EP1480493B1 - Housing construction for hearing devices and hearing aids - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a housing construction for hearing aids resp. Hearing aids according to the preamble of claim 1.

The electronic and mechanical components, such as the amplification electronics, microphones, speakers and controls, hearing aids resp. Hearing aids are usually installed in a housing which has a base plate with housing shells arranged thereon. The mechanical control components are usually guided through openings in the housing to the outside. In particular, a closable by a lid battery compartment is usually formed so that exchanged for the provision of electrical power to the electronic components in the device battery replaced. can be replaced.

These electronic and mechanical components can be used for all types of hearing aids resp. Hearing aids are used, for example, for behind the ear to be worn devices as well as for in-ear hearing aids. Especially with the latter, high demands are placed on miniaturization due to the very limited space available. Nevertheless, by using standardized such components, economical production can be achieved. Since the outer shape resp. Shape of these devices must be adapted to the respective carrier, in particular in in-ear hearing aids, the shape is created by different, possibly individually designed housing shells. The electronic and mechanical components are usually connected to the base plate of the device, which have at least one unified area for receiving these components.

Here, there is the problem that, depending on the material and possibly dimensions of the housing shells and in particular the base plate, these components can not be optimally secured, which can lead to premature damage and defects of the device concerned. Further, in particular, the attachment of elements leading to the outside, in particular of movable lids of openings, such as the battery cover of the battery compartment, often problematic and either leads to a failure-prone and unstable connection or leads to a load on the electronic or other mechanical components, which Functionality of the device can affect.

The document WO 99/27755 shows a modular in-the-ear hearing device with a base plate and a carrier frame which can be inserted into it from the outside and which is provided for receiving the battery. The base plate is glued to the housing shell.

The object of the present invention was to provide a housing construction for hearing aids resp. To find hearing aids, which on the one hand a high flexibility in the design of the external shape and material and color of the housing of the hearing aid allows and at the same time a stable connection, respectively. Holder to be arranged within the housing electronic resp. guaranteed mechanical components.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a housing construction having the features of claim 1 solved. Further, preferred embodiments will become apparent from the features of claims 2 to 8.

In a housing construction for hearing aids resp. Hearing aids, with a base plate and releasably attached housing shell, the base plate having one or more openings arranged on the outside, the base plate according to the invention in the region of the openings to the inside directed recesses or guides and at least one usable in these recesses or guides separate support frame and Connecting means for connecting the support frame to the base plate.

For the attachment of the electronic and / or mechanical components in the device in question, a support frame is advantageously provided which can be optimized for this attachment on the one hand and these components allows a stable and durable connection and on the other hand also optimizes a connection to different materials, colors or shapes Base plates provides. In comparison to the direct attachment of the components to the base plate can be ensured by appropriate choice of material increased stability. Furthermore, the carrier frame can also be universally used for various devices and therefore produce and use economically in large quantities.

Preferably, the support frame consists of a hard, adhesive plastic or metal and is provided with recesses for receiving or performing electronic or provided mechanical components. In particular, the opening areas for the implementation of mechanical components or temporary electrical connections are subject to special loads and can be reinforced by the support frame.

Preferably, furthermore, the support frame has at least one continuous recess with an axis spanning the recess, respectively. Bridge on. Resp. Bridge pivotable elements, such as a lid or battery compartment can be fixed mechanically reliable. The forces exerted on it are primarily absorbed by the carrier frame and distributed to the base plate.

Preferably, the axis resp. Metal bridge and is used and held in formed on the support frame recesses or holes. Such an axis can be advantageous as a stable and resilient rotary resp. Swivel axis serve for a lid.

Preferably, the end faces of the axis resp. Bridge in the installed state of the support frame in the base plate to be directed against the base plate, and are preferably directed against the side walls of the recesses of the base plate or get against them in abutment. Thus, the axle is secured in the installed state of the support frame against unintentional or autonomous loosening, but can still be easily pre-assembled in the support frame.

Preferably, the connecting means are designed as a screw connection, preferably as a through a corresponding hole in the support frame performed and in a arranged on the underside of the base plate threaded hole insertable screw. Thus, the support frame can be easily and reliably releasably connected to the base plate. Even a later replacement of the support frame is simply possible after opening the device.

Preferably, alternatively, the connecting means are formed as a snap connection, preferably formed on the support frame and in accordance with the bottom of the base plate correspondingly formed openings resilient latching tongues. Thus, the support frame can be advantageously connected without tools to the base plate.

Preferably, electrical contact tongues are formed on the support frame. These reeds can, for example, be brought into resilient connection with batteries inserted in the relevant area and supply the components of the device with power. The contact tongues can also be used as contacts for the programming of the electronic modules of the hearing aid, wherein these contact tongues are advantageously arranged set back inwards.

Furthermore, according to the invention, a hearing aid resp. Hearing aid proposed with a housing construction according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the base plate and the support frame made of different material.

A big advantage of the modular structure is that it has a different structure for individual designs Base plates and housing shells same support frame can be used. It is thus for example also easily possible to replace the support frame in an existing housing by trained service personnel and replace it with another support frame with new contacts and with new components. The other support frame can already be prefabricated with the new components, so that such an exchange can be made with a very small amount of time.

• Fig. 1 die Schnittansicht von oben auf den Bereich der Grundplatte einer erfindungsgemässen Gehäusekonstruktion mit Trägerrahmen in der Montageposition;
• Fig. 2 die Ansicht des Trägerrahmens gemäss Figur 1;
• Fig. 3 die Schnittansicht gemäss Figur 1 mit dem Trägerrahmen in der montierten Endposition; und
• Fig. 4 eine Schnittansicht von unten auf den Trägerrahmen in der Montageposition.

An embodiment of the present invention will be explained below with reference to the figures. Show it

• Figure 1 is a sectional view from above of the area of the base plate of an inventive housing construction with support frame in the mounting position.
• FIG. 2 shows the view of the carrier frame according to FIG. 1; FIG.
• 3 shows the sectional view according to FIG. 1 with the carrier frame in the assembled end position; and
• Fig. 4 is a sectional view from below of the support frame in the mounting position.

FIG. 1 shows the sectional view from above of the region of the base plate 1 with openings 2 of a hearing device leading to the outside. Below the openings 2, ie on the inside of the hearing aid, a support frame 3 is shown, which in below the Openings 2 formed recesses 4 resp. Guides can be used.

The support frame 3 is preferably made of a hard, dimensionally stable plastic and has corresponding openings 2 of the base plate 1 formed recesses 5, 5 'respectively. 5 ", as shown in Figure 2 in the plan view of the support frame 3 can be seen.

The recesses 5, 5 'resp. 5 "are adapted to the openings 2 of the base plate 1, respectively, and correspond to the mechanical components of the hearing device leading to the outside through these openings 2 or recesses 5, 5 'and 5", respectively.

For example, a rectangular recess 5 is provided with a pin 6 extending transversely to the opening. This pin 6 can (not shown) serve as a rotation axis for a battery holder designed as a lid. Due to the storage in the support frame 3 so that a stable and resilient hinge is formed for such a lid. The forces exerted on such a lid during opening and closing are advantageously first introduced into the stable support frame 3 and only then transferred to the base plate 1.

Electrically conductive contact tongues 7 can be attached directly to the support frame 3 in order to come into contact with the battery or programming plug (not shown) to be inserted into the region of the recess 5.

FIG. 3 shows the carrier frame 3 inserted in its end position in the base plate 1. Due to the offset mounting position of the support frame 3, this is after Not practically visible on the outside. Thus, the support frame 3 may be executed in any standardized color, while the base plate 1 may have an individual material and color, which is visible from the outside and is not affected by the support frame 3.

In Figure 4, in the bottom view, i. from the interior of the housing of the hearing aid ago, a screw 8 shown as a connecting means for the support frame 3 with the base plate 1. The screw 8 can be screwed into a formed in the base plate 1 threaded hole 9 and thus ensures a stable, releasable connection.

It is clear to the person skilled in the art that the base plate 1 can also be understood to mean a region of a part of a housing shell serving as the base plate.

Claims (9)

1. Housing construction for hearing devices or hearing aids respectively with a faceplate (1) and shell detachably arranged to said faceplate, said faceplate (1) providing one or more openings (2) directed to the outside, characterized in that said faceplate (1) is provided with recesses or guidance (4), arranged in the region of the openings (2) and directed to the inside, as well as at least one separate support frame (3) insertable into said recesses or guidance (4) and connecting means (8;9), for connecting said support frame (3) with said faceplate (1).
2. Housing construction according claim 1, characterized in that the support frame (3) consists of a stiff plastic or metal and is provided with recesses (5,5',5'') for the reception or guidance of electronic or mechanical components.
3. Housing construction according claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the support frame (3) comprises at least one persistent recess (5) with an axis or bridge (6) overarching said recess.
4. Housing construction according claim 3, characterized in that the axis or bridge (6) consists of metal and is inserted and hold within a recess or bore arranged on the support frame (3).
5. Housing construction according claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the front face of the axis or bridge (6) is directed towards the faceplate (1) in the assembled condition of the support frame (3) in the faceplate (1), preferably directed towards the sidewalls of the recesses or guides (4) of faceplate (1) or stand firmly against said sidewalls.
6. Housing construction according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the connecting means (8;9) are provided as screw joints, preferably as screw (8) guided through a respective bore arranged in support frame (3) and insertable into a tapped bore (9) arranged at the underside of faceplate (1).
7. Housing construction according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the connecting means (8;9) are provided as snap connections, preferably with holding tongues arranged at the support frame (3) and resiliently engaging into respectively formed openings provided at the underside of faceplate (1).
8. Housing construction according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that electrical contacting tongues (7) are arranged at support frame (3).
9. Hearing device or hearing aid respectively with a housing construction according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the faceplate (1) and the support frame (3) consist of different material and color.

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