Retaining member for an earpiece

• US 20050002539A1
• Filed: 02/13/2004
• Published: 01/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GN Resound A/S (GN Store Nord A/S)
• Original Assignee: GN Resound A/S (GN Store Nord A/S)
• Inventors: Nielsen, Henrik
• Granted Patent: US 7,590,255 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/312
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/09 Non-occlusive ear tips, i.e. leaving the ear canal open, for both custom and non-custom tips H04R2460/11 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/17 Hearing device specific tools used for storing or handling hearing devices or parts thereof, e.g. placement in the ear, replacement of cerumen barriers, repair, cleaning hearing devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/656 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/658 Manufacture of housing parts

Abstract

An earpiece is provided that is adapted for insertion into the ear canal and has at least one resilient fibre that is connected to the earpiece for abutting a surface of the outer ear when the earpiece has been inserted in the ear canal thereby providing retention of the earpiece in the ear canal of the user.

Claims

1. An earpiece for a hearing aid, the earpiece being adapted for insertion into an ear canal of a user and having at least one resilient fiber that is connected to the earpiece for abutting a lower part of the concha when the earpiece has been inserted in the ear canal thereby providing retention of the earpiece in the ear canal of the user.

2. An earpiece according to claim 1, further comprising a sound tube for conducting sound to the ear canal.

3. An earpiece according to claim 2, wherein the at least one fiber is connected to the earpiece via the sound tube.

4. An earpiece according to claim 2, wherein the sound tube has a pre-formed shape including a first bend to extend from the case over the top of the ear of the user and a second bend to extend from an outside of the ear into an ear canal of the user when the hearing aid is worn by the user.

5. An earpiece according to claim 1, wherein the at least one fiber is pre-formed and connected to the earpiece for abutting the outer ear at the bottom of the ear behind the antitragus at which position the fiber is substantially invisible and provides secure retention of the earpiece in the ear canal.

6. An earpiece according to claim 1, wherein the at least one fiber is an integrated part of the sound tube

7. An earpiece according to claim 1, further comprising a connector member for interconnection of the fiber with the earpiece.

8. An earpiece according to claim 4, wherein the connector member is over-molded onto the sound tube and the fiber.

9. An earpiece according to claim 4, wherein the connector member is molded and bonded to the sound tube and the fiber, respectively.

10. An earpiece according to claim 1, wherein the fiber is made of a material selected from the group consisting of REP Teflon, Nylon, PEBAX, silicone, polyurethane, PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), and EVA (ethylvinylacetate).

11. An earpiece according to claim 1, wherein the material of the fiber has a shore hardness of about 65 to 85 Shore D, preferably about 72 Shore D.

12. An earpiece according to claim 1, wherein the at least one fiber is removably connected to the earpiece.

13. A hearing aid including an earpiece according to claim 1.

14. A resilient fiber that is connected to an earpiece for abutting a surface of the outer ear when the earpiece has been inserted in the ear canal thereby providing retention of the earpiece in the ear canal of the user.