Two-way radio device for hearing protection devices
A two-way radio device for hearing protection devices provides communication capabilities to users wearing hearing protection devices, which would ordinarily hinder or block communication. The two-way radio device removably attaches to a portion of a hearing protection device and connects to the speakers thereof. One or more wireless transceivers provide wireless transmission of audio between users of hearing protection devices enhanced with the two-way radio device. Users remain protected by their hearing protection devices and while communicating freely in high decibel environments.
1. A communication device for use with a hearing protection device, the hearing protection device having a cup and an audio input, the cup having an inner side and an outer side, the outer side having first and second portions, the inner side having a speaker in communication with the audio input, the communication device comprising:
an enclosure having a mounting side, a microphone, a transceiver, and an audio output, the mounting side being configured to position adjacent to the outer side of the cup, the microphone being configured to capture audio, the audio output being configured to connect to the audio input of the hearing protection device, the transceiver in communication with the microphone and the audio output and being configured to wirelessly transmit and receive wireless signals;
a first mount extending from the mounting side of the enclosure, the first mount being configured to mount to the first portion of the cup in a first removable attachment; and
a second mount extending from the mounting side of the enclosure, the second mount being configured to mount to the second portion of the cup in a second removable attachment, at least a portion of the second mount being manipulatable relative to the enclosure and being configured to removably engage and disengage with the second portion of the cup.
2. The communication device of claim 1 , wherein the first mount comprises a first arm disposed toward a first device end of the enclosure; and wherein the second mount comprises a second arm disposed toward a second device end of the enclosure.
3. The communication device of claim 2 , wherein the first arm is configured to engage the cup toward a first cup end of the cup as the first portion; and wherein the second arm is configured to engage the cup toward a second cup end of the cup as the second portion, the second cup end opposing the first cup end.
4. The communication device of claim 2 , wherein the first and second arms each comprises a projection configured to engage the cup in the respective first and second removable attachment.
5. The communication device of claim 1 , wherein the second mount comprises an arm extending from the mounting side of the enclosure; and wherein the at least the portion of the second mount that is manipulatable comprises the at least a portion of the arm that is flexible, bendable, resilient, or malleable relative to the enclosure.
6. The communication device of claim 1 , wherein the second mount comprises an arm extending from the mounting side of the enclosure; and wherein the at least the portion of the second mount that is manipulatable comprises the at least a portion of the arm having a rest state and a bent state, the at least the portion of the arm in the rest state being configured to engage with the second portion of the cup, the at least the portion of the arm in the bent state being configured to disengage with the second portion of the cup.
7. The communication device of claim 1 , wherein the second mount comprises an arm; wherein the enclosure defines a compartment; and wherein a portion of the arm is configured to removably fit in the compartment on the enclosure, whereby the arm is attachable on the enclosure to extend from the mounting side of the enclosure and to engage with the second portion of the cup, and whereby the arm is detachable from the enclosure to disengage with the second portion of the cup.
8. The communication device of claim 1 , wherein the at least the portion of the second mount, which is manipulatable, comprises a tab extending from the mounting side of the enclosure, the tab being configured to removably engage and disengage with a slot on the second portion of the cup.
9. The communication device of claim 8 , wherein the mounting side of the enclosure is configured to position in a mounting direction adjacent to the outer side of the cup, the tab being configured to removably engage and disengage with the slot in a transverse direction, being transverse to the mounting direction.
10. The communication device of claim 8 , wherein the tab is configured to engage in a click fit with the slot.
11. The communication device of claim 8 , wherein the enclosure comprises a button configured to move the tab to at least removably disengage with the slot.
12. The communication device of claim 8 , wherein the second mount comprises another tab extending from the mounting side of the enclosure, the other tab being configured to removably insert into and out of another slot on the first portion of the cup.
13. The communication device of claim 12 , wherein the mounting side of the enclosure is configured to position in a mounting direction adjacent to the outer side of the cup, the other tab being configured to removably insert into the other slot in the mounting direction and being configured to removably insert out of the other slot in an opposite direction, being opposite to the mounting direction.
14. The communication device of claim 1 , wherein the mounting side of the enclosure defines a first mating surface configured to mate with a second mating surface defined on the outer side of the cup, whereby an external surface of the enclosure completes the outer side of the cup.
15. The communication device of claim 1 , wherein the mounting side of the enclosure defines a compartment in which a section of the outer side of the cup positions.
16. The communication device of claim 1 , further comprising a connector disposed on the mounting side of the enclosure and being configured to connect to the hearing protection device when the mounting side of the enclosure is positioned adjacent to the outer side of the cup, the connector being configured to communicate one or more signals other than audio signals between the communication device and the hearing protection device.
17. An assembly comprising:
an earmuff having a headband, a cup, and an audio input, the cup having an inner side and an outer side, the outer side having first and second portions, the inner side having a speaker in communication with the audio input; and
a communication device according to claim 1 configured to be removably engaged with the cup.
18. The communication device of claim 1 , wherein the second mount comprises an arm extending from the mounting side of the enclosure; and wherein the at least the portion of the arm, which is manipulatable, is resilient such that the arm is configured to pivot away from the second portion of the cup under an applied force and is configured to recoil back toward the second portion when the force is no longer applied.
19. The communication device of claim 1 , wherein the second mount comprises an arm extending from the mounting side of the enclosure; and wherein the at least the portion of the arm, which is manipulatable, comprises a rest state and a manipulated state, the at least the portion of the arm in the rest state being configured to engage with the second portion of the cup under a recoil force, the at least the portion of the arm in the manipulated state being configured to disengage with the second portion of the cup under an applied force greater than the recoil force.
20. A communication device for use with a hearing protection device, the hearing protection device having a cup and an audio input, the cup having an inner side and an outer side, the outer side having first and second portions, the inner side having a speaker in communication with the audio input, the communication device comprising:
an enclosure having a mounting side, a microphone, a transceiver, and an audio output, the mounting side being configured to position adjacent to the outer side of the cup in a mounting direction, the microphone being configured to capture audio, the audio output being configured to connect to the audio input of the hearing protection device, the transceiver in communication with the microphone and the audio output and being configured to wirelessly transmit and receive wireless signals;
a first arm disposed toward a first end of the enclosure and extending in the mounting direction from the mounting side, the first arm being configured to mount to the first portion of the outer side of the cup in a first removable attachment; and
a second arm disposed toward a second end of the enclosure and extending in the mounting direction from the mounting side, the second arm being configured to mount to the second portion of the outer side of the cup in a second removable attachment, at least a portion of the second arm being manipulatable relative to the enclosure and being configured to removably engage and disengage the second portion of the cup.
21. The communication device of claim 20 , wherein the at least the portion of the second arm, which is manipulatable, is flexible, bendable, resilient, or malleable in a transverse direction, being transverse to the mounting direction.
22. The communication device of claim 20 , wherein the at least the portion of the second arm, which is manipulatable, comprises a rest state and a bent state, the at least the portion of the second arm in the rest state being configured to engage with the second portion of the cup, the at least the portion of the second arm in the bent state being configured to disengage with the second portion of the cup.
23. The communication device of claim 22 , wherein the first and second arms each comprise a projection configured to respectively engage the first and second portions of the cup in the respective first and second removable attachment.
24. The communication device of claim 20 , wherein the enclosure defines a compartment in a transverse direction, being transverse to the mounting direction; wherein a portion of the second arm is configured to removably fit in the compartment on the enclosure; and whereby the second arm is attachable on the enclosure to engage with the second portion of the cup and is detachable from the enclosure to disengage with the second portion of the cup.
25. The communication device of claim 20 , wherein the first arm is disposed toward a bottom as the first end of the enclosure; and wherein the second arm is disposed toward a top as the second end of the enclosure.
26. A communication device for use with a hearing protection device, the hearing protection device having a cup and an audio input, the cup having an inner side and an outer side, the outer side having first and second portions, the inner side having a speaker in communication with the audio input, the communication device comprising:
an enclosure having a mounting side, a microphone, a transceiver, and an audio output, the mounting side being configured to position adjacent to the outer side of the cup in a mounting direction, the microphone being configured to capture audio, the audio output being configured to connect to the audio input of the hearing protection device, the transceiver in communication with the microphone and the audio output and being configured to wirelessly transmit and receive wireless signals;
a first tab extending in the mounting direction from the mounting side of the enclosure and being configured to mount to the first portion of the outer side of the cup in a first removable attachment, the first tab being configured to removably insert in the mounting direction into the first portion of the cup and being configured to removably withdraw in an opposite direction, opposite to the mounting direction, from the first portion; and
a second tab extending in a transverse direction, being transverse to the mounting direction, from the mounting side and being configured to mount to the second portion of the outer side of the cup in a second removable attachment, the second tab being manipulatable to removably engage and disengage in the transverse direction with the second portion of the cup.
27. The communication device of claim 26 , wherein the second tab is configured to engage with a click fit with the second portion of the outer side of the cup.
28. The communication device of claim 26 , wherein the enclosure comprises a button configured to move the second tab to at least removably disengage with the second portion.