Self-fitting device for location in an ear canal
First Claim
1. A self-fitting device for location in an ear canal, comprising:
- a body having a body ear end, an opposite body user end, and a shaft extending from the ear end to the user end;
a resilient bladder joined with the body ear end and a chamber defined inside the resilient bladder where the chamber is in communication with the shaft;
an elongate plunger located in the shaft, the elongate plunger having a plunger user end extending out of the shaft and away from the body ear end and an opposite plunger ear end in communication with the chamber;
the resilient bladder is deformable between an at-rest position and an in-ear position, such that the resilient bladder has a first cross-sectional area in the at-rest position and a second cross-sectional area in the in-ear position, wherein the first cross-sectional area is greater than the second cross-sectional area; and
,the elongate plunger actuates between the at-rest position and an insertion position to assist the resilient bladder to be deformed into the in-ear position and wherein the plunger actuates in the insertion position without extending a front end portion of the bladder forward of a position of the front end portion when the bladder is in the at-rest position.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A self-fitting device for location in an ear canal. The device includes a body having a body ear end, an opposite body user end, and a shaft extending from the ear end to the user end. A resilient bladder is joined with the body ear end and a chamber is defined inside the resilient bladder. An elongate plunger is located in the shaft. The resilient bladder is deformable between an at-rest position and an in-ear position. The elongate plunger actuates between the at-rest position and an insertion position to assist the resilient bladder to be deformed into the in-ear position. The plunger actuates in the insertion position without extending a front end portion of the bladder forward of a position of the front end portion when the bladder is in the at-rest position.
68 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A self-fitting device for location in an ear canal, comprising:
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a body having a body ear end, an opposite body user end, and a shaft extending from the ear end to the user end; a resilient bladder joined with the body ear end and a chamber defined inside the resilient bladder where the chamber is in communication with the shaft; an elongate plunger located in the shaft, the elongate plunger having a plunger user end extending out of the shaft and away from the body ear end and an opposite plunger ear end in communication with the chamber; the resilient bladder is deformable between an at-rest position and an in-ear position, such that the resilient bladder has a first cross-sectional area in the at-rest position and a second cross-sectional area in the in-ear position, wherein the first cross-sectional area is greater than the second cross-sectional area; and
,the elongate plunger actuates between the at-rest position and an insertion position to assist the resilient bladder to be deformed into the in-ear position and wherein the plunger actuates in the insertion position without extending a front end portion of the bladder forward of a position of the front end portion when the bladder is in the at-rest position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A self-fitting device for location in an ear canal, comprising:
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a body having a body ear end, an opposite body user end, and a shaft extending from the ear end to the user end; a resilient bladder joined with the body ear end and a chamber defined inside the resilient bladder where the chamber is in communication with the shaft; an elongate plunger located in the shaft, the elongate plunger having a plunger user end extending out of the shaft and away from the body ear end and an opposite plunger ear end in communication with the chamber; the resilient bladder is deformable between an at-rest position and an in-ear position, such that the resilient bladder has a first cross-sectional area in the at-rest position and a second cross-sectional area in the in-ear position, wherein the first cross-sectional area is greater than the second cross-sectional area; and
,the elongate plunger actuates between the at-rest position and an insertion position to assist the resilient bladder to be deformed into the in-ear position wherein the plunger actuates to engage the resilient bladder in the insertion position and actuates to separate from the resilient bladder in the in-ear position. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A self-fitting device for location in an ear canal, comprising:
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a body having a body ear end, an opposite body user end, and a shaft extending from the ear end to the user end; a resilient bladder joined with the body ear end and a chamber defined inside the resilient bladder where the chamber is in communication with the shaft; an elongate plunger located in the shaft, the elongate plunger having a plunger user end extending out of the shaft and away from the body ear end and an opposite plunger ear end in communication with the chamber; the resilient bladder is deformable between an at-rest position and an in-ear position, such that the resilient bladder has a first cross-sectional area in the at-rest position and a second cross-sectional area in the in-ear position, wherein the first cross-sectional area is greater than the second cross-sectional area; and
,the elongate plunger actuates between the at-rest position and an insertion position to assist the resilient bladder to be deformed into the in-ear position such that when the plunger is in the insertion position a tip of the plunger ear end engages the bladder and when the plunger is in the in-ear position the tip of the plunger ear end is spaced from the bladder. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification