Air conduction hearing device

• US 5,748,743 A
• Filed: 02/06/1995
• Issued: 05/05/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Earcraft Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Earcraft Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Weeks, Eric L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mei, Xu
• Application Number:
  US08/386,518
• Time in Patent Office: 1,184 Days
• Field of Search: 381/68, 381/68.2, 381/68.4, 381/68.6, 381/69, 181/126, 181/128, 181/129, 181/130, 128/746, D24/174
• US Class Current: 381/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/025 In the ear hearing aids [ITE] hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2410/07 Mechanical or electrical reduction of wind noise generated by wind passing a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/654 Ear wax retarders
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/656 Non-customized, universal ear tips, i.e. ear tips which are not specifically adapted to the size or shape of the ear or ear canal
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/658 Manufacture of housing parts

Abstract

A two-piece hearing aid with a soft flexible snap-on covering with a plurality of folding sections which contribute to the proper fit, comfort, ease of maintenance and prevention of earwax build-up interference. The end of the snap-on insert has a thin sound permeable membrane which does not allow earwax into the hearing aid. In addition, a directional windramp redirects wind away from the microphone opening to greatly reduce ambient wind noise.

Claims

1. An electronic hearing aid which is insertable into an ear canal comprising:

a first section having a top part containing input and control elements;

said first section tapering to a bottom part and encapsulating amplification circuitry and sound conduction channels;

a second tubular flexible section removably connectable to said first section and comprising a first end having a receiving opening for partially receiving the bottom part of said first section, a plurality of distending sections and a second end having a tapered and sealed distal end comprises a thin sound conduction membrane integrated within said distal end, a plurality of flaps attaching to said first end, and

wherein said second tubular flexible section is attached to said first section and the combination is insertable into the ear canal of a user with the plurality of distending sections and the plurality of flaps folded backwardly upon insertion.

2. An electronic hearing aid as per claim 1, further wherein said input and control elements located in said top part of said first section comprises a microphone including a sound input opening.

3. An electronic hearing aid as per claim 2, further comprising a wind deflector means at least partially circumferentially surrounding said sound input opening.

4. An electronic hearing aid as per claim 1, wherein said top part of said first section further contains a battery compartment, volume adjuster and microphone opening.

5. An electronic hearing aid as per claim 4, further comprising a wind deflector means at least partially circumferentially surrounding said microphone opening.

6. An electronic hearing aid as per claim 1, wherein said second tubular flexible section is made of silicon or equivalent material.

7. An electronic hearing aid as per claim 1, wherein the bottom part of said first section and the receiving opening of said second tubular flexible section are textured to increase adhesion upon attachment thereof.

8. An electronic hearing aid as per claim 1, wherein said second tubular flexible section may be removed from the ear canal of the user using the distending sections if said first and second sections become unattached while in the ear canal.

9. An electronic hearing aid as per claim 1, wherein said membrane thickness is 0.01-0.001 inches thick.

18. An electronic hearing aid as per claim 1, wherein said membrane thickness is 0.01-0.001 inches thick.

10. An electronic hearing aid which is inserted into an ear canal comprising:

a first section having a top part containing input and control elements;

said first section tapering to a bottom part and encapsulating amplification circuitry and sound conduction channels;

a second flexible section removably connectable to said first section and comprising;

a first end having a receiving opening for partially receiving the bottom part of said first section;

a tubular mid-section;

a second end having a tapered and sealed end section, wherein said sealed end section comprises a thin sound conduction membrane integral therewith;

a plurality of flaps attaching to said first end, and wherein said second flexible section is attached to said first section and the combination is insertable into the ear canal of a user with the plurality of flaps folded backwardly upon insertion.

11. An electronic hearing aid as per claim 10, further wherein said input and control elememnts located in said top part of said first section comprises a microphone including a sound input opening.

12. An electronic hearing aid as per claim 11, further comprising a wind deflector means at least partially circumferentially surrounding said sound input opening.

13. An electronic hearing aid as per claim 10, wherein said top part of said first section further contains a battery compartment, volume adjuster and microphone opening.

14. An electronic hearing aid as per claim 13, further comprising a wind deflector means at least partially circumferentially surrounding said microphone opening.

15. An electronic hearing aid as per claim 10, wherein said second flexible section is made of silicon or equivalent material.

16. An electronic hearing aid as per claim 10, wherein the bottom part of said first section and the receiving opening of said second section are textured to increase adhesion upon attachment thereof.

17. An electronic hearing aid as per claim 10, wherein said second flexible section may be removed from the ear canal of the user using the flaps if said first and second sections become unattached while in the ear canal.

19. A two-piece electronic hearing aid which is wholly insertable into an ear canal of a user comprising:

a first section having a top part containing a microphone opening, wind deflector, battery compartment and volume control;

said first section tapering to a bottom part and encapsulating amplification circuitry and sound conduction channels;

a second flexible section removably connectable to said first section and comprising;

a first end having a receiving opening for partially receiving the bottom part of said first section;

a tubular mid-section;

a second end having a tapered and sealed end section, wherein said sealed end section comprises a thin sound conduction membrane integral therewith;

a plurality of flaps, attaching to said first end and

wherein said second flexible section is attached to said first section and the combination is insertable into the ear canal of a user with the plurality of flaps folded backwardly upon insertion.