Ear Protection for swimmers was an idea that came about when I enrolled my young tot into a swimming class at Poly Prep Country Day School in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, NY.
So many babies, I thought, being dunked down into the water, to get them used to the water. I was really shocked at this as I thought babies' ear canals are not developed at such a young infant stage. Well, I thought about this, and asked myself why there wasn't some type of protection for the babies! Certainly rubber bathing caps were not comfortable, and I know my own daughter disliked ear plugs, always taking them out of her ears, or they would just fall out in the water. Water was always an enjoyment for me and I wanted my daughter to love to swim as I did, so I thought more about it. Cute ear goggles with a band covering the ears was what I imagined, in vivid colors, children would like! Bright green, yellow, orange, red, blue. Yes. Well the idea stayed with me quite a long time, and during the course of a few more years, and warm heating pads to stop the crying, when my daughter suffered from ear infections, and even later, when I heard countless stories from people I met about how they loved to swim but could not submerge for fear of getting painful ear problems, I drew a simple funny drawing of a baby and my ear protective goggles! I always believed in the idea, but somehow, took to being very shy about venturing out to see a patent lawyer. I got brave and in 1995 I found a lawyer who was a wonderful help in explaining the patent process. I began to search the New York Public Library to see if anyone had invented ear protective goggles. I brought the results to my lawyer and she encouraged me. I admire and appreciate her for her diligent work as there were many arguments to the Patent and Trademark Office to persuade them that this idea was original and useful. A United States Patent was issued after much diligence, in 1998, for ear protective goggles. Since then, the New York Times published an introduction in the Science section, and AQUA magazine published an article as well as Swimming Pool and Spa Age magazine. Hammacher Schlemmer called me to enter it as "Best Idea of the Year," and I have been approached by several United States manufacturers who have expressed interest.

The time will come when Ear Protective Goggles will be a household name. So many of us who enjoy water sports want to feel free and without worry about suffering from ear infections. Oceans are no longer what Mother Nature had intended, pure and free of bacteria. Swimming pools produce many types of bacteria and we must protect ourselves in our environment.

It was just an idea and I can thank my daughter, Jessica, who inspired me to protect her as well as others who suffer. I am thankful to Dr. Christa Hildebrand, Esq., whose expertise in patent law and her persuasion by technical terminology to the Patent and Trademark Office in Washington, helped to bring a useful product to the world!

Joanne Marie DeAngelis