US3197576A - In-the-ear hearing aid - Google Patents

In-the-ear hearing aid Download PDF

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Publication number
US3197576A
US3197576A US356803A US35680364A US3197576A US 3197576 A US3197576 A US 3197576A US 356803 A US356803 A US 356803A US 35680364 A US35680364 A US 35680364A US 3197576 A US3197576 A US 3197576A
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United States
Prior art keywords
aperture
boot
receiver
diameter
amplifier
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Expired - Lifetime
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US356803A
Inventor
Richard T Martin
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Dahlberg Inc
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Dahlberg Electronics Inc
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Publication date
Priority to US26258D priority Critical patent/USRE26258E/en
Application filed by Dahlberg Electronics Inc filed Critical Dahlberg Electronics Inc
Priority to US356803A priority patent/US3197576A/en
Priority to DED30051U priority patent/DE1948346U/en
Priority to DED45691A priority patent/DE1240130B/en
Priority to CH1428564A priority patent/CH436393A/en
Priority claimed from CH1428564A external-priority patent/CH436393A/en
Priority to GB49498/64A priority patent/GB1032548A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3197576A publication Critical patent/US3197576A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • H04R25/65—Housing parts, e.g. shells, tips or moulds, or their manufacture
    • H04R25/652—Ear tips; Ear moulds
    • H04R25/656—Non-customized, universal ear tips, i.e. ear tips which are not specifically adapted to the size or shape of the ear or ear canal
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • H04R25/65—Housing parts, e.g. shells, tips or moulds, or their manufacture
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R2225/00—Details of deaf aids covered by H04R25/00, not provided for in any of its subgroups
    • H04R2225/025—In the ear hearing aids [ITE] hearing aids
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • H04R25/60—Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles
    • H04R25/603—Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles of mechanical or electronic switches or control elements
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • H04R25/60—Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles
    • H04R25/609—Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles of circuitry
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • H04R25/65—Housing parts, e.g. shells, tips or moulds, or their manufacture
    • H04R25/652—Ear tips; Ear moulds
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • H04R25/65—Housing parts, e.g. shells, tips or moulds, or their manufacture
    • H04R25/658—Manufacture of housing parts

Definitions

  • Another object of this invention is to provide a miniaturized hearing aid including a housing containing a microphone, amplifier and battery and an elongated receiver member pivotally connected to said housing and adapted to be inserted in the ear canal of the user.
  • Still another object of this invention is to provide a miniaturized hearing aid having a housing and an elongated receiver member and having an improved means providing a pivotal connection between the receiver mem- -er and the housing.
  • a further object of this invention is to provide a miniaturized hearing aid having an elongated receiver member for insertion in the ear canal of the user and having .a soft resilient tip fitted over the receiver member and shaped to the ear canal of the user to hold the receiver member therein.
  • Still another object of this invention is to provide a miniaturized hearing aid having a compartmentized housing wherein a microphone and amplifier are each mounted in separate compartments separated by a battery compartment to provide isolation between the microphone and amplifier to reduce feed back effects.
  • a further object of thi invention is to provide a miniaturized hearing aid having an elongated receiver member capable of producing an acoustic output from one end thereof, the receiver member being adapted for insertion in the ear canal of the user with the acoustic output end adjacent the ear drum of the user, and a soft resilient tip fitted over the receiver and fitted to the shape of the ear canal of the user to hold the receiver therein.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along a line 22 of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the present invention shown in perspective
  • FIGS. 4-8 show various modifications of soft resilient tips which can be fitted over the elongated receiver member of the hearing aid and shaped to the ear canal of the hearing aid user, parts thereof being broken away and shown in section.
  • a hearing aid it comprising a housing 11 adapted to be worn in the external ear of the user, housing 11 being divided into a first compartment 12, a center compartment 13, and a second end compartment 14,.
  • End compartment 12 is separated from center compartment 13 by a wall 15; While end compartment 14 is separated from center compartment 13 by a wall 16.
  • An aperture 17 extends through an outer wall of housing 11 into end compartment 12, aperture 17 having a grommet 2t? fitted therein.
  • Grommet 2% in turn has an aperture 21 therethrough.
  • a microphone grill plate 18 is positioned over aperture 17 on the outside of housing 11 and is held in place by means of a cap 19.
  • An aperture 22 extends through a wall of housing 11 into end compartment 12, aperture 22 having a screw driver adjust potentiometer 2-3 fitted therein, the screw driver adjustment of potentiometer 23 being protected by a cap 24.
  • a microphone 25, having an acoustic input aperture 26, is shock mounted by means of rubber, or other suitable resilient supporting members, 27, and is positioned in end compartment 12 so that microphone aperture 26 is adjacent aperture 21 of grommet 20. End compartment i2 is sealed by means of the cover plate 30.
  • a generally arcuate, wafer type battery holder 33 is pivotally mounted between walls 15 and 16 and swings closed into center compartment 13 of housing 11. Battery holder 33 is adapted to hold a wafer type battery (not shown) which makes electrical contact with the conducting plates 31 and 32 when the battery compartment 33 is in a closed position within the center compartment l3 of housing ll.
  • An amplifier circuit shown generally at 34 is mounted on a printed circuit board 35.
  • Amplifier 34 can be of any conventional audio-amplifier design and the details of a particular amplifier design are not shown.
  • Amplifier 34 and printed circuit board 35 are mounted in end compartment 14 and are insulated from the conducting plate 32 by means of an insulating spacer 36. Suitable conducting means (not shown) connect the microphone 25 to the input of amplifier 34, and in addition connect the battery conducting plates 31 and 32 to amplifier 34 to provide an energizing source for the amplifier.
  • An elongated hollow boot 39 is formed from rubber, or other suitable soft resilient material, and has an aperture it? at one end thereof and an aperture 41 at the opposite end thereof. Aperture end 41 of boot 39 has a tapered neck portion which terminates in an external lip 42.
  • An elongated receiver member 4-3 has an acoustic output aperture 44 at one end thereof, receiver member 43 being capable of producing an acoustic output when energized.
  • Receiver member 43 further has energizing terminals 4-5 and 4-6.
  • the elongated receiver member 43 is mounted inside of the hollow resilient boot 39 so that the acoustic output aperture 44 of receiver 43 i adjacent the aperture 46 of boot 39.
  • the resilient boot-covered receiver 43 is adapted to be inserted in the ear canal of the user so that the acoustic output aperture 44 of receiver 43 is adjacent the users eardrum.
  • a rigid protection plate 47 having flanged edges 43 is positioned in aperture 463 of boot 39, the flanged edges 48 of plate 47 being sandwiched between the end of boot 39 and the end of receiver 43.
  • Plate 47 has an aperture 49 therethrough, the axis of aperture 4) being generally perpendicular to the acoustic output aperture 44 of receiver 43 and offset therefrom.
  • a wall plate 52 seals end compartment 14 of housing Ill.
  • Plate 52 has an aperture 53 therethrough, the diameter of aperture 53 being les than the normal diameter of the exterior lip 42 of boot 39. Since boot 39 is highly resilient, the exterior lip 42 can be compressed and forced through aperture 53 of Wall plate 52, boot 39 then being held in place by exterior lip 42.
  • a locking member 54 comprises a knob portion 55 which i separated from one face of a plate as by means of a shaft portion 57. The maximum diameter of the knob portion 55 of locking member 5d is less than the diameter of aperture 53 of sueasre wall plate 52 but is greater than the normal diameter of the aperture 41 of boot 39. The diameter of the'shaft portion 5'7 of locking member 54 is substantially equal to the diameter of the aperture 41 of boot member 39. The diameter ofv the plate 56 of locking member 54- is greater than the diameter of aperture 53 of wall plate 52. Knob portion 55, shaft portion 57, and plate 56 are all axially aligned, and an aperture 58 extends axially therethrough.
  • the knob portion 55 of locking member 54 is forced through the aperture 41 of boot member 39' and hence locks the boot member 39 in position in aperture 53 of wall portion 52 by pinching the tapered portion of boot 39 between shaft 57 of locking member 54 and the edge of aperture 53 of wall plate 52. Since boot member 39 is highly resilient, it will be seen that the boot 39'and receiver 43 are pivotally mounted in aperture 53 of wall plate 52 and hence is free to move or pivot as the boot 3% is inserted in the ear canal of the user.
  • a first conductor 61 and a second conductor 62 are connected to energizing terminals 45 and as of receiver 43, respectively, and extend through aperture 58 of locking member 54. and are connected to the output of amplifier 34.
  • the housing 11 of hearing aid In operatiomthe housing 11 of hearing aid it is worn in the exterior ear of the user while the flexible boot 39 and receiver 43 are inserted in the ear canal of the user so that aperture 48 of protection plate 4'7 is adjacent the users eardrum.
  • the acoustic output of receiver 43 is always traveling in the same acoustic medium, that is, air; and hence, there is not a large acoustic loss due to a change in acoustic medium. Furthermore, since the microphone compartment 12 and the amplifier compartment 14 are separated by the battery compartment 33, any tendency for feed back between the amplifier and microphone is minimized.
  • An in-the-ear hearing aid comprising:
  • a housing adapted to be fitted into the ear of the user, said housing containing a microphone and amplifier connected in operable'relationship;
  • a soft resilent elongated hollow boot having a first aperture at one end thereof and a second aperture at the opposite end thereof, said opposite end i of the boot being tapered and terminating in an external ilp;
  • an elongated receiver member capable of producing an acoustic output from one end thereof, said receiver being mounted inside of said hollow resilient Since the soft resilient tips 63 can be' boot so that the acoustic output end of said receiver is adjacent the first aperture of said boot, the boot and receiver adapted for insertion in the ear canal of the user with the first aperture adjacent the eardrum of the user;
  • a locking member comprising a knob portion separated from one face of a plate by means of a shaft portion, the maximum diameter of the knob portion being less than the diameter of said third aperture but greater than the normal diameter of said second aperture, the diameter of said shaft portion being substantially equal to the diameter of said second aperture, and the diameter of said plate being larger than the diameter of said third aperture,
  • said locking member having a fourth aperture extending through the plate and shaft and knob portions thereof, the knob portion of said locking member being'forced through the second aperture of said boot to lock the other end of the boot in said third aperture;
  • An in-the-ear hearing aid comprising:
  • a'housing adapted to be fitted into the ear of the user, said housing containing a microphone and amplifier connected in operable relationship;
  • an elongated receiver member capable of producing an acoustic output from one end thereof, said receiver being mounted inside of said hollow resilient boot so that the acoustic output end of said receiver is adjacent the first aperture of said boot, the boot and receiver adapted for insertion in the ear canal of the user with the second aperture adjacent the eardrum of the user;
  • a locking member comprising a knob portion separated from one face of a plate by means of a shaft portion, the maximum diameter of the knob portion being less than the diameter of said third 7 aperture but greater than the normal diameter of said second aperture, the diameter of said shaft portion substantially equal to the diameter of said second aperture, and the diameter of said plate being larger than the diameter of said third aperture, said locking member having a fourth aperture extending through the plate and shaft and knob portions thereof, the knob portion of. said locking member being forced through the second aperture of said boot to lock the other end of the boot in said third aperture;
  • a housing adapted to be fitted into the ear of the user, said housing being divided into first and second end compartments and'a center compartment;
  • an elongated receiver member capable of producing an acoustic output from one end thereof and adapted for insertion in the ear canal of the user with said one end adjacent the eardrum of the user;
  • An in-the-ear hearing aid comprising:
  • a soft resilient elongated hollow boot having a second aperture at one end thereof and a third aperture at the opposite end thereof, said opposite end of the boot being tapered and terminating in an external lip;
  • an elongated receiver member capable of producing an acoustic output from one end thereof, said receiver being mounted inside of said hollow resilient boot so that the acoustic output end of said receiver is adjacent the second aperture of said boot, said boot and receiver adapted for insertion in the ear canal of the user with the second aperture adjacent the eardrum of the user;
  • An inthe-ear hearing aid comprising:
  • a housing adapted to be fitted into the ear of the user, said housing being divided into first and second end compartments and a center compartment;
  • an elongated receiver member capable of producing an acoustic output from one end thereof, said receiver being mounted inside of said hollow resilient boot so that the acoustic output end of said receiver is adjacent the second aperture of said boot, said boot and receiver adapted for insertion in the ear canal of the user with the second aperture adjacent the eardrum of the user;
  • a locking member comprising a knob portion separated from one face of a plate by means of a shaft portion, the maximum diameter of the knob portion being less than the diameter of said fourth aperture but greater than the normal diameter of said third aperture, the diameter of said shaft portion being substantially equal to the diameter of said third aperture, and the diameter of said plate being larger than the diameter of said fourth aperture, said looking member having a fifth aperture extending through the plate and shaft and knob portions thereof, the knob portion of said locking member being forced through the third aperture of said boot to lock the other end of the boot in said fourth aperture;
  • An in-the-ear hearing aid comprising:
  • a soft resilient elongated hollow boot having a second aperture at one end thereof and a third aperture at the opposite end thereof, said opposite end of the boot being tapered and terminating in an external lip;
  • an elongated receiver member capable of producing an acoustic output from one end thereof, said receiver being mounted inside of said hollow resilient boot so that the acoustic output end of said receiver is adjacent the second aperture of said boot, said boot and receiver adapted for insertion in the ear canal of the user with the second aperture adjacent the eardrum of the user;
  • a locking member comprising a knob portion separated from one face of a plate by'means of a shaft portion, the maximum diameter of the knob portion being less than the diameter of said fifth aperture but greater than the normal diameter of said third aperture, the diameter of said shaft portion being substantially equal to the diameter of said third aperture, and the diameter of said plate being larger than the diameter of said fifth aperture, said locking member having a sixth aperture extending through the plate and shaft and knob portions thereof, the knob portion of said locking member being forced through the third aperture of said boot to lock the other end of the boot in said fifth aperture;
  • An in-the-ear hearing aid comprising: 7
  • a housing adapted to be fitted into the ear of the user, said housing being divided into first and second end compartments and a center compartment;
  • an elongated receiver member capable of producing an acoustic output from one end thereof, said receiver being mounted inside of said hollow resilient boot so that the acoustic output end of said receiver is adjacent the second aperture of saidpboot, said boot and receiver adapted for insertion inzthe ear canal of the user with the second aperture adjacent the eardrum of the user;
  • an elongated receiver member capable of producing an acoustic output from one end thereof, said receiver being mounted inside of said hollow resilient boot so that the acoustic output end of said receiver isadjacent, the second aperture of said boot, the boot and receiver adapted for insertion in the ear canal of the user with the second aperture adjacent the eardrum of the user;
  • a locking comprising a knob portion separated from one face of a plate by means of a shaft portion, the maximum diameter of the knob portion being less than the diameter of said fifth aperture but greater than the normal diameter of said third aperture, the diameter of said shaft portion being substantially equal to the diameter of said third aperture, and the diameter of said plate being larger than the diameter of said fifth aperture, said locking member having a sixth aperture extending through the plate and shaft and knob portions thereof, the knob portion of said locking member being forced through the third aperture of said boot to lock the other end of the boot in said fifth aperture;
  • An in-the-ear hearing aid comprising:
  • a housing adapted to be fitted into the ear of the user, said housing being divided into first and'second end compartments and a center compartment;
  • (e) means cormecting said microphone to the input of said amplifier
  • an elongated receiver member capable of producing an acoustic output from one end thereof, said receiver being mounted inside of said hollow resilient boot so that the acoustic output end of said receiver is adjacent the second aperture of said boot, said boot and receiver adapted for insertion in the ear canal of the user with the second aperture adjacent the eardrum of the user;
  • said locking mem- UNITED STATES PATENTS her having a sixth aperture extending through the 20 2, 7,9 1 Au rt et a1 179-l07 plate and shaft and knob portions thereof, the knob FOREIGN PATENTS portion of said locking member being forced through a the fourth aperture of said boot to lock the other end 6/61 Germany of the boot in said fifth aperture; ROBERT H. ROSE, Primary Examiner.

Description

July 27, 1965 R. T. MARTIN 3,197,576
IN-THE-EAR HEARING AID Filed April 2, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.
/9 .F1 c. 6 F710. 7 /9 R cnAno TMRn/v .AT TOR/VEYS July 27, 1965 R. T. MARTIN 3,197,576
IN-THE-EAR HEARING AID Filed April 2, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. RICHARD TMRn/v BY Ea MW r AT TORNEYS United States Patent 3,197,576 ihl-THEEAR HEARENG All) Richard T. Martin, Minneapolis, li r'inn, assignor to Dahlberg Electronics, inn, Minneapolis, Minn, a corporation of hiinnesota Apr. 2, Ser. No. 356,893 ll Claims. (Cl. 179-107) This invention pertains to improvements in hearing aids, and more particularly to improvement in an inthe-ear hearing aid which is designed to be worn in the external ear of the user.
It is one object of the present invention to provide a miniaturized hearing aid which fits completely in the ear of the user.
Another object of this invention is to provide a miniaturized hearing aid including a housing containing a microphone, amplifier and battery and an elongated receiver member pivotally connected to said housing and adapted to be inserted in the ear canal of the user.
Still another object of this invention is to provide a miniaturized hearing aid having a housing and an elongated receiver member and having an improved means providing a pivotal connection between the receiver mem- -er and the housing.
A further object of this invention is to provide a miniaturized hearing aid having an elongated receiver member for insertion in the ear canal of the user and having .a soft resilient tip fitted over the receiver member and shaped to the ear canal of the user to hold the receiver member therein.
Still another object of this invention is to provide a miniaturized hearing aid having a compartmentized housing wherein a microphone and amplifier are each mounted in separate compartments separated by a battery compartment to provide isolation between the microphone and amplifier to reduce feed back effects.
A further object of thi invention is to provide a miniaturized hearing aid having an elongated receiver member capable of producing an acoustic output from one end thereof, the receiver member being adapted for insertion in the ear canal of the user with the acoustic output end adjacent the ear drum of the user, and a soft resilient tip fitted over the receiver and fitted to the shape of the ear canal of the user to hold the receiver therein.
These and other objects of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the accompanying specification, claims, and drawings.
Referring to the drawings, wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along a line 22 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the present invention shown in perspective;
FIGS. 4-8 show various modifications of soft resilient tips which can be fitted over the elongated receiver member of the hearing aid and shaped to the ear canal of the hearing aid user, parts thereof being broken away and shown in section.
Referring to the drawings, there is shown a hearing aid it) comprising a housing 11 adapted to be worn in the external ear of the user, housing 11 being divided into a first compartment 12, a center compartment 13, and a second end compartment 14,. End compartment 12 is separated from center compartment 13 by a wall 15; While end compartment 14 is separated from center compartment 13 by a wall 16.
An aperture 17 extends through an outer wall of housing 11 into end compartment 12, aperture 17 having a grommet 2t? fitted therein. Grommet 2% in turn has an aperture 21 therethrough. A microphone grill plate 18 is positioned over aperture 17 on the outside of housing 11 and is held in place by means of a cap 19.
An aperture 22 extends through a wall of housing 11 into end compartment 12, aperture 22 having a screw driver adjust potentiometer 2-3 fitted therein, the screw driver adjustment of potentiometer 23 being protected by a cap 24. A microphone 25, having an acoustic input aperture 26, is shock mounted by means of rubber, or other suitable resilient supporting members, 27, and is positioned in end compartment 12 so that microphone aperture 26 is adjacent aperture 21 of grommet 20. End compartment i2 is sealed by means of the cover plate 30.
A first con-ducting plate 31 i clipped over wall 15 and extends along the face of wall 15 in center compartment 13, while a second conducting plate 32 is clipped over wall 16 and extends along wall 16 in the center compartment 13. A generally arcuate, wafer type battery holder 33 is pivotally mounted between walls 15 and 16 and swings closed into center compartment 13 of housing 11. Battery holder 33 is adapted to hold a wafer type battery (not shown) which makes electrical contact with the conducting plates 31 and 32 when the battery compartment 33 is in a closed position within the center compartment l3 of housing ll.
An amplifier circuit shown generally at 34, is mounted on a printed circuit board 35. Amplifier 34 can be of any conventional audio-amplifier design and the details of a particular amplifier design are not shown. Amplifier 34 and printed circuit board 35 are mounted in end compartment 14 and are insulated from the conducting plate 32 by means of an insulating spacer 36. Suitable conducting means (not shown) connect the microphone 25 to the input of amplifier 34, and in addition connect the battery conducting plates 31 and 32 to amplifier 34 to provide an energizing source for the amplifier.
An elongated hollow boot 39 is formed from rubber, or other suitable soft resilient material, and has an aperture it? at one end thereof and an aperture 41 at the opposite end thereof. Aperture end 41 of boot 39 has a tapered neck portion which terminates in an external lip 42.
An elongated receiver member 4-3 has an acoustic output aperture 44 at one end thereof, receiver member 43 being capable of producing an acoustic output when energized. Receiver member 43 further has energizing terminals 4-5 and 4-6. The elongated receiver member 43 is mounted inside of the hollow resilient boot 39 so that the acoustic output aperture 44 of receiver 43 i adjacent the aperture 46 of boot 39. The resilient boot-covered receiver 43 is adapted to be inserted in the ear canal of the user so that the acoustic output aperture 44 of receiver 43 is adjacent the users eardrum. A rigid protection plate 47 having flanged edges 43 is positioned in aperture 463 of boot 39, the flanged edges 48 of plate 47 being sandwiched between the end of boot 39 and the end of receiver 43. Plate 47 has an aperture 49 therethrough, the axis of aperture 4) being generally perpendicular to the acoustic output aperture 44 of receiver 43 and offset therefrom.
A wall plate 52 seals end compartment 14 of housing Ill. Plate 52 has an aperture 53 therethrough, the diameter of aperture 53 being les than the normal diameter of the exterior lip 42 of boot 39. Since boot 39 is highly resilient, the exterior lip 42 can be compressed and forced through aperture 53 of Wall plate 52, boot 39 then being held in place by exterior lip 42. A locking member 54 comprises a knob portion 55 which i separated from one face of a plate as by means of a shaft portion 57. The maximum diameter of the knob portion 55 of locking member 5d is less than the diameter of aperture 53 of sueasre wall plate 52 but is greater than the normal diameter of the aperture 41 of boot 39. The diameter of the'shaft portion 5'7 of locking member 54 is substantially equal to the diameter of the aperture 41 of boot member 39. The diameter ofv the plate 56 of locking member 54- is greater than the diameter of aperture 53 of wall plate 52. Knob portion 55, shaft portion 57, and plate 56 are all axially aligned, and an aperture 58 extends axially therethrough.
The knob portion 55 of locking member 54 is forced through the aperture 41 of boot member 39' and hence locks the boot member 39 in position in aperture 53 of wall portion 52 by pinching the tapered portion of boot 39 between shaft 57 of locking member 54 and the edge of aperture 53 of wall plate 52. Since boot member 39 is highly resilient, it will be seen that the boot 39'and receiver 43 are pivotally mounted in aperture 53 of wall plate 52 and hence is free to move or pivot as the boot 3% is inserted in the ear canal of the user.
A first conductor 61 and a second conductor 62 are connected to energizing terminals 45 and as of receiver 43, respectively, and extend through aperture 58 of locking member 54. and are connected to the output of amplifier 34.
In operatiomthe housing 11 of hearing aid it is worn in the exterior ear of the user while the flexible boot 39 and receiver 43 are inserted in the ear canal of the user so that aperture 48 of protection plate 4'7 is adjacent the users eardrum. As sound is picked by microphone 25 it is amplified by amplifier 34 and fed to receiver 43 which transform the electrical ignal into acoustic energy at the acoustic output aperture 44 of receiver 43. This acoustic energy travels through aperture 49 of protection plate 47 and energizes the eardrum of the user. It
will be noted that because of the aperture 49in protection plate 47 the acoustic output of receiver 43 is always traveling in the same acoustic medium, that is, air; and hence, there is not a large acoustic loss due to a change in acoustic medium. Furthermore, since the microphone compartment 12 and the amplifier compartment 14 are separated by the battery compartment 33, any tendency for feed back between the amplifier and microphone is minimized.
It has been found that due to the large variance in the size of the ear canal of various users, it is sometimes difficult for users to keep the hearing aid, and particularly the boot 39 and receiver 4-3, in the ear canal. To overcome this problem various configuration tip 63 were designed to fit over boot 39. These tips 63 are made of very soft rubber, or other suitable soft resilient material, and can be shaped to conform to the ear canal of the individual user. fitted to the boot 39 and the users ear canal at'the time the hearing aid is purchased, the hearing aid can originally be manufactured with a standard size boot, and hence, the need for manufacturing hearing aids with various size and configuration boot and receiver members is eliminated.
It is to be understood that while I have shown a specific embodiment of my invention that this is for the purpose of illustration only and that my'invention is to be limited solely by the scope of the appended claims.
What I claim is: 1. An in-the-ear hearing aid comprising:
(a) a housing adapted to be fitted into the ear of the user, said housing containing a microphone and amplifier connected in operable'relationship;
(b) a soft resilent elongated hollow boot having a first aperture at one end thereof and a second aperture at the opposite end thereof, said opposite end i of the boot being tapered and terminating in an external ilp; (c) an elongated receiver member capable of producing an acoustic output from one end thereof, said receiver being mounted inside of said hollow resilient Since the soft resilient tips 63 can be' boot so that the acoustic output end of said receiver is adjacent the first aperture of said boot, the boot and receiver adapted for insertion in the ear canal of the user with the first aperture adjacent the eardrum of the user;
(d) a third aperture through the wall of said housing, the diameter of said third aperture being less than the'normal diameter of the exterior lip of said boot, said otherend of the boot being positioned through said third aperture and held therein by said exterior lip;
(e) a locking member comprising a knob portion separated from one face of a plate by means of a shaft portion, the maximum diameter of the knob portion being less than the diameter of said third aperture but greater than the normal diameter of said second aperture, the diameter of said shaft portion being substantially equal to the diameter of said second aperture, and the diameter of said plate being larger than the diameter of said third aperture,
said locking member'having a fourth aperture extending through the plate and shaft and knob portions thereof, the knob portion of said locking member being'forced through the second aperture of said boot to lock the other end of the boot in said third aperture;
(f) and conductor means extending through said fourth aperture and connecting'the output of said amplifier to said receiver.
2. An in-the-ear hearing aid comprising:
(a) a'housing adapted to be fitted into the ear of the user, said housing containing a microphone and amplifier connected in operable relationship;
(b) an elongated hollow boot having a first aperture at one end thereof and a second aperture at the opposite end thereof, said opposite end of the boot being tapered and terminating in an external lip;
(c) an elongated receiver member capable of producing an acoustic output from one end thereof, said receiver being mounted inside of said hollow resilient boot so that the acoustic output end of said receiver is adjacent the first aperture of said boot, the boot and receiver adapted for insertion in the ear canal of the user with the second aperture adjacent the eardrum of the user;
(d) a third aperture through the wall of said housing, the diameter of said third aperture being less than V the normal diameter of the exterior lip of said boot, said other end of the boot being positioned through said third aperture and held therein by said exterior p;
(e) a locking member comprising a knob portion separated from one face of a plate by means of a shaft portion, the maximum diameter of the knob portion being less than the diameter of said third 7 aperture but greater than the normal diameter of said second aperture, the diameter of said shaft portion substantially equal to the diameter of said second aperture, and the diameter of said plate being larger than the diameter of said third aperture, said locking member having a fourth aperture extending through the plate and shaft and knob portions thereof, the knob portion of. said locking member being forced through the second aperture of said boot to lock the other end of the boot in said third aperture;
(f) conductor means extending through said fourth aperture and connecting the output of said amplifier to said receiver;
(g) and a soft resilient tip fitted over the boot and receiver and; fitted to the shape of the ear canal of the user to hold said boot and receiver therein.
3. An in-the-ear hearing aid'comprising:
(a) a housing adapted to be fitted into the ear of the user, said housing being divided into first and second end compartments and'a center compartment;
(b) a first aperture through one of the outer Walls of said first end compartment;
(c) a microphone mounted in said first end compartment adjacent said first aperture;
(d) an amplifier mounted in said second end compartment, said amplifier having an input and an output;
(e) means connecting said microphone to the input of said amplifier;
(f) a batter"; mounted in said center compartment and connected to said amplifier to provide an energizing source for the amplifier;
(g) an elongated receiver member capable of producing an acoustic output from one end thereof and adapted for insertion in the ear canal of the user with said one end adjacent the eardrum of the user;
(h) a second aperture through one of the outer Walls of said second end compaartment;
(i) means pivotally mounting the other end of said receiver to said housing adjacent said second aperture;
(j) conductor means extending through said second aperture and connecting the output of said amplifier to said receiver;
(k) and a soft resilient tip fitted over the receiver and fitted to the shape of the ear canal of the user to hold said receiver therein.
4. An in-the-ear hearing aid comprising:
(a) a housing adapted to be fitted into the ear of the user;
(b) a first aperture through one of the walls of said housing;
(c) a microphone in said housing adjacent said first aperture;
(d) an amplifier mounted in said housing, said amplifier having an input and an output;
(e) means connecting said microphone to the input of said amplifier;
(f) a battery mounted in said housing and connected to said amplifier to provide an energizing source therefor;
(g) a soft resilient elongated hollow boot having a second aperture at one end thereof and a third aperture at the opposite end thereof, said opposite end of the boot being tapered and terminating in an external lip;
(h) an elongated receiver member capable of producing an acoustic output from one end thereof, said receiver being mounted inside of said hollow resilient boot so that the acoustic output end of said receiver is adjacent the second aperture of said boot, said boot and receiver adapted for insertion in the ear canal of the user with the second aperture adjacent the eardrum of the user;
(i) a fourth aperture through one of the walls of said housing, said other end of the boot being positioned through said fourth aperture;
(j) locking means connected to prevent Withdrawal of said other end of the boot from said fourth aperture;
(k) and conductor means extending through said third aperture and connecting the output of said amplifier to said receiver.
5. An inthe-ear hearing aid comprising:
(a) a housing adapted to be fitted into the ear of the user, said housing being divided into first and second end compartments and a center compartment;
(b) a first aperture through one of the outer walls of said first end compartment;
(c) a microphone mounted in said first end compart merit adjacent said first aperture;
(d) an amplifier mounted in said second end compartment, said amplifier having an input and an output;
(e) means connecting said microphone to the input of said amplifier;
(f) a battery mounted in said center compartment;
g) conducting means connecting said battery to said U amplifier to provide an energizing source for the amplifier;
(h) a soft resilient elongated hollow boot having a.
second aperture at one end thereof and a third aperture at the opposite end thereof, said opposite end of the boot being tapered and terminating in an external lip;
(i) an elongated receiver member capable of producing an acoustic output from one end thereof, said receiver being mounted inside of said hollow resilient boot so that the acoustic output end of said receiver is adjacent the second aperture of said boot, said boot and receiver adapted for insertion in the ear canal of the user with the second aperture adjacent the eardrum of the user;
(j) a fourth aperture through one of the outer Walls of said second end compartment, diameter of said fourth aperture being less than the normal diameter of the exterior lip of said boot, said other end of the boot being positioned through said fourth aperture and held therein by said exterior lip;
(la) a locking member comprising a knob portion separated from one face of a plate by means of a shaft portion, the maximum diameter of the knob portion being less than the diameter of said fourth aperture but greater than the normal diameter of said third aperture, the diameter of said shaft portion being substantially equal to the diameter of said third aperture, and the diameter of said plate being larger than the diameter of said fourth aperture, said looking member having a fifth aperture extending through the plate and shaft and knob portions thereof, the knob portion of said locking member being forced through the third aperture of said boot to lock the other end of the boot in said fourth aperture;
(1) and conductor means extending through said fifth aperture and connecting the output of said amplifier to said receiver.
ti. An in-the-ear hearing aid comprising:
(a) a housing adapted to be fitted into the ear of the user;
(b) a first aperture through one of the Walls of said housing;
(c) a microphone mounted in said housing adjacent said first aperture;
(d) an amplifier mounted in said housing, said amplifier having an input and an output;
(e) means connecting said microphone to the input of said amplifier;
(f) a battery mounted in said housing and connected to said amplifier to provide an energizing source therefor;
(g) a soft resilient elongated hollow boot having a second aperture at one end thereof and a third aperture at the opposite end thereof, said opposite end of the boot being tapered and terminating in an external lip;
(h) an elongated receiver member capable of producing an acoustic output from one end thereof, said receiver being mounted inside of said hollow resilient boot so that the acoustic output end of said receiver is adjacent the second aperture of said boot, said boot and receiver adapted for insertion in the ear canal of the user with the second aperture adjacent the eardrum of the user;
(i) a rigid protection plate mounted in the second aperture of said boot, said protection plate having a fourth aperture therethrough;
(j) a fifth aperture through one of the walls of said housing, the diameter of said fifth aperture being less than the normal diameter of the exterior lip of said boot, said other end of the boot being positioned through said fifth aperture and held there in by said exterior lip;
(k) a locking member comprising a knob portion separated from one face of a plate by'means of a shaft portion, the maximum diameter of the knob portion being less than the diameter of said fifth aperture but greater than the normal diameter of said third aperture, the diameter of said shaft portion being substantially equal to the diameter of said third aperture, and the diameter of said plate being larger than the diameter of said fifth aperture, said locking member having a sixth aperture extending through the plate and shaft and knob portions thereof, the knob portion of said locking member being forced through the third aperture of said boot to lock the other end of the boot in said fifth aperture;
(1) and conductor means extending through said sixth aperture and connecting the output of said amplifier to said receiver.
7. An in-the-ear hearing aid comprising: 7
(a) a housing adapted to be fitted into the ear of the user, said housing being divided into first and second end compartments and a center compartment;
(b) a first aperture through one of the outer walls of said first end compartment;
(c) a microphone mounted in said first end compart- I ment adjacent said first aperture;
(d) an amplifier mounted in said second end compartment, said amplifier having an input and an output;
(e) means connecting said microphone to the input of said amplifier;
(f) a battery mounted in said center compartment;
(g) conducting means connecting said battery to said amplifier to provide an energizing source for the amplifier;
(h) a soft resilent elongated hollow boot having a second aperture at one end thereof and a third aperture at the opposite end thereof, said opposite end of the boot being tapered and terminating in an external lip;
(i) an elongated receiver member capable of producing an acoustic output from one end thereof, said receiver being mounted inside of said hollow resilient boot so that the acoustic output end of said receiver is adjacent the second aperture of saidpboot, said boot and receiver adapted for insertion inzthe ear canal of the user with the second aperture adjacent the eardrum of the user;
(j) a fourth aperture through one of the outer walls of said second end compartment, diameter of said fourth aperture being less than the normal diameter of the exterior lip of said boot, said other end of the boot being positioned through said fourth aperture and held therein by said exterior lip;
(k) locking means connected to said other end of the boot to prevent withdrawal of the boot from said fourth aperture; V
'(l) and conductor means connecting the output of said (a) a housing adapted to be fitted into the ear of the user, said housing being divided into first and second end compartments and a center compartment; (b) a first aperture through one of the outer walls of said first end compartment; V (c) a microphone mounted in said first end compartment adjacent said first aperture; (d) an amplifier mounted in said second end compartment, said amplifier having an input and an output; (e) means connecting said microphone to the input of said amplifier; 7 (f) conducting plates mounted on the Walls of said center compartment separating the center compartment from said first and second end compartments; g) a Wafer type battery mounted in said center compartment in electrical contact with said conducting plates; a
(h) conducting means connecting said conducting plates to said amplifier to provide an energizing source for the amplifier; 7 a
(i) a soft resilient elongated hollow boot having a second aperture at one end thereof and a third aperture at the opposite end thereof, said opposite end of the boot being tapered and terminating in an external lip; r t
(j) an elongated receiver member capable of producing an acoustic output from one end thereof, said receiver being mounted inside of said hollow resilient boot so that the acoustic output end of said receiver isadjacent, the second aperture of said boot, the boot and receiver adapted for insertion in the ear canal of the user with the second aperture adjacent the eardrum of the user;
(k) a rigid protection plate mounted in the second aperture of said boot, said protection plate having a fourth aperture therethrough;
(l) a fifth aperture through one of the outer walls of said second end compartment, the diameter of said fifth aperture being less than the normal diameter of the exterior lip ofsaid boot, said other end of the boot being positioned through said fifth aperture and held therein by said exterion lip; I
(m) a locking comprising a knob portion separated from one face of a plate by means of a shaft portion, the maximum diameter of the knob portion being less than the diameter of said fifth aperture but greater than the normal diameter of said third aperture, the diameter of said shaft portion being substantially equal to the diameter of said third aperture, and the diameter of said plate being larger than the diameter of said fifth aperture, said locking member having a sixth aperture extending through the plate and shaft and knob portions thereof, the knob portion of said locking member being forced through the third aperture of said boot to lock the other end of the boot in said fifth aperture;
(n) and conductor means extending through said sixth aperture and connecting the output of said amplifier to the receiver.
9. An in-the-ear hearing aid comprising:
(a) a housing adapted to be fitted into the ear of the user, said housing being divided into first and'second end compartments and a center compartment;
(b) a first aperture through'one of the outer walls of said firstrend compartment; 7
(c) a microphone mounted in said first end compartment adjacent said first aperture;
(d) an amplifier mounted in said second end compartment, said amplifier having an input and an output;
(e) means cormecting said microphone to the input of said amplifier;
(f) conducting plates mounted on the walls of said center compartment separating the center compart: ment from said first and second end compartments;
(g) a wafer type battery mounted in said center compartment in electrical contact with said conducting plates; 7 V
(h) conducting means connecting said conducting plates to said amplifier to provide an energizing source for the amplifier;
(i) a soft resilient elongated hollow boot havinga second aperture at one end thereof and a third aperture at the opposite end thereof, said oppositeend of the boot being tapered and terminating in an external lip;
(3') an elongated receiver member capable of producing an acoustic output from one end thereof, said receiver being mounted inside of said hollow resilient boot so that the acoustic output end of said receiver is adjacent the second aperture of said boot, said boot and receiver adapted for insertion in the ear canal of the user with the second aperture adjacent the eardrum of the user;
(lc) a rigid protection plate mounted in the second (11) conductor means extending through said sixth aperaperture of said boot, said protection plate having a ture and connecting the output of said amplifier to fourth anerture therethrough; said receiver;
(1) a fifth aperture through one of the outer Walls of (o) and a soft resilient tip fitted over the boot and resaid second end compartment, diameter of said fifth 5 cfiivfif and fitted the Shell)6 of the ear $31181 0f the aperture being less than the normal diameter of the 1155! W h Said boot F K thawinexterior lip of said boot, said other end of the boot In an fl e ring aid having an elongated being positioned through said fifth aperture and held recfilver Capable of Producmg P energy from one herein by said exterior MD; end thereof and adapted for insertion 1n the ear canal of (rn) a lockin member coin risin EllQlOb portion sep- 10 ms .user Said one end i the eardrum Sald 5 f A s r f E ft receiver being covered bya soft resilient elongated hollow i p 1a y means a boot having an anerture adjacent said one end of said portion, the maximum diameter of the knob portion receiver, the improvement comprising:
a soft resilient tip removably fitted over said resilient 15 boot and fitted to the shape of the ear canal of the user to hold said boot covered receiver therein. stantially equal to the diameter of said fourth aper- Reiemmes Cited by the Examiner ture, and the orameter of said plate being larger than the diameter of said fifth aperture, said locking mem- UNITED STATES PATENTS her having a sixth aperture extending through the 20 2, 7,9 1 Au rt et a1 179-l07 plate and shaft and knob portions thereof, the knob FOREIGN PATENTS portion of said locking member being forced through a the fourth aperture of said boot to lock the other end 6/61 Germany of the boot in said fifth aperture; ROBERT H. ROSE, Primary Examiner.
being less than the diameter of said fifth aperture but greater than the normal diameter of said fourth aperture, the diameter of said shaft portion being sub-

Claims (1)

1. AN IN-THE-EAR HEARING AID COMPRISING: (A) A HOUSING ADAPTED TO BE FITTED INTO THE EAR OF THE USER, SAID HOUSING CONTAINING A MICROPHONE AND AMPLIFIER CONNECTED IN OPERABLE RELATIONSHIP; (B) A SORT RESILENT ELONGATED HOLLOW BOOT HAVING A FIRST APERTURE AT ONE END THEREOF AND A SECOND APERTURE AT THE OPPOSITE END THEREOF, SAID OPPOSITE END OF THE BOOT BEING TAPERED AND TERMINATING IN AN EXTERNAL LIP; (C) AN ELONGATED RECEIVER MEMBER CAPABLE OF PRODUCING AN ACOUSTIC OUTPUT FROM ONE END THEREOF, SAID RECEIVER BEING MOUNTED INSIDE OF SAID HOLLOW RESILIENT BOOT SO THAT THE ACOUSTIC OUTPUT END OF SAID RECEIVER IS ADJACENT THE FIRST APERTURE OF SAID BOOT, THE BOOT AND RECEIVER ADAPTED FOR INSERTION IN THE EAR CANAL OF THE USER WITH THE FIRST APERTURE ADJACENT THE EARDRUM OF THE USER; (D) A THIRD APERTURE THROUGH THE WALL OF SAID HOUSING, THE DIAMETER OF SAID THIRD APERTURE BEING LESS THAN THE NORMAL DIAMETER OF THE EXTERIOR LIP OF SAID BOOT, SAID OTHER END OF THE BOOT BEING POSITIONED THROUGH SAID THIRD APERTURE AND HELD THEREIN BY SAID EXTERIOR LIP; (E) A LOCKING MEMBER COMPRISING A KNOB PORTION SEPARATED FROM ONE FACE OF A PLATE BY MEANS OF A SHAFT PORTION, THE MAXIMUM DIAMETER OF THE KNOB PORTION BEING LESS THAN THE DIAMTER OF SAID THIRD APERTURE BUT GREATER THAN THE NORMAL DIAMETER OF SAID SECOND APERTURE, THE DIAMETER OF SAID SHAFT PORTION BEING SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE DIAMETER OF SAID SECOND APERTURE, AND THE DIAMETER OF SAID PLATE BEING LARGER THAN THE DIAMETER OF SAID THIRD APERTURE, SAID LOCKING MEMBER HAVING A FOURTH APERTURE EXTENDING THROUGH THE PLATE AND SHAFT AND KNOB PORTIONS THEREOF, THE KNOB PORTION OF SAID LOCKING MEMBER BEING FORCED THROUGH THE SECOND APERTURE OF SAID BOOT TO LOCK THE OTHER END OF THE BOOT IN SAID THIRD APERTURE; (F) AND CONDUCTOR MEANS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID FOURTH APERTURE AND CONNECTING THE OUTPUT OF SAID AMPLIFIER TO SAID RECEIVER.
US356803A 1964-04-02 1964-04-02 In-the-ear hearing aid Expired - Lifetime US3197576A (en)

Priority Applications (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US26258D USRE26258E (en) 1964-04-02 In-the-ear hearing aid
US356803A US3197576A (en) 1964-04-02 1964-04-02 In-the-ear hearing aid
DED30051U DE1948346U (en) 1964-04-02 1964-10-22 EAR AID.
DED45691A DE1240130B (en) 1964-04-02 1964-10-22 Earpiece for an electronic device for the hearing impaired to be worn in the ear
CH1428564A CH436393A (en) 1964-04-02 1964-11-04 Ear hearing aid device
GB49498/64A GB1032548A (en) 1964-04-02 1964-12-04 In-the-ear hearing aid

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US356803A US3197576A (en) 1964-04-02 1964-04-02 In-the-ear hearing aid
CH1428564A CH436393A (en) 1964-04-02 1964-11-04 Ear hearing aid device

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US3197576A true US3197576A (en) 1965-07-27

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US356803A Expired - Lifetime US3197576A (en) 1964-04-02 1964-04-02 In-the-ear hearing aid

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US3366197A (en) * 1965-03-26 1968-01-30 Danavox Internat A S Arrangement in receivers for placing in the auditory canal
DE1270616B (en) * 1966-08-27 1968-06-20 Photokino G M B H Electronic hearing aid device to be worn in the ear
US3414685A (en) * 1965-09-23 1968-12-03 Dahlberg Electronics In-the-ear hearing aid
US3448224A (en) * 1966-10-27 1969-06-03 Dictograph Products Inc Rigid in-the-ear hearing aid
US3491203A (en) * 1966-10-18 1970-01-20 Sonotone Corp Temperature stabilized amplifier
US3527901A (en) * 1967-03-28 1970-09-08 Dahlberg Electronics Hearing aid having resilient housing
DE1487269B1 (en) * 1965-03-26 1970-10-08 Danavox Internat A S Electro-acoustic listening device
US3983336A (en) * 1974-10-15 1976-09-28 Hooshang Malek Directional self containing ear mounted hearing aid
FR2504343A1 (en) * 1981-04-20 1982-10-22 Sony Corp HEARING AID
US4598177A (en) * 1985-01-16 1986-07-01 Sears, Roebuck, & Co. Hearing aid with self-contained battery compartment and volume control
US4834211A (en) * 1988-02-02 1989-05-30 Kenneth Bibby Anchoring element for in-the-ear devices
WO1994023521A1 (en) * 1993-04-02 1994-10-13 Jabra Corporation Unidirectional ear microphone and gasket
WO1994023520A1 (en) * 1993-04-02 1994-10-13 Jabra Corporation Unidirectional ear microphone with multiple openings
US5363444A (en) * 1992-05-11 1994-11-08 Jabra Corporation Unidirectional ear microphone and method
WO1996041459A1 (en) * 1995-06-07 1996-12-19 Jabra Corporation Ear microphone with enhanced sensitivity
US5784471A (en) * 1995-07-15 1998-07-21 Sennheiser Electronic Gmbh & Co. Kg Hearing aid with an electrodynamic acoustic transducer
US5844984A (en) * 1992-03-19 1998-12-01 Pan Communications, Inc. Two-way communications earset with filter
US6272360B1 (en) 1997-07-03 2001-08-07 Pan Communications, Inc. Remotely installed transmitter and a hands-free two-way voice terminal device using same
EP1816893A1 (en) * 2006-02-06 2007-08-08 Phonak AG Connector system for receivers of hearing devices
EP1816894A1 (en) * 2006-02-06 2007-08-08 Phonak AG Hearing device with locking system for connectors
US20070183612A1 (en) * 2006-02-06 2007-08-09 Ochsenbein Andre L Connector system for receivers of hearing devices
US7606382B2 (en) 2001-08-10 2009-10-20 Hear-Wear Technologies LLC BTE/CIC auditory device and modular connector system therefor
US20100220884A1 (en) * 2009-02-13 2010-09-02 Phonak Ag Multipart compartment for a hearing system
US8094850B2 (en) 2001-08-10 2012-01-10 Hear-Wear Technologies, Llc BTE/CIC auditory device and modular connector system therefor
USD734295S1 (en) * 2014-03-28 2015-07-14 Klipsch Group, Inc. Oval shaped in-ear headphone
USD738852S1 (en) * 2014-02-12 2015-09-15 Oticon A/S Speaker unit
EP2393310B1 (en) 2010-06-01 2016-08-03 Sivantos Pte. Ltd. Deep ear canal hearing aid
USD764445S1 (en) * 2015-03-02 2016-08-23 Akg Acoustics Gmbh Headphone
USD775609S1 (en) * 2015-02-09 2017-01-03 Lg Electronics Inc. Portable earset
USD776634S1 (en) * 2015-02-05 2017-01-17 Lg Electronics Inc. Portable earset case
USD795223S1 (en) * 2016-03-04 2017-08-22 Plantronics, Inc. Communications headset
USD808360S1 (en) * 2016-03-31 2018-01-23 JVC Kenwood Corporation Pair of earphones
USD870708S1 (en) 2017-12-28 2019-12-24 Harman International Industries, Incorporated Headphone
USD874442S1 (en) * 2018-04-17 2020-02-04 Brittany Tamar Evans Pair of shareable earbuds
US10887706B2 (en) 2015-06-29 2021-01-05 Hear-Wear Technologies LLC Transducer modules for auditory communication devices and auditory communication devices
EP3437330B1 (en) 2016-04-01 2021-06-09 Widex A/S Receiver suspension for a hearing assisting device
USD933633S1 (en) * 2019-12-20 2021-10-19 Yamaha Corporation Earphone
USD934204S1 (en) * 2021-03-15 2021-10-26 Guangzhou Fairy Tale Electronics Co., Ltd. Pair of earphones
USD936037S1 (en) * 2021-01-19 2021-11-16 Shenzhen Baifan Technology Co., Ltd. Earphone

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Cited By (49)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1487269B1 (en) * 1965-03-26 1970-10-08 Danavox Internat A S Electro-acoustic listening device
US3366197A (en) * 1965-03-26 1968-01-30 Danavox Internat A S Arrangement in receivers for placing in the auditory canal
US3414685A (en) * 1965-09-23 1968-12-03 Dahlberg Electronics In-the-ear hearing aid
DE1270616B (en) * 1966-08-27 1968-06-20 Photokino G M B H Electronic hearing aid device to be worn in the ear
US3491203A (en) * 1966-10-18 1970-01-20 Sonotone Corp Temperature stabilized amplifier
US3448224A (en) * 1966-10-27 1969-06-03 Dictograph Products Inc Rigid in-the-ear hearing aid
US3527901A (en) * 1967-03-28 1970-09-08 Dahlberg Electronics Hearing aid having resilient housing
US3983336A (en) * 1974-10-15 1976-09-28 Hooshang Malek Directional self containing ear mounted hearing aid
FR2504343A1 (en) * 1981-04-20 1982-10-22 Sony Corp HEARING AID
US4598177A (en) * 1985-01-16 1986-07-01 Sears, Roebuck, & Co. Hearing aid with self-contained battery compartment and volume control
US4834211A (en) * 1988-02-02 1989-05-30 Kenneth Bibby Anchoring element for in-the-ear devices
US5844984A (en) * 1992-03-19 1998-12-01 Pan Communications, Inc. Two-way communications earset with filter
US5812659A (en) * 1992-05-11 1998-09-22 Jabra Corporation Ear microphone with enhanced sensitivity
US5363444A (en) * 1992-05-11 1994-11-08 Jabra Corporation Unidirectional ear microphone and method
US5373555A (en) * 1992-05-11 1994-12-13 Jabra Corporation Unidirectional ear microphone and gasket
WO1994023520A1 (en) * 1993-04-02 1994-10-13 Jabra Corporation Unidirectional ear microphone with multiple openings
AU685797B2 (en) * 1993-04-02 1998-01-29 Jabra Corporation Unidirectional ear microphone with multiple openings
WO1994023521A1 (en) * 1993-04-02 1994-10-13 Jabra Corporation Unidirectional ear microphone and gasket
WO1996041459A1 (en) * 1995-06-07 1996-12-19 Jabra Corporation Ear microphone with enhanced sensitivity
US5784471A (en) * 1995-07-15 1998-07-21 Sennheiser Electronic Gmbh & Co. Kg Hearing aid with an electrodynamic acoustic transducer
US6272360B1 (en) 1997-07-03 2001-08-07 Pan Communications, Inc. Remotely installed transmitter and a hands-free two-way voice terminal device using same
US8050437B2 (en) 2001-08-10 2011-11-01 Hear-Wear Technologies, Llc BTE/CIC auditory device and modular connector system therefor
US9591393B2 (en) 2001-08-10 2017-03-07 Hear-Wear Technologies, Llc BTE/CIC auditory device and modular connector system therefor
US8976991B2 (en) 2001-08-10 2015-03-10 Hear-Wear Technologies, Llc BTE/CIC auditory device and modular connector system therefor
US8094850B2 (en) 2001-08-10 2012-01-10 Hear-Wear Technologies, Llc BTE/CIC auditory device and modular connector system therefor
US7606382B2 (en) 2001-08-10 2009-10-20 Hear-Wear Technologies LLC BTE/CIC auditory device and modular connector system therefor
US20070183612A1 (en) * 2006-02-06 2007-08-09 Ochsenbein Andre L Connector system for receivers of hearing devices
US7684579B2 (en) 2006-02-06 2010-03-23 Phonak Ag Connector system for receivers of hearing devices
US20070183611A1 (en) * 2006-02-06 2007-08-09 Ochsenbein Andre L Hearing device with locking system for connectors
EP1816894A1 (en) * 2006-02-06 2007-08-08 Phonak AG Hearing device with locking system for connectors
EP1816893A1 (en) * 2006-02-06 2007-08-08 Phonak AG Connector system for receivers of hearing devices
US7715582B2 (en) 2006-02-06 2010-05-11 Phonak Ag Hearing device with locking system for connectors
US20100220884A1 (en) * 2009-02-13 2010-09-02 Phonak Ag Multipart compartment for a hearing system
US8385574B2 (en) * 2009-02-13 2013-02-26 Phonak Ag Multipart compartment for a hearing system
EP2393310B1 (en) 2010-06-01 2016-08-03 Sivantos Pte. Ltd. Deep ear canal hearing aid
USD738852S1 (en) * 2014-02-12 2015-09-15 Oticon A/S Speaker unit
USD734295S1 (en) * 2014-03-28 2015-07-14 Klipsch Group, Inc. Oval shaped in-ear headphone
USD776634S1 (en) * 2015-02-05 2017-01-17 Lg Electronics Inc. Portable earset case
USD775609S1 (en) * 2015-02-09 2017-01-03 Lg Electronics Inc. Portable earset
USD764445S1 (en) * 2015-03-02 2016-08-23 Akg Acoustics Gmbh Headphone
US10887706B2 (en) 2015-06-29 2021-01-05 Hear-Wear Technologies LLC Transducer modules for auditory communication devices and auditory communication devices
USD795223S1 (en) * 2016-03-04 2017-08-22 Plantronics, Inc. Communications headset
USD808360S1 (en) * 2016-03-31 2018-01-23 JVC Kenwood Corporation Pair of earphones
EP3437330B1 (en) 2016-04-01 2021-06-09 Widex A/S Receiver suspension for a hearing assisting device
USD870708S1 (en) 2017-12-28 2019-12-24 Harman International Industries, Incorporated Headphone
USD874442S1 (en) * 2018-04-17 2020-02-04 Brittany Tamar Evans Pair of shareable earbuds
USD933633S1 (en) * 2019-12-20 2021-10-19 Yamaha Corporation Earphone
USD936037S1 (en) * 2021-01-19 2021-11-16 Shenzhen Baifan Technology Co., Ltd. Earphone
USD934204S1 (en) * 2021-03-15 2021-10-26 Guangzhou Fairy Tale Electronics Co., Ltd. Pair of earphones

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