System for hearing assistance device including receiver in the canal

• US 8,861,761 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2013
• Issued: 10/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Higgins, Sidney A.
• Primary Examiner(s): UHLIR, CHRISTOPHER J
• Application Number:
  US13/776,557
• Publication Number:
  US 20130230197A1
• Time in Patent Office: 596 Days
• Field of Search: 381/322
• US Class Current: 381/322
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/2414 conductive elastomers
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6392 for extension cord
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/0213 Constructional details of earhooks, e.g. shape, material
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/0216 BTE hearing aids having a receiver in the ear mould
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/025 In the ear hearing aids [ITE] hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/57 Aspects of electrical interconnection between hearing aid parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/607 of earhooks
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/609 of circuitry of electronic switches or control elements H04R25/603

Abstract

The present subject matter includes a hearing assistance device connection system for a user having an ear canal comprising a housing, electronics disposed in the housing, a cable electrically connected to the receiver and at least one conductive silicone component to electrically connect the electronics to the receiver.

Claims

1. A hearing assistance system for a user having an ear canal, the system comprising:

a housing;

electronics disposed in the housing;

a receiver adapted to be placed in the ear canal, the receiver including a receiver connector;

a cable electrically connected to the receiver, the cable including a cable connector adapted to electrically connect with the receiver connector; and

wherein the receiver connector and the cable connector are adapted to mechanically connect using a locking mechanism, wherein the locking mechanism includes a locking member to retain the receiver in the ear canal, and wherein the locking member includes;

a head; and

a tail connected to the head.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the tail includes a tapered portion.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the receiver connector and the cable connector each have an opening adapted to allow the tail to pass through the openings and mechanically fix the receiver connector to the cable connector.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the receiver connector and the cable connector each have an opening adapted to allow the tail to pass through the openings and mechanically fix the receiver connector to the cable connector.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the tapered portion includes a smaller end configured to pass through aligned openings of the receiver connector and the cable connector.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the tail is configured to be pulled through the openings to become snug within at least one of the openings to secure a connection.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the tail is configured to be pulled through the openings to become wedged within at least one of the openings to secure a connection.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the head is wider than the tail and mechanically limits passage of the tail through the openings.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the tail has a cross section shape corresponding to a shape of an opening of the receiver housing.

10. The system of claim 3, wherein the tail is configured to be cut such that little or no tail remains protruding from the openings.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a housing connector and the cable includes a second cable connector adapted to electrically connect with the housing connector.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the housing connector and the second cable connector are adapted to mechanically connect using a second locking mechanism.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising an earbud mechanically connected to the receiver.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a behind-the-ear housing.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the cable includes Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) shielding.

16. A hearing assistance system connector, comprising:

a first member having a first opening;

a second member having a second opening to receive the first member, the second member having a third and fourth opening configured to align with the first opening of the first member when the first member is received in the second opening of the second member; and

a locking mechanism for retaining the first member in the second member, wherein the locking mechanism includes a locking member having a tapered tail configured to pass through the first, third and fourth openings.

17. The connector of claim 16, wherein the tapered tail is configured to hold a portion of the connector in an ear canal.

18. The connector of claim 16, wherein the second member includes a receiver for a hearing aid.

19. The connector of claim 18, wherein the hearing aid includes a behind-the-ear hearing aid.

20. The connector of claim 18, further comprising an earbud mechanically connected to the receiver.