earmuff

A pair of Husqvarna earmuffs.

Earmuffs are objects designed to cover a person's ears for protection. They consist of a thermoplastic or metal head-band, that fits over the top of the head, and a pad at each end, to cover the external ears.

Chester Greenwood invented the earmuff in 1873, at the age of 15.^[1][2] He reportedly came up with the idea while ice skating, and had his grandmother sew tufts of fur between loops of wire.^[3] He was awarded patent #188,292 on March 13, 1877. He manufactured these ear protectors, providing jobs for people in the Farmington area, for nearly 60 years.^[1][4]

Modern earmuffs come in two basic kinds:

• Thermal earmuffs, worn in cold environments to keep a person's ears warm.
• Acoustic earmuffs, also known as ear defenders: cups lined with sound-deadening material, like thermal earmuffs and headphones in appearance, which are worn as hearing protection. These may be carried on a head-band or clipped onto the sides of a hard hat, for use on construction sites. Some manufacturers combine headphones with ear defenders, allowing the wearer to listen to a music, communication or other audio source and also enjoy protection or isolation from ambient noise. They are not commonly worn by people who have sideburns or glasses, who find earmuffs to be uncomfortable.^[5]

Ear defenders protect the wearer from extreme noises. They are like earmuffs or headphones in appearance. The head band and outer covering is usually made from a hard thermoplastic or metal. The protection usually comes from acoustic foam - this absorbs sound waves by increasing air resistance, thus reducing the amplitude of the waves. The energy is transformed into heat.

See also

Ear defenders and visor on a safety helmet

• Headphones
• Earplugs
• Muffs
• Noise-induced hearing loss

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Earmuffs

• National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health - Hearing Protector Device Compendium