Cosmetically disguised hearing aid

• US 5,533,130 A
• Filed: 08/15/1994
• Issued: 07/02/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ed Staton
• Original Assignee: Ed Staton
• Inventors: Staton, Ed
• Primary Examiner(s): Isen, Forester W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mei, Xu
• Application Number:
  US08/290,520
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• Field of Search: 381/68, 381/68.2, 381/68.4, 381/69, 381/69.2, 381/68.5, 381/68.6, 381/68.7, 181/126, 181/129, 181/130, 181/134, 181/135, D24/174, 351/111, 351/123
• US Class Current: 381/327
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/02 Ornaments, e.g. exchangeable
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/06 Hearing aids construction of hearing aids H04R25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/552 Binaural

Abstract

A hearing aid designed to be affixed to a pair of eyeglasses used by the wearer or suspended from an ear mold that is lodged in the ear of the wearer is disclosed. The hearing aid is cosmetically disguised and may be worn by either males or females. The hearing aid comprises a hemispherically shaped ornamental outer shell that covers all of the components and circuitry of a conventional hearing aid. The hearing aid components are housed inside a casing. Preferably, the hearing aid uses a rotatable clasp to mount to the wearer'"'"'s eyeglass frames or earlobe. In an alternative embodiment, the hearing aid does not mount to the wearer'"'"'s eyeglasses. In a first preferred embodiment, a clasp secures the hearing aid to the wearer'"'"'s eyeglasses. In a second preferred embodiment, a clip mounts the hearing aid to the wearer'"'"'s eyeglass frames. In a third preferred embodiment, a cable tie mounts the hearing aid to the eyeglass frames through width adjustment slots in a projecting tab. A volume control knob, tone controls, battery access door and a rotatable clasp or deflectable clip protrude from the rear surface of the casing. The outer shell gives the hearing aid the appearance of an earring or an eyeglass tether mount. The outer shell of my hearing aid may be quickly exchanged with any of several other ornamental shells to give the earring or eyeglass tether mount the desired coloration and shape.

Claims

1. A cosmetically disguised ornamental hearing aid comprising:

means for amplifying sound;

a casing for housing said means for amplifying sound, said casing having a front surface projecting away from a wearer and a rear surface projecting towards the wearer;

a decorative, removable, hollow shell snap fitted to said casing to cover said front surface;

a concealed sound jack projecting from said casing rear surface towards the ear of the wearer; and

,

clasp means projecting from said rear surface for attaching said hearing aid to an eyeglass temple, said clasp means movable between a first position engaging said eyeglass frame and an inoperative, concealed position proximate said rear surface and unattached to said eyeglass temple, said clasp means comprising a rotatable hub pivoted to said casing rear surface, an integral spaced apart foot, and a channel formed between said hub and said foot in which a portion of said eyeglass frame may be captivated.

2. The hearing aid as defined in claim 1 further comprising means defined in said foot for temporarily securing said clasp means to said eyeglass temple by gripping a portion of said eyeglass.

3. The hearing aid as defined in claim 2 further comprising means for transmitting sound output from the casing to the ear of the wearer, said last mentioned means comprising:

a threaded tubular projection extending from said casing;

a resilient shaft threadably coupled to said projection, said shaft extending to a custom ear mold disposed within the ear canal.

4. The hearing aid as defined in claim 1 wherein said casing is hemispherical and disguises at least half of said hearing aid.

5. The hearing aid as defined in claim 1 wherein said foot is snap fitted within a recess in said casing when said clasp means is in said inoperative position.

6. A cosmetically disguised ornamental hearing aid comprising:

circuit means for amplifying sounds;

a casing for housing said circuit means, said casing having a front surface projecting away from a wearer, a rear surface projecting towards the wearer, a periphery defined between said front and rear surfaces, and an annular groove defined in said periphery;

a decorative, removable, hollow shell snap fitted to said casing to cover said front surface, said shell having a skirt portion engaging said casing periphery;

resilient O-ring means circumscribing said casing and disposed within said groove for selectively coupling said shell to said casing;

rotatable clasp means projecting from said rear surface for attaching said hearing aid to an eyeglass frame, said clasp means rotatable between a first position engaging said eyeglass frame and a concealed, retracted position unattached to said eyeglass frame, said clasp means comprising a rotatable hub pivoted to said casing rear surface, an integral spaced apart foot, and a channel formed between said hub and said foot in which a temple of said eyeglass frame is captivated.

7. The hearing aid as defined in claim 6 wherein an axis of rotation of said clasp means is established perpendicularly to the rear surface of said casing.

8. The hearing aid as defined in claim 28 further comprising gripping means defined in said foot for attaching said clasp means to said eyeglass temple.

9. The hearing aid as defined in claim 8 further comprising means for transmitting sound output from the casing to the ear of the wearer, said last mentioned means comprising:

a tubular projection extending from said casing;

an external, spiral thread wound around said projection; and

,

a resilient shaft adapted to receive said thread to couple said last mentioned means to said projection.

10. The hearing aid as defined in claim 9 wherein said casing is hemispherical.

11. A cosmetically disguised ornamental hearing aid comprising:

circuit means for amplifying sounds;

a casing for housing said circuit means, said casing having a front surface projecting away from a wearer, a rear surface projecting towards the wearer, a periphery defined between said front and rear surfaces, and an annular groove defined in said periphery;

a decorative, removable, hollow shell snap fitted to said casing to cover said front surface, said shell having a skirt portion engaging said casing periphery; and

,

deflectable clasp means secured within said rear surface for attaching said hearing aid to an eyeglass frame, said clasp means deflectable between a first position engaging said eyeglass frame and a concealed, retracted position flushly recessed to said rear surface and unattached to said eyeglass frame, said clasp means comprising a rotatable hub pivoted to said casing rear surface, an integral spaced apart foot, and a channel formed between said hub and said foot in which a portion of said eyeglass frame is captivated.

12. The hearing aid as defined in claim 11 wherein said foot is snap fitted within a recess in said casing when said clasp means is retracted.

13. The hearing aid as defined in claim 12 wherein an axis of rotation of said clasp means is established coplanar with the rear surface of said casing.

14. The hearing aid as defined in claim 13 further comprising means for transmitting sound output from the casing to the ear of the wearer, said last mentioned means comprising:

a tubular projection extending from said casing;

an external, spiral thread wound around said projection; and

,

a resilient transmission tube adapted to receive said thread to couple said tube to said projection for conducting sound to an ear mold disposed within the ear canal.

15. The hearing aid as defined in claim 14 including resilient O-ring means circumscribing said casing and disposed within said groove for binding said shell to said casing.

16. The hearing aid as defined in claim 15 wherein said casing is hemispherical.

17. A cosmetically disguised ornamental hearing aid comprising:

an amplifying circuit;

a casing for housing said circuit, said casing having a front surface projecting away from a wearer and a rear surface projecting towards the wearer;

a tab integral with said casing that projects upwardly and away therefrom;

a decorative, removable, hollow shell snap fitted to said casing to cover said front surface;

a concealed sound jack projecting from said casing rear surface towards the ear of the wearer; and

,

cable tie means penetrating said tab for selectively affixing said hearing aid to eyeglass temples.

18. The hearing aid as defined in claim 17 wherein said tab comprises width accommodating slots for receiving said cable tie.

19. The hearing aid as defined in claim 18 wherein said tab and said temples are firmly maintained in coplanar abutting relation.