Abstract: A simple and inexpensive sleeve assembly that is easy to apply to and remove from the distal end portion of a sound control device and can be adapted to provide circumferential contact with a user's ear canal to control sound delivered to that ear canal at a desired level, to provide a cerumen guard at the end of a sound deliver tube included in the sound control device, or to provide both of those functions. The sleeve assembly comprises a first layer of flexible material (e.g., sound attenuating slow recovery foam, closed cell foam, open cell foam, reticulated open cell foam, or non-foamed polymeric material depending on the requirements of the sound control device on which the sleeve assembly is used) having a periphery that can be adapted to make partial or complete contact with or conform to the car canal of a user into which the sleeve assembly is inserted, or to make little or no contact with that ear canal.

Abstract: An assembly that affords easy application of a phone cover of thin, flexible, resiliently stretchable material around a bulbous phone (e.g., a microphone or earphone such as an ear bud). The assembly includes the phone cover that defines a socket adapted to closely receive the phone, and also includes a frame of stiff material having a passageway from which the phone cover is supported with an inlet opening to the socket aligned with the passageway on the frame. The phone can be moved along the passageway into the socket in the phone cover, whereupon the phone cover is separated from the frame.

Abstract: A composite reusable sound attenuating or transmitting device, especially an ear plug, is formed from a core, about which is adhered a strip of slow recovery foam. After each use of the device, the strip of foam is generally removed and discarded; typically, a new strip is applied the next time the device is used.

Abstract: An improved sleeve for mounting on the distal portion of a hearing aid or other sound control device to provide circumferential contact to the ear canal of a person into which the device is inserted. A currently preferred embodiment of the sleeve comprises a foam cylinder having an axial hole therethrough, with a washer-like disc axially aligned with the hole in the cylinder, the inner diameter of the disc being approximately the same as that of the hole through the cylinder. A knob-terminated sound delivery tube on the device snaps into the disc. A plurality of these sleeves can be stored in a novel tray-like container that permits removal only when a snap fit has been achieved between the sound delivery tube and the plastic disc. Used sleeves can be removed and stored in a separate compartment of the container.

Abstract: A system for securing a plurality of tape pancakes includes a compressible core support on which the pancakes can be mounted. An interior rod having a head fits and is received within the core support. A nub on the inside surface of the core support engages a groove on the outside surface of the interior rod to provide a threaded engagement between the interior rod and the core support. Rotation of the interior rod within the core support after the head contacts the end of the core support provides an axial compression load onto the core support to hold together the pancakes. This axial compression also expands the baffles which contact and tighten against the inside of the tape pancake cores and provide a radial force to secure the pancakes in place.

Abstract: A parallelepipedal storage container is formed of at least two sections. Each section is foldable to separate the section into a central base wall and two side walls. The adjacent base and side walls can be oriented at right angles to each other. The storage container is formed by mating the sections so that the side edges of the side walls on one section are disposed adjacent the side edges of the side walls of the other section to form edges of the storage container. The sections are secured together using a tongue and groove connection to mate the sections along respective edges. Three and four section containers can be formed.

Abstract: A parallelepipedal storage container is formed of at least two-sections. Each section is foldable to separate the section into a central base wall and two side walls. The adjacent base and side walls can be oriented at right angles to each other. The storage container is formed by mating the sections so that the side edges of the side walls on one section are disposed adjacent the side edges of the side walls of the other section to form edges of the storage container. The sections are secured together using a tongue and groove connection to mate the sections along respective edges. Three and four section containers can be formed.

Abstract: A parallelepipedal storage container is formed of at least two sections. Each section is foldable to separate the section into a central base wall and two side walls. The adjacent base and side walls can be oriented at right angles to each other. The storage container is formed by mating the sections so that the side edges of the side walls on one section are disposed adjacent the side edges of the side walls of the other section to form edges of the storage container. The sections are secured together using a tongue and groove connection to mate the sections along respective edges. Three and four section containers can be formed.

Abstract: A reclosable light-tight container for storing a plurality of sheets of light-sensitive material includes a lower wall, an upper wall, and a plurality of side walls. A door is formed as part of the upper wall, and a door hinge permits the container to be opened and closed. A reclosable light-tight closure is created by an unbroken wall formed on the inner surface of the lower wall and extending around and enclosing the portion of the inner surface corresponding to the door location when the door is closed. A raised platform on the inner surface of the upper wall door has a top surface which abuts the inner surface of the lower wall outside of the unbroken wall when the door is closed. The raised platform blocks light from entering the container by covering the parting line between the unbroken wall on the lower wall and the upper wall. A tab on the unbroken wall blocks light at the door hinge.

Abstract: A parallelepipedal storage container is formed of two sections. Each section is rectangular and is foldable to separate the section into a central base wall and two side walls. The adjacent base and side walls can be oriented ar right angles to each other to form a U-shape. The storage container is formed by mating the two U-shaped sections so that the side edges of the side walls of the U-shape on one section are disposed adjacent the side edges of the side walls of the other U-shape to form edges of the storage container. The two sections are secured together using a tongue and groove connection to mate the sections along respective edges.

Abstract: A system securing a plurality of tape pancakes includes a compressible baffled core support on which the pancakes can be mounted. An interior rod having a head fits and is received within the baffled core support. A nub on the inside surface of the core support engages a groove on the outside surface of the interior rod to provide a threaded engagement between the interior rod and the core support. Rotation of the interior rod within the core support after the head contacts the end of the core support provides an axial compression load onto the core support to hold together the pancakes. This axial compression also expands the baffles which contact and tighten against the inside of the tape pancake cores and provide a radial force to secure the pancakes in place.

Abstract: A shock shield formed of an annular body having a central axial hole which mounts within a case is disclosed. A cylindrical axial ring is formed around the central axial hole. The shock shield permits a tape reel stored within the case to rotate within the case and absorbs shocks to prevent damage to the tape reel. A tab on the shield mates with the tape reel to prevent relative rotation therebetween. Shock absorption is accomplished by compressible elements formed on the shield body. The compressible elements are annular bearing rings concentric with the annular circumference. The annular bearing rings have a generally V-shaped cross section and an axial height less than the axial height of the axial ring. The shield body preferably is formed of four spaced radial members to enhance flexion.

Abstract: A container for pancakes of recording tape has an L-shaped base, mandrels extending horizontally from the base on which pancakes are placed, and a cover which encloses the pancakes. A compression ring provides a compression load to hold the pancakes together. The compression ring is placed around and rotated onto the outside of the mandrel. The compression ring includes an inner ring and an outer ring which engage each other. The outer ring is rotated relative the inner ring to apply the pressure on the pancake cores. Alternatively, the compression load is applied by a callapsible, one-piece unit. Two retractable wings are mounted on the free end of the mandrel and extend to engage the pancake cores. Rotation of a shaft forces the wings toward the pancakes to apply the compression load.

Abstract: A blow molded box having (1) corner structures including hollow post-like supports against an outer polymeric sheet defining the corner, which supports are formed in inner polymeric sheets defining the inner surfaces of the intersecting walls at the corner; (2) dust resistant hinge that has central parts that engage when the box is opened or closed to retain the relative positions of those central parts against radial movement; and (3) locating portions on the sidewalls of the box that engage mating locating portions on the sidewalls of adjacent similar boxes to restrict slippage between the boxes and facilitate carrying a stack of the boxes, but which are resiliently flexible so that they do not greatly restrict removing the box from between adjacent boxes stored side by side on a shelf or hanging from a support member.

Abstract: An over-center toggle latch which can be integrally molded with the first and second members of a case. The over-center toggle latch includes a hinge arm that has first and second spaced ends. A first living hinge attaches the first end of the hinge arm to the first case member. A second living hinge is for coupling a lever arm to the second end of the hinge arm. An engagement member-receiving seat is formed on the second member of the case. An engagement member is mounted to the lever arm and is spaced from the second hinge. The engagement member pivotally engages the seat with the hinge arm in an over-center position with respect to the engagement member. The latch is configured for use with first and second case members that have sides and edges. When the first and second case members are secured by the latch, the edges are generally coplanar and perpendicular to the sides.

Abstract: A lock assembly for a shipping case includes a rotatable knob received within an aperture of a lid. A latch bar rotatable with the knob is engageable with a ramped ledge in a protruding hub of the base. Rotating the knob secures the shipping case lid to the base. The knob includes a lock operator pivotally attached within a channel formed in a bowl of the knob. A lock beam of the lock operator, upon rotation of the knob, is engageable with any one of a plurality of detents formed in the lid that define the open, closed and locked states of the shipping case. A resilient spring plank formed integrally with the lock operator engages a recess formed in the knob and acts to bias the lock beam into engagement with the detents. A fastener assembly mounts the latch bar to the knob.

Abstract: Disposably attached to the ear piece of a hearing aid, which includes any sound transmission device, is a user-disposable sleeve comprising soft polymeric retarded recovery foam that can be compressed to be freely insertable into a person's ear and allowed to recover to become wedged in the canal. Preferably, the sleeve is disposably attached to the ear piece by mating of screw threads on the sleeve and the ear piece. The ear piece may be a separate component from the hearing aid. The component is made either of rigid or flexible plastic and has connecting portions of various lengths depending on the depth of insertion of the sleeve into the canal. The sleeve may be of various lengths depending on the depth of insertion into the ear canal desired. The sleeve/ear piece assembly may also have a layer of sound transmitting scrim over its central opening to minimize penetration of the connecting portion past the end of the sleeve.

Abstract: A triple-action latch assembly for a shipping case having first and second housing members includes a U-shaped flexible slide movably received on a T-shaped rail associated with the first housing member. The T-shaped rail includes a notch configured to receive a tab associated with the second housing member. When the slide is moved from an open state to a locked state, the tab is trapped within the notch. The slide includes a first detent engageable with an end portion of the rail to secure the slide against movement. The slide further includes a second detent defined by a latch bar having a latch beam engageable with a first cavity in the rail to further secure the slide against movement relative to the T-shaped rail. When the first detent is lifted out of engagement with the rail and the second detent is simultaneously depressed to lift the latch beam out of engagement with the first cavity, the latch assembly can be slid to the open state.

Abstract: The casing of a hearing aid can be acoustically dampened and its receiver is less likely to amplify noise stemming from vibrations of the casing when the casing is lined with a viscoelastic material. The viscoelastic lining can be applied by laying a viscoelastic layer across the rim of the casing and drawing a vacuum at the sound-communicating orifice of the casing until the viscoelastic is drawn tightly against the interior of the casing. A preferred viscoelastic layer has at one surface a substance such as fibers or beads that will form temporary bridges to permit an air to be evacuated between the viscoelastic layer and a casing to which it is applied. When the deposited viscoelastic is tacky at room temperature, the components of the hearing aid can be positioned simply by pressing them into the viscoelastic material, thus making the assembly easier than prior methods of assembling tiny hearing aids.

Abstract: Detachably secured to the ear piece of a hearing aid is a user-disposable sleeve comprising soft polymeric retarded recovery foam that can be compressed to be freely insertable into a person's ear canal and then allowed to recover to become wedged in the canal. The sleeve preferably includes a flexible, elongated plastic duct over which the foam fits, and the duct is formed with a screw thread of a rigid plastic which mates with a screw thread on the ear piece for easy attachment and removal. The external surface of the foam preferably is substantially cylindrical and can be formed with flutes to provide venting of the user's ear.