Earplug and pumping systems

Abstract

An earpiece, earphone, earbud or earplug includes an inflatable element operatively attached to a distal end by an inflation channel, and an anti-distal end of the inflation channel that provides a pressuring force via fluid transfer of a fluid to maintain an expansion of the inflatable element. The inflatable element can be pressurized to a gauge pressure range between 0.05 bar and 3.0 bar. In some embodiments, the inflatable element is pressurized to a gauge pressure range from 0.3 bar to 0.25 bar and maintains such gauge pressure range for at least 12 hours. In some embodiments, the inflatable element uses a material of a predetermined permeability for a given density of fluid and a given thickness of the inflatable element such that an inflation pressure drops from 1.2 atmospheres to 1 atmospheres in 8 hours after the inflatable element is pressurized to 1.2 atmospheres. Other embodiments are disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An earpiece, earphone, earbud or earplug, comprising:
 an inflatable element operatively attached to a distal end by an inflation channel;   an anti-distal end of the inflation channel that provides a pressuring force via fluid transfer of a fluid to maintain an expansion of the inflatable element; and   wherein the inflatable element is pressurized to a gauge pressure range between 0.05 bar and 3.0 bar.   
     
     
         2 . The earpiece, earphone, earbud or earplug of  claim 1 , wherein the inflatable element is pressurized to a gauge pressure range from 0.3 bar to 0.25 bar. 
     
     
         3 . The earpiece, earphone, earbud or earplug of  claim 1 , wherein the inflatable element is pressurized to a gauge pressure range from 0.3 bar to 0.25 bar and maintains the gauge pressure range from 0.3 bar to 0.25 bar for at least 12 hours. 
     
     
         4 . The earpiece, earphone, earbud or earplug of  claim 1 , wherein the inflatable element has a material with a predetermined permeability to provide a gauge pressure range from 0.3 bar to 0.25 bar for a minimum predetermined period for a given fluid used within the inflatable element. 
     
     
         5 . The earpiece, earphone, earbud or earplug of  claim 4 , wherein the material for the inflatable element is Teflon and the minimum predetermined period is 12 hours. 
     
     
         6 . The earpiece, earphone, earbud or earplug of  claim 4 , wherein the material for the inflatable element is Teflon, the minimum predetermined period is 12 hours, and the fluid is air. 
     
     
         7 . The earpiece, earphone, earbud or earplug of  claim 1 , wherein the inflatable element is a constant volume balloon. 
     
     
         8 . The earpiece, earphone, earbud or earplug of  claim 1 , wherein the inflatable element is a constant volume balloon that is preformed into a predetermined shape. 
     
     
         9 . The earpiece, earphone, earbud or earplug of  claim 1 , wherein the inflatable element is a constant volume balloon that is preformed into a shape of a cone. 
     
     
         10 . The earpiece, earphone, earbud or earplug of  claim 1 , wherein the inflatable element uses a material of a predetermined permeability for a given density of fluid and a given thickness of the inflatable element such that an inflation pressure drops from 1.2 atmospheres to 1 atmospheres in 8 hours after the inflatable element is pressurized to 1.2 atmospheres. 
     
     
         11 . The earpiece, earphone, earbud or earplug of  claim 1 , wherein the inflatable element is a balloon having a thickness of 0.002 inches or 0.005 centimeters. 
     
     
         12 . The earpiece, earphone, earbud or earplug of  claim 1 , wherein the inflatable element is made of one of butyl rubber, polystyrene, polyethylene high density, nylon 6, or Teflon. 
     
     
         13 . The earpiece, earphone, earbud or earplug of  claim 1 , wherein the inflation channel is made of a material of a predetmerined permeability such that an inflation pressure drops from 1.2 atmospheres to 1 atmospheres in 8 hours after the inflatable element is pressurized to 1.2 atmospheres. 
     
     
         14 . The earpiece, earphone, earbud or earplug of  claim 1 , wherein the inflation channel is made of a material of a predetermined permeability for a given density of fluid and a material of the inflatable element is of a given thickness and permeability such that an inflation pressure drops from 1.2 atmospheres to 1 atmospheres in a predetermined time period after the inflatable element is initially pressurized to 1.2 atmospheres. 
     
     
         15 . The earpiece, earphone, earbud or earplug of  claim 1 , wherein the inflation channel is made of a material of a predetermined permeability for a given density of fluid and a material of the inflatable element is of a given permeability such that an inflation pressure drops from 1.2 atmospheres to 1 atmospheres in a predetermined time period after the inflatable element is initially pressurized to 1.2 atmospheres. 
     
     
         16 . The earpiece, earphone, earbud or earplug of  claim 1 , wherein the inflation channel is made of a material of a predetermined permeability and a material of the inflatable element is of a given permeability such that an inflation pressure drops from 1.2 atmospheres to 1 atmospheres in a 8 hour time period after the inflatable element is initially pressurized to 1.2 atmospheres. 
     
     
         17 . The earpiece, earphone, earbud or earplug of  claim 1 , wherein the inflatable element is a balloon or bladder. 
     
     
         18 . The earpiece, earphone, earbud or earplug of  claim 1 , wherein the inflatable element is made of a material having a durometer of 50 Shore or less. 
     
     
         19 . The earpiece, earphone, earbud or earplug of  claim 1 , wherein the anti-distal end of the inflation channel that provides the pressuring force is made of a material having a durometer of 50 Shore or greater. 
     
     
         20 . The earpiece, earphone, earbud or earplug of  claim 1 , wherein the inflatable element is made of a material having a durometer that is less than a durometer of a deformable portion at the anti-distal end of the inflation channel.