US4006796A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Earpiece which substantially consists of a thin-walled flexible capsule filled with a liquid medium
Assignee: US Philips Corp
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Filing: 1974-12-16
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Granted: 1977-02-08
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Expires: 1994-12-16
Abstract
Abstract An earpiece which takes the form of a pouch made of a plastics foil which surrounds a less pliant plastics tube in an airtight manner and is filled with a sluggishly moving jelly-like paste. A not readily movable compression ring provided with a funnel shaped portion which is clear of the tube ensures that the pouch is filled in such a way that during use the pouch perfectly engages with the inner wall of the auditory canal.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Francois Coehorst
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 18:14
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04R; H04R25/00; H04R25/65; H04R25/652; H04R25/656; H04R2460/00; H04R2460/11
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
An earpiece comprising, an oblong thin-walled flexible container made of a plastic foil filled with a jelly-like paste material and having an acoustic duct extending therethrough in the longitudinal direction, and a flexible plastic tube which is less pliant than the plastic foil container and is located in the acoustic duct and is adapted for acoustically coupling the duct to a hearing aid, said container being disposed around and at one end of the plastic tube.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
76 words
An earpiece comprising, an oblong thin-walled flexible container made of a plastic foil filled with a jelly-like paste material and having an acoustic duct extending therethrough in the longitudinal direction, and a flexible plastic tube which is less pliant than the plastic foil container and is located in the acoustic duct and is adapted for acoustically coupling the duct to a hearing aid, said container being disposed around and at one end of the plastic tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
An earpiece as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a compression ring coupled to the plastic tube and located at that side of the container intended to be coupled to the hearing aid, said compression ring having a conical compression face which cooperates with the container to deform same.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
An earpiece as claimed in claim 2 wherein the container comprises a pouch provided with a hole in which hole the plastic tube is fitted and is connected thereto in an air-tight manner.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
An earpiece as claimed in claim 2 wherein the container, at the side adapted to be coupled to the hearing aid, is connected to the plastic tube in an air-tight manner and that the compression face which co-operates therewith takes the form of a funnel which surrounds and is spaced apart from the plastic tube.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
An earpiece as claimed in claim 2 wherein the diameter of the hole of the compression ring is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the plastic tube.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
An earpiece as claimed in claim 2 wherein the compression ring is provided with a flange.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
An earpiece as claimed in claim 2 wherein the compression ring is provided with a pull-pin.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
An earpiece as claimed in claim 2 wherein part of the tube behind the capsule is provided with a movable ventilation ring which is disposed over a ventilation hole provided in the tube.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
An earpiece as claimed in claim 2 wherein the compression ring has a hole therein adapted to mate with a hole in the plastic tube whereby the compression ring also functions as a ventilation ring.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
An earpiece as claimed in claim 2 wherein the end of the plastic tube remote from the hearing aid includes a rigid retaining ring connected at its periphery to the container in an air-tight manner.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
An earpiece as claimed in claim 1 wherein the container comprises a tubular pouch disposed about the plastic tube and which, at the side remote from the hearing aid, has a part of its inner wall attached to the plastic tube.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
60 words
An earpiece as claimed in claim 11, wherein both the inner and the outer wall of the tubular pouch is attached to a flange-shaped ring located at the side of the pouch adapted to be coupled to the hearing aid, and further comprising a compression ring having a compression face of tapered cross-section adapted to be clamped in the ring.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
An earpiece as claimed in claim 1 wherein the end of the plastic tube is provided with a rigid retaining ring connected to the container at its circumference.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
An earpiece as claimed in claim 1 wherein the container comprises a pouch with a hole at the end thereof, the plastic tube being disposed within said hole and connected to the pouch in an air-tight manner.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
88 words
An earpiece comprising, an oblong thin-walled flexible container made of a plastic foil and having a single cavity filled with a slow moving jelly-like paste material, said container including an acoustic duct extending therethrough in the longitudinal direction, a rigid flexible plastic tube disposed within the acoustic duct and adapted for acoustically coupling the duct to a hearing aid, said flexible container being dimensioned to slip easily into the auditory canal of the user of the earpiece and being connected to the plastic tube in an airtight manner.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
88 words
An earpiece comprising, an oblong thin-walled flexible container made of a plastic foil and having a single cavity filled with a slow moving jelly-like paste material, said container including an acoustic duct extending therethrough in the longitudinal direction, a rigid flexible plastic tube disposed within the acoustic duct and adapted for acoustically coupling the duct to a hearing aid, said flexible container being dimensioned to slip easily into the auditory canal of the user of the earpiece and being connected to the plastic tube in an airtight manner.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
84 words
An earpiece as claimed in claim 15 further comprising a compression ring movably mounted to the plastic tube at the side of the container intended to be coupled to the hearing aid, said compression ring having a tubular portion coaxially surrounding the plastic tube and a conical compression portion adapted to engage said container to compress same and cause the jelly-like paste to deform the container so that it adapts itself to the shape of the auditory canal of the user of the earpiece.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
A hearing apparatus comprising the earpiece as claimed in claim 15 and further comprising a hearing aid coupled to the end of the plastic tube remote from that end of the tube disposed within the container duct.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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US2803247A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-02-08 | 1980-08-09 | 1981-02-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-02-08 | 1984-08-09 | 1985-02-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-02-08 | 1988-08-09 | 1989-02-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |