Directional self containing ear mounted hearing aid

• US 3,983,336 A
• Filed: 10/15/1974
• Issued: 09/28/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alvin F. Polan, Hooshang Malek
• Original Assignee: Alvin F. Polan, Hooshang Malek
• Inventors: Polan, Alvin F., Malek, Hooshang
• Primary Examiner(s): Claffy, Kathleen H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stellar, George G.
• Application Number:
  US05/514,931
• Time in Patent Office: 714 Days
• Field of Search: 179/107 E, 179/107 FD, 179/107 R, 179/107 H, 179/107 S
• US Class Current: 381/313
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/402 using contructional means

Abstract

Improved quality of sound perception and discrimination in a self-powered, ear-mounted hearing aid is accomplished by pivotally mounting the sound inlet passage for 360° rotation in a plane parallel to the ears of the wearer.

Claims

1. In a self-contained self-powered hearing aid of the type wherein a housing contains first transducer means for converting audible signals to electrical signals, second transducer means for converting electrical signals to audible signals, amplifier means including circuit means connecting said first and second transducer means, and battery means for energizing said transducer means and amplifier means, said housing including an outwardly projecting supporting member provided with an axial internal sound outlet passage in communication with the second transducer means, said first transducer means including a sound inlet passage means provided in said housing having an exterior opening facing predominantly in a direction generally at right angles to the axis of said outlet passage means, the improvement which includes means for supporting said housing exteriorly of the ear canal, pivot means connected with said housing for unrestricted adjustable positioning said exterior opening substantially in any direction lying in a vertical plane parallel to the side of the head of the wearer of the hearing aid.

2. The invention defined in claim 1, wherein said pivot means also includes means permitting limited adjustment of said inlet opening in directions transverse to said vertical plane.

3. The invention defined in claim 2, wherein said pivot means includes ball and socket coupling means.

4. The invention defined in claim 1, wherein the exterior of said housing is circular and said outwardly projecting member is removably received within the ear canal of a wearer and said pivot means connects said housing and said member at the axis of said housing, said inlet opening being formed in the wall of said housing.

5. The invention defined in claim 4, wherein said pivot means includes ball and socket coupling means.

6. The invention defined in claim 1, wherein said supporting member includes at least two elements, one of said elements projecting outwardly of said housing, the outer of said elements comprising a resilient molded ear plug to be removably received within the ear canal of a wearer, said ear plug also including socket means to removably receive said first member, said socket means being mounted in said second member for rotation about a horizontal axis.

7. The invention defined in claim 6, wherein said socket member is also movable to a limited extent in directions transverse to said horizontal axis.

8. The invention defined in claim 1, wherein said inlet opening is formed in an element separate from said housing, said element being supported on said housing by said pivot means for rotation about a horizontal axis.

9. The invention defined in claim 8, wherein said pivot means includes ball and socket coupling means for limited adjustment of said inlet opening in directions transverse to said axis of rotation.

10. The invention defined in claim 1, wherein housing includes a cap pivotally mounted on said housing for rotation about a horizontal axis and projecting outwardly therefrom on the side away from the ear canal of a wearer, said first transducer means including a microphone mounted in said cap, and said inlet opening being provided in said cap.

11. The invention defined in claim 10, wherein said cap includes stop means to prevent continuous rotation of said cap more than one complete turn.

12. Method of aiding the reception of audible signals by a human ear in conjunction with a self-powered, self-contained, electromechanical hearing aid provided with a directional microphone to detect audible signals, amplifier means and a receiver to transmit amplified audible signals into the inner ear canal, comprising the steps of:

a. attaching the directional microphone to an ear to support the microphone exteriorly of the ear canal for unrestricted adjustment of the direction of the microphone in a plane generally normal to the entrance to the ear canal, and;

b. adjusting the direction of said microphone in said plane by the wearer of the hearing aid while the hearing aid is so attached to select a position of the microphone which produces optimum reception of audible signals.

13. The method defined in claim 12, which includes the additional steps of supporting the microphone for additional limited movement transverse to said plane and adjusting the microphone to a limited degree in said transverse direction while so supported.