt to protect the ear from moisture. One such cover is a miniature shower-cap-shaped plastic cover with a round opening. The opening is intended to be placed over the pinna and rest on the portion of the outer ear that makes contact with the head. This portion 100 is shown in
Other devices provide draw strings and/or chin straps and other methods of placing tension on the ear covers, thereby causing them to stay on the head. However, these covers are complicated, expensive to make, time consuming to apply, and difficult to use. In addition, the covers with chin straps allow moisture to enter the ear at certain angles, since the tension is only placed on the covers from one direction.
Therefore a need exists to overcome the problems with the prior art as discussed above.
Briefly, in accordance with the present invention, disclosed is an outer cover for protecting an ear. The device includes a water-resistant material forming a pouch for protecting an ear from moisture intrusion. The device also includes a curved opening disposed along an edge of the pouch for receiving the ear there into, thereby forming a kidney shape for the pouch when viewed from a side view, wherein the curved opening is capable of being stretched over the ear and returning to a substantially consistent dimension and shape and fitting around and adhering the pouch to the ear.
In accordance with another feature, an embodiment of the present invention includes a loop following the curved opening, where the loop is capable of being stretched and returning to a substantially consistent dimension and fitting around and adhering the water-resistant pouch to an ear.
In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, a tab is coupled to the loop, where the tab is provided for causing the loop to stretch when the tab is pulled.
In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, the water-resistant material is capable of being stretched and returning to a substantially consistent dimension and shape.
In accordance with the present invention, a method for protecting an ear, includes covering an ear with an ear cover, where the ear cover is made of a water-resistant material forming a water-resistant pouch for protecting an ear. The ear cover has a curved opening in the pouch rendering the pouch kidney shaped and the curved opening capable of being stretched and returning to a substantially consistent dimension and shape and fitting around and adhering the water-resistant pouch to an ear.
The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and to explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present invention.
While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward. It is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting; but rather, to provide an understandable description of the invention.
The present invention, according to an embodiment, overcomes problems with the prior art by providing an ear covering device that is constructed of a stretchable material that conforms to an ear. The inventive cover has an opening defined by an edge that is lined with an elastic band that tightly couples the cover to the base 100 of the human ear.
Described now is an exemplary ear-covering device for use with embodiments of the present invention.
Referring now to
In one embodiment of the present invention, the inside edge 206 of the kidney shape is lined with a loop 204, which can be, for example, a band of elastic or other similarly stretchable material. This stretchable band is advantageous in that it allows the inside edge 206 of the ear cover 200 to be expanded so as to fit around the outer ear 102 of
The oblong kidney shape of the present invention allows it to follow the natural shape of the ear, which is also oblong. This natural fit avoids areas of unnecessary extra material, which bags up and is easily unintentionally hit or pulled and may be uncomfortable.
Referring now to
Because the edge 206 of the cover 200 is stretchable, the edge 206 may become wider and fit around the outer ear and then contract again to its original shape and dimension and fit snuggly around the base 100 of the ear. The ear is then surrounded and shielded from water by the water-proof material 202. This is shown in
In one embodiment, the water-proof material 202 is a flexible, bendable, stretchable plastic. Stretchable plastic materials are thin flexible membranes that may be deformed and, upon release of the deforming force, will return to their original shape and dimension. These materials are known in the art and used for applications such as trash bags and plastic wraps for storing food items. By utilizing a stretchable plastic material for the water-proof material 200, the material may be stretched to fit snuggly over the outside portion of the ear. A snug fit not only provides improved comfort over the prior art devices, but also provides improved water resisting ability and lessens the probability of the ear cover being accidentally removed due to contact with a person or object.
In another embodiment of the present invention, as shown in
In another embodiment, a second tab is attached to a side of the edge 206 opposite the first tab 500. The second tab allows the cover 200 to be more easily removed because both tabs may be pulled in opposite directions allowing the inside edge 206 to expand and release the ear 102.
In still other embodiments, the outer covering 200 for protecting an ear may be provided with various sizes of openings 206 to accommodate users of various sizes. In addition, the outer covering 200 for protecting an ear may be provided with a graphic design, such as characters, figures, logos, and other types graphics on its outer surface. A few examples are shown in
A protective ear cover has been described. The cover has been discussed with reference to human ears; however the invention is not so limited and may also be used on animals. The inventive cover protects the ear from intrusion of moisture, which may include water, soap, chemicals and the like. The covers can be provided in varying sized to accommodate a plurality of ear sizes. In addition, the material used for the cover can be transparent, so that water intrusion can be visually observed, or can be any color, pattern, and degree of opaqueness. Embodiments of the present invention are advantageous in that they provide a cover that is disposable, easy to store, and, therefore, very utilitarian and practicable in design and size.
Although specific embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, those having ordinary skill in the art will understand that changes can be made to the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is not to be restricted, therefore, to the specific embodiments, and it is intended that the appended claims cover any and all such applications, modifications, and embodiments within the scope of the present invention.
The terms “a” or “an”, as used herein, are defined as one, or more than one. The term “plurality”, as used herein, is defined as two, or more than two. The term “another”, as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having”, as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term “coupled”, as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically.
This application is based on, and claims priority from prior U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/792,194, filed on Apr. 17, 2006, the entire teachings thereof being hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20070245459 A1 | Oct 2007 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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60792194 | Apr 2006 | US |