Quick connect earhook system for BTE devices

• US 20040044389A1
• Filed: 08/29/2003
• Published: 03/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Bionics LLC (Sonova Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Bionics Corporation (Sonova Holding AG)
• Inventors: Crawford, Scott A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,142,926 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/116
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0541 Cochlear electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/0213 Constructional details of earhooks, e.g. shape, material
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/606 acting directly on the eardrum, the ossicles or the skull, e.g. mastoid, tooth, maxillary or mandibular bone, or mechanically stimulating the cochlea, e.g. at the oval window

Abstract

A quick-connect system for mechanically and electrically connecting two components therebetween. In an exemplary embodiment, the mechanical quick-connect is comprised of: a receptacle in the first component; a barrel protruding from the second component; and a lock for locking the barrel inside the receptacle. Electrical connection, such as a coaxial connection, can also be obtained between the barrel and receptacle, while in the locked position by using a pin assembly axially located in the barrel. The lock may comprise a tooth and slot configuration, wherein the tooth is in compressive contact with a spring which compression continuously exerts force on the tooth and causes the end of the tooth to engage to the cam slot on the barrel, thereby locking the barrel inside the receptacle. The barrel may be disengaged with a turn that is less than 180 degrees.

Claims

1. A quick-connect system for mechanically connecting a first component and a second component, the system comprising:

a receptacle which is part of the first component;

a barrel connector, which is dimensioned to fit inside said receptacle, said barrel connector a part of the second component; and

a lock for locking the barrel inside the receptacle,

wherein the lock is configured to engage the barrel connector to the receptacle by inserting the barrel into the receptacle; and

wherein the lock is configured to disengage the barrel connector from the receptacle by rotationally twisting the barrel by less than 180° and

withdrawing the barrel from the receptacle.

2. The quick-connect system of claim 1, wherein the lock comprises:

a cam slot on the barrel; and

a spring-loaded tooth, dimensioned to fit into the cam slot,

wherein the spring-loaded tooth is at least partially contained in a spring retaining chamber, which chamber is attached to a side wall of the receptacle; and

wherein the spring-loaded tooth and spring retaining chamber are positioned to permit the spring-loaded tooth to engage the cam slot after the barrel is inserted into the receptacle, and wherein the cam slot is sized and positioned on the barrel to permit the spring loaded tooth to disengage when the barrel is rotationally twisted by less than 180°

.

7. The quick-connect system of claim 1, wherein the first component is an earhook of a hearing aid and the second component is a hearing aid body.

8. The quick-connect system of claim 7, wherein the second component is a BTE of a cochlear implant device.

4. The quick connect system of claim 3, wherein the cam slot is sized and configured so that when the barrel is twisted between about 45°

and 90°

, the barrel is disengaged from the spring-loaded tooth, allowing the barrel to be withdrawn from the receptacle.

5. The quick connect system of claim 4, wherein the first component is an earhook of a hearing aid and the second component is a hearing aid body.

6. The quick-connect system of claim 5, wherein the second component is a BTE of a cochlear implant device.

9. A quick-connect system for both mechanically and electrically connecting a first component and second component, the system comprising:

a receptacle which is part of the first component;

a barrel dimensioned to fit inside said receptacle, said barrel connector a part of the second component;

a lock for locking the barrel inside the receptacle; and

an electrical coupling between said receptacle and barrel connector,

wherein the lock is engaged by inserting the barrel into the receptacle; and

wherein the lock is dis-engaged from the receptacle by twisting the barrel rotationally by about or less than 180°

to permit the barrel to be withdrawn from the receptacle.

10. The quick-connect system of claim 9, wherein the lock comprises:

a cam slot located on the barrel; and

a spring-loaded tooth, dimensioned to fit into the cam slot,

wherein the spring-loaded tooth is at least partially contained in a spring retaining chamber, which chamber is attached to a side wall of the receptacle; and

wherein the spring-loaded tooth and spring retaining chamber are positioned to permit the spring-loaded tooth to engage the cam slot after the barrel is inserted into the receptacle, and

wherein the cam slot is sized and positioned on the barrel to permit the spring loaded tooth to disengage when the barrel is rotationally twisted.

11. The quick connect system of claim 10, wherein the cam slot is sized and configured so that when the barrel is twisted by about 90°

or less, the barrel is disengaged from the spring-loaded tooth, allowing the barrel to be withdrawn from the receptacle.

12. The quick connect system of claim 11, wherein the first component is an earhook of a hearing aid and the second component is a hearing aid body.

13. The quick-connect system of claim 12, wherein the second component is a BTE of a cochlear implant device.

14. The quick-connect system of claim 9, wherein the electrical coupling is a coaxial connection between the barrel and receptacle.

15. The quick-connect system of claim 14, further comprising:

a pin contact assembly, having a spring-loaded, contact pin on the anterior end and an end contact on the posterior end,

wherein the barrel connecter has an axial channel therethrough, and the pin contact assembly is placed inside said channel;

wherein the receptacle includes a receptacle contact pin, insulated from the receptacle wall; and

wherein a coaxial connection is made by contacting the barrel wall to the receptacle wall, and contacting the spring-loaded, contact pin to the receptacle contact pin.

16. The quick-connect system of claim 15, wherein the first component is a special earhook and the second component is a BTE of an implantable cochlear stimulator.

17. The quick-connect system of claim 16, wherein the special earhook incorporates a device selected from the group consisting of a telecoil, a microphone, an FM receiver, a speaker and an input plug.

18. A method of electrically and mechanically attaching a first component and a second component comprising:

providing a barrel receptacle contact pin;

providing a pin contact assembly including an end contact and a spring-loaded, pin contact, wherein the pin contact is used to contact the the barrel receptacle contact pin;

inserting a barrel into the barrel receptacle; and

locking the barrel into the barrel receptacle by employing a tooth which fits into a cammed slot,

wherein the slot is placed on the barrel and the tooth is spring-loaded and the end of the tooth enters through a hole in the wall of the barrel receptacle;

wherein electrical contact is made between the tooth and barrel, said tooth and barrel made from conductive material; and

wherein electrical contact is made between the spring-loaded, pin contact and the receptacle contact pin, which is electrically isolated from the barrel receptacle, thereby providing a coaxial electrical connection.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the first component is a special earhook and the second component is a BTE body.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the special earhook incorporates a device selected from the group consisting of a telecoil, a microphone, an FM receiver, and an input plug.