Modular hearing device receiver suspension

• US 6,459,800 B1
• Filed: 07/11/2000
• Issued: 10/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sonic Innovations Incorporated (William Demant Fonden)
• Original Assignee: Sonic Innovations Incorporated (William Demant Fonden)
• Inventors: Brimhall, Owen D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): PENDLETON, DIONNE
• Application Number:
  US09/614,066
• Time in Patent Office: 812 Days
• Field of Search: 381/322, 381/324, 381/328, 381/329, 381/304, 381/305, 181/171, 181/172
• US Class Current: 381/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/604 of acoustic or vibrational transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/652 Ear tips; Ear moulds hybrid ear moulds or post-processing thereof for their customisation H04R25/659

Abstract

A receiver suspension for isolating a hearing device receiver within a hearing device comprises a housing that defines a chamber. The housing is adapted to be inserted into a hearing device shell. The receiver suspension also comprises a cover that is adapted to engage with a proximal end of the housing. An isolation membrane at least partially surrounds the hearing device receiver such that, upon inserting the hearing device receiver into the housing, the isolation membrane suspends the receiver within the housing chamber, thus preventing the receiver from contacting the inside surface of the housing. Preferably, the isolation membrane is formed from a stretched polymer material such as polyurethane or silicone and forms a series of pleats when engaged with the receiver. Alternately, the receiver suspension includes an isolation spring having two grasping members interconnected with a flexure member.

Claims

1. A receiver suspension for isolating a hearing device receiver within a hearing device shell, comprising:

a housing having an inside surface that defines a chamber, an open proximal end, and a distal end;

a cover adapted to engage with the proximal end of the housing; and

an isolation membrane, the isolation membrane at least partially surrounding the hearing device receiver such that, upon insertion of the hearing device receiver into the housing, the isolation membrane suspends the receiver within the housing chamber and prevents contact between the receiver and the housing inside surface,

wherein the isolation membrane has a first side, a second side, an opening through its center that is sized to stretch over substantially the entire receiver, and at least one pleat lying parallel with the opening, said pleat folding away from the opening when the receiver is inserted through the opening.

2. The receiver suspension of claim 1, further comprising a sound port on the distal end of the housing.

3. The receiver suspension of claim 1, wherein the cover substantially seals the open proximal end of the housing when engaged therewith.

4. The receiver suspension of claim 1, wherein the cover includes an aperture extending therethrough, wherein the aperture provides access to the housing chamber when the cover is engaged with the housing.

5. The receiver suspension of claim 1, wherein the isolation membrane is formed from polyurethane or silicon.

6. The receiver suspension of claim 1, wherein the isolation membrane maintains a minimum amount of contact with the housing inside surface.