AU2017101412A4 - Device for shaping earplugs - Google Patents

Abstract

DEVICE FOR SHAPING EARPLUGS Abstract A device for shaping earplugs, comprising a closable housing, said housing comprising a base and a lid in hinged connection with the base; and a roller positioned in the housing and secured to a pair of parallel slots defined on opposing lateral sidewalls of the housing, the longitudinal axis of the roller orientated transversely to the pair of parallel slots, the roller being movable along the pair of parallel slots to exert a compressive force on a earplug when the earplug is placed in contact with the roller. 124 122 124 120 -(-

Description

DEVICE FOR SHAPING EARPLUGS

Field of technology [001] The present invention relates to a device for shaping compressible earplugs for insertion into a wearer’s ears.

Background [002] The correct fitting of moldable earplugs into the ear canal is an important aspect of hearing protection. In an advisory titled "How to Wear Soft Foam Earplugs" by the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, a three step earplug fitting procedure is suggested in which a wearer is required to first roll or compress a earplug into a small, thin shape with the fingers, placing it into the ear canal, and then holding it in position. Some practice is required in order for the wearer to consistently achieve good fitting of the earplugs in the ears. The rolling procedure can be a challenge and the risk of infection is present if the wearer has to handle the earplug with dirt on the fingers. Soiled earplugs are frequently discarded prematurely. On the other hand, if the rolling procedure is not done correctly, poor insertion of earplugs into the ear canal compromises the level of hearing protection offered by the earplugs. The combination of these situational factors and dependence on the dexterity and experience of the individual wearer, can thus reduce the overall experience with the usage of earplugs for hearing protection.

[003] Given the myriad factors such as those described above influencing the proper use of earplugs, the need exists for innovative approaches in developing devices that will offer users an efficient way of shaping earplugs before use.

Summary of Invention [004] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a device for shaping earplugs is provided, comprising a closable housing, said housing comprising a base and a lid in hinged connection with the base; and a roller positioned in the housing and secured to a pair of parallel slots defined on opposing lateral sidewalls of the housing, the longitudinal axis of the roller orientated transversely to the lengthwise orientation of the pair of parallel slots, the roller being movable along the pair of parallel slots to exert a compressive force on a earplug when the earplug is placed in contact with the roller.

[005] This and other aspects of the invention are described in the detailed description below.

Brief Description of the Drawings [006] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a device for shaping earplugs with a roller actuated by a push knob.

[007] Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a earplug shaping device with a roller actuated by a pair of push arms upon closing the housing.

[008] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a earplug shaping device in which the roller comprises a compression sheet that can be wound around a roller shaft by a winding knob.

[009] FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 show a perspective view of a earplug shaping device in which the roller comprises a compression sheet that can be wound around a roller shaft, the roller being actuated by a pair of rigid arms acting on the roller upon closing the housing.

[010] The figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. However, it will be understood that the use of a numeral to refer to a component in a given figure is not intended to limit the component in another figure labeled with the same number

Detailed Description [011] The present invention provides a device that serves as a housing for moldable, resilient earplugs, such as those made of foam or rubber, while also providing an added function of a roller that shapes the earplugs for use prior to insertion into a wearer’s ear. Such a device advantageously provides a one-step storage-and-shaping solution for moldable earplugs that helps to reduce wearer intervention for the earplug rolling step, hence facilitating more effective and quicker use of the earplugs.

[012] FIG. 1 illustrates a device 100 for shaping earplugs in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. It comprises a closable housing 101, which may be made of plastic or metal material, for storing earplugs 150. The housing 101 comprises a base 102, and a lid 104 in hinged connection with the base 102 via hinge 106. A cylindrical-shaped roller 120 is positioned in the housing 101 and secured to a pair of parallel slots 110 defined on opposing lateral sidewalls 108 of the housing 101. The longitudinal axis 122 of the roller 120 is orientated transversely to the lengthwise orientation of the pair of parallel slots 110. The position of the roller 120 in the housing may be either under the lid 104 of the housing, while the pair of parallel slots are defined on opposing lateral sidewalls of the lid 104; or alternatively, the position of the roller may be in the base 102, while the pair of parallel slots are defined on opposing lateral sidewalls of the base 102.

[013] The roller 120 is supported by the pair of parallel slots 110 such that it is able to slide along the parallel slots 110. This can be achieved, for example, with a roller rotatably mounted on a central drive shaft or axle, with the ends of the shaft extending into the parallel slots 110 and secured in position by push knobs 124. In another embodiment, the roller does not have a central axle but a hollow center, and is secured to the parallel slots 110 via push knobs 124 bearing a pin-like protrusion (not shown) inserted into both ends of the roller through the parallel slots 110. In yet another embodiment, the roller ends may be attached to gear wheels, which move along corresponding gear tracks provided along the parallel slots. In these embodiments, the roller remains freely rotatable and movable bidirectionally along the pair of parallel slots.

[014] The procedure for shaping the earplugs comprise, firstly, closing the housing by closing lid 104 onto the base 102 with the earplugs 150 placed in the base 102 as shown in FIG. 1. The earplugs may also be transversely orientated to the longitudinal axis of the roller, or in any other position, as may be the case when a wearer simply places earplugs into the case for storage after use. Any type of fastener, such as latch 112, may be present on the housing to secure the lid 104 to the base 102. Then, with the housing closed and the earplugs 150 in contact with the roller, the roller is moved along the parallel slots 110 from one end to the other by manually pushing the knobs 124. In so doing, the earplugs are compressed by the roller, rolling it into a flattened configuration during the time the earplugs are kept in the housing 101. When the earplugs are to be used, the wearer proceeds to open the lid and rapidly insert the flattened earplugs into the ear.

[015] FIG. 2 illustrates a device 200 for shaping earplugs comprising a cylindricalshaped roller 220 positioned in the housing 201 with its longitudinal axis 222 orientated transversely to a pair of parallel slots 210. The roller is positioned under the lid 204, and the pair of parallel slots are defined on opposing lateral sidewalls of the lid. Device 200 further comprises a pair of rigid arms 230. Each arm has one end 231 coupled to an end 224 of the roller and the other end 232 pivotally connected to a joint, such as a rotatable hinge, located on the base. Closure of the lid 204 causes the arms to automatically push the roller along the pair of parallel slots 210 until it reaches the end of the slots. Earplugs 250 placed within the location shown in FIG. 2 are compressed by the roller 220 and remain so while the lid 204 is closed. Opening the lid causes the arms to automatically retract the roller along the pair of parallel slots 210, releasing the earplugs from the roller 220. This embodiment provides a convenient way to move the roller onto the earplugs while closing the lid in a single step, without having to manually push the roller over the earplugs.

[016] In order to shape the earplugs, the roller is configured such that a compressive force on the earplugs when it is moved over the earplugs. In FIG. 1 and 2, the diameter of the roller 120, 220 is configured such that when the housing is closed, the surface of the roller is separated from the inner surface of the housing 101, 201 by a sufficiently small gap so that a compressive force is exerted on the earplugs against an inner surface of the housing. In more detail, the diameter of the roller 120, 220 may be sufficiently large, e.g. occupying three quarters, or more, of the thickness of the housing 101, 201 so that when the housing is closed, the resulting gap between the surface of the roller 120, 220 and the inner surface of the base 102, 202 is small enough to exert a suitably large compressive force on the earplugs, the gap being less than 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1 mm or less, depending on factors such as the thickness and material of the earplugs.

[017] In another embodiment, FIG. 3 illustrates a device 300 in which a roller 320 comprises a compression sheet 360 and a roller shaft 364. The compression sheet may comprise any flexible sheet material, such as fabric or plastic (polyethylene) sheet, as long as it is flexible enough to be wound around the roller shaft, and also to be attached to the roller shaft and securing pin.

[018] Roller 320 is positioned in the lid 304 of housing 301 with its longitudinal axis 322 orientated transversely to the lengthwise orientation of a pair of parallel slots 310. A first end 370 of the compression sheet 360 is attached to the roller shaft 364, and a second end 372 is attached to an inner surface of the lid via fastening pin 369. Compression sheet 360 is configured to be wound around a roller shaft 364 by rotating winding knob 366 clockwise in the direction of arrow 374. When a earplug 350 is placed within the roller as shown in FIG. 3, the winding action of the roller tensions the compression sheet 360 against the fastening pin 369, so that the earplug is gradually compressed and coiled up within the compression sheet as the winding continues, while the roller shaft 364 moves in the direction of arrow 376 along the pair of parallel slots simultaneously with the winding action, thereby moving the earplug towards flap 380 on the lid, ready for ejection from the housing. When the earplug is to be used, the roller may be unwound by rotating the winding knob 364 in an anti-clockwise direction to release the earplug from the compression sheet. The flap 380 is then opened to allow the rolled earplug to eject from the housing 301.

[019] In this embodiment, the pair of parallel slots 310 are depicted as having a profile inclined towards flap 130 so that the distance between the surface of the roller and the inner surface of the housing decreases as the roller moves along the pair of parallel slots. This enables an increasingly large compressive force to be exerted on the earplugs because the roller compresses the earplugs against the inner surface of lid 304 as the roller moves along the parallel slots 310. Other profiles such as a curved profile, may also be used to provide an increase in roller pressure on the earplugs.

[020] In a further embodiment, FIG. 4 illustrates a device 400 in which a roller 420 comprises a compression sheet 460 and a roller shaft 464. Device 400 further comprises a pair of rigid arms 430, each having one end 431 coupled to the roller, and the other end 432 pivotally or movable connected to a joint on the base 402 of the housing. The roller 420 is positioned in the lid 404 of housing with its longitudinal axis 422 orientated transversely to a pair of parallel slots 410, which permit the roller 420 to move bidirectionally along the guiding slots 410, and thus across the housing. A first end 470 of the compression sheet 460 is attached to the shaft 464, and a second end 472 is attached to an inner surface of the lid via fastening pin 469.

[021] The compression sheet is wound by closing the lid 404 in the direction of arrow 478. Closure of the lid along the direction of arrow 478 causes the arms to automatically push the roller 420 along the pair of parallel slots 410, resulting in the clockwise winding and/or upward movement of the roller 420 along the parallel slots 410 in the direction of arrow 476, compressing earplug 450 when it is placed within the roller as shown in FIG. 4. As the roller 420 reaches the end of the parallel slots, earplug 450 is compressed within the compression sheet and also moved towards flap 480 on the lid, ready for ejection from the housing. As shown in FIG. 5, when the earplug is to be used, the flap 480 is opened, and the compressed earplug 451 is ejected from the compression sheet 460 in the direction of arrow 479.

[022] Although the present invention has been described with particular reference to preferred embodiments illustrated herein, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that variations and modifications thereof can be effected and will fall within the scope of this invention as defined by the claims thereto now set forth herein below. For example, although the figures depict a roller for a single earplug, it is to be understood that devices 100, 200, 300, 400 may be constructed with ample capacity, such as a sufficiently lengthy the roller for compressing one, two three, four or more earplugs simultaneously.

[023] The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.

[024] Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

Claims (5)

1. A device for shaping earplugs comprising: a closable housing, said housing comprising a base and a lid in hinged connection with the base; and a roller positioned in the housing and secured to a pair of parallel slots defined on opposing lateral sidewalls of the housing, the longitudinal axis of the roller orientated transversely to the lengthwise orientation of the pair of parallel slots, the roller being movable along the pair of parallel slots to exert a compressive force on a earplug when the earplug is placed in contact with the roller.

2. The device of Claim 1, wherein the roller is positioned under the lid of the housing, and the pair of parallel slots are defined on opposing lateral sidewalls of the lid, and the diameter of the roller is configured such that when the housing is closed, the surface of the roller is separated from the inner surface of the housing by a sufficiently small gap to exert a compressive force on the earplugs against an inner surface of the housing.

3. The device of Claim 2, further comprising a pair of rigid arms, each arm having one end coupled to an end of the roller and the other end connected to a movable joint located on the base, wherein the closure of the lid causes the pair of rigid arms to push roller to move along the pair of parallel slots.

4. The device of Claim 2 or 3, further comprising a compression sheet made of a flexible material, wherein one end of the compression sheet is attached to the roller, and the other end is attached to the lid, wherein the compression sheet is configured to be wound around the roller as the roller is moved along the pair of parallel slots.

5. The device of Claim 4, wherein the pair of parallel slots has a sloped profile wherein the distance between the surface of the roller and the inner surface of the housing decreases as the roller moves along the pair of parallel slots.