US4395601A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Modular hearing aid
Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
•
Filing: 1980-09-30
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Granted: 1983-07-26
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Expires: 2000-09-30
Abstract
Abstract A hearing aid has a circuit board having conductor strips thereon; first plug-in elements mounted on the circuit board and being electrically connected to selective conductor strips; a plurality of circuit board-supported modular structural units; and second plug-in elements mounted on each circuit board-supported modular structural unit. The first plug-in elements cooperate with respective second plug-in elements for securing selected circuit board-supported modular structural units on the circuit board.
Inventors
- 👤 Wolfgang Kopke
- 👤 Manfred Muller
- 👤 Wolfgang Schmidt
- 👤 Albert Eggert
- 👤 Erwin Gahleitner
- 👤 Gerhard Raupach
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 10:35
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K1/00; H05K1/02; H05K1/14; H05K1/141; H04; H04R; H04R25/00; H04R25/60; H04R25/609; H04R25/603; H05K2201/00; H05K2201/10; H05K2201/10007; H05K2201/10022; H05K2201/10189; H05K2201/10196; H05K2201/10227; H05K2201/10295; H05K2201/10303; H05K2201/10325; H05K2201/10431; H05K2201/10439; H05K2201/10477; H05K3/00; H05K3/36; H05K3/368
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
A hearing aid comprising in combination (a) a circuit board having conductor strips thereon, a first side and an opposite second side and an edge zone along said first side; said second side including a cutout bounded by border edges; (b) first plug-in elements mounted on said circuit board externally of said edge zone and being electrically connected to selective conductor strips; (c) a plurality of circuit board-supported modular structural units; (d) second plug-in elements mounted on each said circuit board-supported modular structural unit; said first plug-in elements cooperating with respective second plug-in elements for securing selected said circuit board-supported modular structural units on said circuit board; (e) a battery holder mounted on said edge zone for receiving a battery for the hearing aid; and (f) a microphone unit having opposite side faces and means defining a groove on each said side face; said microphone unit being received in said cutout and supported by said circuit board by an interengagement between each said groove and a respective said border edge.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
170 words
A hearing aid comprising in combination (a) a circuit board having conductor strips thereon, a first side and an opposite second side and an edge zone along said first side; said second side including a cutout bounded by border edges; (b) first plug-in elements mounted on said circuit board externally of said edge zone and being electrically connected to selective conductor strips; (c) a plurality of circuit board-supported modular structural units; (d) second plug-in elements mounted on each said circuit board-supported modular structural unit; said first plug-in elements cooperating with respective second plug-in elements for securing selected said circuit board-supported modular structural units on said circuit board; (e) a battery holder mounted on said edge zone for receiving a battery for the hearing aid; and (f) a microphone unit having opposite side faces and means defining a groove on each said side face; said microphone unit being received in said cutout and supported by said circuit board by an interengagement between each said groove and a respective said border edge.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A hearing aid as defined in claim 1, wherein said first and second plug-in elements are sockets and prongs cooperating with one another.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A hearing aid as defined in claim 1, further comprising a switch and an adjusting resistor mounted on said circuit board on either side of said cutout.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
101 words
A hearing aid as defined in claim 1, wherein said circuit board has a substantially rectangular shape; further wherein said first plug elements are arranged in series extending parallel to said first and second sides; further wherein said modular structural units are elongated and each has an elongated secondary circuit board having opposite longitudinal ends; a separate circuit component mounted on the respective secondary circuit board; and block members mounted on said opposite longitudinal ends of said secondary circuit board; and further wherein said second plug-in elements are mounted on said block members of each said circuit board-supported modular structural unit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
A hearing aid as defined in claim 4, wherein said block members are situated at a distance from an adjacent said longitudinal end of said secondary circuit board; and further comprising additional circuit components carried on said secondary circuit board between the respective longitudinal end thereof and the respective said block member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A hearing aid as defined in claim 5, wherein one of said additional circuit components is a potentiometer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
A hearing aid as defined in claim 5, further comprising a hearing aid cord having a plug; and further wherein one of said additional circuit components is an outlet box for receiving the plug of said cord.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
A hearing aid as defined in claim 5, further comprising a cover member carried by said secondary circuit board at a longitudinal end for outwardly shielding an adjacent said additional circuit component; said cover member having an opening for allowing passage of a setting tool to said adjacent additional circuit component.
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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) | 1986-07-25 | 1987-01-24 | 1987-07-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-07-25 | 1991-01-24 | 1991-07-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-07-25 | 1995-01-24 | 1995-07-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |