Patent US4937876A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4937876A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
In-the-ear hearing aid
Assignee: Nokia of America Corp
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Filing: 1989-09-25
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Granted: 1990-06-26
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Expires: 2009-09-25
Abstract
Abstract An in-the-ear hearing aid comprises a first unit (1), which unit comprises a microphone (3), an amplifier (4), controller (6) for adjusting a parameter of the hearing aid, and a battery compartment (5), and a second unit (2) comprising a receiver. The first unit (1) is accommodated in a first space situated at the end of comparatively large cross-section of an earmould (11). The second unit (2) is accommodated in a second space (9) situated at the end (13) of smaller cross-section. The earmold has a cap element (14) which allows for insertion of the second unit (2) into the second space (9) from the end (13) of smaller cross-section.
Inventors
- 👤 Jan Biermans
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 16:39
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04R; H04R25/00; H04R25/60; H04R25/604
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
165 words
An in-the-ear hearing aid, comprising a first unit which comprises a microphone, an amplifier, control means for adjusting a parameter of the hearing aid, and a battery compartment, and a second unit which comprises a receiver, the hearing aid further comprising electrical connection means for electrically connecting an output of the amplifier to an input of the receiver, the first and the second unit being accommodated in an earmould whose external shape is substantially adapted to the interior of the ear of the user of the hearing aid and which for this purpose has a substantially tapered shape, viewed in the longitudinal direction of the earmould, characterized in that the earmould has a first space situated at the end of comparatively large cross-section to accommodate the first unit, and a space situated at the end of smaller cross-section to accommodate the second unit, and in that the earmould comprises means for inserting the second unit into the second space from the end of smaller cross-section.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
165 words
An in-the-ear hearing aid, comprising a first unit which comprises a microphone, an amplifier, control means for adjusting a parameter of the hearing aid, and a battery compartment, and a second unit which comprises a receiver, the hearing aid further comprising electrical connection means for electrically connecting an output of the amplifier to an input of the receiver, the first and the second unit being accommodated in an earmould whose external shape is substantially adapted to the interior of the ear of the user of the hearing aid and which for this purpose has a substantially tapered shape, viewed in the longitudinal direction of the earmould, characterized in that the earmould has a first space situated at the end of comparatively large cross-section to accommodate the first unit, and a space situated at the end of smaller cross-section to accommodate the second unit, and in that the earmould comprises means for inserting the second unit into the second space from the end of smaller cross-section.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
An in-the-ear hearing aid as claimed in claim 1, characterized, in that the means are formed in that the second space has an aperture for the passage of the second unit, which aperture is situated at the end of a smaller cross-section and can be closed by means of a cap.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
An in-the-ear hearing aid as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the first space and the second space are formed by a first housing and a second housing respectively which are encapsulated in the earmould.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
An in-the-ear hearing aid as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the first unit and the second unit are accommodated in the first and the second housing relatively so as to be detachable.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
149 words
An in-the-ear hearing aid as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the first space accommodates a first connector unit belonging to the electrical connection means and the second space accommodates a second connector unit belonging to the electrical connection means, in that the first connector unit is constructed to cooperate electrically with a third connector unit, after the first unit has been mounted in the first space, which third connector unit belongs to the first unit and is electrically coupled to the output of the amplifier, in that the second connector unit is constructed to cooperate electrically with a fourth connector unit, after the second unit has been mounted in the second space, which fourth connector unit belongs to the second unit and is electrically coupled to an input of the receiver, and in that the first and the second connector unit are electrically coupled to each other.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
An in-the-ear hearing aid as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the cap is formed with an aperture which is acoustically coupled to a sound outlet aperture of the receiver.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
An in-the-ear hearing aid as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the cap is provided with a cerumen protection seal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
An in-the-ear hearing aid as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the first space and the second space are formed by a first housing and a second housing respectively which are encapsulated in the earmould.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
149 words
An in-the-ear hearing aid as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the first space accommodates a first connector unit belonging to the electrical connection means and the second space accommodates a second connector unit belonging to the electrical connection means, in that the first connector unit is constructed to cooperate electrically with a third connector unit, after the first unit has been mounted in the first space, which third connector unit belongs to the first unit and is electrically coupled to the output of the amplifier, in that the second connector unit is constructed to cooperate electrically with a fourth connector unit, after the second unit has been mounted in the second space, which fourth connector unit belongs to the second unit and is electrically coupled to an input of the receiver, and in that the first and the second connector unit are electrically coupled to each other.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
An in-the-ear hearing aid as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the cap is formed with an aperture which is acoustically coupled to a sound outlet aperture of the receiver.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
149 words
An in-the-ear hearing aid as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the first space accommodates a first connector unit belonging to the electrical connection means and the second space accommodates a second connector unit belonging to the electrical connection means, in that the first connector unit is constructed to cooperate electrically with a third connector unit, after the first unit has been mounted in the first space, which third connector unit belongs to the first unit and is electrically coupled to the output of the amplifier, in that the second connector unit is constructed to cooperate electrically with a fourth connector unit, after the second unit has been mounted in the second space, which fourth connector unit belongs to the second unit and is electrically coupled to an input of the receiver, and in that the first and the second connector unit are electrically coupled to each other.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
149 words
An in-the-ear hearing aid as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the first space accommodates a first connector unit belonging to the electrical connection means and the second space accommodates a second connector unit belonging to the electrical connection means, in that the first connector unit is constructed to cooperate electrically with a third connector unit, after the first unit has been mounted in the first space, which third connector unit belongs to the first unit and is electrically coupled to the output of the amplifier, in that the second connector unit is constructed to cooperate electrically with a fourth connector unit, after the second unit has been mounted in the second space, which fourth connector unit belongs to the second unit and is electrically coupled to an input of the receiver, and in that the first and the second connector unit are electrically coupled to each other.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
149 words
An in-the-ear hearing aid as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the first space accommodates a first connector unit belonging to the electrical connection means and the second space accommodates a second connector unit belonging to the electrical connection means, in that the first connector unit is constructed to cooperate electrically with a third connector unit, after the first unit has been mounted in the first space, which third connector unit belongs to the first unit and is electrically coupled to the output of the amplifier, in that the second connector unit is constructed to cooperate electrically with a fourth connector unit, after the second unit has been mounted in the second space, which fourth connector unit belongs to the second unit and is electrically coupled to an input of the receiver, and in that the first and the second connector unit are electrically coupled to each other.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
An in-the-ear hearing aid as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the cap is formed with an aperture which is acoustically coupled to a sound outlet aperture of the receiver.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
An in-the-ear hearing aid as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the cap is formed with an aperture which is acoustically coupled to a sound outlet aperture of the receiver.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
An in-the-ear hearing aid as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the cap is formed with an aperture which is acoustically coupled to a sound outlet aperture of the receiver.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
An in-the-ear hearing aid as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the cap is formed with an aperture which is acoustically coupled to a second outlet aperture of the receiver.
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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) | 1993-06-25 | 1993-12-25 | 1994-06-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-06-25 | 1997-12-25 | 1998-06-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-06-25 | 2001-12-25 | 2002-06-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |