Sound muffling headwear

Abstract

A headband, cap, hat, or the like worn by a child, particularly an infant, includes an embedded sound-attenuation system to protect hearing against loud sounds that might startle, awaken, or injure a wearer. Shells formed of a comparatively soft and flexible elastomeric material are secured against the head of a user, each enclosing an ear in an air tight chamber, to close down the transmission paths available to sound waves. The shells are impervious to air, and flexible to conform to the head when secured by the headgear in which the shells are embedded. Each shell is provided with a rim, sufficiently flexible to deform and deflect into complete, sealed contact with the head.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sound muffling headwear, comprising:
 a flexible circumferential band;   flexible housings on opposing sides of the flexible circumferential bands; and   a flexible earmuff disposed at least partially within each of the flexible housings, each flexible earmuff having a shape defining a recess therein configured to engage or receive an ear of a user, each flexible earmuff comprising at least three layers of different flexible sound muffling materials.   
     
     
         2 . The sound muffling headwear of  claim 1 , wherein each sound muffling material of the at least three layers of different flexible sound muffling materials is selected from the group consisting of neoprene, silicone, closed cell rubber, closed cell foam, and memory foam. 
     
     
         3 . The sound muffling headwear of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the at least three different layers of flexible sound muffling material comprises closed cell foam. 
     
     
         4 . The sound muffling headwear of  claim 3 , wherein at least one of the at least three different layers of flexible sound muffling material comprises memory foam. 
     
     
         5 . The sound muffling headwear of  claim 1 , wherein a first flexible sound muffling material of the at least three different layers of flexible sound muffling material comprises closed cell rubber, a second flexible sound muffling material of the at least three different layers of flexible sound muffling material comprises closed cell foam, and a third flexible sound muffling material of the at least three different layers of flexible sound muffling material comprises memory foam. 
     
     
         6 . The sound muffling headwear of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible circumferential band and the flexible housings comprise different materials. 
     
     
         7 . The sound muffling headwear of  claim 1 , further comprising a soft material disposed within the recess. 
     
     
         8 . The sound muffling headwear of  claim 7 , wherein the soft material comprises a foam material. 
     
     
         9 . The sound muffling headwear of  claim 8 , wherein the soft material has anti-bacterial properties. 
     
     
         10 . The sound muffling headwear of  claim 1 , further comprising a top portion attached to the flexible circumferential band and configured to cover the head of a user of the headwear. 
     
     
         11 . A sound muffling headwear for an infant, comprising:
 a flexible elastomeric portion for securing the headwear to a head of an infant; and   at least two flexible earmuffs disposed at least partially within the flexible elastomeric portion, each flexible earmuff comprising at least three layers of different flexible materials, wherein at least one layer comprises sound muffling material.   
     
     
         12 . The headwear of  claim 11 , wherein the sound muffling material is selected from the group consisting of neoprene, silicone, closed cell rubber, closed cell foam, and memory foam. 
     
     
         13 . The headwear of  claim 12 , wherein each flexible earmuff has a shape defining a recess therein configured to engage or receive an ear of a user. 
     
     
         14 . The headwear of  claim 13 , wherein the earmuff further comprises a soft foam material disposed within the recess and having anti-bacterial properties. 
     
     
         15 . The headwear of  claim 11 , wherein the at least three layers of different flexible materials are secured to one another by adhesive. 
     
     
         16 . The headwear of  claim 15 , wherein the flexible earmuffs are removable from the flexible housings. 
     
     
         17 . The headwear of  claim 15 , wherein the flexible elastomeric portion comprises a circumferential band or a cap. 
     
     
         18 . The headwear of  claim 17 , wherein the flexible elastomeric portion comprises a circumferential band having an adjustable circumference. 
     
     
         19 . A sound muffling headwear, comprising:
 a flexible head-securing portion configured to cover at least a portion of a head of a user of the headwear;   two flexible housings coupled to the flexible head-securing portion and located to cover the ears of a user of the headwear; and   an earmuff disposed within each of the two flexible housings, each earmuff comprising:
 a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer, wherein the first layer, the second layer, and the third layer each comprise a sound muffling material selected from the group consisting of neoprene, silicone, rubber, and foam; 
 a recess defined by at least one of the first layer, the second layer, and the third layer, the recess located and configured to receive an ear of a user. 
   
     
     
         20 . The sound muffling headwear of  claim 19 , wherein the flexible head-securing portion comprises a cap and lower straps configured to secure the sound muffling headwear to a head of an infant.