Apparatus and method for making an ear warmer and an ear warmer frame

Abstract

An ear warmer comprises a set of membranes and a frame. The set of membranes collectively defines an outer perimeter. The set of membranes is attached along the outer perimeter to define an attachment portion. The attachment portion is entirely disposed within an interior of the set of membranes. The frame is disposed within the interior of the set of membranes

1 . An ear warmer frame comprising: 
 a first band, said first band defining a channel, said first band including a first ear warmer frame member coupled to an end of said first band; and    a second band, said second band being slidably coupleable to said first band, said second band being configured to be inserted into said channel of said second band, said second band including a second ear warmer frame member coupled to an end of said second band.    
   
   
       2 . The ear warmer frame of  claim 1 , wherein said second band includes a retaining member, and said retaining member is configured to engage a portion of said first band to couple said first band and said second band together.  
   
   
       3 . The ear warmer frame of  claim 1 , wherein said first band includes a passageway and second band includes a retaining member, and said retaining member is configured to engage said passageway to couple said first band and said second band together.  
   
   
       4 . The ear warmer frame of  claim 1 , wherein said first band includes a first side surface and a second side surface, said first and second side surfaces defining said channel therebetween, said second band includes its own first and second side surfaces, said first side surface of said second band being configured to engage said first side surface of said first band and said second side surface of said second band being configured to engage said second side surface of said first band.  
   
   
       5 . The ear warmer frame of  claim 4 , wherein said first side surface of said first band has a curved shape along the length of said first band, and said first side surface of said second band has a curved shape along the length of said second band, said second band curved shape corresponding to said first band curved shape.  
   
   
       6 . The ear warmer frame of  claim 4 , wherein said first side surface of said first band has a concave shape along the length of said first band, and said first side surface of said second band has a convex shape along the length of said second band.  
   
   
       7 . The ear warmer frame of  claim 1 , wherein said first band and said second band are coupled together via frictional forces between said first side surfaces and between said second side surfaces.  
   
   
       8 .- 11 . (canceled)  
   
   
       12 . An ear warmer shell comprising: 
 an outer membrane, said outer membrane defining a perimeter;    an inner membrane, said inner membrane being coupled to said outer membrane along a first portion of said perimeter, said inner membrane and said outer membrane defining an interior of the shell; and    a pocket membrane, said pocket membrane being coupled to said outer membrane along said first portion of said perimeter.    
   
   
       13 . The ear warmer shell of  claim 12 , wherein said outer membrane includes an ear portion, and said ear portion includes said first portion of said perimeter.  
   
   
       14 . The ear warmer shell of  claim 12 , wherein said outer membrane includes an ear portion, said ear portion includes said first portion of said perimeter, said inner membrane includes an ear portion, and said inner membrane ear portion is coupled to said first portion of said perimeter.  
   
   
       15 . The ear warmer shell of  claim 12 , wherein said pocket membrane is disposed in said interior of said shell.  
   
   
       16 . An ear warmer comprising: 
 an ear warmer shell, said ear warmer shell defining an interior region, said ear warmer shell including a membrane coupled to said ear warmer shell, said membrane being disposed within said interior region; and    a frame, said frame being configured to be inserted into said interior region and to engage said membrane.    
   
   
       17 . The ear warmer of  claim 16 , wherein said membrane is configured so that when a portion of said frame is inserted into said interior region, said frame portion is located between said membrane and a portion of said ear warmer shell.  
   
   
       18 . The ear warmer of  claim 16 , wherein said ear warmer shell includes an outer membrane portion and an inner membrane portion coupled to said outer membrane portion, said outer membrane portion and said inner membrane portion defining said interior region therebetween, said membrane being coupled to one of said outer membrane portion and said inner membrane portion, and said membrane being configured so that when a portion of said frame is inserted into said interior region, said frame portion is located between said membrane and one of said inner membrane portion and said outer membrane portion.  
   
   
       19 . The ear warmer of  claim 16 , wherein said ear warmer shell includes an outer membrane portion and an inner membrane portion, said membrane and one of said outer membrane portion and said inner membrane portion defining a pocket therebetween, a portion of said frame engages said pocket when the frame portion is inserted into the interior region.  
   
   
       20 .- 30 . (canceled)