TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to a Sound Control Ear Cup, Tinnitus Treatment Device, or Hearing Protection Device in the form of an externally fitted ear cupping device for the ear for the purpose of reproducing a sound to acoustically cancel out another sound. This invention relates generally to a Sound Control Ear Cup, Tinnitus Treatment Device, or Hearing Protection Device in the form of an externally fitted ear cupping device for the ear for the purpose of reproducing a sound to acoustically cancel out another sound using active noise control.

This invention relates generally to a Sound Control Ear Cup, Tinnitus Treatment Device, or Hearing Protection Device in the form of an externally fitted ear cupping device for the ear for the purpose of reproducing a sound to acoustically cancel out another sound and protect the hearing of a user using active noise control.

This invention relates more specifically to a Sound Control Ear Cup, Tinnitus Treatment Device, or Hearing Protection Device in the form of an externally fitted ear cupping device fitted to the contour of the ear for the ear for the purpose of reproducing a sound to acoustically cancel out another sound and protect the hearing of a user using active noise control.

This invention relates more specifically to a Sound Control Ear Cup, Tinnitus Treatment Device, or Hearing Protection Device in the form of an externally fitted ear cupping device fitted to the contour of the ear for the purpose of reproducing a sound to acoustically cancel out another sound using active noise control.

This invention relates more specifically to a Sound Control Ear Cup, Tinnitus Treatment Device, or Hearing Protection Device in the form of an externally fitted ear cupping device fitted to the contour of the ear for the purpose of reproducing a sound to acoustically cancel out another sound and enable sonic treatment of tinnitus using active noise control.

BACKGROUND

Today there are devices available for producing a sound into an ear. There are various form factors of devices for producing a sound available. Examples of such devices include, but are not limited to the following: ear pieces, headphones, hearing aids, and speakers. Today there are devices available for protecting the ear. There are various form factors of devices for protecting the ear. Examples of such devices include, but are not limited to the following: ear cups, ear pieces, and headphones.

Today there are devices available for protecting the ear from a sound with active noise control. There are various form factors of devices for protecting the ear from a sound with active noise control available. Examples of such devices include, but are not limited to the following: ear cups, ear pieces, headphones, hearing aids, and speakers.

Today there are devices available for treating tinnitus with active noise control. There are various form factors of devices for treating tinnitus with active noise control available. Examples of such devices include, but are not limited to the following: ear cups, ear pieces, headphones, hearing aids, and speakers.

However, there are no sound control ear cups, hearing protection devices or tinnitus treatment devices currently available on the market that could be comfortably, safely, and effectively worn while sleeping, and particularly while resting with an ear pressed against a pillow or other surface. All of the existing devices have one or more structural features that make them uncomfortable and/or unsafe to wear while sleeping, particularly, while resting with an ear facing the sleeping surface due to the pressure exerted by the weight of the head on the ear while it is rested against the sleeping surface causing the device to poke or prod the wearer in and around the ear, dramatically reducing quality of sleep, causing injuries to the outer and/or inner ear structures and potentially leading to hearing loss. Additionally, any movement or shifting the head and ear along the sleeping surface dislodges the device, reducing the quality of an acoustic seal and delivered sound and often resulting in the treatment sound not being presented to the ear altogether.

Thus, there is a pressing need for a sound control ear cup, hearing protection device and a tinnitus treatment device that can be comfortably and effectively worn while sleeping or resting with an ear pressed against a pillow or other surface. Such device will enable a user to comfortably, effectively, and safely receive necessary tinnitus treatment and/or address and other existing hearing protection or sound control needs while resting in any and all desired positions, in particular in side-sleeping position, with an ear being pressed onto the surface.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is a sound control ear cup in the form of an ear cupping device comprising an ear retention ring, and a sound producing ear cup body having an inner and an outer surfaces, wherein the inner surface is facing the user when the sound control ear cup is being worn by the user and wherein said ear cup body and includes a power device, a sound generating device and an embedded sound control circuit, and wherein said ear retention ring is connectively attached to and fitted along a perimeter or at least to one of the surface areas located along the perimeter of said sound producing ear cup body and is operable to enclose an entirety of human ear within the ring and within the ear cup body for the purpose of protecting the ear from a sound with active noise control. In particular, the ear retention ring is operable to enable the entirety of the human ear (i.e. tragus, crus of helix, helix, lobule, auricle and tubercle) to pass through the retention ear ring opening and become entirely enclosed within the ear ring and within the ear cup body, while the retention ring is gently hugging the ear along the root of the auricle in posterior side of the ear and resting along the posterior portion of human face that is directly adjacent to an anterior ear side when ear is entirely enclosed within the sound control ear cup. In some implementations, the sound control circuit is being embedded within the ear cup body and/or within at least one surface of the ear cup body and is being operably and connectively attached to the power device and sound generating device.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is a tinnitus treatment device comprising a first ear cupping device comprising a first ear retention ring, and a first sound producing ear cup body having a first inner and outer surfaces, wherein the first inner surface is facing the user when the first ear cupping device is being worn by the user and wherein the first ear cup body and includes a first power device, a first sound generating device and a first sound control circuit and wherein said first ear retention ring is connectively attached to and fitted along a perimeter or at least to one of the surface areas located along the perimeter of said first sound producing ear cup body and is operable to enclose an entirety of first human ear; and a second ear cupping device comprising a second ear retention ring, and a second sound producing ear cup body having a second inner and an outer surfaces, wherein the second inner surface is facing the user when the second sound control ear cup is being worn by the user and wherein said second ear cup device body and includes a second power device, a second sound generating device and a second sound control circuit, where said second ear retention ring is connectively attached to and fitted along a perimeter or at least to one of the surface areas along the perimeter of said second sound producing ear cup body and is operable to enclose an entirety of second human ear for the purpose of treating tinnitus with active noise control. In particular, the both (i.e. first and second) ear retention rings are equally operable to enable the entirety of the human ear (i.e. tragus, cruse of helix, helix, lobule, auricle and tubercle) to pass through the retention ear ring opening and become entirely enclosed within respective ear retention rings and ear cup bodies, while the retention ear rings are hugging the ears along the roots of the auricles in posterior sides of the ears and resting along the posterior portion of human face that is directly adjacent to an anterior ear sides when ears are entirely enclosed within the first and second ear cupping devices for the purpose of treating tinnitus with active noise control. In some implementations, first and second sound control circuits are being embedded within the respective first and second ear cup bodies and/or within at least one surfaces of the respective first and second ear cup bodies and are being operably and connectively attached to the respective first and second power devices and to respective first and second sound generating devices.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is a hearing protection device comprising a first ear cupping device comprising a first ear retention ring, a first sound producing ear cup body having a first inner and outer surfaces, wherein the first inner surface is facing the user when the first ear cupping device is being worn by the user, wherein the first ear cup body and includes a first power device, a first sound generating device and a first sound control circuit, and wherein said first ear retention ring is connectively attached to and fitted along a perimeter or at least to one of the surface areas located along the perimeter of said first sound producing ear cup body and is operable to enclose an entirety of second human ear, and a second ear cupping device comprising a second ear retention ring, a second sound producing ear cup body having a second inner and an outer surfaces, wherein the second inner surface is facing the user when the second sound ear cupping device is being worn by the user and wherein said second ear cup body includes a second power device, a second sound generating device and a second sound control circuit and wherein said second ear retention ring is connectively attached to and fitted along a perimeter or at least to one of the surface areas located along the perimeter of said second sound producing ear cup body and is operable to enclose an entirety of second human ear for the purpose of protecting the ears with active noise control. In particular, the both (i.e. first and second) ear retention rings are operable to enable the entirety of the human ear (i.e. tragus, crus of helix, helix, lobule, auricle and tubercle) to pass through the retention ear ring openings and become entirely enclosed within respective ear retention rings and ear cup bodies, while the retention ear rings are hugging the ears along the roots of the auricles in posterior sides of the ears and resting along the posterior portions of human face that is directly adjacent to an anterior ear sides when ears are entirely enclosed within the first and the second ear cupping devices for the purpose of protecting the ears with active noise control. In some implementations, first and second sound control circuits are being embedded within the respective first and second ear cup bodies and/or within at least one surfaces of the respective first and second ear cup bodies and are being operably and connectively attached to the respective first and second power devices and to respective first and second sound generating devices.

An advantage of the sound control ear cup devices resides in the strategically engineered structure, comprising of structural components and materials that enable a wearer safely, effectively and comfortably experience one or more of the following: an active noise control, treatment of tinnitus, hearing protection while sleeping or resting on their side, back, or any other position resulting in the ear being pressed against a surface, as well as comfortably alternating between described resting and up-right position without discontinuation of one or more aforementioned experiences/benefits.

