Patent Application
20220323258
The present invention is directed to an ear shaping device designed to assist a user in the temporary correction of protruding ears by several centimeters. More particularly, the invention provides the user with many options and potential adjustments to correct the user's protruding ear to his or her individual specification.
The following description is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the present invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art. Any publications cited in this description are incorporated by reference herein. Where a definition or use of a term in an incorporated reference is inconsistent or contrary to the definition of that term provided herein, the definition of that term provided herein applies and the definition of that term in the reference does not apply.
In many Western cultures, protruding ears can be a cause of ridicule leading to embarrassment, feeling insecure, and can have a negative effect on a person's quality of life. In a study on adolescents with behavior problems, 40% of those adolescents were noted with having an external-ear deformity. Matthew B. Zavod et al., Complications in Head and Neck Surgery, Complications of Otoplasty 769 (David W. Eisele et al., ed., 2009). Lifelong feelings of insecurity and inadequacy associated with having protruding ears can negatively impact academic and career success. Thus, the ability to correct an external ear deformity is essential.
Currently, there are surgical and non-surgical options for people who seek to permanently reposition or reshape his or her protruding ear. These medical interventions are highly recommended for children but may also be effective for adults. However, these medical interventions may require reconstructive surgery, sleeping for several months with a fitted device attached to ears, or implanting a shaped corrective wire under the skin. These interventions vary in cost, effectiveness, risk of complications or scarring, and inconvenience. The costs for these types of medical interventions can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars. Currently, there are cosmetic solutions for individuals who prefer a nonsurgical option. One approach is to apply tape to the back of the ear and side of the head (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,076,262). In another approach, a user can clip ear to strands of his or her hair (e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 4,187,838). In yet another approach, a user wraps a tension band around the back or top of the head, while the bands draw against clamps attached to the ears. However, all of these approaches fall short of meeting the need for a durable, comfortable, attractive, and effective cosmetic solution.
A bar earring exits in the prior art that was designed to compress the thickness of the helix (the rim of the upper ear). However, the device does not appear to significantly affect the shape of the antihelix (the flat portion of the upper ear). In addition, the bar earring is only effective for 40% of users. Lot Ear Cuffs, https://www.etsy.com/listing/934854560/new-ear-cuff-for-protruding-ears-no?ref=shop home active 3 (last visited Feb. 28, 2021).
There exists an ear cuff that encircles the antihelix. However, this device creates an obvious and unattractive fold in the upper portion of the antihelix.
Thus, there exists a need for an ear shaping device that is inexpensive, customizable, comfortable, and attractive to wear that can temporarily reduce the amount of protrusion of a user's prominent ears.
The present invention is directed to an ear shaping device designed to assist a user in the temporary correction of protruding ears by several centimeters. More particularly, the invention provides the user with many options and potential adjustments to correct the user's protruding ear to his or her individual specification. The device comprises a top portion, a bottom portion, an interior surface, an exterior surface, and an arc with an adjustable angle. In one embodiment, the material of construction is sterling silver. The curve of the top portion and bottom portion are configured to enable the user to reduce the amount of protrusion of his or her ear by creating a seesaw movement whereby force from the bottom portion of the device on the cymba results in the top of the ear moving closer to the user's head.
In one embodiment, the device is a single piece construction designed with an arc angle of about 112° resulting in a reduction of a protruding ear of about 2 cm.
In another embodiment, the device comprises a top portion, a bottom portion, an interior surface, an exterior surface, an arc with an adjustable angle, and a decorative element. In this embodiment, the decorative element is permanently affixed to the exterior surface to provide the user with an added aesthetically pleasing look. Decorative elements may include engravings, stampings, patinas, beads, crystals, or gemstones or any combination thereof.
In another embodiment, the device comprises a top portion, a bottom portion, an interior surface, an exterior surface, an arc with an adjustable angle, and a decorative element. The decorative element is removably affixed to the exterior surface. In this embodiment, the user can change the decorative element to provide the user with various aesthetically pleasing options.
In yet another embodiment, the device comprises a top portion, a bottom portion, an interior surface, an exterior surface, an arc with an adjustable angle, a decorative element and one or more legs. In this embodiment, the top portion comprises two legs that is configured to enable the device to slide over the helix to further promote the correction of the user's ear protrusion. In yet another embodiment, the top portion comprises one leg that is configured to enable the device to slide over the helix.
In yet another embodiment, the device comprises a top portion, a bottom portion, an interior surface, an exterior surface, an arc with an adjustable angle, and a middle portion comprised of a plurality of beads and a plurality of rings. The device comprises a single piece construction in the shape of a forward slanted “C” wherein the middle portion comprises a plurality of beads and rings permanently affixed to each other in an alternating pattern. Furthermore, the material of construction for the rings is a malleable metal enabling the user to stretch the rings resulting in a longer middle portion to accommodate a larger ear. The top portion of the device extends along the back of the superior crus of antihelix while the bottom portion extends from the front of the superior crus of antihelix to the cymba allowing the middle portion to rest on the user's scapha and antihelix.
The material of construction for the device includes resin, plastic, any precious metal, any base metal, any reactive metal, sheet metal, wire, wire mesh, or wood, and or any combination thereof. The device can be constructed by using casting, molding, die cutting and forming, wire forming, metalsmithing, or 3-dimensional printing. Furthermore, interior coatings or silicone padding may be attached to the device to add to the user's comfort.
Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments, along with the accompanying figures in which like numerals represent like components.
The present invention is directed to an ear shaping device that can be used on either ear to temporarily depress the shape of a protruding ear. The figures depict exemplary embodiments of device for the user's left ear. The device fitted for the right ear is a mirror image of the above figures. In particular, the device comprises a customizable single piece made from durable material wherein the angle in the arc of the earring and the curve of the bottom portion in relation to the curve of the top portion are configured to bring the user's ear to lay closer to the side of the user's head, thus, minimizing the appearance of the user's protruding ears.
In an exemplary embodiment, the device comprises an arc with a varying angle, a top portion, a bottom portion, an interior surface, and an exterior surface to temporarily correct a user's protruding ear. The device takes the shape of a forward-slanted “C” and the user slides the device over the helix located at the top of the ear whereby the interior surface of the device is touching the back of the user's ear.
The length of the device can range from about 0.5″ to 1.75″ and the width of the device can range from about 0.375″ to 0.75″. In one embodiment, the thickness of the device ranges from about 0.9 mm to 1.5 mm. And in an embodiment, the angle of the arc ranges from 90° to 120° and can be adjusted based on the size and specific amount of protrusion of the user's ear.
In one embodiment, the material of construction of the device is silver or gold. In other embodiment, materials of construction include resin, plastic, any precious metal, any base metal, any reactive metal, sheet metal, wire, wire mesh, or wood, and or any combination thereof. Furthermore, a decorative element may be added to the device for aesthetic purposes in accordance with the user's preference. In addition, the comfort of the device may be enhanced with an interior coating or padding.
As used herein, and unless the context dictates otherwise, the terms “Ear Shaping Device,” “Ear Correcting Device,” and “device” are intended to represent the present invention and the terms are used interchangeably.
As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of “in” includes “into” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
As used herein, the term “about” in conjunction with a numeral refers to a range of that numeral starting from 10% below the absolute of the numeral to 10% above the absolute of the numeral, inclusive.
As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “cymba,” “superior crus of antihelix,” “helix,” “triangular fossa,” “inferior crus of antihelix,” “scapha,” and “antihelix” refers to their ordinary anatomical meanings of the ear. A “cymba” is defined as the upper part of the concha of the ear. A “superior crus of antihelix” is defined as the upper cartilaginous ridge arising at the bifurcation of the antihelix that separates the scapha from the triangular fossa. A “helix” is defined as the folded rim of skin and cartilage around the outer ear. A “triangular fossa” is defined as the concavity bounded by the superior and inferior crura of the antihelix and the ascending portion of the helix. An “inferior crus of antihelix” is defined as the lower cartilaginous ridge arising at the bifurcation of the antihelix that ends beneath the fold of the ascending helix. A “scapha” is defined as the groove between the helix and the antihelix. An “antihelix” is defined as the curved elevation of cartilage within or in front of the helix.
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are depicted in
In one embodiment, interior surface 26 extends across the user's ear from the front of the superior crus of antihelix to the cymba, and exterior surface 28 extends behind the user's ear along the back of the superior crus of antihelix wherein edge of bottom portion 24 presses against the cymba thereby forcing the top of the user's ear to lie closer to the side of the user's head.
In yet another embodiment, device 100 comprises arc 20 with angle 21, top portion 22, bottom portion 24, interior surface 26, exterior surface 28, and decorative element 32 (see
In yet another embodiment, decorative element 32 is removably affixed to exterior surface 28.
In yet another embodiment, ear shaping device 100 comprises arc 20 with angle 21, top portion 22, bottom portion 24, interior surface 26, exterior surface 28, decorative element 32, and leg 34 (see
In this embodiment, leg 34 extends over the user's ear at the helix while interior surface 26 extends across the user's ear from the front of the superior crus of antihelix to the cymba, and exterior surface 28 extends behind the user's ear along the back of the superior crus of antihelix. In this embodiment, top portion 22 is about 0.375″ making device 100 about 1.25″ in length, width of device 100 at widest point is about 0.75″, leg 34 is about 0.375″, and angle 21 is about 110° (angle not shown). In yet another embodiment, a plurality of legs 34 may be added to device 100 for added support based on the user's preference.
In yet another embodiment, ear shaping device 100 comprises arc 20 with angle 21, top portion 22, bottom portion 24, middle portion 31, a plurality of rings 36, and a plurality of beads 38 (see
In this embodiment, top portion 22 is about 0.375″ making device 100 about 1.25″ in length, middle portion 31 is about 0.75″, and angle 21 is about 110°. In an embodiment, top portion 22 extends along the back of the superior crus of antihelix while bottom portion 24 extends from the front of the superior crus of antihelix to the cymba allowing middle portion 31 to rest on the user's scapha and antihelix.
In yet another embodiment, ear shaping device 100 comprises arc 20 with angle 21, top portion 22, bottom portion 24, and ring 36 (see
In this embodiment, top portion 22 is about 0.375″ making device 100 about 1.5″ in length, ring 36 is between about 0.1875″ to 0.5″, and angle 21 is about 110°. In one embodiment, top portion 22 extends along the back of the superior crus of antihelix while bottom portion 24 extends from the front of the superior crus of antihelix to the cymba allowing middle portion 31 to rest on the user's scapha and antihelix.
In yet another embodiment, plurality of rings 36 are permanently affixed to top portion 22 and bottom portion 24 by a metal wire or similar material.
Thus, specific embodiments of an ear shaping device and methods to use such device have been disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those already described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. Moreover, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/173,693, filed on Apr. 12, 2021, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63173693 | Apr 2021 | US |
