JP5047398B1 - hearing aid - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a hearing aid in which earwax can be stored in a groove part and the earwax chip can be easily attached and detached.
A hearing aid provided with a shell 23 inserted into the ear canal, which is provided at a distal end portion 23a of the shell 23 to form a sound port 24 on the bottom surface, and to be attached to the bottom surface side of the concave portion 25. An annular groove portion 28 is formed by a cylindrical tip holder 26 and an earwax tip 7 that is detachably held by engaging a collar portion 27 provided on the inner peripheral surface of the tip holder 26. The eartip tip 7 has a small diameter. The cylindrical portion 8 and the large-diameter cylindrical portion 9 are formed in a substantially convex shape with a predetermined thickness. At the end of the large-diameter cylindrical portion 9, claw portions 10 and cutout portions 11 that engage with the flange portion 27 are alternately arranged. The earwax chip 7 is provided as a path for output sound.
[Selection] Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to a hearing aid provided with a structure for preventing invasion of earwax that prevents earwax adhering to a wall portion of the ear canal from entering a sound outlet.

When inserting an earpiece type hearing aid into the ear canal, the tip of the shell scrapes off the earwax adhering to the wall of the ear canal, and the earwax penetrates into the hearing aid from the sound port provided on the shell. It has become. In addition, in ear-mounted hearing aids, a custom-made earplug adapted to the shape of the ear canal is used instead of a common earplug, or a RIC (Receiver in the canal) type hearing aid in which an earphone is placed in the ear canal. Sometimes it uses a shell to be inserted, which is a problem as well as an earphone type hearing aid.

As countermeasures for this, as described in Patent Document 1, a configuration in which an annular groove portion for storing earwax is formed around the sound port by a shell and a tube member (earphone tube) (FIG. 1), and earwax is stored in the tube member. A configuration in which an earwax guard having a space is mounted (FIG. 2), an annular groove is formed integrally with the shell so as to surround the sound mouth, and an earwax guard is mounted on the sound mouth (FIG. 3). A configuration (FIG. 4) in which an earwax guard having a groove is attached is known.

JP 2005-217475 A

However, in the earphone type hearing aid described in Patent Document 1, it is not easy to replace the earphone tube (FIG. 1). In addition, since the earwax guard is provided near the surface of the shell, the groove for storing the earwax becomes narrower due to the wall thickness of the earwax guard and the wall thickness of the mounting portion of the earwax guard with respect to the size of the groove (Figs. 2 to 2). 4). Furthermore, the attachment part and shell of the earwax guard are easily deformed by attaching and detaching the earwax guard (FIGS. 2 and 3).

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a hearing aid that can store ear wax in a groove and can easily attach and detach ear wax chips. It is something to try.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 is a hearing aid including a shell inserted into the ear canal, and is provided with a concave portion provided at a distal end portion of the shell and forming a sound port on a bottom surface, and a bottom surface side of the concave portion. An annular groove is formed by a substantially cylindrical tip holder to be attached to the earpiece and an earwax tip that is detachably held by engaging a collar provided on the inner peripheral surface of the tipholder. And a large-diameter cylindrical portion having a substantially convex shape and a predetermined thickness. At the end of the large-diameter cylindrical portion, a claw portion and a notch portion that engage with the collar portion are alternately provided. Inside the chip is a path for output sound.

The invention according to claim 2 is the hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the tip holder is formed integrally with the shell.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the hearing aid according to the first aspect, the bottom portion of the tip holder is provided with a receiving portion for pressing a cut end of a tube extending from the earphone.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the hearing aid according to the third aspect, a plurality of the heel portions and the receiving portions are provided without facing each other.

According to the first to fourth aspects of the invention, since the annular groove portion is configured by the concave portion formed in the shell and the ear wax chip having a predetermined thickness that is detachably held on the bottom surface side of the concave portion, The groove portion can be formed wider than before, and the earwax clogging of the sound mouth can be reduced by storing earwax more in the groove portion. Moreover, the earwax chip is engaged with the collar part with flexibility and elasticity by the claw portions and the notches formed alternately at the end of the earwax chip, so that the earpiece chip can be easily attached and detached. Moreover, when removing the earwax chip 7, the earwax accumulated in the groove 15 is scraped out by the step where the small diameter tube portion 8 and the large diameter tube portion 9 are connected or the outer surface of each tube portion, so that cleaning is easy.

According to the invention of claim 4, the hook portion engaging with the earwax chip and the receiving portion for pressing the cut end of the tube extending from the earphone are provided on the inner peripheral surface of the chip holder so as not to face each other. Therefore, even when the receiving portion is provided, the die holder of the chip holder as a molded product can be easily released after being molded by the mold.

The perspective view of 1st Embodiment of the hearing aid concerning this invention. Sectional drawing of the front-end | tip part of the shell in 1st Embodiment Perspective view of earwax chip Sectional drawing of the state which mounted | wore the recessed part with the earwax chip | tip in 1st Embodiment Sectional drawing of the state which mounted | wore the chip holder with the earwax chip | tip in 2nd Embodiment The perspective view of the chip holder in a 2nd embodiment Sectional drawing of the state which mounted | wore the chip holder with the earwax chip | tip in 3rd Embodiment The perspective view of the chip holder in a 3rd embodiment Sectional drawing of the state which mounted | wore the chip holder with the earwax chip | tip in 4th Embodiment The perspective view of the chip holder in a 4th embodiment

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The first embodiment of the hearing aid according to the present invention comprises a face plate 2 and a shell 3 as shown in FIG. The face plate 2 is provided with a microphone that converts sound into an electric signal, a battery storage unit that stores a battery serving as a power source, and the like. The shell 3 includes a hearing aid processing unit that processes an electrical signal output from the microphone so as to match the hearing ability of the wearer, and an earphone that converts the electrical signal processed by the hearing aid processing unit into sound.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a concave portion 5 having a sound port 4 on the bottom surface is formed at the tip 3 a of the shell 3. Furthermore, a flange 6 is formed on the bottom surface side of the inner peripheral surface 5 a of the recess 5. The shell 3 having such a structure can be produced from the three-dimensional data of the shell 3 created from the external auditory canal shape data using an optical modeling apparatus.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the earwax chip 7 to be mounted in the recess 5 has a small-diameter cylindrical portion 8 and a large-diameter cylindrical portion 9 that are integrally formed in a substantially convex shape. The small-diameter cylindrical portion 8 and the large-diameter cylindrical portion 9 are formed with a predetermined thickness, and the end portion of the large-diameter cylindrical portion 9 is engaged with the flange portion 6 formed on the inner peripheral surface 5a of the recess 5. A plurality of claw portions 10 and cutout portions 11 are provided alternately. The cavity inside the earwax chip 7 becomes a passage for sound output from the earphone. The small-diameter cylindrical portion 8 and the large-diameter cylindrical portion 9 include a substantially truncated cone shape having a small diameter to a large diameter from the tip to the bottom.

By providing the claw portion 10 and the notch portion 11 as described above, the earwax tip 7 can have predetermined flexibility and elasticity, and the eartip tip 7 can be smoothly attached to and detached from the recess 5.

When the earwax chip 7 is attached to the recess 5, as shown in FIG. 4, an annular groove 15 for storing earwax is formed at the tip 3 a of the shell 3 by the recess 5 and the earwax chip 7. The earwax chip 7 is held by the shell 3 by the snap fit method between the nail part 10 and the heel part 6. Further, the tube 16 that guides the sound from the earphone (not shown) to the ear canal is cut at the position of the bottom surface of the recess 5.

  According to the first embodiment, since the annular groove 15 is constituted by the recess 5 formed in the shell 3 and the thin ear wax chip 7 that is detachably held in the recess 5, a wider groove than in the prior art. 15 can be formed, and by making it easier to store the earwax in the groove portion 15, the earwax clogging of the sound mouth 4 can be reduced.

Further, the earwax tip 7 is engaged with the collar portion 6 with flexibility and elasticity by the nail portions 10 and the notches 11 alternately formed at the end portions of the earwax tip 7, so that the earwax tip with respect to the shell 3. 7 can be easily attached and detached. Further, when removing the earwax chip 7, the earwax accumulated in the groove 15 is scraped out by the step or the outer surface of each tube portion where the small diameter tube portion 8 and the large diameter tube portion 9 are connected, so that cleaning is easy.

As shown in FIG. 5, the second embodiment of the hearing aid according to the present invention has a recess 25 formed at the tip 23 a of the shell 23 and having a sound port 24 on the bottom surface, and is bonded or press-fitted to the bottom surface side of the recess 25. A substantially cylindrical chip holder 26 to be attached to the chip holder 26 and an earwax chip 7 to be attached to the chip holder 26.

As shown in FIG. 6, the tip holder 26 has a flange portion 27 with which the claw portion 10 of the earwax tip 7 is engaged on the inner peripheral surface.

  When the earwax chip 7 is attached to the chip holder 26 after the chip holder 26 is attached to the recess 25 by adhesion or press-fitting, the earwax is stored in the tip 23 a of the shell 23 by the recess 25, the chip holder 26 and the earwax chip 7. An annular groove 28 is formed. The earwax chip 7 is held on the shell 23 via the chip holder 26 by the snap fit method between the nail part 10 and the collar part 27. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

According to the second embodiment, the annular groove 28 is formed by the recess 25 formed in the shell 23 and the thin ear wax chip 7 detachably held by the chip holder 26 mounted on the bottom surface side of the recess 25. Since it is configured, a wider groove portion 28 than in the prior art can be formed, and clogging of the sound mouth 24 can be reduced by making it easier to store the earwax in the groove portion 28.

Further, the earwax chip 7 is engaged with the collar 27 with flexibility and elasticity by the claw portions 10 and the notches 11 alternately formed at the end portions of the earwax chip chip 7, so that the earwax with respect to the chip holder 26 is obtained. The chip 7 can be easily attached and detached.

As shown in FIG. 7, the third embodiment of the hearing aid according to the present invention has a recess 25 formed at the tip 23a of the shell 23 and having a sound port 24 on the bottom surface, and is bonded or press-fitted to the bottom surface side of the recess 25. And a chip holder 36 having a substantially cylindrical shape to be attached to the chip holder 36 and an earwax chip 7 to be attached to the chip holder 36.

As shown in FIG. 8, the tip holder 36 is formed with a collar portion 37 that engages with the claw portion 10 of the earwax tip 7 on the inner peripheral surface, and further, a receiving portion 38 is formed at the bottom portion of the tip holder 36. Even when the cut end of the tube 16 that guides the sound from the earphone (not shown) to the ear canal protrudes from the bottom surface of the recess 25 by the receiving portion 38, the receiving portion 38 presses the cut end of the tube 16. Is stably held in place.

Then, after attaching the chip holder 36 to the bottom surface side of the concave portion 25 by adhesion or press fitting, when the earwax chip 7 is attached to the chip holder 36, the concave portion 25, the chip holder 36 and the earwax chip 7 are attached to the tip 23 a of the shell 23. An annular groove 39 for storing earwax is formed. The earwax chip 7 is held on the shell 23 via the chip holder 36 by a snap fit method between the claw part 10 and the collar part 37. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

  According to the third embodiment, the annular groove 39 is constituted by the recess 25 formed in the shell 23 and the thin ear wax chip 7 that is detachably held by the chip holder 36 attached to the recess 25. Therefore, it is possible to form a wider groove portion 39 than in the prior art, and by making it easier to store ear wax in the groove portion 39, it is possible to reduce clogging of the ear mouth 24.

Further, the earwax chip 7 is engaged with the collar 37 with flexibility and elasticity by the claw portions 10 and the notches 11 alternately formed at the end portions of the earwax chip chip 7, so that the earwax with respect to the chip holder 36 is obtained. The chip 7 can be easily attached and detached.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the fourth embodiment of the hearing aid according to the present invention is attached to a concave portion 25 formed at the distal end portion 23 a of the shell 23 and having a sound opening 24 on the bottom surface, and to the concave portion 25 by adhesion or press fitting. A substantially cylindrical chip holder 46 and an earwax chip 7 attached to the chip holder 46 are provided.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the chip holder 46 is formed with a plurality of flange portions 47 that engage with the claw portions 10 of the earwax chip 7 on the inner peripheral surface at predetermined intervals, and further, a receiving portion 48 is formed on the bottom of the chip holder 46. A plurality are formed at predetermined intervals. The flange portion 47 that engages with the earwax chip 7 is provided without being opposed to the receiving portion 48 that presses the cut end of the tube 16 that extends from the earphone (not shown).

Even when the cut end of the tube 16 that guides the sound from the earphone (not shown) to the ear canal by the receiving portion 48 protrudes from the bottom surface of the recess 25, the receiving portion 48 presses the cut end of the tube 16. It is held in a stable position. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

  Then, after attaching the chip holder 46 to the bottom surface side of the concave portion 25 by adhesion or press fitting, when the earwax chip 7 is attached to the chip holder 46, the concave portion 25, the chip holder 46, and the earwax chip 7 are attached to the distal end portion 23 a of the shell 23. An annular groove 49 for storing earwax is formed. The earwax chip 7 is held on the shell 23 via the chip holder 46 by the snap fit method between the claw part 10 and the collar part 47.

  According to the fourth embodiment, the annular groove 49 is constituted by the recess 25 formed in the shell 23 and the thin ear wax chip 7 that is detachably held by the chip holder 46 attached to the recess 25. Therefore, it is possible to form a wider groove portion 49 than in the prior art, and by making it easier to store ear wax in the groove portion 49, it is possible to reduce clogging of the ear mouth 24.

  Also, the earwax chip 7 is engaged with the collar 47 with flexibility and elasticity by the claw portions 10 and the notches 11 alternately formed at the end portions of the earwax chip chip 7, so that the earwax with respect to the chip holder 46 is obtained. The chip 7 can be easily attached and detached.

In addition, since the flange portion 47 formed on the inner peripheral surface of the chip holder 46 and the receiving portion 48 formed on the bottom portion of the chip holder 46 are provided with three and four pieces at intervals so as not to face each other, It becomes easy to remove the chip holder 46 as a molded product from the mold after molding by the mold. Furthermore, a multi-piece mold configuration is facilitated, and the manufacturing time of the chip holder 46 can be shortened. Further, the width of the heel portion 47 is made shorter than the width of the claw portion 10 so that the earwax chip 7 does not fall off.

  Although depending on the state of the cut end of the tube 16, the diameter of the large-diameter cylindrical portion 9 of the earwax tip 7 is set to be the same without making the diameter of the large-diameter cylindrical portion 9 of the earwax tip 7 and the diameter of the tube 16 substantially the same. If the diameter of the tube 16 is made larger so that the cut end of the tube 16 does not interfere with the earwax chip 7, it is not necessary to provide the receiving portions 38 and 48 for pressing the cut end of the tube 16.

  The first to fourth embodiments of the hearing aid according to the present invention can also be provided in an ear-mounted hearing aid equipped with a shell that is inserted into the ear canal, such as a RIC type hearing aid.

  According to the present invention, since the groove portion can be formed wider than before, it is possible to provide a hearing aid in which earwax clogging is reduced by accumulating earwax in the groove portion and the earwax chip is easily attached and detached. It becomes possible.

2 ... face plate, 3,23 ... shell, 3a, 23a ... tip, 4,24 ... sound mouth, 5,25 ... concave, 5a ... inner peripheral surface, 6,27,37,47 ... saddle, 7 ... Earwax tip, 8 ... small diameter cylindrical part, 9 ... large diameter cylindrical part, 10 ... nail part, 11 ... notch part, 15, 28, 39,49 ... groove part, 16 ... tube, 26,36,46 ... tip holder, 38, 48 ... receiving part.

Claims (4)

A hearing aid having a shell to be inserted into the ear canal, a recess provided at the tip of the shell to form a sound port on the bottom surface, a substantially cylindrical chip holder attached to the bottom surface side of the recess, and the chip holder An annular groove portion is formed by an earwax tip that is detachably held by engaging with a collar provided on the inner peripheral surface of the inner ear, and the earwax tip is substantially convex and has a predetermined thickness by a small diameter cylindrical portion and a large diameter cylindrical portion. The claw part and the notch part which engage with the collar part are provided alternately at the end part of the large-diameter cylindrical part, and the inside of the earwax chip is a path for output sound. hearing aid. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the tip holder is formed integrally with a shell. 2. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein a receiving portion for pressing a cut end of a tube extending from the earphone is provided at a bottom portion of the tip holder. 4. The hearing aid according to claim 3, wherein a plurality of the heel portions and the receiving portions are provided without facing each other.

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