HEARING AID DRYER
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A drying system for a hearing aid, the drying system comprising:
- an enclosure, the enclosure comprising a lid portion and a base portion, the lid portion hingedly connected to the base portion;
a shelf within the base portion, the shelf supports the hearing aid;
an ultraviolet lamp in the lid portion, at least some ultraviolet light emitted from the ultraviolet lamp is directed towards the hearing aid;
a heater disposed within the base portion and beneath the shelf, the heater providing heat to the hearing aid;
a forced air flow system for circulating air from outside the drying system, the air flowing over the hearing aid and the air flowing out of the drying system, the forced air flow system comprising a fan, a fan grill, vents in the base portion directing air over the hearing aid, vents in the lid portion, directing the air away from the hearing aid and exit vents in the lid portion directing the air out of the drying system;
a power source electrically connected to the fan, the heater and the ultraviolet lamp through a power switch.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An application for a hearing aid drying/disinfecting system includes a closable container with an internally mounted ultraviolet lamp for disinfecting the hearing aid. A heating element creates an internal temperature that is higher than ambient temperature and a fan circulates air through vents from the outside of the container over the hearing aid and back out, thereby drying the hearing aid contained within the drying/disinfecting system. The vents are positioned to reduce ultraviolet emissions out of the container.
23 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A drying system for a hearing aid, the drying system comprising:
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an enclosure, the enclosure comprising a lid portion and a base portion, the lid portion hingedly connected to the base portion; a shelf within the base portion, the shelf supports the hearing aid; an ultraviolet lamp in the lid portion, at least some ultraviolet light emitted from the ultraviolet lamp is directed towards the hearing aid; a heater disposed within the base portion and beneath the shelf, the heater providing heat to the hearing aid; a forced air flow system for circulating air from outside the drying system, the air flowing over the hearing aid and the air flowing out of the drying system, the forced air flow system comprising a fan, a fan grill, vents in the base portion directing air over the hearing aid, vents in the lid portion, directing the air away from the hearing aid and exit vents in the lid portion directing the air out of the drying system; a power source electrically connected to the fan, the heater and the ultraviolet lamp through a power switch. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A drying system for a hearing aid, the drying system comprising:
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an enclosure, the enclosure comprising a lid portion and a base portion, the lid portion hingedly connected to the base portion; a shelf within the base portion, the shelf supports the hearing aid during drying; an ultraviolet lamp housed within the lid portion, at least some ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet lamp is directed towards the hearing aid; a heater disposed within the base portion and beneath the shelf; a fan disposed within the base portion, the fan drawing air into the drying system through a fan grill in the base portion, the fan forcing the air through air vents in the base portion and over the hearing aid, the air entering the lid portion through air vents in the lid portion and the air exiting the lid portion through exit vents in the lid portion; a power source; a power switch, the power switch electrically connects the fan, the ultraviolet lamp and the heater to the power source when the power switch is closed; a timer electrically interfaced between the power source and the ultraviolet lamp, the timer connects the power source to the ultraviolet lamp during a timer interval; and an interlock switch, the interlock switch electrically interfaced to the timer;
the interlock switch mechanically interfaced between the lid portion and the base portion; and
the interlock switch disconnects the power source from the ultraviolet lamp upon detection of an open condition between the base portion and the lid portion. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A drying system for a hearing aid, the drying system consisting of:
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an enclosure, the enclosure comprising a lid portion and a base portion, the lid portion hingedly connected to the base portion; a shelf within the base portion, the shelf supporting the hearing aid; an electric power source; an ultraviolet lamp in the lid portion, the ultraviolet lamp directed towards the hearing aid, thereby illuminating the hearing aid with ultraviolet light when power from the electric power source is applied to the ultraviolet lamp; a heater within the base portion and beneath the shelf; a means for circulating air into the drying system, over the shelf and out of the drying system, the means for circulating air configured to limit unwanted emission of the ultraviolet light to outside of the drying system; and a means for electrically disconnecting the power source from the ultraviolet lamp responsive to detecting an open condition between the lid portion and the base portion by the means for electrically disconnecting. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification