US 11,937,998 B2
Hearing protection device and method of forming same
Feng Cai, Carmel, IN (US); and Jeffrey L. Hamer, Springville, IN (US)
Assigned to 3M Innovative Properties Company, St. Paul, MN (US)
Appl. No. 16/088,474
Filed by 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY, St. Paul, MN (US)
PCT Filed Mar. 31, 2017, PCT No. PCT/US2017/025268
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Sep. 26, 2018,
PCT Pub. No. WO2017/173210, PCT Pub. Date Oct. 5, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/316,645, filed on Apr. 1, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2020/0297539 A1, Sep. 24, 2020
Int. Cl. A61F 11/08 (2006.01); B65D 85/04 (2006.01); H04R 1/10 (2006.01)
CPC A61F 11/08 (2013.01) [B65D 85/04 (2013.01); H04R 1/1033 (2013.01); A61F 2210/0071 (2013.01); A61F 2220/005 (2013.01); A61F 2250/0071 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A hearing protection device, comprising:
a first hearing protector;
a second hearing protector;
an elongated connector comprising a first end that is connected to the first hearing protector and a second end that is connected to the second hearing protector; and
a plurality of frangible attachment elements disposed alternatively with a plurality of portions of the elongated connector, wherein each of the frangible attachment elements temporarily connects one portion to the other portion of two adjacent portions of the elongate connector such that the elongated connector is in a compact configuration, wherein the elongated connector is adapted to be disposed in an elongated configuration when any one of the frangible attachment elements is broken, and wherein the plurality of frangible attachment elements are molded integrally with the plurality of portions of the elongated connector.