Hearing aids with standardized spheroidal housings

• US 6,097,825 A
• Filed: 09/19/1996
• Issued: 08/01/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Belton Electronics Company Limited (Belton Macao Commercial Offshore Limited)
• Original Assignee: Belton Electronics Company Limited (Belton Macao Commercial Offshore Limited)
• Inventors: Prutnikov, Greg, Posen, Miles, Yoest, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Barnie, Rexford N.
• Application Number:
  US08/716,109
• Time in Patent Office: 1,412 Days
• Field of Search: 381/68.6, 381/68.7, 381/69.2, 381/69, 381/169, 381/168, 381/683, 381/322, 381/324, 381/325, 381/327, 381/328, 381/329, 381/330, 381/323, 381/326
• US Class Current: 381/322
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/456 mechanically
• 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

Abstract

Hearing aids having housings formed as standardized shapes include electronic components. The components can be separate or integrated into a single unit. The housings can be formed as one or more spheroidal-like surfaces of revolution which are symmetrical along an axis. Alternately, the housings can be formed by lofting ellipses along a central axis. Representative housing shapes include egg-shaped and pear-shaped surfaces. An insertion and extraction element is fixedly attached to an end of the housing which extends toward the outer ear when the aid is inserted into an ear canal. The insertion/extraction member can be formed as either a rigid or a flexible element. The housing can carry a soft, deformable outer layer to improve performance and user comfort when installed in an ear canal.

Claims

1. A hearing aid usable with numerous different ear sizes comprising:

a microphone;

a spheroidal housing having an internal component receiving region containing said microphone, said housing intended to be inserted into a user'"'"'s ear canal so as to minimize air gaps to avoid feedback and with an exterior surface of a selected curvature located adjacent to the user'"'"'s outer ear when so inserted, said housing having a sound input port through said exterior surface, said sound input port open directly into the user'"'"'s ear; and

a substantially rigid, elongated, insertion element carried by said housing and extending toward the user'"'"'s outer ear when the housing is inserted, said insertion element positioned on said exterior surface and having a longitudinal axis spaced from said sound input port; and

wherein said selected curvature includes a concave surface facing a user'"'"'s outer ear when said housing is inserted into the user'"'"'s ear.

2. A hearing aid as in claim 1 wherein said housing defines an interior region;

and

audio processing components carried in said region.

5. A hearing aid in claim 1 wherein said spheroidal housing has an external shape formed by lofting along a direction of insertion a first ellipse having unequal conjugate and transverse axes into a second different ellipse having unequal conjugate and transverse axes.

6. A hearing aid in claim 1 wherein said spheroidal housing has an external shape which is rotationally symmetrical about a central axis.

7. A hearing aid as in claim 1 wherein said housing is covered, at least in part, by a deformable outer layer.

8. A hearing aid as in claim 7 wherein said layer is removable and replaceable.

3. A hearing aid comprising:

at least one standardized housing in the form of a substantially closed spheroid wherein said housing defines an internal component receiving region and wherein the spheroid has a shape which is intended to be inserted into a plurality of different ears;

an insertion member affixed to said housing and extending from a first surface thereof; and

wherein said housing exhibits a concave surface facing a user'"'"'s outer ear and a convex surface facing into the user'"'"'s ear, when completely inserted into the user'"'"'s ear canal.

9. A hearing aid as in claim 3 wherein said substantially closed spheroid is formed by lofting along a direction of insertion a first ellipse having unequal conjugate and transverse axis into a second different ellipse having unequal conjugate and transverse axis.

10. A hearing aid as in claim 3 wherein said substantially closed spheroid has a shape rotationally symmetrical about a central axis.

11. A hearing aid as in claim 3 wherein said housing is covered, at least in part, by a deformable outer layer.

12. A hearing aid as in claim 11 wherein said layer is removable and replaceable.

4. A hearing aid usable with numerous different ear sizes comprising:

a spheroidal housing intended to be inserted into a user'"'"'s ear canal so as to minimize air gaps to avoid feedback and with an exterior surface of a selected curvature located adjacent to the user'"'"'s outer ear when so inserted; and

a substantially rigid, elongated, insertion element carried by said housing and extending toward the user'"'"'s outer ear when the housing is inserted; and

wherein said selected curvature exhibits a concave surface facing a user'"'"'s outer ear and said housing exhibits a convex surface facing into the user'"'"'s ear, when completely inserted into the user'"'"'s ear canal.

13. A hearing aid as in claim 4 wherein said spheroidal housing has an external shape formed by lofting along a direction of insertion a first ellipse having unequal conjugate and transverse axes Into a second different ellipse having unequal conjugate and transverse axes.

14. A hearing aid as in claim 4 wherein said spheroidal housing has an external shape rotationally symmetrical about a central axis.

15. A hearing aid as in claim 4 wherein said housing is covered, at least in part, by a deformable outer layer.

16. A hearing aid as in claim 15 wherein said layer is removable and replaceable.