Hearing protective earmuff device having frictionally engageable ear cups

Abstract

A hearing protective device that includes a first ear cup, a second ear cup, and a headpiece. The first ear cup is maintained in a fixed position in the first end of the headpiece through a frictional engagement, and the second ear cup is maintained in a fixed position in the second end through a frictional engagement. The hearing protection device is beneficial in that the user can easily change the ear cup if damaged or if a different level of sound attenuation is desired. The user does not have to buy a whole new earmuff apparatus.

1 . A hearing protective device that comprises: 
 a first ear cup;    a second ear cup; and    a headpiece comprising a first end extending from the headpiece and a second end extending from the headpiece,    the first ear cup being maintained in a fixed position in the first end through a frictional engagement with the first end, and    the second ear cup being maintained in a fixed position in the second end through a frictional engagement with the second end.    
   
   
       2 . The hearing protective device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the ends defines a C-shaped hook.  
   
   
       3 . The hearing protective device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the ends defines a J-shaped hook.  
   
   
       4 . The hearing protective device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the ends defines a U-shaped hook.  
   
   
       5 . The hearing protective device of  claim 1 , wherein each end comprises a hook defined by a plurality of side walls.  
   
   
       6 . The hearing protective device of  claim 5 , wherein the side walls are curved.  
   
   
       7 . The hearing protective device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one end comprises at least three side walls that partially define a polygon.  
   
   
       8 . The hearing protective device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one end comprises at least three side walls that partially define a polygon selected from the group consisting of a square, triangle, pentagon, hexagon, heptagon, octagon, nonagon and decagon.  
   
   
       9 . The hearing protective device of  claim 1  wherein each of the first and second ends comprise at least two tines.  
   
   
       10 . The hearing protective device of  claim 1 , wherein the ear cups comprise foam.  
   
   
       11 . The hearing protective device of  claim 1 , wherein the ear cups comprise an exposed exterior foam surface.  
   
   
       12 . The hearing protective device of  claim 1 , wherein the ear cups comprise a foam interior and an exterior skin, the exterior skin being integral with the foam interior.  
   
   
       13 . The hearing protective device of  claim 1 , wherein the ear cups comprise rigid plastic.  
   
   
       14 . The hearing protective device of  claim 1 , wherein the headpiece comprises a helmet.  
   
   
       15 . The hearing protective device of  claim 1 , wherein the headpiece comprises a headband.  
   
   
       16 . The hearing protective device of  claim 1 , wherein the earmuffs comprise indicia as to the level of sound attenuation provided thereby.  
   
   
       17 . A hearing protective device comprising: 
 a first ear cup;    a second ear cup; and    a headpiece comprising 
 a first means for maintaining the first ear cup in a fixed position in the first means through a frictional engagement with the first ear cup, and  
 a second means for maintaining the second ear cup in a fixed position in the second means through a frictional engagement with the second ear cup.  
   
   
   
       18 . The hearing protective device of  claim 17 , wherein the distal exterior surfaces of the first and second ear cups comprise exposed foam.  
   
   
       19 . The hearing protective device of  claim 17 , wherein the headpiece comprises a helmet.  
   
   
       20 . The hearing protective device of  claim 17 , wherein the headpiece comprises a headband.