US5343532A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hearing aid device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1992-03-09
•
Granted: 1994-08-30
•
Expires: 2012-03-09
Abstract
Abstract A device is designed to provide persons with a mild, moderate, severe or profound hearing loss the ability to hear sound that would be inaudible, as well as the ability to hear ambient environmental noise. The device is fabricated as: (1) a receiver assembly having a pliable flexible strip worn in the outer ear with a small transducer which extends into the auditory canal, and (2) a transmitter assembly having a microphone located remotely on the person whereby information is transmitted to the receiver assembly via modulated carrier waves. The need for a battery in the receiver assembly is eliminated as the power supply is driven by magnetic induction from the transmitter assembly positioned a few inches away, as in a neck pendant.
Inventors
- 👤 M. Wilbert Shugart, III
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 07:21
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04R; H04R25/00; H04R25/55; H04R25/558; H04R25/45; H04R25/456; H04R25/65; H04R25/652; H04R25/656; H04R2225/00; H04R2225/31; H04R2420/00; H04R2420/07; H04R2460/00; H04R2460/09; H04R25/658
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
A hearing aid device comprising in combination: (a) a transmitter assembly, said transmitter assembly for detecting audible sounds, and (b) a receiver assembly, said receiver assembly in remote communication with said transmitter assembly, said receiver assembly comprising a pliable housing, a transducer, a bendable wire, said bendable wire embedded in said housing and said transducer attached to said pliable housing, said receiver assembly positionable in the outer ear of the wearer with the transducer within the auditory canal whereby said auditory canal is substantially open and unblocked.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
87 words
A hearing aid device comprising in combination: (a) a transmitter assembly, said transmitter assembly for detecting audible sounds, and (b) a receiver assembly, said receiver assembly in remote communication with said transmitter assembly, said receiver assembly comprising a pliable housing, a transducer, a bendable wire, said bendable wire embedded in said housing and said transducer attached to said pliable housing, said receiver assembly positionable in the outer ear of the wearer with the transducer within the auditory canal whereby said auditory canal is substantially open and unblocked.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The hearing aid device of claim 1 wherein said receiver assembly is configured in a thin ribbon-like shape.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The hearing aid device of claim 1 wherein said receiver assembly further comprises: a receiver, said receiver comprising an amplifier.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The hearing aid device of claim 3 and including a limiting circuit, said limiting circuit to limit the effect and damage of a sudden, loud noise, said limiting circuit connected to said receiver.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The hearing aid device of claim 3 and including a power source, said power source being responsive to magnetic induction, said power source connected to said amplifier.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
The hearing aid device of claim 1 wherein said transmitter assembly comprises a microphone, an amplifier, said microphone is communication with said amplifier, a transmitter, said amplifier connected to said transmitter, a frequency response circuit, said frequency response circuit connected to said amplifier, whereby sounds detected by said microphone are transmitted by said transmitter to said receiver assembly.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The hearing aid device of claim 6 and including a transmitter assembly housing, a spare battery storage compartment, said battery storage compartment positioned within said transmitter assembly housing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The hearing aid device of claim 6 and including left and right gain controls, said gain controls connected to said frequency response circuit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
66 words
The hearing aid device of claim 1 wherein said transmitter assembly comprises: a transmitter, a left microphone, a left amplifier, a left frequency response circuit, said left microphone, left amplifier and left frequency response circuit all connected to sad transmitter, a right microphone, a right amplifier, a right frequency response circuit, said right microphone, right amplifier and right frequency response circuit all connected to said transmitter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
70 words
The hearing aid comprising: a signal receiver assembly, said signal receiver assembly including a flexible housing, a flexible stem, said stem extending from said housing, a transducer, said transducer positioned in said stem, a bendable wire, said bendable wire embedded in said flexible housing, said receiver assembly positionable in the outer ear of the wearer with the transducer within the auditory canal to thereby leave the auditory canal substantially open.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
70 words
The hearing aid comprising: a signal receiver assembly, said signal receiver assembly including a flexible housing, a flexible stem, said stem extending from said housing, a transducer, said transducer positioned in said stem, a bendable wire, said bendable wire embedded in said flexible housing, said receiver assembly positionable in the outer ear of the wearer with the transducer within the auditory canal to thereby leave the auditory canal substantially open.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
78 words
A hearing aid device including a transmitter assembly for detecting audible sounds, and a receiver assembly placed in the outer ear of the wearer with the transducer within the auditory canal for reception of signals from said transmitter assembly, the improvement comprising: said receiver assembly having a width along its entire length less than the diameter of the auditory canal whereby said auditory canal is substantially open and unblocked to allow environmental sounds to pass unopposed completely therethrough.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
78 words
A hearing aid device including a transmitter assembly for detecting audible sounds, and a receiver assembly placed in the outer ear of the wearer with the transducer within the auditory canal for reception of signals from said transmitter assembly, the improvement comprising: said receiver assembly having a width along its entire length less than the diameter of the auditory canal whereby said auditory canal is substantially open and unblocked to allow environmental sounds to pass unopposed completely therethrough.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The hearing aid device of claim 11 wherein said receiver assembly comprises a pliable housing.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The hearing aid device of claim 12 and including a bendable wire, said bendable wire embedded in said pliable housing.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2485405A
Cited
US3209081A
Cited
US3894195A
Cited
US4259547A
Cited
US4334315A
Cited
US4340972A
Cited
US4379088A
Cited
US4379988A
Cited
US4472603A
Cited
US4539440A
Cited
US4790019A
Cited
US4918736A
Cited
US4742887A
Cited
US4777474A
Cited
US4918737A
Cited
US4890330A
Cited
US4920570A
Cited
DE3826294A1
Cited
US5031219A
Cited
US5172346A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-08-29 | 1998-02-28 | 1998-08-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-08-29 | 2002-02-28 | 2002-08-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-08-29 | 2006-02-28 | 2006-08-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |