US 11,857,396 B2
Earplug and pumping systems
John P. Keady, Fairfax Station, VA (US)
Assigned to Staton Techiya LLC, Delray Beach, FL (US)
Filed by Staton Techiya LLC, Delray Beach, FL (US)
Filed on Jun. 11, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/838,160.
Application 17/838,160 is a continuation of application No. 16/920,425, filed on Jul. 3, 2020, granted, now 11,389,333.
Application 16/920,425 is a continuation of application No. 14/860,617, filed on Sep. 21, 2015, abandoned.
Application 14/860,617 is a continuation of application No. 13/201,308, granted, now 9,138,353, issued on Sep. 22, 2015, previously published as PCT/US2010/024308, filed on Feb. 16, 2010.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/152,545, filed on Feb. 13, 2009.
Prior Publication US 2023/0016247 A1, Jan. 19, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61F 11/10 (2006.01); A61F 11/08 (2006.01); A61F 11/00 (2022.01); A61M 25/10 (2013.01); H04R 1/10 (2006.01)
CPC A61F 11/10 (2013.01) [A61F 11/00 (2013.01); A61F 11/08 (2013.01); A61M 25/10181 (2013.11); H04R 1/1083 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A device configured to be used in an ear, comprising:
a plate;
a flexible membrane;
a stop flange;
a flexible reservoir filled with a fluid, wherein the flexible reservoir is formed by the stop flange, the flexible membrane, and the plate;
an inflation channel;
an inflatable element operatively attached to the inflation channel;
wherein the flexible reservoir is attached to the inflation channel, and wherein the flexible reservoir and the inflation channel and the inflation element form a closed system;
wherein the flexible reservoir is configured to be compressed by the plate, wherein a pressing force exerted by the plate onto a portion of the reservoir maintains an expansion of the inflatable element; and
wherein moving the plate away from the inflatable element moves fluid from the inflatable element to the flexible reservoir deflating the inflatable element, where the device is configured to be used in ambient environments with ambient pressures ranging from 0.1 atmospheres to 1.5 atmospheres.