Retaining member for an earpiece

• US 7,590,255 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2004
• Issued: 09/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GN Resound A/S (GN Store Nord A/S)
• Original Assignee: GN Resound A/S (GN Store Nord A/S)
• Inventors: Nielsen, Henrik
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; Huyen D
• Application Number:
  US10/778,646
• Publication Number:
  US 20050002539A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,041 Days
• Field of Search: 381/23.1, 381/322, 381/324, 381/326, 381/327, 381/328, 381/329, 381/330, 381/380, 381/381, 381/382, 181/135, 181/130, 181/129
• US Class Current: 381/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/09 Non-occlusive ear tips, i.e. leaving the ear canal open, for both custom and non-custom tips H04R2460/11 takes precedence
• 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 25/656 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

An earpiece is provided that is adapted for insertion into the ear canal and has at least one resilient fibre that is connected to the earpiece for abutting a surface of the outer ear when the earpiece has been inserted in the ear canal thereby providing retention of the earpiece in the ear canal of the user.

Claims

1. An earpiece assembly for a hearing aid, comprising:

an earpiece for insertion into an ear canal of a user; and

at least one elongated resilient fiber extending between a free end and an end connected to the earpiece, wherein the at least one resilient fiber is configured for abutting an outer ear at a bottom of an ear behind an antitragus when the earpiece has been inserted in the ear canal;

wherein the at least one elongated resilient fiber has a resiliency that allows the at least one elongated resilient fiber to push the earpiece with a force component that is towards the ear canal and to press the earpiece against an anatomical feature within the ear canal to thereby retain the earpiece in the ear canal during use.

2. The earpiece assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a tube connected to the earpiece.

3. The earpiece assembly according to claim 2, wherein the at least one fiber is connected to the earpiece via the tube.

4. The earpiece assembly according to claim 2, wherein the tube has a pre-formed shape including a first bend to extend over the top of the ear of the user and a second bend to extend from an outside of the ear into an ear canal of the user when the hearing aid is worn by the user.

5. The earpiece assembly of claim 2, wherein the tube is for conducting sound to the ear canal.

6. The earpiece assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one fiber is an integrated part of the tube.

7. The earpiece assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a connector member for interconnection of the fiber with the earpiece.

8. The earpiece assembly according to claim 7, wherein the connector member is over-molded onto the tube and the fiber.

9. The earpiece assembly according to claim 7, wherein the connector member is molded and bonded to the tube and the fiber, respectively.

10. The earpiece assembly according to claim 1, wherein the fiber is made of a material selected from the group consisting of REP Teflon, Nylon, PEBAX, silicone, polyurethane, PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), and EVA (ethylvinylacetate).

11. The earpiece assembly according to claim 1, wherein the material of the fiber has a shore hardness of about 65 to 85 Shore D.

12. The earpiece assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one fiber is removably connected to the earpiece.

13. The earpiece assembly of claim 1, wherein the fiber has an arcuate configuration.

14. The earpiece assembly of claim 1, wherein a first portion of the fiber has a same cross-sectional dimension as a second portion of the fiber.

15. The earpiece assembly of claim 1, wherein the fiber has a length that is longer than a cross-sectional dimension of the fiber.

16. The earpiece assembly of claim 1, wherein the earpiece has a curvilinear tip.

17. The earpiece assembly of claim 16, wherein the earpiece has a shape that resembles a dome.

18. The earpiece assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one elongated resilient fiber has a first curvature when the earpiece is not inserted into the ear canal, and a second curvature that is different from the first curvature when the earpiece is inserted into the ear canal.

19. The earpiece assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one elongated resilient fiber is configured to retain the earpiece in the ear canal of the user even when the user is having jaw movement.

20. A hearing aid, comprising:

a housing containing electronic componentry;

a tube coupled to the housing;

an earpiece coupled to the tube, the earpiece adapted for insertion into an ear canal of a user; and

at least one elongated resilient fiber extending between a free end and an end connected to the earpiece, wherein the at least one resilient fiber is configured for abutting an outer ear at a bottom of an ear behind an antitragus when the earpiece has been inserted in the ear canal;

wherein the at least one elongated resilient fiber has a resiliency that allows the at least one elongated resilient fiber to push the earpiece with a force component that is towards the ear canal and to press the earpiece against an anatomical feature within the ear canal to thereby retain the earpiece in the ear canal during use.

21. The hearing aid according to claim 20, wherein the tube has a pre-formed shape including a first bend to extend from the housing over the top of the ear of the user and a second bend to extend from an outside of the ear into an ear canal of the user when the hearing aid is worn by the user.

22. The hearing aid according to claim 20, wherein the at least one fiber is an integrated part of the tube.

23. The hearing aid according to claim 20, further comprising a connector member for interconnection of the fiber with the earpiece.

24. The hearing aid according to claim 20, wherein the fiber is made of a material selected from the group consisting of REP Teflon, Nylon, PEBAX, silicone, polyurethane, PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), and EVA (ethylvinylacetate).

25. The hearing aid according to claim 20, wherein the material of the fiber has a shore hardness of about 65 to 85 Shore D.

26. The hearing aid according to claim 20, wherein the hearing aid is selected from the group consisting of a completely-in-the-canal (CIC) hearing aid, an in-the-canal (TIE) hearing aid, and a behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aid.

27. The hearing aid of claim 20, wherein a first portion of the fiber has a same cross-sectional dimension as a second portion of the fiber.

28. The hearing aid of claim 20, wherein the fiber has a length that is longer than a cross-sectional dimension of the fiber.

29. The hearing aid of claim 20, wherein the fiber has an arcuate configration.

30. The hearing aid of claim 20, wherein the earpiece has a curvilinear tip.

31. The hearing aid of claim 30, wherein the earpiece has a shape that resembles a dome.

32. The hearing aid of claim 20, wherein the tube comprises a sound tube.

33. The hearing aid of claim 20, wherein the at least one elongated resilient fiber has a first curvature when the earpiece is not inserted into the ear canal, and a second curvature that is different from the first curvature when the earpiece is inserted into the ear canal.

34. The hearing aid of claim 20, wherein the at least one elongated resilient fiber is configured to retain the earpiece in the ear canal of the user even when the user is having jaw movement.

35. An assembly for a hearing aid, comprising:

a component for insertion into an ear canal of a user, the component having a surface for contacting an anatomical feature of the ear canal; and

at least one elongated resilient fiber extending between a free end and an end connected to the component, wherein the at least one resilient fiber is configured for abutting an outer ear at a bottom of an ear behind an antitragus when the component has been inserted in the ear canal;

wherein the at least one resilient fiber has a cross-sectional dimension, the cross-sectional dimension being a value selected from a range of 1 mm to 1.6 mm; and

wherein the at least one resilient fiber has a resiliency and shape that allows the fiber to push the component with a force component in a direction that is towards the ear canal, thereby retaining the component in the ear canal during use.

36. An assembly for a hearing aid, comprising:

a component for insertion into an ear canal of a user, the component having a surface for contacting an anatomical feature of the ear canal; and

at least one elongated resilient fiber extending between a free end and an end connected to the component, wherein the at least one resilient fiber is configured for abutting an outer ear at a bottom of an ear behind an antitragus when the component has been inserted in the ear canal;

wherein the at least one resilient fiber has a C-shape when the component is in the ear canal; and

wherein the at least one resilient fiber has a resiliency and shape that allows the fiber to push the component with a force component in a direction that is towards the ear canal, thereby retaining the component in the ear canal during use.

37. An assembly for a hearing aid, comprising:

component for insertion into an ear canal of a user, the component having a surface for contacting an anatomical feature of the ear canal; and

at least one elongated resilient fiber extending between a free end and an end connected to the component, wherein the at least one resilient fiber is configured for abutting an outer ear at a bottom of an ear behind an antitragus when the component has been inserted in the ear canal;

wherein the end of the at least one fiber connected to the component is indirectly connected to the component; and

wherein the at least one resilient fiber has a resiliency and shape that allows the fiber to push the component with a force component in a direction that is towards the ear canal, thereby retaining the component in the ear canal during use.

38. A hearing aid, comprising:

a housing containing electronic componentry;

a tube coupled to the housing;

a component coupled to the tube, the component sized for insertion into an ear canal of a user, and having a surface for contacting an anatomical feature of the ear canal; and

at least one elongated resilient fiber extending between a free end and an end connected to the component, wherein the at least one resilient fiber is configured for abutting an outer ear at a bottom of an ear behind an antitragus when the component has been inserted in the ear canal;

wherein the at least one resilient fiber has a cross-sectional dimension, the cross-sectional dimension being a value selected from a range of 1 mm to 1.6 mm; and

wherein the at least one resilient fiber has a resiliency and shape that allows the fiber to push the component with a force component in a direction that is towards the ear canal, thereby retaining the component in the ear canal during use.

39. The hearing aid of claim 38, wherein the tube comprises a sound tube.

40. The hearing aid of claim 38, wherein the at least one elongated resilient fiber has a first curvature when the component is not inserted into the ear canal, and a second curvature that is different from the first curvature when the component is inserted into the ear canal.

41. The hearing aid of claim 38, wherein the at least one elongated resilient fiber also presses the component against an anatomical feature within the ear canal.

42. The hearing aid of claim 38, wherein the at least one elongated resilient fiber is configured to retain the component in the ear canal of the user even when the user is having jaw movement.

43. A hearing aid, comprising:

a housing containing electronic componentry;

a tube coupled to the housing;

a component coupled to the tube, the component sized for insertion into an ear canal of a user, and having a surface for contacting an anatomical feature of the ear canal; and

at least one elongated resilient fiber extending between a free end and an end connected to the component, wherein the at least one resilient fiber is configured for abutting an outer ear at a bottom of an ear behind an antitragus when the component has been inserted in the ear canal;

wherein the at least one resilient fiber has a C-shape when the component is in the ear canal; and

wherein the at least one resilient fiber has a resiliency and shape that allows the fiber to push the component with a force component in a direction that is towards the ear canal, thereby retaining the component in the ear canal during use.

44. The hearing aid of claim 43, wherein the tube comprises a sound tube.

45. The hearing aid of claim 43, wherein the at least one elongated resilient fiber has a first curvature when the component is not inserted into the ear canal, and a second curvature that is different from the first curvature when the component is inserted into the ear canal.

46. The hearing aid of claim 43, wherein the at least one elongated resilient fiber also presses the component against an anatomical feature within the ear canal.

47. The hearing aid of claim 43, wherein the at least one elongated resilient fiber is configured to retain the component in the ear canal of the user even when the user is having jaw movement.

48. A hearing aid, comprising:

a housing containing electronic componentry;

a tube coupled to the housing;

a component coupled to the tube, the component sized for insertion into an ear canal of a user, and having a surface for contacting an anatomical feature of the ear canal; and

at least one elongated resilient fiber extending between a free end and an end connected to the component, wherein the at least one resilient fiber is configured for abutting an outer ear at a bottom of an ear behind an antitragus when the component has been inserted in the ear canal;

wherein the end of the at least one fiber connected to the component is indirectly connected to the component; and

wherein the at least one resilient fiber has a resiliency and shape that allows the fiber to push the component with a force component in a direction that is towards the ear canal, thereby retaining the component in the ear canal during use.

49. The hearing aid of claim 48, wherein the tube comprises a sound tube.

50. The hearing aid of claim 48, wherein the at least one elongated resilient fiber has a first curvature when the component is not inserted into the ear canal, and a second curvature that is different from the first curvature when the component is inserted into the ear canal.

51. The hearing aid of claim 48, wherein the at least one elongated resilient fiber also presses the component against an anatomical feature within the ear canal.

52. The hearing aid of claim 48, wherein the at least one elongated resilient fiber is configured to retain the component in the ear canal of the user even when the user is having jaw movement.