Ear protection

Abstract

An ear protector is provided that comprises a hollow body defining a cavity suitable for receiving an ear; a first fastening means; and a second fastening means. The hollow body is provided with an orifice that has an open configuration, in which an ear can pass through the orifice, and a reduced size configuration, in which said ear cannot pass through the orifice. The hollow body has a stretched configuration, in which an ear can be freely moved with respect to the cavity, and an engaging configuration, in which at least a portion of the hollow body has a reduced size as compared to the stretched configuration and in which said ear cannot be freely moved with respect to the cavity. The first fastening means substantially encircles the orifice and is elastic in nature, wherein the elastic nature of the first fastening means serves to bias the orifice into the reduced size configuration and wherein the first fastening means can be stretched to place the orifice into the open configuration. The second fastening means substantially encircles the first fastening means and is elastic in nature, wherein the elastic nature of the second fastening means serves to bias the hollow body into the engaging configuration and wherein the second fastening means can be stretched to place the hollow body into the stretched configuration.

1 . An ear protector that comprises:
 a hollow body that defines a cavity suitable for receiving an ear,   a first fastening means, and   a second fastening means,   
       wherein the hollow body is provided with an orifice that has an open configuration in which an ear can pass through the orifice and a reduced size configuration in which said ear cannot pass through the orifice, 
       wherein the hollow body has a stretched configuration in which an ear can be freely moved with respect to the cavity and an engaging configuration in which at least a portion of the hollow body has a reduced size as compared to the stretched configuration and in which said ear cannot be freely moved with respect to the cavity, 
       wherein the first fastening means substantially encircles the orifice and is elastic in nature, wherein the elastic nature of the first fastening means serves to bias the orifice into the reduced size configuration and wherein the first fastening means can be stretched to place the orifice into the open configuration, and 
       wherein the second fastening means substantially encircles the first fastening means and is elastic in nature, wherein the elastic nature of the second fastening means serves to bias the hollow body into the engaging configuration and wherein the second fastening means can be stretched to place the hollow body into the stretched configuration. 
     
     
         2 . The ear protector of  claim 1 , wherein when the ear protector is in use, with the ear inside the cavity, the first fastening means applies an engagement force to a first location which is at or near the base of the ear, and the second fastening means applies an engagement force to a second discrete location on the ear, located away from the base of the ear. 
     
     
         3 . The ear protector of  claim 1 , wherein when the ear protector is in use, with the ear inside the cavity, the location at which the second fastening means applies an engagement force to the ear comprises one or more of the following locations on the ear: the tragus, the antitragus, the lobule, the cavum concha, the helix, the triangular fossa and the sacaphoid fossa. 
     
     
         4 . The ear protector of  claim 1 , wherein when the ear protector is in use, with the ear inside the cavity, the second fastening means applies an engagement force to the ear at the tragus and optionally at one or more of the lobule, the cavum concha, and the triangular fossa. 
     
     
         5 . The ear protector of  claim 1 , wherein the shortest distance between the second fastening means and the first fastening means is:
 (a) 5 mm or more, or   (b) 10 mm or more, or   (c) 15 mm or more.   
     
     
         6 . The ear protector of  claim 1 , wherein the cavity has a cross-sectional shape that is substantially kidney-shaped, substantially oval or substantially D-shaped. 
     
     
         7 . The ear protector of  claim 1 , wherein the first fastening means is formed from the same material as the hollow body and wherein the first fastening means is thicker than the hollow body. 
     
     
         8 . The ear protector of  claim 1 , wherein the second fastening means is formed from the same material as the hollow body and wherein the second fastening means is thicker than the hollow body. 
     
     
         9 . The ear protector of  claim 1 , wherein the first fastening means, the second fastening means and the hollow body are formed from the same material. 
     
     
         10 . The ear protector of  claim 1 , wherein the second fastening means is provided as a raised portion that protrudes from the hollow body. 
     
     
         11 . The ear protector of  claim 1 , wherein the hollow body is formed from a polymeric material. 
     
     
         12 . The ear protector of  claim 11 , wherein the hollow body is formed from a natural or synthetic rubber. 
     
     
         13 . The ear protector of  claim 12 , wherein the hollow body is formed from latex. 
     
     
         14 . The ear protector of  claim 1 , wherein the first fastening means is formed from a polymeric material. 
     
     
         15 . The ear protector of  claim 14 , wherein the first fastening means is formed from a natural or synthetic rubber. 
     
     
         16 . The ear protector of  claim 15 , wherein the first fastening means is formed from latex. 
     
     
         17 . The ear protector of  claim 1 , wherein the second fastening means is formed from a polymeric material. 
     
     
         18 . The ear protector of  claim 17 , wherein the second fastening means is formed from a natural or synthetic rubber. 
     
     
         19 . The ear protector of  claim 18 , wherein the second fastening means is formed from latex. 
     
     
         20 . The ear protector of  claim 1 , wherein the shortest distance between the first fastening means and the orifice is:
 (a) 15 mm or less, or   (b) 10 mm or less, or   (c) 5 mm or less.   
     
     
         21 . The ear protector of  claim 1 , wherein the ear protector is provided with a protrusion on the outer surface of the hollow body. 
     
     
         22 . The ear protector of  claim 21 , wherein when the ear protector is in use, with the ear inside the cavity, the protrusion is located on the helix of the ear. 
     
     
         23 . The ear protector of  claim 21 , wherein the shortest distance between the protrusion and the orifice is 25 mm or more. 
     
     
         24 . An ear protection kit comprising two ear protectors, each being as defined in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         25 . The ear protection kit of  claim 24 , wherein one ear protector is for a left ear and the other ear protector is for a right ear. 
     
     
         26 . The ear protection kit of  claim 24 , wherein the kit further comprises a chemical-based hair treatment product. 
     
     
         27 . The ear protection kit of  claim 24 , wherein the kit further comprises a heat-based hair treatment product. 
     
     
         28 . The ear protection kit of  claim 24 , wherein the kit further comprises a hair treatment accessory.