Multipurpose hearing aid maintenance device

• US 5,404,105 A
• Filed: 07/12/1993
• Issued: 04/04/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nallan C.A. Chari
• Original Assignee: Nallan C.A. Chari
• Inventors: Chari, Nallan C. A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wieder, Kenneth A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TOBIN, C
• Application Number:
  US08/089,579
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 324/158 R, 324/426, 324/435, 324/437, 324/506, 320/48, 340/636, 206/333, 206/373, 206/459.1, 221/198, 294/65.5
• US Class Current: 324/426
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/378 specially adapted for the type of battery or accumulator
• 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 25/654 Ear wax retarders

Abstract

This invention deals with a multipurpose hearing aid maintenance device. Its brush is used to clean a hearing aid, especially the receiver tube opening. The magnetized electrical terminal or an optional magnetic tip serves to hold small (size 13 or smaller) batteries to place them in a heating aid battery compartment or remove them from the compartment. Also, the magnetized electrical terminal holds the cell and serves as one of the two electrical terminals to test (GO/NO GO) electrical charge of the cells. Finally, the device can store one or two spare batteries.

Claims

1. A multipurpose hearing aid maintenance device comprising:

a hollow tubular housing with first and second ends, a storage compartment, and an opening which allows access to the storage compartment;

an outer sleeve portion which surrounds the hollow tubular housing and covers the opening;

a hard bristle hearing aid cleaning brush attached to the first end of the housing;

battery testing means attached to the second end of the housing, said battery testing means comprising a lamp, a lamp housing, a first battery terminal contact and a second battery terminal contact, wherein a positively tested battery will cause the lamp to glow when the battery terminals are respectively attached to the first and second battery terminal contacts; and

,

means for magnetizing the second battery terminal contact to secure a tested battery to the contact.

2. The multipurpose hearing aid maintenance device of claim 1, wherein the outer sleeve portion slidably engages with the hollow tubular housing to alternately cover and allow access to the storage compartment.

3. The multipurpose hearing aid maintenance device of claim 1, wherein a cap fitted with the hard bristle brush is detachably engaged with the first end of the housing to alternately cover and allow access to the storage compartment.

4. The multipurpose hearing aid maintenance device of claim 1, wherein the means for magnetizing the second battery terminal contact comprises an electrically conductive strip wrapped around a rare earth magnet.

5. The multipurpose hearing aid maintenance device of claim 1, further comprising an additional magnet attached to the second battery terminal contact.