Technical Field

The present invention relates to an ear plug inflatable at a needed rate by means of liquid thanks to a mechanism on the device itself, which is used for the purpose of insulation of liquid and sound.

The present invention more specifically relates to an inflatable ear plug which is used for the purpose of insulation of the liquid and sound the intrusion of which into ear is unwanted, which is connected onto a main body incorporating a liquid reservoir enabling the water to be stored and pumped by being squeezed using hands, a balloon which is inflatable in the desired quantity by means of the liquid, and a valve mechanism enabling the balloon inflated by means of the liquid to be deflated and preventing the liquid backing away from the reservoir during inflation.

Known Status of the Technique

Ear plugs are used for the purpose of preventing the unwanted liquids, sounds and noises which may intrude into middle ear through external environments.

Logically, ear plugs are the products that may be made of pliable foam, silicone or plastic deadening harmful sound and noise by plugging up the earhole.

For certain people, it is required to prevent liquids such as water from contacting the middle ear even during taking a bath because of health reasons. Seawater, pool water, and elevated noise may cause health problems by causing damages to middle ear. For these reasons, ear plugs are used.

In work environment where elevated noise arises, one may be required to work as part of his/her job. In such environments, balance disorders such as hearing loss and permanent damages may come into existence in those who are exposed to elevated noise for a long time.

In the current situation, various methods and systems are used. Some group of ear plugs are manufactured in the flexibility which may be pushed toward ear canal and insulation is ensured upon being squeezed into ear canals. These kinds of ear plugs are manufactured using flexible materials that may be positioned by being pushed toward the interior section of the ear with a view to avoiding the intrusion of unwanted substances which may come from external environment into the ear.

The fact that not every person's ear canals are in the same sizes may cause small ear canals to be irritated and those larger ones not to be able to have the desired insulation. These kinds of ear plugs do not allow for flexible use while they are ensured to be kept fixed in the ear in cases where effort and movement are necessary in environment conditions. In the existing technique used, in order to eliminate the disadvantages mentioned above, adjustability according to desire and person in terms of ear plugs is ensured by making a mold suitable to the ear's structure of persons under the supervision of a physician in certain circumstances, and these ear plugs are produced according to such mold made. However, in this case, this condition causes the production to be costly since it is exhaustive and tailor- made and such a practice does not allow for mass production.

In another group of ear plugs, there are systems that are inflatable depending on request by means of liquid or air through systems formed on the main body upon setting up a mechanism on them.

In such systems, the balloon positioned inside the mechanism is inflated at the desired rate by means of liquid or air, thus, the air and water impermeability is ensured.

In systems operating with air, these are not preferable due to burst-up and existence of risk of formation of other damages.

In existing systems, the flexible part plugged into ear is inflated by means of a separate apparatus externally, thus impermeability is intended to be ensured fully with such part assuming the shape of the user's ear.

In such systems, a mechanism has been added which enables the flexible part of the ear plug plugged into ear to be inflated by pumping air externally. This mechanism ensures the inflation of the plug by conveying the air transferred through air pump into the plug plugged into ear. Thanks to this, the ear plug takes the shape of ear and ensures the impermeability by insulating the spaces by means of the air inside it.

However, in such systems, an individual apparatus is needed for the plug placed into the ear to be inflated. This situation limits the practical use of the device and cause costs to increase. As the inflation is carried out at the will of the person, no precise control can be made and this condition causes uneasiness during inflation and unwanted risks to arise due to the burst-up as a result of straining because of inflation of the flexible material under the control of the user.

As a solution to the disadvantages mentioned above, in the application with Number TR20070552, an ear plug structure was set forth which is less costly and has practical use and may be produced on mass production basis and enables an effective impermeability at the same rate compared to its peers thanks to it containing an internal and inflator mechanism connected to the plug with liquid use for inflation of the plug. However, in such system, the requirement that internal inflation mechanism is kept outside the ear may cause problems in situations requiring effort and movement.

In the application number TR2011/02989 belonging again to the inventor for elimination of this disadvantage, the invention is an ear plug which is inflatable, comprising a main body containing a liquid reservoir, 2 types of balloons (plugs) connected to said liquid reservoir and an inflation mechanism in order to transfer the liquid in the liquid reservoir to the balloon. The characteristic of the invention is that said main body has a form extending curvilinearly to embrace the rear outer part of the ear sufficiently and accordingly said inflation mechanism has been structured so that it will be connected with liquid inside the said main body in order to transfer the liquid in the liquid reservoir to balloon and contains a piston seal at the edge of the inflation mechanism extending curvilinearly in conformity with the curvilinear form of the main body and there is a connection pipe which may connect the plugs to nozzle or to another second plug when requested. Also in this system, it has been aimed that the plug is inflated by means of the liquid and improvements for keeping the mechanism fixed outside the ear.

Such systems have been produced for fully closing the earhole with the principle that unwanted liquids and noises are not accepted into the ear and based upon insulation.

However, in order for ear plugs to be able to ensure the insulation full, they are required to be kept fixed in the ear in cases requiring effort and movement in environment conditions. In order for the ear plugs to be able to benefitted, the plugs are required to be kept inside the ear particularly in cases of sea bathing, in ambient where elevated noise arises and for those working in works requiring overexertion in terms of their area of use.

Inflatable at the option of user, the fact that plugs have heavy bodies due to their mechanism makes their requirement of being kept fixed difficult in the ear during movement.

For these reasons, the requirement that more efficient and flexible, lighter and safer ear plugs are produced using the minimal components comes into existence.

Examining the applications existing in the current technique and the filings made in relation to the subject, costly and complicated systems and fixation solutions in which systems are attached to the ear wall with the aim of ensuring insulation. What is important in ear plugs is the simplicity and lightness of the components used in the mechanism with the aim of ensuring the attachment of the device during effort and movement under environment conditions during its use by enabling the user to take action easily while ensuring the effective impermeability. At this point, the invention sets forth an ear plug having the user-friendly features with its mechanism that may respond to all needs.

Consequently, examining all its previous technical documents, no system which may be inflated upon request, having a light and simple use, enabling durable mass -production and containing efficient impermeability while being produced at low cost has been encountered.

Brief Description of the Invention

The present invention relates to an ear plug meeting the requirements mentioned above, eliminating all the disadvantages and bringing additional advantages, used for the purpose of insulating the unwanted liquid and noise, comprising a system consisting of a main body with connection on it, a liquid reservoir enabling the water to be stored and pumped by being squeezed using hands, a balloon inflatable in the desired quantity by means of the liquid, and a valve mechanism enabling the balloon inflated by means of the liquid to be deflated and preventing the liquid backing away from the reservoir during inflation, having the feature of being inflated and easy use and capable of being kept in the ear by balloon being stuck into ear as a result of inflation thanks to its lightness and small size.

Based on the known status of the technique, the purpose of the invention is to introduce an ear plug inflatable with the liquid used for the purpose of ensuring the insulation of liquid and noise the intrusion of which into ear is unwanted, enabling efficient impermeability thanks to its capability of being inflated at the will of the user as well as containing an internal mechanism and enabling it to be attached to ear with light internal mechanism without the need for additional components. Another purpose of the invention is to ensure that it is used under any environment and conditions with its practical use.

Another purpose of the invention is to set forth the decrease in costs of production, sales and use while meeting all the needs with simplification of parts used.

In order for the above-mentioned purposes to be fulfilled, the invention relates to an ear plug having a mechanism incorporating a light and small main body, a liquid reservoir connected onto the main body, which enables the water to be stored and pumped by being squeezed using hands, a balloon inflatable in the desired quantity by means of the liquid, a valve mechanism enabling the balloon inflated by means of the liquid to be deflated and preventing the liquid backing away from the reservoir during inflation, and a mechanism with a simple use and capability of being inflated, which may be kept in the ear easily by balloon being stuck into ear as a result of inflation thanks to its lightness and small size. In order to realize all the advantages to be understood from the wording given above and below in detail, the present invention brings about many conveniences by the features mentioned herein.

The structural and characteristic features of the invention and all its advantages will be understood more clearly thanks to the figures given below and detailed explanations written by referring to such figures. Therefore, the assessment should be made taking into consideration all these figures and the detailed explanations.

Brief Description of the Figures

Figure 1 depicts the general view of the structuring of light and practically inflatable ear plug which is the subject of the invention.

Figure 2 depicts the perspective sectional view of the structuring of the ear plug which is the subject of the invention.

Figure 3 depicts the lateral section view of the ear plug which is the subject of the invention.

Reference Numbers

10 Ear Plug

20 Main Body

30 Valve

40 Reservoir

50 Balloon

50.1 Interior Balloon

50.2 Outer Balloon

60 Liquid Canal

70 Flexible Stop Detailed Description of the Invention

In the existing technique, ear plugs with external or internal mechanisms which are inflatable by means of liquid or air by being positioned inside the ear. However, the systems used have aimed at inflating the balloon with complicated mechanisms for the purpose of ensuring the insulation and solutions have been produced with fixation of mechanism serving to inflate to the ear wall especially in terms of internal plugs.

In the ear plug which is subject of the invention (10), the inflation mechanism has been simplified with the internal mechanism by means of the liquid thanks to which lightness has been obtained and maximum sound and liquid insulation has been obtained with simple and delicate inflation while it has been set forth that ear plug (10) remains in the ear during effort and movement.

As shall be seen in Figure 1, the ear plug which is subject of the invention (10) contains a light main body (20) compared to the existing techniques, onto which parts are positioned, which enables the system to operate as closed and protected, at the same time a main body (20) enabling the insulation by being inflated inside the ear, which has interior and exterior layer and is positioned to one of the edges combining with each other with right angle on the said main body (20) and a balloon (50) bearing the entire mechanism by being kept inside the ear as a result of being inflated thanks to the lightness of the parts, said main body (20) in which the liquid used is stored for said balloon (50) to be inflated and ensuring the liquid to be pumped and transmitted to balloon as a result of it being squeezed using hands, the reservoir (40) positioned at the other end, a valve (30) which is positioned onto the main body (20) at the intersection point of the reservoir (40) and balloon (50), which enables the balloon (50) inflated to be deflated after usage and a flexible stop (70) made of flexible material positioned on the liquid canal (60) connected to said valve (30), opening with the effect of pressure during the liquid being pumped, capable of taking its former position back with its flexible feature when the pressure is stopped, thanks to which it allows for the passage of liquid with the effect of pressure formed by the force applied to the reservoir (40) and prevents the liquid transmitted to the balloon (50) from coming back without request with stoppage of force and which may open with the valve (30) when requested upon the balloon (50) inflated being deflated after usage at the will of the user.

As shall be seen from Figure 2, when the reservoir (40) is inserted in the ear, the main body (20) has been positioned to one end of it so that it shall be in the parallel and upper position with the ear. The main body (20), the reservoir (40) conveying the liquid and ensuring it to be pumped when the ear plug (10) is inserted and the balloon (50) positioned inside the ear have been positioned at different planes designed so that an angle greater than 90 degrees and smaller than 135 degrees shall be formed due to structure of ear canal and for the purpose of attachment being obtained and the reservoir having the parallel position to the ear makes a minimal end piece.

Thanks to the fact that reservoir (40) is inserted in the upper position, it is ensured that it is prevented from forming an additional force to the balloon (50) due to its weight and effect of gravity. However, the fact that it is in the lower position does not affect the condition that it falls.

The liquid enabling the balloon (50) to inflate has been positioned in the said reservoir (40). In cases where the ear plug (10) is not used, the whole liquid is in the reservoir (40). After the ear plug (10) is inserted in the ear canal through the end through which the balloon (50) is positioned, the liquid positioned inside the reservoir (40) is transmitted to interior balloon (50.1) through the liquid canal (60) with the effect of pressure with the balloon being squeezed with a certain force. In the meantime, the squeezing force is made under the supervision of the person using the apparatus delicately according to the situation of inflation felt in the ear.

The flexible stop (70) positioned in the center part of the main body (20) opens with the compressive force of the liquid thanks to its position, form and structure during conveying the liquid to interior balloon (50.1), besides, allows the passage of the liquid; however, it takes its former position and prevents the liquid conveyed to the interior balloon (50.1) from returning accidentally thanks to its flexible structure when the force applied to the reservoir (40) decreases and/or is stopped.

In this situation, the procedure done has been simplified with additional and complicated mechanisms and it has been ensured that it becomes a mechanism which is light, easier to use and is capable of being attached in the ear.

The interior balloon (50.1) is inflated by user in the desired quantity with the effect of the liquid and the balloon (50) inflated enables attachment to interior walls of the ear by applying pressure. Furthermore, this attachment bears the entire system which is simple and light.

The stability of the balloon (50) inside the ear enables the main body (20) and the mechanisms on it to be attached in the ear without the need for additional elements.

When the ear plug (10) is requested to be taken out at the will of user, this is ensured by means of the valve (30) positioned at 3 planes according to the point at which balloon (50) and reservoir (40) are united on the main body (20).

While this form and reservoir (40) are positioned on the main body (20) so that they will form a minimal end piece parallel to the ear, the valve (30) has reached the steep position toward the ear and in the alignment with the ear, and it is ensured that the user reaches and activates the valve (30) readily when requested.

When the valve (30) opens, the liquid canal (60) which is positioned on the liquid canal (60) and closes the liquid canal (60) with its structure and position opens with the flexible stop (70) being withdrawn, and the liquid is pushed toward the reservoir (40) with the intention to resume thanks to the flexible structure of the balloon (50) and deflation and thereby taking out the ear plug are ensured.

In conclusion, differently from its peers, the ear plug (10) which is the subject of the invention may be inflated and deflated readily thanks to the reservoir (40), flexible stop (70) and valve (30) and very delicate operation may be made under the control of the person and the entire mechanism is fixed in the ear during inflation of the balloon (50) for the purpose of ensuring the insulation thanks to the lightness and simplicity of the system. The invention has set forth that safe and efficient impermeability is ensured thanks to the delicate inflation at the will of user by means of an internal mechanism, which is of inflatable feature with liquid used for the purpose of insulation of liquid and noise the intrusion of which into ear is unwanted and ensured the use under any conditions in every environment thanks to its practicality, and enabled the production, sales and use costs to be decreased by meeting all requests with simplification of parts used while its practical and light internal mechanism HAS ensured the attachment of the apparatus in the ear without the need for additional elements.