公开(公告)号：AU2023286077A1

公开(公告)日：2025-01-09

申请号：AU2023286077

申请日：2023-06-15

Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY

Inventor： HJERTBERG TIM S ,  KARLSSON ROBERT ,  HJORT PATRICK R T ,  NILSSON JONAS A

IPC: A61F11/14 ,  H04R1/10 ,  H04R5/033

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a hearing protector (10) comprising two earmuffs (12, 14) and a headband (16) for retaining the earmuffs (12, 14) in position when worn by a user (100). At least one of the earmuffs (12, 14) further comprises an active component (30). The hearing protector (10) further comprises a photovoltaic element (80) which is attached to the headband (16) for powering the active component (40A, 40B) and which is electrically connected to the active component (40A, 40B) of the earmuff (12, 14). The present disclosure further relates to a method of retrofitting a hearing protector (10) with a photovoltaic element (80). Such a hearing protector (10) is beneficial as the photovoltaic element (80) provides electric energy to the active component (40A, 40B) of the hearing protector (10) thereby enabling a prolonged operating time and battery life of a battery present at the hearing protector (10), respectively. Also, the energy supply for the active component (40A, 40B) may - depending on the light conditions -partially or entirely be independent of such a battery (30). An increase in safety may be achieved, in particular if the active component (40A, 40B) is safety relevant, i.e. if the active component (30) includes voice communication or gathering ambient data through sensors.