EP0263667A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Modular hearing aid with lid hinged to faceplate
Assignee: Unitron Industries Ltd
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Filing: 1987-10-05
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2007-10-05
Abstract
Abstract A modular hearing aid (10) to fit in the user's ear, having a shell (12), faceplate (14) fixed to the shell (12), and an electronic module (20) removably snapped into the faceplate (14). The module (20) includes an open-topped battery compartment (34) which is closed by a lid (16) hinged to the faceplate (14) rather than the module. This eliminates a bulky hinge on the module (20) and allows a smaller snap fastener between the module and faceplate. The volume control (26) on the module (20) projects through an opening in the closed lid.
Inventors
- 👤 Horst Arndt
- 👤 Edward S. Kroetsch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 07:15
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04R; H04R25/00; H04R25/65; H01; H01H; H01H2300/00; H01H2300/004; H04R25/652
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
191 words
A hearing aid,characterised by: (a) a shell (12) adapted to fit within a user's ear and having an outer rim (44), by (b) a faceplate (14 fixed to said outer rim and having an opening (46) therein, by (c) an electronic module (20) comprising a microphone (70), an amplifier (68) connected to said microphone to amplify sound therefrom, a receiver (28) connected to said amplifier to produce sound for said user, and a battery compartment (24) to house a battery for said amplifier, said module (20 being removably fitted within said opening of said faceplate, by (d) said battery compartment (24) having an open outer end, by (e) a lid (16) for said faceplate and having an inside surface, said inside surface defining a closure for said open outer end of said battery compartment, by (f) hinge means (32) connected between said lid (16) and said faceplate (14) for said lid to be opened and closed, said lid being aligned for said closure for said battery compartment to close said battery compartment when said lid is closed, and by (g) detent means (38) for retaining said lid in a closed position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
191 words
A hearing aid,characterised by: (a) a shell (12) adapted to fit within a user's ear and having an outer rim (44), by (b) a faceplate (14 fixed to said outer rim and having an opening (46) therein, by (c) an electronic module (20) comprising a microphone (70), an amplifier (68) connected to said microphone to amplify sound therefrom, a receiver (28) connected to said amplifier to produce sound for said user, and a battery compartment (24) to house a battery for said amplifier, said module (20 being removably fitted within said opening of said faceplate, by (d) said battery compartment (24) having an open outer end, by (e) a lid (16) for said faceplate and having an inside surface, said inside surface defining a closure for said open outer end of said battery compartment, by (f) hinge means (32) connected between said lid (16) and said faceplate (14) for said lid to be opened and closed, said lid being aligned for said closure for said battery compartment to close said battery compartment when said lid is closed, and by (g) detent means (38) for retaining said lid in a closed position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A hearing aid according to Claim 1, characterised in that said module includes an adjustment potentiometer (72), said potentiometer being covered by said lid (16) when said lid is closed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
A hearing aid according to Claim 1, characterised in that said module (20) includes a volume control (26) projecting outwardly therefrom, said lid (16) having an aperture (36) therein to expose at least a portion of said volume control when said lid is closed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A hearing aid according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that said lid (16) includes an opening (37) therein for sound to pass therethrough to reach said microphone.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
A hearing aid according to Claim 1, characterised in that said faceplate (14) includes an outer edge (44), an interior wall (48), and recesses (50) formed in said interior wall inwardly said outer edge, said module (14) including a plastic housing (22) contoured to snap fit into said recesses.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
A hearing aid according to Claim 1, characterised in that said faceplate (14) includes an inner edge contacting said outer rim of said shell, and stop means (56) projecting laterally into said opening from said interior wall adjacent said inner edge to limit movement of said plastic housing inwardly into said shell.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
A hearing aid according to Claim 1, characterised in that said faceplate (14) comprises a plastic body, an annular rim extending outwardly from said body and encircling said opening, and a half-hinge (104) formed on said rim and constituting a portion of said hinge means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
A hearing aid according to Claim 1, characterised in that said module comprises a plastic housing (22), a printed circuit board (66) secured to the bottom of said housing, an amplifier secured to said printed circuit board and extending downwardly therefrom, and a microphone connected to said housing and located below said amplifier.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
A hearing aid according to Claim 1, characterised in that said battery compartment includes a bottom wall (80) having a first spring contact (82) thereon to contact the bottom of a battery and a sidewall having a second spring contact (92) therein to contact the sidewall of a battery.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
51 words
A hearing aid according to Claim 9, characterised in that said module comprises a plastic housing (22), said battery compartment being formed in said housing, a printed circuit board (66) secured to the bottom of said housing, said first and second spring contacts (82,92) being connected to said circuit board (66).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
A hearing aid according to Claim 1, characterised in that there is a gauge (114) molded integrally with said faceplate (14) and extending inwardly into said shell, said gauge (114) having a lower surface shaped to simulate approximately the shape of the lower surface of said module.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
118 words
For a hearing aid comprising a shell adapted to be fitted within a user's ear, and an electronic module containing electronic components and a battery compartment and adapted to be fitted to said shell, the improvement characterised by a faceplate (14) adapted to be connected to said shell and to house said module (20), said faceplate comprising an enlarged plastic plate, an opening (46) in said plate adapted to receive said module, said plate having an upper surface, an annular rim (44) encircling said opening and extending upwardly from said upper surface, and a hinge portion (104) located on the upper edge of said rim, whereby material can be removed from said faceplate without damaging said hinge portion.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
118 words
For a hearing aid comprising a shell adapted to be fitted within a user's ear, and an electronic module containing electronic components and a battery compartment and adapted to be fitted to said shell, the improvement characterised by a faceplate (14) adapted to be connected to said shell and to house said module (20), said faceplate comprising an enlarged plastic plate, an opening (46) in said plate adapted to receive said module, said plate having an upper surface, an annular rim (44) encircling said opening and extending upwardly from said upper surface, and a hinge portion (104) located on the upper edge of said rim, whereby material can be removed from said faceplate without damaging said hinge portion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
A faceplate according to Claim 12, characterised in that said hinge portion (104) does not project laterally outwardly of said rim (44).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
40 words
A faceplate according to Claim 13, characterised in that said rim (44) includes an outer edge, said opening defining an interior wall, said wall having recesses formed therein below said outer edge for providing a snap fit for said module.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
45 words
A faceplate according to Claim 15, characterised in that there is an inner edge for contacting said shell, and stop means (56) extending laterally into said opening from said interior wall adjacent said inner edge, the limit movement of said module inwardly into said opening.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
78 words
A gauge (114) for use in securing a faceplate to the shell of an in-the-ear hearing aid, said hearing aid being of the kind including an electronic module comprising a microphone, an amplifier, and a battery compartment , said faceplate having an opening therein to receive said module, said gauge having a lateral outline shaped to fit snugly within said opening and having a lower surface shaped to simulate the shape of the lower surface of said module.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
78 words
A gauge (114) for use in securing a faceplate to the shell of an in-the-ear hearing aid, said hearing aid being of the kind including an electronic module comprising a microphone, an amplifier, and a battery compartment , said faceplate having an opening therein to receive said module, said gauge having a lateral outline shaped to fit snugly within said opening and having a lower surface shaped to simulate the shape of the lower surface of said module.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
A gauge according to Claim 16, and formed of a transparent plastic material.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
A gauge according to Claim 17, and having a lower surface shaped to receive the lower surface of said module, said gauge being of very thin plastic and being molded integrally with said faceplate.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
131 words
A method of assembling an in-the-ear hearing aid of the kind including a shell adapted to fit within a user's ear, characterised by a faceplate (14) fixed to said shell (12) and having an opening therein, and an electronic module (20) fitted within said faceplate and shell and having a lower surface, said method comprising selecting a transparent plastic gauge (114) having a lower surface simulating the shape of the lower surface of said module, inserting said gauge through said opening in said faceplate, positioning said faceplate on said shell with said gauge extending through said faceplate into said shell, fixing said faceplate to said shell, and then removing excess material from said faceplate so that the exterior contour of said faceplate blends smoothly into the exterior contour of said shell.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
131 words
A method of assembling an in-the-ear hearing aid of the kind including a shell adapted to fit within a user's ear, characterised by a faceplate (14) fixed to said shell (12) and having an opening therein, and an electronic module (20) fitted within said faceplate and shell and having a lower surface, said method comprising selecting a transparent plastic gauge (114) having a lower surface simulating the shape of the lower surface of said module, inserting said gauge through said opening in said faceplate, positioning said faceplate on said shell with said gauge extending through said faceplate into said shell, fixing said faceplate to said shell, and then removing excess material from said faceplate so that the exterior contour of said faceplate blends smoothly into the exterior contour of said shell.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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