SEALING DEVICES
At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to a deformable sealing section that can be inserted into an orifice causing sealing of the orifice.
1 . A sealing element comprising:
a first deformable chamber, containing a first medium; and
a membrane surrounding the first deformable chamber, where the membrane is configured to expand at a first end of the deformable chamber, while a second end of the deformable chamber is compressed when inserted into an orifice.
2 . The sealing element according to claim 1 further comprising:
a second deformable chamber, containing a second medium, where the first medium can transfer between the first deformable chamber and the second deformable chamber.
3 . The sealing element according to claim 2 , where the deformation of the second end causes at least a portion of the first medium to flow to the second deformable chamber.
4 . The sealing element according to claim 3 , where a second portion of the first medium enters the second deformable chamber, expanding the second deformable chamber.
5 . The sealing element according to claim 4 , where the expanded second deformable chamber provides a restoring force resisting expansion of the second deformable chamber.
6 . The sealing element according to claim 5 , where an elastic membrane surrounding the second deformable chamber provides the restoring force.
7 . A sealing element comprising:
a first deformable chamber, containing a first medium;
a second deformable chamber operatively connected to the first deformable chamber;
a first membrane surrounding the first deformable chamber; and
a second membrane surrounding the second deformable chamber, where the second deformable chamber is configured to change in volume so that the first deformable chamber is moved.
8 . The sealing element according to claim 7 , where the second deformable chamber is inflated to increase in volume moving the second deformable chamber.
9 . The sealing element according to claim 8 , where fluid is injected to inflate the second deformable chamber.
10 . The sealing element according to claim 9 , where the fluid is at least one of air, water, oil, alcohol.
11 . An earpiece comprising:
an instrument package;
a flexible acoustic coupler; and
a sealing element encasing at least a portion of the acoustic coupler, where the sealing element includes a deformable material that changes viscosity in the response to an applied energy change.
12 . The earpiece according to claim 11 , where the instrument package includes at least one of a microphone and a receiver.
13 . The earpiece according to claim 11 , where the applied energy change is related to an applied force.
14 . The earpiece according to claim 13 , where the applied force is the force of a user pulling the device out of an ear canal.