EP2003930A2 - Hearing aid with connecting piece attached to case frame - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a connecting piece (10) for connecting a sound outlet of a receiver to a sound channel of a wearing hook. The connecting piece directly fastens to a housing frame. The housing frame in which the receiver and the wearing hook are fastened. The connecting piece is made of metal or ceramic. The housing frame includes two housing halves (30, 31) held together by the connecting piece. A recess (32) is formed within the two halves in order to fit the connecting piece in a form-fit fashion into the recess.

Description

The present invention relates to a hearing aid for carrying behind the ear with a handset having a sound outlet, a carrying hook having a sound channel, a connector for connecting the sound outlet of the listener with the sound channel of the support hook and a housing frame in which the listener and to which the carrying hook is attached.

Hearing aids are portable hearing aids that are used to care for the hearing impaired. In order to meet the numerous individual needs, different types of hearing aids such as behind-the-ear hearing aids (BTE) and in-the-ear hearing aids (Id0), e.g. also Concha hearing aids or canal hearing aids (CIC), provided. The hearing aids listed by way of example are worn on the outer ear or in the ear canal. In addition, bone conduction hearing aids, implantable or vibrotactile hearing aids are also available on the market. The stimulation of the damaged hearing takes place either mechanically or electrically.

Hearing aids have in principle as essential components an input transducer, an amplifier and an output transducer. The input transducer is usually a sound receiver, z. As a microphone, and / or an electromagnetic receiver, for. B. an induction coil. The output transducer is usually used as an electroacoustic transducer, z. As miniature speaker, or as an electromechanical transducer, z. B. bone conduction, realized. The amplifier is usually integrated in a signal processing unit. This basic structure is in FIG. 1 shown using the example of a behind-the-ear hearing aid. In a hearing aid housing 1 for carrying behind the ear, one or more microphones 2 for receiving the sound from the environment are installed. A signal processing unit 3, also in the hearing aid housing 1, processes the microphone signals and amplifies them. The output signal of the signal processing unit 3 is transmitted to a loudspeaker or earpiece 4, which outputs an acoustic signal. The sound is optionally transmitted via a carrying hook 6 and a sound tube, which is fixed with an earmold in the ear canal, to the eardrum of the device carrier. The power supply of the hearing device and in particular of the signal processing unit 3 is carried out by a likewise integrated into the hearing aid housing 1 battery. 5

For special types of BTE hearing aids, the housing consists of a frame and housing covers attached thereto. The frame absorbs all forces that act on the hearing aid from the outside, and it gives the hearing aid components the necessary support.

As a rule, a wearing hook 6 suitable for the hearing aid wearer is attached to the hearing aid housing or frame on a BTE hearing aid. The carrying hook 6 has inside a sound channel 7, via which the sound is passed from the hearing aid to the auditory canal. Therefore, a connection piece is necessary at the interface between the hearing aid housing or frame and the carrying hook, with which a sound conducting piece in the hearing aid housing can be connected to the sound channel in the carrying hook. For hearing aids with frame this connector is usually integrated into the frame. This means that the connector is made of the same plastic as the frame, as it is usually the frame is a plastic injection molded part. A disadvantage of such frame structures with integrated connector is that such a connector is not subject to stable and high wear. It must not only absorb triggering and twisting forces, but can also survive a multiple release of the hearing aid housing from the support hook, for example, to clean or maintain the components.

The frame construction has the advantage that the hearing aid can be made simpler and faster, because the interior of the frame is open for placing and fixing the hearing aid components from several sides until the cover shells are applied to the frame at the end of production.

From the publication DE 103 33 293 A1 is a fitting for hearing aid wearing hooks known that allows a narrow design of the hearing aid in the transition region between the support hook and the device housing. The one-piece, metallic, traversed by a sound channel connector has a mounting piece, a stop and a terminal strap, so that forces acting on the connector over several areas of the connector can be introduced into the housing of the hearing aid. Furthermore, the patent discloses DE 43 27 634 C1 a behind the ear to be worn hearing aid device with manufacturing technology and acoustically improved support member attachment. A coupled with a transducer, fixed in the housing nozzle is torsionally secure releasably connected via a snap-in and sealing connection with the support member.

Furthermore, the post-published publication describes DE 10 2006 029 819 A1 a hearing aid with a fastening for a receiver tube. The connection piece is connected to a receiver device via the receiver tube in order to guide an acoustic signal generated by the receiver device to an acoustic output of the hearing device. The receiver tube and the connecting piece are designed as a plug connection and are connected to one another in an acoustically tight manner. The listener tube and the connector have at least one projection that is configured to hold the earphone tube to the connector. A connection portion may be formed as a separate insert or alternatively in one piece with the housing.

The object of the present invention is thus to provide a BTE hearing aid in which the carrying hook can be stably fixed and released several times without major wear.

According to the invention this object is achieved by a hearing aid for carrying behind the ear with a handset having a sound outlet, a carrying hook having a sound channel, a connector for connecting the sound outlet of the listener with the sound channel of the support hook and a housing frame in which Handset and to which the carrying hook is attached, wherein the connecting piece consists largely of metal or ceramic and is attached directly to the housing frame.

Advantageously, the fitting, which is largely made of metal or ceramic, allows a stable, detachable connection of the support hook of a hearing aid with the frame construction. Thus, the trigger and twisting forces are derived from the carrying hook in the frame. In addition, the sound channels of the hook and hearing device are connected and sealed by the connector.

In a specific embodiment, the housing frame is formed in two halves. As a result, the fastening of hearing device components during manufacture is further simplified. Preferably, then the two halves of the housing frame are held together by the connector. In this way, the connector receives in addition to the functions "stable holding the carrying hook" and "transfer of sound" the third function "holding the housing halves". Thus, it is possible to dispense with special mounting parts, which serve exclusively for fastening the housing halves together.

In a further advantageous embodiment, it is provided that the housing frame is pinned to the connector. This pinning is particularly favorable in terms of assembly time.

In a further development, a recess can be formed by the two halves of the housing frame, in which the connector is positively, rotatably fitted, each half is pinned each with a single pin perpendicular to the fitting with the connector. As a result, the torsional strength of the connection piece or carrying hook is improved relative to the frame.

According to another embodiment, a pipe socket of the connector, which protrudes into the housing frame, be bendable. This allows better account of the space available in the rack.

In addition, it may be advantageous if the connector is injected into a part of the housing frame. With this measure, in turn, the assembly times can be shortened, but also increase the stability.

FIG 1

eine Prinzipskizze mit den wesentlichen Komponenten eines Hörgeräts;

FIG 2

eine Längsseitenansicht eines erfindungsgemäßen Anschlussstücks;

FIG 3

einen Stirnseitenansicht des Anschlussstücks von FIG 2;

FIG 4

eine Längsseitenansicht des Anschlussstücks von FIG 2 um 90° axial gedreht;

FIG 5

einen Schnitt durch das Anschlussstück von FIG 4;

FIG 6

ein Anschlussstück gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung in der Längsseitenansicht;

FIG 7

das Anschlussstück von FIG 6 in der Stirnseitenansicht;

FIG 8

eine Draufsicht auf das Anschlussstück von FIG 6;

FIG 9

eine Schnittansicht des Anschlussstücks von FIG 8;

FIG 10

eine Explosionsdarstellung eines Hörgeräterahmens mit Anschlussstück;

FIG 11

den Hörgeräterahmen mit Anschlussstück von FIG 10 im montierten Zustand;

FIG 12

eine Explosionsdarstellung eines anderen Hörgeräterahmens mit dem Anschlussstück von FIG 6 und

FIG 13

den Hörgeräterahmen mit dem Anschlussstück von FIG 12 im montierten Zustand.

The present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1

a schematic diagram with the essential components of a hearing aid;

FIG. 2

a longitudinal side view of a connector according to the invention;

FIG. 3

an end view of the connector of FIG. 2 ;

FIG. 4

a longitudinal side view of the connector of FIG. 2 rotated axially by 90 °;

FIG. 5

a section through the connector of FIG. 4 ;

FIG. 6

a connector according to another embodiment of the present invention in the longitudinal side view;

FIG. 7

the connector of FIG. 6 in frontal view;

FIG. 8

a plan view of the connector of FIG. 6 ;

FIG. 9

a sectional view of the connector of FIG. 8 ;

FIG. 10

an exploded view of a hearing aid frame with connector;

FIG. 11

The hearing aid frame with connector of FIG. 10 in the assembled state;

FIG. 12

an exploded view of another hearing aid frame with the connector of FIG. 6 and

FIG. 13

the hearing aid frame with the fitting of FIG. 12 in the assembled state.

The embodiments described in more detail below represent preferred embodiments of the present invention.

In the FIGS. 2 to 5 a first variant of a connector according to the invention is shown. FIG. 2 shows this connector 10 in the longitudinal side view. It is substantially tubular and has a flange 11, which in turn is provided with mounting holes 12. These mounting holes 12 are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the connector. The flange 11 separates a threaded part 13 of a pipe socket 14. At the threaded portion 13 of the support hook of the hearing aid is screwed. The pipe socket 14, however, serves to connect a receiver directly or a sound tube to the listener of the hearing aid leads. With the flange 11, the connector 10 is attached to a device frame of the hearing aid (see FIGS. 10 to 13 ).

FIG. 3 shows a view of the connector 10 from the side of the earpiece 14. It can be seen that the flange 11 is formed substantially square with rounded corners. This shape ensures security against rotation when the connector 10 is installed in the device frame. Furthermore, in FIG. 3 to recognize the sound channel 15 through the connector 10.

FIG. 4 shows the connector 10 of FIG. 2 in the plan view. In FIG. 4 a section line VV is drawn. The corresponding section is in FIG. 5 played. It shows the contour of the flange 11 and the two mutually parallel mounting holes 12. In addition, the two mounting holes 12 perpendicular sound channel 15 can be seen.

In the FIGS. 6 to 9 a further variant of a connector is shown. FIG. 6 shows this connector 20 in the longitudinal side view. As in the previous variant, a flange 21 with a mounting hole 22 also separates a threaded part 23 from a pipe socket 24. The flange 21 again has an approximately square shape, with two corners of the square being chamfered. This is in FIG. 7 to recognize. The mounting hole 22 passes through those corners that are not phased.

Further shows FIG. 6 the pipe socket 24, whose axis is slightly inclined relative to the axis of the threaded portion 23. Optionally, this pipe socket 24 can be bent individually. As a result, the connector 20 can be better adapted to the structural conditions within the hearing aid. Also in FIG. 7 is the inclination of the pipe socket 24, which has the sound channel 25, recognizable.

FIG. 8 shows the connector of FIG. 6 in the plan view. In the figure, a section IX - IX drawn by the flange 21. FIG. 9 shows the corresponding sectional view. This also shows the mounting hole 22 which extends in the non-chamfered portion of the flange 21 and is also perpendicular to the sound channel 25.

FIG. 10 now shows how the connector 10 of the FIGS. 2 to 5 to be mounted in a rack. The device frame here consists of two device halves 30, 31. They each have a recess 32, 33. These two recesses 32 and 33 have in the assembled state of the two housing halves 30 and 31 an inner contour corresponding to the outer contour of the flange 11 of the connector 10.

The two housing halves 30 and 31 also each have a bore 34, 35. In each of these holes 34, 35, a pin 36 is inserted for mounting the connector 10. The pins 36 penetrate during assembly and the mounting holes 12 of the connector 10th

FIG. 11 shows the hearing aid housing or a part thereof (the housing halves 30 and 31 are as in FIG. 10 not completely shown) in the assembled state. It can be seen how the flange 11 of the connector 10 is positively and rotationally in the corresponding recess 32, 33 of the frame halves 30, 31 fitted. Since the pins 36 are inserted not only through the holes 34, 35 of the housing halves 30, 31, but also through the mounting holes 12 of the connector 10, the housing halves 30, 31 are held together by the connector 10.

In the FIGS. 12 and 13 another embodiment of the present invention is shown. In a one-piece housing frame 40, which in turn is not completely drawn here, is according to FIG. 12 the fitting 20 of the FIGS. 6 to 9 with the help of two screws 41 to screw. A recess 42 in the housing frame 40 has an inner contour, which corresponds to the outer contour of the flange 21 of the connecting piece 20. In addition, 40 holes 43 and 44 are provided in the side walls of the frame through which the screws 41 are guided.

In FIG. 13 the housing frame 40 and the connector 20 is shown in the assembled state. The two screws 41 are screwed through the holes 43, 44 in the mounting hole 22 (here with internal thread) after the connector 20 has been fitted into the recess 43 in the direction of the sound channel 25. The special contour of the recess 42 and the flange 21 ensure that the connection piece 20 is automatically brought into the correct position during assembly before screwing. In addition, these contours provide a protection against twisting when the wearing hook of the hearing aid is screwed onto the threaded portion 23 or unscrewed from it. The screws 41 also offer a twist protection. But they ensure primarily the fixation of the connector 20 in the axial direction, ie in the fitting direction.

Thus, the two embodiments allow a frame construction for a hearing aid with removable cover shells, so that a faster production of the hearing aid is possible. In addition, they offer the possibility to use a very stable connector 10, 20, for example, metal or ceramic. If appropriate, this connection piece 10, 20 can also be injected into the frame 40 or a frame half 30, 31.

Claims (7)

Hearing aid for carrying behind the ear with a receiver (4) having a sound outlet, a carrying hook (6) having a sound channel (7), - A connector (10, 20) for connecting the sound outlet of the receiver (4) with the sound channel (7) of the carrying hook (6) and a housing frame (30, 31, 40) in which the receiver (4) and to which the carrying hook (6) is attached, characterized in that - The connector (10, 20) consists largely of metal or ceramic and directly to the housing frame (30, 31, 40) is attached. Hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the housing frame (30, 31; 40) has two halves. Hearing aid according to claim 2, wherein the two halves of the housing frame (30, 31, 40) are held together by the connecting piece (10, 20). Hearing aid according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing frame (30, 31, 40) with the connecting piece (10, 20) is pinned. Hearing aid according to claim 3 and 4, wherein a recess (32, 33) is formed by the two halves of the housing frame (30, 31, 40), in which the connecting piece (10, 20) is positively fitted, and wherein each half with a single pin (36) perpendicular to the fitting direction with the connector (10, 20) is pinned. Hearing aid according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a pipe socket (14, 24) of the connecting piece, which projects into the housing frame (30, 31, 40), is bendable. Hearing aid according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the connection piece is injected into a part of the housing frame.

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