Earguard sealing system I: multi-chamber systems
View Patent ↗Multi-chamber coatings are provided. The multi-chamber coating includes a first medium and a second medium. The first medium covers at least a first portion of the second medium so as to form first and second chambers. At least one material property of the first medium is different than the second medium. The first chamber and the second chamber share a wall. The wall is configured to apply a restorative force upon deformation of the first or second chambers. The coating is configured to be attached to an object that is configured to be inserted into an orifice.
1. A multi-chamber coating of an object configured to be inserted into an ear canal, the multi-chamber coating comprising:
a first medium having a plurality of chambers, the plurality of chambers separated from each other by respective walls of the first medium, the plurality of chambers being arranged along a length of the object to be at different depths of the ear canal when inserted into the ear canal; and
a second medium disposed in the plurality of chambers, at least one material property of the first medium being different than the second medium,
where the second medium is configured to be deformed by a surface of the ear canal contacting the multi-chamber coating, and
the walls of the first medium are configured to apply a restorative force to the surface of the ear canal responsive to the second medium being deformed.
2. The coating according to claim 1 , where the coating includes at least one further chamber and a third medium disposed in the at least one further chamber and there is at least one different material property between the second medium and the third medium.
3. The coating according to claim 1 , where the second medium includes a thermally responsive polymer.
4. The coating according to claim 1 , where the first medium includes a thermally responsive polymer.
5. The coating according to claim 1 , where the first medium includes an electro active polymer.
6. The coating according to claim 1 , where the second medium includes an electro active polymer.
7. The coating according to claim 1 , where the plurality of chambers have substantially a same dimension.
8. The coating according to claim 1 , where the plurality of chambers are symmetrically arranged about a central axis extending along the length of the object.
9. The coating according to claim 2 where the third medium includes an electro active polymer.
10. The coating according to claim 1 , where the plurality of chambers have different dimensions.
11. The coating according to claim 1 , where each chamber includes at least one of a circular cross-section, a triangular cross-section, a rectangular cross-section or a polygonal cross-section.
12. The coating according to claim 1 , where the plurality of chambers include annular rings disposed along the length of the object.
13. The coating according to claim 1 , where at least one of the chambers includes an arc segment extending around a portion of a perimeter of the object.
14. The coating according to claim 1 , where the plurality of chambers are asymmetrically arranged about a central axis extending along the length of the object.
15. A sealing section configured to be inserted into an ear canal comprising:
a central core having a length and a central axis along the length of the central core; and
a multi-chamber coating attached to the central core and disposed along the length of the central core where the multi-chamber coating comprises:
a first medium having a plurality of chambers, the plurality of chambers separated from each other by respective walls of the first medium, the plurality of chambers being arranged along the length of the central core to be at different depths of the ear canal when inserted into the ear canal; and
a second medium disposed in the plurality of chambers, at least one material property of the first medium being different than the second medium,
where the second medium is configured to be deformed by a surface of the ear canal contacting the multi-chamber coating, and
the walls of the first medium are configured to apply a restorative force to the surface of the ear canal responsive to the second medium being deformed.
16. The sealing section according to claim 15 , where the plurality of chambers include annular rings disposed along the length of the central core.
17. The sealing section according to claim 15 , where at least one of the chambers includes an arc segment extending around a portion of a perimeter of the central core.
18. The sealing section according to claim 15 , where the plurality of chambers are symmetrically arranged about the central axis.
19. The sealing section according to claim 15 , where the plurality of chambers are asymmetrically arranged about the central axis.