Ear Protector

Abstract

An ear protector 100 provides a means for covering an ear 10, manipulating ear 10, and protecting ear 10 from rubbing, chemicals, and heat. The ear protector comprises: an inner wall 110, an outer wall 120, and a curved joining wall 130. The ear protector further comprises: an upper helix cover 140, a middle tragus cover 150, and a lower lobule cover 160. The ear protector is manufactured with a material this is flexible, able to resume its original shape when a deforming force is removed, light weight and low density, has a high compression set, is has insulation properties and chemical resistance properties, easy to manufacture easily colored and processed. The ear protector includes notch 170 with thin membrane 176 for stretch and retraction, ear cavity button 154 for securing with ear, and thicker bridges 172 for strength and comfort, and installing and removing ear protector with ear.

1 . An ear protector comprising:
 an inner wall, an outer wall, and a curved joining wall; an upper helix cover, a middle tragus cover, and a lower lobule cover; a front portion, middle portion, and a rear portion; an ear cavity button; and a notch; all comprising thermoplastic elastomer material;   wherein:
 said upper helix cover comprises said inner wall adjoining with said curved joining wall, and said curved joining wall adjoining with said outer wall; 
 said middle tragus cover comprises said outer wall; and 
 said lower lobule cover comprises said outer wall adjoining with said curved joining wall and said curved joining wall adjoining with said inner wall; 
   wherein said notch comprises:
 a membrane disposed in said upper helix cover, wherein said membrane extends through said inner wall, said curved joining wall, and said outer wall of said upper helix cover, and said membrane comprises a thinner thickness of said thermoplastic elastomer material, and said notch extends front to rear wide enough to allow membrane to stretch and retract such that said ear protector opens and retracts allowing for opening said ear protector to extend around an ear and retract to remain on the ear in position as placed on the ear; 
   wherein said ear cavity button comprises mound of material disposed on said outer wall beginning at a rear lower edge of the membrane on said outer wall and extending forward along said outer wall edge of upper rear portion of said tragus cover wherein said ear cavity button increases in width and height from rear to front such that said ear cavity button fits below a helix of the ear providing secure holding of ear protector on the ear;   wherein said tragus cover is disposed on front, middle portion of said ear protector and on front lower portion of outer wall such that shape of said middle tragus cover pushes a tragus portion of said ear for preventing damage to ear and for muffling sounds; and   wherein said lower lobule cover includes said outer wall extending downward from said upper helix cover, said curved joining wall extending downward with a taper from said upper helix cover, and said inner wall extending downward with a taper from said upper helix cover, wherein said rear portion of said lower lobule cover curves downward and forward comprising a C-shape for conforming to said ear and for manipulating said ear upward and inward and for protecting said ear.   
     
     
         2 . An ear protector as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising a cutout disposed approximately between said upper helix cover and said tragus cover, wherein said cutout includes an open area of said curved joining wall of said upper helix cover disposed by outer wall approximately where said upper helix cover ends and where said tragus cover begins such that the open area of said cutout of said ear protector is used with a variety of said ear shapes and sizes. 
     
     
         3 . An ear protector as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising a taper disposed approximately between said upper helix cover and said tragus cover wherein said upper helix cover presses on the top of the helix, said inner wall of said upper helix cover presses on the inner top of the helix, said outer wall of said upper helix cover presses on the outer top of the helix, said ear cavity button fits below the helix of the ear and said taper presses on the top front of the helix to hold said ear protector securely on the ear. 
     
     
         4 . An ear protector as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising an inner bridge and an outer bridge disposed in the center of said membrane, and disposed on interior of said upper helix cover, wherein said inner bridge is further disposed between said inner wall and curved joining wall, and said outer bridge is disposed between said outer wall and said curved joining wall, wherein said inner and outer bridge comprise a larger thickness of said thermoplastic elastomer material than said membrane material thickness for strength of said ear protector along said membrane and for comfort. 
     
     
         5 . An ear protector as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising membrane bridges comprising a larger thickness of material disposed where said membrane adjoins said edge of said ear protector providing strength and comfort for said membrane for inserting and removing said ear protector in relation to the ear. 
     
     
         6 . An ear protector as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising pairs of equipment tabs disposed on said ear protector providing a means of securing equipment on said ear protector such that the equipment does not rub and irritate the ear. 
     
     
         7 . The ear protector as set forth in  claim 6  wherein said equipment tabs are disposed on said upper helix cover wherein said pair of equipment tabs comprise ear protector flexible, elastomer material wherein material protrudes upward and inward toward opposing tab such that equipment is help securely between said pairs of equipment tabs. 
     
     
         8 . An ear protector as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising tragus cover ribs comprising thicker material disposed from said ear cavity button extending downward toward bottom of said tragus cover such that said tragus cover rib of said middle tragus cover pushes a tragus portion of said ear for preventing damage to ear and for muffling sounds. 
     
     
         9 . An ear protector as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising a lower lobule cover bump comprising a mound of material thicker than said outer wall of said lower lobule cover disposed on said outer wall of said lower lobule cover for securing said ear protector in place on the ear. 
     
     
         10 . An ear protector comprising: an inner wall, an outer wall, and a curved joining wall; an upper helix cover, a middle tragus cover, and a lower lobule cover; a front portion, middle portion, and a rear portion; ear cavity button; and a notch; all comprising thermoplastic elastomer material;
 wherein said upper helix cover includes said inner wall connected with said curved joining wall and said curved joining wall connected with said outer wall, said middle tragus cover includes only said outer wall, and said lower lobule cover includes said outer wall connected with said curved joining wall and said curved joining wall connected with said inner wall;   wherein said notch includes a membrane disposed in said upper helix cover, wherein said membrane extends through said inner wall, said curved joining wall, and said outer wall, wherein said membrane comprises a thinner thickness of said thermoplastic elastomer material, wherein said notch extends front to rear wide enough to allow membrane to stretch and retract such that said ear protector opens and retracts allowing for opening said ear protector to extend around an ear and retract to remain on said ear in position as placed on said ear;   wherein said notch further includes an inner bridge and an outer bridge disposed in the center of said membrane, and disposed on interior of said upper helix cover, wherein said inner bridge is further disposed between said inner wall and curved joining wall, and said outer bridge is disposed between said outer wall and said curved joining wall, wherein said inner and outer bridge comprise a larger thickness of said thermoplastic elastomer material than said membrane material thickness for strength of said ear protector along said membrane and for comfort;   wherein said ear protector further comprises a taper disposed approximately between said upper helix cover and said tragus cover wherein said upper helix cover presses on the top of the helix, said inner wall of said upper helix cover presses on the inner top of the helix, said outer wall of said upper helix cover presses on the outer top of the helix, said ear cavity button fits below the helix of the ear and said taper presses on the top front of the helix to hold said ear protector securely on the ear;   wherein said tragus cover is disposed on front, middle portion of said ear protector and on front lower portion of outer wall such that shape of said middle tragus cover pushes a tragus portion of said ear for preventing damage to ear and for muffling sounds, wherein said ear cavity button comprises mound of material disposed on said outer wall beginning at a rear lower edge of the membrane on said outer wall and extending forward along said outer wall edge of upper rear portion of said tragus cover wherein said ear cavity button increases in width and height from rear to front such that said ear cavity button fits below the helix of the ear providing secure holding of ear protector on the ear; and   wherein said lower lobule cover includes said outer wall extending downward from said upper helix cover, said curved joining wall extending downward with a taper from said upper helix cover, and said inner wall extending downward with a taper from said upper helix cover;   wherein said rear portion of said lower lobule cover curves downward and forward comprising a C-shape for conforming to said ear and for manipulating said ear upward and inward and for protecting said ear.   
     
     
         11 . A method for using said ear protector of  claim 1  comprising the steps of:
 holding said ear protector; 
 separating said ear protector for placing ear protector over the ear; 
 placing said ear protector over the ear; and 
 releasing said ear protector to resume natural position over the ear such that said ear protector remains on the ear in position placed on the ear.