AU2015100145A4 - Structure for holding Life Tubes - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates in general to a component of a hearing aid known as a life tube. In particular, the invention provides a structure for holding life tubes, the structure comprising spaced apart mountings, each mounting being configured to releasably hold one or more life tubes thereto. 2 of 3 ~~wxM \% .. . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Description

- 1 STRUCTURE FOR HOLDING LIFE TUBES Field of the Invention 5 The present invention relates in general to a component of a hearing aid known as a life tube. In particular, the invention relates to a structure for holding life tubes for subsequent use in the manufacture or repair of hearing aids. Background of the Invention 10 Hearing aids are widely used in modern society and make a significant contribution to the quality of life of those who are hearing impaired. There are numerous hearing aid designs, but most share several common features such as 15 those illustrated in Figure 1. With reference to Figure 1, a typical hearing aid includes a program button (10), a rear microphone (20), a battery compartment (30), a front microphone (40), and a life tube (50), which presents a retention lock (60), and a dome (70) that fits in the ear canal and provides a sound outlet (80). The design of life tubes per se can vary, but they typically have similar design features to the isolated life tube 20 presented in Figure 2, including a tubular portion(s) (10). Life tubes are commonly sold as an individual component or part that is then used in the manufacture or repair of hearing aids. The tubes are sold in different sizes and/or with different specifications and a hearing aid manufacturer or repairer will typically have 25 numerous different life tubes on hand. To assist with the manufacture or repair of a hearing aid, the different life tubes are commonly grouped in relevant categories and held in draws of a small cabinet, with each grouped category being held in separate draws. While this technique of holding/storing life tubes has been used for many years, it is 30 problematic in the sense that owing to their shape tubes in a given draw become entangled and must be separated when a single tube is required. The process of separating the entangled tubes not only takes time but it also can result in the tubes being damaged unless considerable care is taken.

-2 An opportunity therefore remains to develop an improved technique and structure for holding and the storage of life tubes. 5 Summary of the Invention The present invention provides a structure for holding life tubes, the structure comprising spaced apart mountings, each mounting being configured to releasably hold one or more life tubes thereto. 10 The present invention also provides an assembly comprising the structure according to the invention and life tubes releasably mounted to the mountings. As a result of the structure according to the invention comprising spaced apart mountings, 15 the life tubes can advantageously be mounted individually in a spaced apart fashion that prevents them from becoming entangled. The tubes can therefore be readily released without damage from the mountings making removal of a selected tube from the structure quick and simple. 20 Each mounting may comprise a depression into which a tubular portion of the life tube is receivable such that the life tube is mounted to the mounting. In one embodiment, the mountings are provided on a substantially rigid sheet member. 25 The structure may comprise one or more substantially rigid sheet members configured with said mountings. In one embodiment, the depressions may be formed in the one or more sheet member. 30 In a further embodiment, the sheet members consist of two sheet members which are arranged so as to converge.

-3 In another embodiment, one or more of the mountings are provided by a cutout section in the one or more rigid sheet member. In that case, the cutout section will typically be formed in the sheet member. 5 Each mounting may comprise a cutout section into which a tubular portion of the life tube is receivable such that the life tube is mounted to the mounting. In a further embodiment, one or more of the cutout sections are in the form of a slot. 10 The slot will typically be formed in the sheet member. In another embodiment, the slot has a plurality of spaced apart depressions in and along one of its longest edges, with each depression being configured to accommodate and hold part of a life tube. Each mounting may therefore comprise a slot into which a tubular 15 portion of the life tube is receivable such that the life tube is mounted to the mounting. In one embodiment, the mountings are arranged in groups. In further embodiment, two or more of the slots are arranged substantially parallel to each 20 other. In another embodiment, each slot in the sheet member has a plurality of spaced apart depressions in and along one of its longest edges, with each depression being configured to accommodate and hold part of a life tube. 25 In yet another embodiment, each mounting opens upwardly whereby a tubular portion of a said life tube is downwardly receivable therein such that the life tube is releasably mounted to the mounting. 30 In a further embodiment, each mounting holds a life tube having a different characteristic. In another embodiment, one or more mountings each have indicia associated with it that is -4 located on the sheet member and identifies a characteristic of a life tube held in that mounting. In yet another embodiment, the mountings are arranged in groups where each group is 5 labelled such that at least one characteristic of the life tube(s) mounted to the mountings therein is indicated, a said characteristic of the life tube(s) mounted to the mounting(s) in one group differing from a said characteristic of the life tube(s) mounted to the mounting(s) in the or each other group. 10 The groups may be labelled to indicate the size of the life tube(s) mounted to the mounting(s) therein. The groups may be labelled to indicate the handedness of the life tube(s) mounted to the mounting(s) therein. 15 The or each sheet member may be arranged so as to be substantially upright. The structure may comprise at least two sheet members which are interconnected and arranged to lie in different planes whereby the structure is resistant to toppling. 20 The structure may comprise a topple resistant, ground engaging base. In one embodiment, the rigid sheet member is aligned in the structure substantially vertically with one or more of the slots being aligned perpendicular to the vertical. 25 In another embodiment, the structure comprises a ground-engaging base to facilitate the vertical alignment of the rigid sheet member. Each mounting may provide an aperture that is open and through which one or more of the 30 life tubes can be inserted so as to be receivable by those mountings. In a further embodiment, the sheet member is made of plastic, metal, wood or a -5 combination thereof. The structure according to the invention may be in the form of a display and/or storage structure. 5 Brief Description of the Drawings 10 Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be illustrated by way of example only with reference to the accompanying Drawings in which: Figure 1 illustrates features of a typical hearing aid; 15 Figure 2 illustrates a typical life tube; Figure 3 illustrates a mounting in a rigid sheet member according to an embodiment of the invention; 20 Figure 4 illustrates a plurality of mountings in a rigid sheet member according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 5 illustrates a structure according to an embodiment of the invention comprising a rigid sheet member which is aligned vertically with the aid of a footing; and 25 Figure 6 illustrates a structure according to an embodiment of the invention, the structure comprising spaced apart mountings and life tubes, where the mountings releasably hold life tubes. 30 Detailed Description of the Invention The structure according to the invention comprises spaced apart mountings that enable the -6 life tubes to advantageously be mounted individually in a spaced apart fashion, which inturn prevents them from becoming entangled. The tubes can therefore be readily released without damage from the mountings making removal of a selected tube from the structure quick and simple. 5 By a "life tube" is meant a life tube for a hearing aid. By the structure comprising "mountings" is meant the structure has two or more features on each of which a life tube may be hung, mounted or held, much in the same the way an 10 object may be hung or held in place by a mounting located on or in a wall. The term "mounting(s)" is not intended to embrace a storage object such as a draw. The mountings may be provided on/in a substantially rigid sheet member. The sheet member may be may made from wood, plastic, metal or a combination thereof. 15 One or more of the mountings may be provided by a cutout section in the rigid sheet member. By a "cutout section" providing for a mounting is meant the sheet member presents an edge that (i) is formed after a piece of the sheet is cut away, and (ii) forms part of the mounting. 20 The cut out section may be provided in the form of a slot. By a "slot" is meant a long, narrow aperture or slit cutout section in the sheet member. The dimensions of the cutout section that form the slot will present at least two long edges and two short edges creating an open section or aperture through which one or more life tubes can pass. 25 Each mounting may comprise a depression or trough into which a tubular portion of the life tube is receivable such that the life tube is mounted to the mounting. Each slot may have a plurality of spaced apart depressions or troughs in and along one of 30 its longest edges, with each depression or trough being configured to accommodate and hold part of a life tube.

-7 Those skilled in the art will appreciate that life tubes are typically sold having numerous specifications such as size and handedness. In providing a structure that mounts numerous different life tubes, it can be convenient to group like life tubes in one mounting and include written indicia on the structure to help identify the location and type of those life 5 tubes. Accordingly, each mounting may have indicia associated with it that is located on the sheet member and identifies a specification of a life tube held in each mounting. Figure 3 shows a mounting in accordance with the invention provided on a substantially rigid sheet member (10). The mounting is provided in the form of a slot (20), and the slot 10 has a plurality of spaced apart depressions (30), where each depression (30) is configured to accommodate and hold part of a life tube (not shown). In Figure 3, the mounting slot (20) can accommodate 10 life tubes (not shown), as determined by the number of spaced apart depressions (30). The mounting slot (20) has written indicia (40) associated with it that is located on the sheet member (10) and identifies a specification of a life tube to be 15 held therein (not shown). The structure according to the invention comprises two or more spaced apart mountings, each of which can accommodate one or more spaced apart life tubes. Typically, each mounting will accommodate a plurality of spaced apart life tubes. 20 The structure will typically comprise 2-20, or 2-16, or 2-12 mountings. Each mounting will typically hold, or be capable of holding, 1-50, or 1-30, or 1-20, or 5-20 life tubes. 25 Where the mounting is in the form of a slot which has a plurality of spaced apart depressions, the number of depressions will typically range from 2-50, or 2-30, or 2-20, or 5-20. 30 Figure 4 shows a structure in accordance with the invention where 12 mounting slots (20) are provided on sheet members (10). Each mounting slot (20) has 10 spaced apart depressions (30). Each mounting slot (20) may hold one or more life tubes that have a -8 different specification. Each mounting slot (20) has written indicia (40) associated with it that is located on the sheet members (10) and identifies a specification or chracateristic of a life tube to be held therein (not shown). Each depression (30) is configured to accommodate and hold part of a life tube, for example a tubular portion. Each depression 5 (30) in a given mounting slot (20) may be configured according to the characteristic of the life tube it is to receive. For example, the size (such as its depth and/or width) of the depressions (30) in each mounting slot (20) can be varied to accommodate different life tube characteristic. At least some of mounting slots (20) are aligned parallel to each other. 10 The sheet member of the structure may be aligned substantially vertically. The structure may comprise a ground-engaging base or footing to facilitate (i) the vertical alignment of the sheet member(s), and (ii) toppling of the sheet members. One or more of the slots may be aligned perpendicular to the vertical. 15 Figure 5 shows a structure according to the invention where the sheet member (10) is aligned substantially vertically with the aid of a ground-engaging base or footing (20). Here the mounting slots (30) are aligned perpendicular to the vertical. Figure 6 illustrates a structure in accordance with the invention showing 3 mounting slots 20 (20) provided on a sheet member (10). Each mounting slot (20) has 10 spaced apart depressions (30). Two of the mounting slots (20) are holding 10 life tubes (50) each, with each life tube (50) being accommodated in the spaced apart depressions (30). The third mounting slot (20) is not holding any life tubes. Each mounting slot (20) has written indicia (40) associated with it that is located on the sheet member (10) and identifies a 25 specification or characteristic of a life tube to be held therein. Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps 30 but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

-9 The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of 5 endeavour to which this specification relates.

Claims (20)

1. A structure for holding life tubes, the structure comprising spaced apart mountings, each mounting being configured to releasably hold one or more life tubes thereto.

2. The structure according to claim 1, wherein each mounting comprises a depression into which a tubular portion of the life tube is receivable such that the life tube is mounted to the mounting.

3. The structure according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein each mounting comprises a cutout section into which a tubular portion of the life tube is receivable such that the life tube is mounted to the mounting.

4. The structure according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each mounting comprises a slot into which a tubular portion of the life tube is receivable such that the life tube is mounted to the mounting.

5. The structure according to any one of the preceding claims comprising one or more substantially rigid sheet members configured with said mountings.

6. The structure according to claim 5 when appended to claim 2, wherein the depressions are formed in said sheet(s) member.

7. The structure according to claim 5 when appended to claim 3, wherein the cutout section is formed in said sheet(s) member.

8. The structure according to claim 5 when appended to claim 4, wherein the slot is formed in said sheet(s) member.

9. The structure according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the or each sheet member is arranged so as to be substantially upright. - 11

10. The structure according to claim 9 comprising at least two said sheet members which are interconnected and arranged to lie in different planes whereby the structure is resistant to toppling.

11. The structure according to claim 10, wherein said sheet members consist of two sheet members which are arranged so as to converge.

12. The structure according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each mounting opens upwardly whereby a tubular portion of a said life tube is downwardly receivable therein such that the life tube is releasably mounted to the mounting.

13. The structure according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mountings are arranged in groups.

14. The structure according to claim 13, wherein each group is labelled such that at least one characteristic of the life tube(s) mounted to the mountings therein is indicated, a said characteristic of the life tube(s) mounted to the mounting(s) in one group differing from a said characteristic of the life tube(s) mounted to the mounting(s) in the or each other group.

15. The structure according to claim 14, wherein the groups are labelled to indicate the size of the life tube(s) mounted to the mounting(s) therein.

16. The structure according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the groups are labelled to indicate the handedness of the life tube(s) mounted to the mounting(s) therein.

17. The structure according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each mounting provides an aperture that is open and through which one or more of the life tubes can be inserted so as to be receivable by those mountings.

18. The structure according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a topple-resistant, ground-engaging base. - 12

19. The structure according to any one of the preceding claims, being a display and/or storage structure.

20. An assembly comprising the structure according to any one of the preceding claims and life tubes releasably mounted to said mountings.