Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
64 words
A programmable hearing aid energizable by electrical connection to a battery comprising: a battery compartment having two battery terminals for contacting the positive and negative terminals of the battery, said battery terminals electrically coupled to circuitry in the programmable hearing aid; and a programming terminal coupled to programming circuitry in the programmable hearing aid device, said programming terminal being located in said battery compartment.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
64 words
A programmable hearing aid energizable by electrical connection to a battery comprising: a battery compartment having two battery terminals for contacting the positive and negative terminals of the battery, said battery terminals electrically coupled to circuitry in the programmable hearing aid; and a programming terminal coupled to programming circuitry in the programmable hearing aid device, said programming terminal being located in said battery compartment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A programmable hearing aid according to Claim 1, additionally comprising a battery compartment door pivotally mounted for adjustment between a closed position within said battery compartment and an open, access position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
In combination, a programmable hearing aid according to Claim 1, and a coupling member sized to fit in said battery compartment and having a programming electrode in electrical contact with an external hearing aid programming system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The combination of Claim 3, wherein said coupling member additionally includes a positive electrode and a negative electrode in electrical contact with said external hearing aid programming system.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The combination of Claim 4, wherein said programming electrode and said positive and negative electrodes are located on an exterior surface of said coupling member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The combination of Claim 5, wherein said programming electrode and said positive and negative electrodes are electrically insulated from each other by at least one non-conductive insulating element.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
The combination of Claim 6, wherein said coupling member is generally disk-shaped, said positive and negative electrodes are positioned on opposite surfaces of said coupling member, and said programming electrode is positioned intermediate said positive and negative electrodes on a circumferential surface of said coupling member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The combination of Claim 3 wherein said coupling member has dimensions corresponding to the dimensions of said battery compartment.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
67 words
In combination, a programmable hearing aid according to Claim 1, and a coupling member having a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a programming electrode in electrical contact with an external hearing aid programming system, said coupling member mounted in said battery compartment with said positive and negative electrodes in electrical contact with said battery terminals and said programming electrode in electrical contact with said programming terminal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
A coupling member for establishing electrical contact between a programmable hearing aid and an external hearing aid programming system, said coupling member sized to fit in a battery compartment in the programmable hearing aid and having a programming electrode in electrical contact with the external hearing aid programming system.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
A coupling member for establishing electrical contact between a programmable hearing aid and an external hearing aid programming system, said coupling member sized to fit in a battery compartment in the programmable hearing aid and having a programming electrode in electrical contact with the external hearing aid programming system.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A coupling member according to Claim 10, additionally having positive and negative electrodes in electrical contact with the external hearing aid programming system.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
A coupling member according to Claim 11, wherein said programming electrode and said positive and negative electrodes are positioned on an exterior surface of said coupling member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
A coupling member according to Claim 12, wherein said programming electrode and said positive and negative electrodes are electrically insulated from each other by means of at least one non-conductive insulating element.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
49 words
A coupling member according to Claim 13, wherein said coupling member is generally disk-shaped, said positive and negative electrodes are positioned generally opposite one another on said coupling member, and said programming electrode is positioned intermediate said positive and negative electrodes on a circumferential surface of said coupling member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
A coupling member according to Claim 10, wherein said coupling member has a configuration corresponding to the configuration of a standard hearing aid battery.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
67 words
A method for programming a programmable hearing aid energizable by a battery retained in a battery compartment by connection to an external hearing aid programming system comprising: locating a programming terminal in electrical contact with programming circuitry in the hearing aid in the battery compartment; and contacting a programming electrode in electrical contact with the hearing aid programming system to said programming terminal in the battery compartment.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
67 words
A method for programming a programmable hearing aid energizable by a battery retained in a battery compartment by connection to an external hearing aid programming system comprising: locating a programming terminal in electrical contact with programming circuitry in the hearing aid in the battery compartment; and contacting a programming electrode in electrical contact with the hearing aid programming system to said programming terminal in the battery compartment.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
82 words
A method for programming a programmable hearing aid energized by a battery retained in a battery compartment in the hearing aid by electrical contact with an external hearing aid programming system, the method comprising: locating a programming terminal in electrical contact with programming circuitry in the hearing aid in the battery compartment; removing the battery retained in the battery compartment; contacting a programming electrode in electrical contact with the external hearing aid programming system to said programming terminal in the battery compartment.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
82 words
A method for programming a programmable hearing aid energized by a battery retained in a battery compartment in the hearing aid by electrical contact with an external hearing aid programming system, the method comprising: locating a programming terminal in electrical contact with programming circuitry in the hearing aid in the battery compartment; removing the battery retained in the battery compartment; contacting a programming electrode in electrical contact with the external hearing aid programming system to said programming terminal in the battery compartment.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method for programming a programmable hearing aid according to Claim 17, additionally comprising inserting a coupling member having said programming electrode mounted thereon in said battery compartment.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method for programming a programmable hearing aid according to Claim 18, wherein said battery compartment has battery terminals therein and said coupling member has positive and negative electrodes mounted thereon, additionally comprising the step of contacting said positive and negative electrodes to said battery terminals in said battery compartment.