Vibration-dampening receiver assembly

• US 20010036289A1
• Filed: 03/15/2001
• Published: 11/01/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Knowles Electronics Llc (Knowles Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Knowles Electronics Llc (Knowles Corporation)
• Inventors: Nepomuceno, Henry G.
• Granted Patent: US 6,751,326 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/604 of acoustic or vibrational transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/652 Ear tips; Ear moulds hybrid ear moulds or post-processing thereof for their customisation H04R25/659

Abstract

A receiver assembly for a hearing aid device, the assembly comprising a case having an inner cavity, one or more mounts disposed within the inner cavity of the case, and a receiver disposed within the inner cavity of the case and connected to the mounts such that the receiver is suspended within the inner cavity of the case. The mounts dampen any vibration transmission from the receiver to the case and from the case to the receiver. Most significantly, acoustical noise from the receiver and any resulting distortion, feedback, and/or interference within the other components of the hearing aid device are substantially eliminated.

Claims

1. A vibration-dampening assembly for a receiver of a hearing aid device, the assembly comprising:

a case having a port and defining an interior surface and an interior cavity; and

a vibration-dampening mount connected to the case and the receiver;

wherein the mount supports the receiver within the interior cavity of the case such that the receiver does not generally make contact with the interior surface of the case, and

wherein the port of the case allows the receiver to transmit acoustical energy therethrough.

2. The assembly of

claim 1

, wherein the case comprises two case portions.

3. The assembly of

claim 1

, wherein the mount is disposed within the interior cavity of the case.

4. The assembly of

claim 1

, wherein the mounts are connected to the receiver via means selected from the group consisting of a fastener, adhesive, friction fit, compression fit, and insertion molding.

5. The assembly of

claim 1

, wherein the mounts are connected to the case via means selected from the group consisting of a fastener, adhesive, friction fit, compression fit, and insertion molding.

6. The assembly of

claim 1

, wherein the case includes a generally cylindrical sleeve that extends from the case and defines the port of the case.

7. The assembly of

claim 6

, wherein the assembly includes a mount having a portion disposed within the cylindrical sleeve of the case.

8. The assembly of

claim 6

, wherein the assembly includes a mount having a generally cylindrical portion having an aperture therethough, the cylindrical portion of the mount disposed within the cylindrical sleeve of the case.

9. The assembly of

claim 1

, the case further defining two ends, the port located at one end of the case.

10. The assembly of

claim 9

, wherein the case includes a generally cylindrical sleeve that extends from the one end of the case and defines the port of the case.

11. The assembly of

claim 10

, wherein the assembly includes two mounts, one of the mounts disposed at the one end of the case and the other mount disposed at the other end of the case.

12. The assembly of

claim 10

, wherein the assembly includes two mounts, one of the mounts having a generally cylindrical portion having an aperture therethough, the cylindrical portion of the mount disposed within the cylindrical sleeve of the case.

13. The assembly of

claim 12

, wherein the case includes an aperture in the other end of the case, the other mount having a portion disposed within the aperture for general support thereof.

14. The assembly of

claim 13

, wherein the case includes an aperture in the other end of the case, and wherein the assembly includes a mounting pin disposed within the aperture of the case such that movement of the pin is generally restricted in a direction generally transverse to the ends of the case, the other mount connected to the mounting pin.

15. A vibration-dampening assembly for a receiver of a hearing aid device, the assembly comprising:

a case having two ends, one end having a generally cylindrical sleeve defining a port, the case defining an interior surface and an interior cavity;

a first vibration-dampening mount having a hollow cylindrical portion disposed within the cylindrical sleeve and connected to the receiver; and

a second vibration dampening mount connected to the case at the other end of the case and connected to the receiver;

wherein the mount supports the receiver within the interior cavity of the case such that the receiver does not generally make contact with the interior surface of the case, and

wherein the port of the case allows the receiver to transmit acoustical energy therethrough.

16. The assembly of

claim 15

, wherein the cylindrical sleeve includes an annular shoulder within the sleeve that prevents the cylindrical portion of the first mount from moving outwardly through the port.

17. The assembly of

claim 15

, wherein the cylindrical portion of the first mount includes an annular shoulder that prevents the first mount from moving outwardly through the port.

18. A vibration-dampening assembly for a receiver of a hearing aid device, the assembly comprising:

a case having two portions generally defining halves of the case, the two halves together defining an interior surface, an interior cavity and two ends of the case, one end having a generally cylindrical sleeve defining a port and the other end having an aperture;

a first vibration-dampening mount having a hollow cylindrical portion disposed within the cylindrical sleeve and connected to the receiver;

a mounting pin disposed within the aperture in the other end of the case; and

a second vibration dampening mount connected to the mounting pin and the receiver;

wherein the mount supports the receiver within the interior cavity of the case such that the receiver does not generally make contact with the interior surface of the case, and

wherein the port of the case allows the receiver to transmit acoustical energy therethrough.

19. A vibration-dampening assembly for a receiver of a hearing aid device, the assembly comprising:

a case having two portions generally defining halves of the case, the two halves together defining an interior surface, an interior cavity and two ends of the case, one end having a generally cylindrical sleeve defining a port and the other end having an aperture;

a first vibration-dampening mount having a hollow cylindrical portion disposed within the cylindrical sleeve and connected to the receiver; and

a second vibration dampening mount having a portion disposed within the aperture at the other end of the case, the mount connected to the receiver;

wherein the mount supports the receiver within the interior cavity of the case such that the receiver does not generally make contact with the interior surface of the case, and

wherein the port of the case allows the receiver to transmit acoustical energy therethrough.

20. A method of assembling a receiver assembly comprising the steps of:

mounting a first mount having a hollow cylindrical extension to a receiver;

mounting a second mount to the receiver; and

inserting the receiver into a case having a cylindrical sleeve portion such that the cylindrical extension of the first mount is disposed within the cylindrical sleeve and the second mount is connected to the case.

21. A method of assembling a receiver assembly comprising the steps of:

mounting a first mount having a hollow cylindrical extension to a receiver;

mounting a second mount having a bore to the receiver;

inserting the cylindrical extension of the first mount into a cylindrical sleeve;

inserting one end of a mounting pin into the bore in the second mount;

inserting the receiver into a first case portion having two apertures such that the other end of the mounting pin is disposed within one aperture of the first case portion and the cylindrical sleeve is disposed within the other aperture of the first case portion;

placing a second case portion over the receiver inserted into the first case portion; and

joining the first and second case portions together.