Hearing aid

• US 8,121,326 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2009
• Issued: 02/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: K/S HIMPP
• Original Assignee: K/S HIMPP
• Inventors: Sjursen, Walter P., DeSalvo, Michael, Mohamed, Hassan, Mulhauser, Paul J., Kirk, Karl D. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Ni, Suhan
• Application Number:
  US12/587,650
• Publication Number:
  US 20100119094A1
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• Field of Search: 381/322, 381324-326, 381/328, 181128-131
• US Class Current: 381/323
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/61 Aspects relating to mechanical or electronic switches or control elements, e.g. functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/11 Aspects relating to vents, e.g. shape, orientation, acoustic properties in ear tips of hearing devices to prevent occlusion
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/602 of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/603 of mechanical or electronic switches or control elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/609 of circuitry of electronic switches or control elements H04R25/603
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/008 Visual indication of individual signal levels visual indication of stereophonic sound image H04S7/40
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/189 characterised by the use of a flexible or folded printed circuit H05K3/326 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10037 Printed or non-printed battery
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10053 Switch
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10083 Electromechanical or electro-acoustic component, e.g. microphone

Abstract

A hearing aid includes a hearing aid shell, a microphone enclosed within the hearing aid shell, and a sealing member that surrounds the periphery of the microphone enclosed within the hearing aid shell, and a sealing member that surrounds the periphery of the microphone. The sealing member completely fills the area between the periphery of the microphone and the interior surface of the hearing aid shell.

Claims

1. A hearing aid comprising:

a hearing aid shell;

a microphone enclosed within the hearing aid shell;

a sealing member surrounding a periphery of the microphone, and substantially completely filling the area between the periphery of the microphone and an interior surface of the hearing aid shell, wherein the sealing member and microphone divide the interior volume of the hearing aid into at least an interior portion and an outer portion;

a metal-air battery located within the interior portion; and

a vent to allow air from the outer portion to reach the battery within the interior portion.

2. The hearing aid of claim 1, wherein the sealing member comprises at least one of a gasket and an o-ring.

3. The hearing aid of claim 1, wherein the sealing member provides an acoustical seal so that sound waves are substantially prevented from entering the interior portion.

4. The hearing aid of claim 1, wherein the vent provides for a sufficient quantity of air to pass into the interior portion to sustain battery operation.

5. The hearing aid of claim 1, wherein the vent comprises a slot that is formed in the hearing aid shell to allow air to pass around the sealing member.

6. The hearing aid of claim 1, wherein the vent comprises an air passageway through the sealing member.

7. The hearing aid of claim 6, wherein the air passageway comprises a tube extending through the sealing member.

8. The hearing aid of claim 6, wherein the air passageway comprises a sealing member that partially or wholly comprises an air-permeable material.