JP3431501B2 - hearing aid - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hearing aid having a concept completely different from that of a conventional portable hearing aid .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Broadly speaking, the types of hearing aids are roughly divided into ear-hook type in which a case incorporating a microphone and a volume control mechanism is hung on the ear, a microphone and a volume control mechanism are housed in a capsule, and the capsule is inserted into an ear hole. There are two types, the ear type and the box type that incorporates a microphone and volume control mechanism in a box-shaped case that fits in your chest pocket.

The hearing aid according to the present invention is different from the above-mentioned types of hearing aids in appearance and usage, but since it seems to be close to a box-type hearing aid, a conventional box-type hearing aid is shown in FIG. explain. In a conventional box-type hearing aid, various functional members are incorporated in a thin case 100 that is sized to fit in a chest pocket, and a power source is provided on an upper end surface 101 which is exposed from the chest pocket when placed in the chest pocket or comes to a position where operation is easy. A switch 102, a microphone sound hole 103 for capturing an external sound, and a volume adjusting dial 104 are provided, and the sound quality changeover switch 1 is provided on one side surface.
05, a receptacle 106 for a closed earphone and a receptacle 107 for external input for listening to the sound of a television or a radio are provided.

[0004]

When the box-type hearing aid described above is used by an aged person or a sick person who spends a lot of time in bed, there are the following inconveniences. Caregivers who care for the elderly and the sick are also often elderly and have similar problems when used by the caregivers themselves.

First, in the conventional box-type hearing aid, since the surface on which the power switch 102 and the volume adjusting dial 104 are provided is the upper end surface 101 which is seen from the chest pocket when it is put in the chest pocket, it is extremely The area is small, and the momentum power switch 102 and the volume adjusting dial 104 are inevitably small, which makes it extremely difficult for the elderly and sick to operate. In other words, ear-hook type hearing aids and ear-insertion type hearing aids are even smaller and more difficult to operate.

When a caregiver speaks to an elderly person or a sick person, if he / she does not have a hearing aid, the caregiver must speak with the mouth of the caregiver close to the ear of the elderly person or the sick person. When listening to, the caregiver's ears must be brought close to the mouth of the aged or sick, which requires an unreasonable posture, which is a heavy burden on the caregiver, the aged, and the sick.

Even if an attempt is made to eliminate the above-mentioned disadvantages with a conventional box-type hearing aid, it is difficult to hold the microphone with the hand and direct the sound hole of the microphone to the mouth of one's mouth or the other person's mouth because of the small size of the hearing aid. It seems that it is almost impossible for the elderly with reduced motor function to adjust the volume.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a hearing aid that is easy to use for care recipients and carers such as the elderly and sick.
The purpose is to provide a container .

[0009]

In order to solve the above problems, a hearing aid according to the present invention is a hearing aid in which hearing aid components other than earphones are incorporated into a hearing aid body case, wherein the hearing aid body case is flat and long. together with you, such a box-like
Have a width enough to be held by one hand, the hearing aid cases
A volume adjusting knob was provided on one surface in the thickness direction of the sheet, which is substantially bisected in the length direction, without protruding from this surface. As the shape of the knob for volume adjustment,
The dial shape is arbitrary, and the operation of the volume adjusting knob may be a push type as well as a rotating type. With such a configuration, it becomes easy for a person requiring care such as an elderly person or a sick person and a care giver to handle it.

Further, the volume adjusting knob has the thickness
A rotary volume control knob with a rotary axis that is substantially vertical on one side
Just fine .

Further, the volume adjustment by the volume adjusting knob may be adjustable to a plurality of discontinuous levels. With such a configuration, it is convenient for an old man or the like to sense the volume of sound with a break. Further, if the volume adjusting knob is made large and the whole is exposed to the front as in the present application, the usability is improved, but there is a possibility that the knob may inadvertently rotate when hitting another object. If it is discontinuously rotated with a click feeling when a certain amount of force is applied, the careless rotation can be suppressed.

Also, a volume level is set around the volume control knob.
The projection that shows a bell may be plurality so that. With such a configuration, even a visually impaired person can easily operate even in a dark place such as a bed.

Further, it is possible to form the protrusion so that its size increases as the volume level increases. With such a configuration, it is possible to visually confirm the position of the volume adjusting knob, and it becomes easier for the care-requiring person and the care giver such as the elderly and the sick to use. In addition, a microphone is
A rohon sound hole is provided.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 is a diagram showing a state of gripping the hearing aid according to the present invention, FIG 2 is a perspective view showing a front side of the hearing aid <br/> according to the present invention, the back surface side of the hearing aid according to Figure 3 the present invention FIG. 4 is a perspective view, and FIG. 4 is a front view of the hearing aid according to the present invention.

In the hearing aid , the entire shape of the hearing aid main body case 1 is a flat and long box shape, approximately half (the lower half in the figure) is a grip portion 1a, and the remaining portion is an operating portion 1b (the upper half in the figure). ).

The lower edge of the grip 1a has a rounded shape so that the corners of the grip 1a do not hit the palm of the hand when it is gripped with one hand, and the lower center of the grip 1a is hung on a wall. A through hole 2 used in cases and the like is formed. A string can be passed through the through hole 2 and hung on the neck.

A power switch 3 is provided near the boundary between the grip portion 1a and the operating portion 1b. The power switch 3 may be provided on the side surface of the hearing aid main body case 1.

Further, a microphone sound hole 4 and a volume adjusting knob 5 are provided on the front surface of the operating portion 1b. The microphone sound hole 4 may have a slit shape instead of a circular hole, and may be formed from the front surface to the upper end surface of the hearing aid main body case 1. The size of the volume adjusting knob 5 in the longitudinal direction is set to be 1/2 or more of the width of the front surface of the operating portion to improve the operability.

Regarding the shape of the volume adjusting knob 5,
As described above, the dial shape, the square button shape, or the like is arbitrary, but in the case of the dial shape, the diameter is 1 of the width of the front surface of the operation portion.
/ 2 or more, and in the case of a push-type square button shape, the long side is ½ or more of the width of the front surface of the operation portion.

The operability may be improved by making the color of the volume adjusting knob 5 different from that of the hearing aid main body case 1.

A plurality of projections 6 indicating the volume level are provided along the portion where the volume adjusting knob 5 rotates. The sizes of the protrusions 6 are gradually increased according to the volume level.

On the other hand, a sound quality changeover switch 7, a closed earphone receptacle 8 and an open earphone receptacle 9 are provided on the side surface of the hearing aid body case 1, and rubber (resin) is provided on the back surface of the hearing aid body case 1. A vibration absorbing protrusion 10 made of, for example, Further, in FIG. 3, four vibration absorbing protrusions 10 are provided, but it goes without saying that the vibration absorbing member may be provided over substantially the entire back surface. Incidentally, reference numeral 11 in the figure denotes an external input receptacle for listening to the sound of television or radio.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are views similar to FIG. 4 showing another embodiment. Of these, in the embodiment shown in FIG.
The width of the operating portion 1b is further expanded, and in the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the operating portion 1b is fan-shaped. By thus increasing the width of the operating portion, the size of the volume adjusting knob 5 provided on the operating portion is further increased, and the operability is further improved.

[0024]

According to the hearing aid according to the present invention, as described above, according to the present invention, when the entire flat and elongated box-like co
And because they have a width of a degree that can be held in one hand, become a thing that is easy to grip on. Further, since a large-sized volume adjusting knob is provided on one surface in the thickness direction, even an elderly person whose motor function of the hand is deteriorated can easily operate it, and it becomes easy to visually grasp the volume position.

Further, if the volume adjusting knob is a rotary type volume adjusting knob having a rotation axis substantially perpendicular to one surface , even an elderly person whose hand's motor function is deteriorated can easily operate.

Further, it is not possible to adjust the volume by the volume adjustment knob.
By making it possible to adjust to multiple continuous levels, it is convenient for the elderly and others to be able to perceive the loudness of the sound volume.

Further , a volume level is set around the volume adjusting knob.
In Rukoto providing a plurality of projections showing the bell, even one who is visually impaired, and may easily be operated even in a dark place such as in bed.

Further, the protrusions increase the volume level.
It is possible to form such that the size becomes larger as the size increases . With such a configuration, it is possible to visually confirm the position of the volume adjusting knob, and it becomes easier for the care-requiring person and the care giver such as the elderly and the sick to use.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a state of holding a hearing aid according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the front side of the hearing aid according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the back side of the hearing aid according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a hearing aid according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing another embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing another embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a conventional portable hearing aid.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Hearing aid main body case, 1a ... Gripping portion, 1b ... Operating portion,
2 ... through hole, 3 ... power switch, 4 ... microphone sound hole, 5 ... knob for volume adjustment, 6 ... protrusion showing volume level,
7 ... Sound quality changeover switch, 8 ... Receptacle for closed earphones, 9 ... Receptacle for open earphones, 1
0 ... Vibration absorbing protrusion, 11 ... External input receptacle.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04R 25/04

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] The method according to claim 1] component hearing except earphone in a hearing aid incorporating into the hearing aid casing, said hearing aid casing, with one hand with to such a flat and elongated box-like
Have a width enough to be gripped on one side which is substantially bisected the length direction on one side in the thickness direction of the hearing aid case, the provision of the volume control knob without protruding from the surface A hearing aid characterized by. 2. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the volume adjusting knob is a rotary volume adjusting knob having a pivot axis substantially vertical to the one surface . 3. The hearing aid according to claim 2, wherein the volume adjustment by the volume adjusting knob can be adjusted to a plurality of discontinuous levels. 4. The hearing aid according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of projections indicating a sound volume level are provided around the sound volume adjusting knob. 5. The hearing aid according to claim 4, wherein the protrusion is formed so as to increase in size as the volume level increases. 6. The supplement according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5.
In the hearing aid, place a marker near the end of the one surface in the length direction.
Hearing aid characterized by having an earphone.