Directional self containing ear mounted hearing aid
First Claim
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.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
-
Citations
13 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.
-
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. - View Dependent Claims (13)
-
Specification