Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
159 words
In an electric hearing aid, a casing having a hollow interior provided therein with a circuit element equipped with a plurality of conductors and having also along one side thereof a face provided with a relatively large opening adapted to seat a mounting plate assembly therein, a mounting plate assembly equipped with circuit elements requiring connection with said first-mentioned element via the conductors thereof and being seated within said opening, a plurality of terminals respectively connected with said conductors and being fixedly secured to said casing at predetermined locations adjacent said opening thereof, and a plurality of contact retainers respectively connected with certain of said second-mentioned circuit elements and being fixedly secured to said mounting plate assembly at predetermined locations respectively aligned with said terminals and being in engagement therewith, said contact retainers both releasably securing said mounting plate assembly mechanically to said casing and electrically connecting said second-mentioned elements to said first-mentioned element via said terminals and conductors.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
159 words
In an electric hearing aid, a casing having a hollow interior provided therein with a circuit element equipped with a plurality of conductors and having also along one side thereof a face provided with a relatively large opening adapted to seat a mounting plate assembly therein, a mounting plate assembly equipped with circuit elements requiring connection with said first-mentioned element via the conductors thereof and being seated within said opening, a plurality of terminals respectively connected with said conductors and being fixedly secured to said casing at predetermined locations adjacent said opening thereof, and a plurality of contact retainers respectively connected with certain of said second-mentioned circuit elements and being fixedly secured to said mounting plate assembly at predetermined locations respectively aligned with said terminals and being in engagement therewith, said contact retainers both releasably securing said mounting plate assembly mechanically to said casing and electrically connecting said second-mentioned elements to said first-mentioned element via said terminals and conductors.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
70 words
The hearing aid of claim 1 in which said casing is provided with a ledge along said opening offset inwardly from said face and adapted to seat said mounting plate assembly thereon, said terminals being secured to said casing along said ledge at spaced-apart locations, each of said contact retainers being a resilient device having a laterally projecting segment underlying said ledge when said mounting plate assembly is seated thereon.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The hearing aid of claim 2 in which said terminals comprise a pair thereof respectively located along opposite ends of said opening and offset in opposite directions relative to a centerline therethrough.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The hearing aid of claim 2 in which each of said contact retainers is provided with oppositely oriented cam surfaces adjacent the projecting segment thereof to displace the same over said ledge during insertion and removal of said mounting plate assembly from said casing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The hearing aid of claim 4 in which each of said terminals is a U-shaped member grippingly engaging said ledge.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
The hearing aid of claim 5 in which said mounting plate assembly includes a cover plate generally aligned with the face of said casing and a circuit board attached to said cover plate, said contact retainers being secured to said circuit board.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The hearing aid of claim 6 in which each of said contact retainers has a U-shaped base grippingly engaging said circuit board.