Abstract: A custom switchable hearing protection system includes an earplug and an electronic hearing device received in a recessed cavity in the earplug. The earplug includes a first portion disposed in a user's outer ear, a second portion disposed in the user's ear canal, and a sound tube extending through the second portion. The electronic hearing device includes electronics that incorporate digital signal processing to provide sound amplification and fast compression programming to shut off sound amplification to protect the user when a loud noise is detected. The housing of the electronic hearing device has a sound aperture for emitting the sound from a speaker assembly. The sound aperture is aligned with an opening of the sound tube, so that sound generated by the speaker assembly can propagate through the sound tube to the user's ear canal. A slider on the housing engages a switching device to activate or deactivate the electronics.

Abstract: A custom switchable hearing protection system includes an earplug and an electronic hearing device received in a recessed cavity in the earplug. The earplug includes a first portion disposed in a user's outer ear, a second portion disposed in the user's ear canal, and a sound tube extending through the second portion. The electronic hearing device includes electronics that incorporate digital signal processing to provide sound amplification and fast compression programming to shut off sound amplification to protect the user when a loud noise is detected. The housing of the electronic hearing device has a sound aperture for emitting the sound from a speaker assembly. The sound aperture is aligned with an opening of the sound tube, so that sound generated by the speaker assembly can propagate through the sound tube to the user's ear canal. A slider on the housing engages a switching device to activate or deactivate the electronics.

Abstract: An electronic hearing protection system includes an electronic hearing device having a housing that is disposed in a recessed cavity in an earplug. The housing of the electronic hearing device is configured to be rotatable between multiple positions, including a first position in which a speaker of the electronic hearing device aligns with a sound tube in the earplug to permit sound generated by the speaker to travel through the sound tube to the user's ear canal, and a second position in which the housing blocks the sound tube to at least partially prevent sound from reaching the user's ear canal.

Abstract: An air purifier for use in a vehicle having louvered air vents includes a housing having rear and front air flow openings that are aligned with and in air flow communication with each other. A louver clip is attached to the housing adjacent the rear air flow opening. The louver clip is configured to engage a louver on an air vent in the vehicle to hold the housing in place in front of the air vent. The air purifier includes an annular ultraviolet light bulb having a central air flow opening aligned with the front and rear air flow openings in the housing. An annular ultraviolet reflector at least partially encircles the annular ultraviolet light bulb. The air purifier includes a power source for providing electrical power to the ultraviolet light bulb, and a power switch for turning power on or off to the ultraviolet light bulb.

Abstract: An ear tip assembly is used with a hearing aid thin tube or with a receiver wire attached to an in-the-canal receiver. The ear tip assembly includes an ear tip and safety connector. The ear tip can be removably seated on the thin tube connector or to a post on the in-the-canal receiver. The safety connector prevents the ear tip from remaining lodged in the ear canal if the ear tip detaches from the thin tube connector or the receiver. The safety connector includes a lanyard and a loop. One end of the lanyard is secured to the ear tip and the other end is secured to the loop. The loop receives the thin tube or the receiver wire so as to prevent detachment of the safety connector from the thin tube or the receiver wire when the thin tube or the receiver wire is pulled from the ear canal.

Abstract: An air purifier for use in a vehicle having louvered air vents includes a housing having rear and front air flow openings that are aligned with and in air flow communication with each other. A louver clip is attached to the housing adjacent the rear air flow opening. The louver clip is configured to engage a louver on an air vent in the vehicle to hold the housing in place in front of the air vent. The air purifier includes an annular ultraviolet light bulb having a central air flow opening aligned with the front and rear air flow openings in the housing. An annular ultraviolet reflector at least partially encircles the annular ultraviolet light bulb. The air purifier includes a power source for providing electrical power to the ultraviolet light bulb, and a power switch for turning power on or off to the ultraviolet light bulb.

Abstract: An electronic hearing protection system includes an electronic hearing device having a housing that is disposed in a recessed cavity in an earplug. The housing of the electronic hearing device is configured to be rotatable between multiple positions, including a first position in which a speaker of the electronic hearing device aligns with a sound tube in the earplug to permit sound generated by the speaker to travel through the sound tube to the user's ear canal, and a second position in which the housing blocks the sound tube to at least partially prevent sound from reaching the user's ear canal.

Abstract: A portable dryer and disinfection device includes a container having an interior for receiving one or more electronic components for drying and disinfection. A lid is configured to be removably secured to an upper portion of the container. An ultraviolet light source is attached to a bottom portion of the lid, wherein ultraviolet light generated by the ultraviolet light source is directed into the interior of the container below the lid. A power source is disposed in the lid for providing electrical power to the ultraviolet light source. A tray is disposed within the interior of the container on which the one or more electronic components are placed for drying and disinfection. The tray includes holes that provide air flow communication through the removable tray. A removable desiccant holder is disposed at least partially within the interior of the container below the tray.

Abstract: A portable dryer and disinfection device includes a container having an interior for receiving one or more electronic components for drying and disinfection. A lid is configured to be removably secured to an upper portion of the container. An ultraviolet light source is attached to a bottom portion of the lid, wherein ultraviolet light generated by the ultraviolet light source is directed into the interior of the container below the lid. A power source is disposed in the lid for providing electrical power to the ultraviolet light source. A tray is disposed within the interior of the container on which the one or more electronic components are placed for drying and disinfection. The tray includes holes that provide air flow communication through the removable tray. A removable desiccant holder is disposed at least partially within the interior of the container below the tray.

Abstract: A tweezer assembly includes a housing, an optically-transmissive shaft, and a flexible arm. A lamp is disposed within the housing and adjacent the opening in the housing. A battery provides electrical power to the lamp. The shaft has external threads that match the internal threads of the opening in the housing. The flexible arm includes an arched section and a clamp disposed at its proximal end. The clamp has opposing jaws that flex outward to snap in place around opposing sides of a recessed section in the shaft. The clamp thereby secures the flexible arm to the shaft such that the distal end of the arched section is disposed proximate to but not contacting the distal end of shaft. When a pressing force is applied to the arched section, the distal end of the flexible arm is operable to move into contact with the distal end of the shaft.

Abstract: A sanitizing apparatus sanitizes headsets or eyeglasses between uses by patients. The apparatus includes a UV-C lamp that generates UV-C light at a proper frequency and intensity during a time period of sufficient duration to kill bacterial and viral infectants on surfaces of the headsets or eyeglass frames that may come in contact with a patient's skin. The apparatus may also be used for sanitizing bone vibrators, otoacoustic emissions testing equipment, headsets used in impedance testing, insert earphones, and response buttons that are commonly used in audiometric testing. The apparatus can also be used in communication situations in which headsets are utilized with microphones, such as in call centers.

Abstract: A sanitizing apparatus sanitizes headsets or eyeglasses between uses by patients. The apparatus includes a UV-C lamp that generates UV-C light at a proper frequency and intensity during a time period of sufficient duration to kill bacterial and viral infectants on surfaces of the headsets or eyeglass frames that may come in contact with a patient's skin. The apparatus may also be used for sanitizing bone vibrators, otoacoustic emissions testing equipment, headsets used in impedance testing, insert earphones, and response buttons that are commonly used in audiometric testing. The apparatus can also be used in communication situations in which headsets are utilized with microphones, such as in call centers.

Abstract: A dryer and sanitizer unit includes a drying chamber for enclosing one or more portable rechargeable electronic devices. The drying chamber is defined by a base and a repositionable lid that covers the base. The base includes a substantially horizontal surface upon which the electronic devices are disposed. Air vents are disposed around a perimeter of the horizontal surface through which warm air may flow into the drying chamber to contact the electronic devices. The air vents at least partially surround the electronic devices disposed on the base. The unit also includes one or more disinfecting light sources, such as UV-C light sources, disposed within the drying chamber.

Abstract: A portable airtight electronic component dryer device including a container having an interior portion for receiving one or more electronic components for drying; a desiccant disposed in the interior portion of the container; and a removable lid for the container. The removable lid contains a disinfecting light source, and a power source for providing power to the disinfecting light source. Light generated by the disinfecting light source is directed into the interior portion of the container.