Adapter shoe and a combination of adapter shoe and hearing aid

• US 8,290,191 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2008
• Issued: 10/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Widex A/S (WS Audiology A/S)
• Original Assignee: Widex A/S (WS Audiology A/S)
• Inventors: Nielsen, Dennis Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Pan, Yuwen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le, Phan
• Application Number:
  US12/103,620
• Publication Number:
  US 20080192970A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,645 Days
• Field of Search: 381/312, 381/324, 381/330, 381/380, 381/322, 381/323, 320/110, 320/112, 320/113, 320/114
• US Class Current: 381/323
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/021 Behind the ear [BTE] hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/556 External connectors, e.g. plugs or modules H04R25/607 takes precedence

Abstract

A combination of a hearing aid (1) and an adapter shoe (13), wherein the hearing aid has a pivotable battery compartment (6), and wherein the adapter shoe has engagement means (14, 15) for engaging the exterior of the hearing aid housing, blocking means (21) for blocking pivoting of the pivotable wall, and engagement means (23) for engaging the pivotable wall. The invention also provides an adapter shoe and a method of attaching an adapter shoe.

Claims

1. A combination of a hearing aid and an adapter shoe, wherein the hearing aid has a housing and a pivotable battery compartment, and wherein the adapter shoe has engagement means for engaging the exterior of the hearing aid housing, a slider selectively slidable between a first position in which it permits pivoting of the battery compartment and a second position in which it engages the hearing aid housing and the battery compartment for blocking pivoting of the battery compartment, to thereby permit a user to selectively disable a hearing aid ON/OFF switch when the adapter shoe is in place, and snap lock means for engaging the battery compartment.

2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the adapter shoe comprises front wall, rear wall portions and side walls, and wherein the rear wall portions provide blocking of the pivoting of the battery compartment.

3. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the battery compartment has a protruding lug, and wherein the snap lock means comprises a catch for engaging the lug.

4. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the battery compartment comprises a wall with an aperture, and wherein the snap lock means comprises a catch for engaging the aperture.

5. The combination according to claim 3, wherein the catch pivots into engagement.

6. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the adapter shoe has a pivotable arm for engaging a wall of the battery compartment.

7. The combination according to claim 1, comprising a power switch operated by pivoting the battery compartment.

8. An adapter shoe for a hearing aid having a housing and a pivotable battery compartment, wherein the adapter shoe has engagement means for engaging the exterior of the hearing aid housing, a slider selectively slidable between a first position in which it permits pivoting of the battery compartment and a second position in which it engages the hearing aid housing and the battery compartment for blocking pivoting of the battery compartment, to thereby permit a user to selectively disable a hearing aid ON/OFF switch when the adapter shoe is in place, and snap lock means for engaging the battery compartment.

9. A method of attaching an adapter shoe to a hearing aid having a housing and a pivotable battery compartment, comprising engaging the hearing aid housing and the battery compartment by the adapter shoe, and providing a slider selectively slidable between a first position in which it permits pivoting of the battery compartment and a second position in which it engages the hearing aid housing and the battery compartment to block pivoting of the battery compartment, to thereby permit a user to selectively disable a hearing aid ON/OFF switch when the adapter shoe is in place.

10. A combination of a hearing aid and an adapter shoe, wherein the hearing aid has a housing and a pivotable battery compartment, and wherein the adapter shoe has a slider selectively slidable between a first position in which it permits pivoting of the battery compartment and a second position in which it engages the hearing aid housing and the battery compartment to block pivoting of the battery compartment, to thereby permit a user to selectively disable a hearing aid ON/OFF switch when the adapter shoe is in place, and a pivotable arm for securing the engagement with the exterior of the hearing aid housing.