JP5091711B2 - Ear wax intrusion prevention chip and hearing aid - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an earwax intrusion prevention chip for preventing earwax from entering a sound output port of a hearing aid or earplug and a hearing aid using the same.

  Conventionally, an earpiece intrusion prevention chip is attached to a sound output port of an earphone type hearing aid or an earphone type hearing aid equipped with an earphone inside the earplug in order to prevent the earwax from entering the earphone. As such an earwax intrusion prevention chip, a structure for trapping earwax is known so that earwax does not fall into the earphone (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In addition, there has been disclosed an earwax intrusion prevention chip in which a conduit for transmitting sound is complicatedly arranged so that earwax does not fall into the earphone (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

JP-A-8-265898 Japanese National Patent Publication No. 8-511412

  However, even if the earwax is trapped so that the earwax does not fall into the earphone, there is a problem that the sound output port is blocked by the trapped earwax. In addition, even if a conduit for transmitting sound is complicatedly arranged so that ear wax does not fall into the earphone, there is a problem that the sound path is provided in the insertion direction of the external auditory canal so that clogging easily occurs.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems of the prior art, and the object of the present invention is to prevent the invasion of earwax, which is difficult to block the passage of all sounds even if earwax adheres. A chip and a hearing aid are to be provided.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 is an ear wax intrusion prevention chip attached to a sound output port of a hearing aid or the like, and is a substantially cylindrical shape that is almost entirely inserted into the sound output port and is open at both ends. The passage includes a sound guide portion and a flange portion formed at one end of the sound guide portion and having an opening, and a passage that communicates the outside of the flange portion and the inside of the sound guide portion is provided in addition to the opening portion. Consists of a groove formed on the back surface of the flange and a through-hole opened in the wall surface of the sound guide part following the groove .

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the earwax intrusion prevention chip according to the first aspect, at least two of the passages are formed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the earwax intrusion prevention chip according to the first or second aspect , an acoustic resistance is provided in the sound guide portion.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in the earwax intrusion prevention chip according to the first, second, or third aspect , the heel portion is formed thinner as it approaches the periphery, and the edge of the opening portion is R-processed.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, the earwax intrusion prevention chip according to any one of the first to fourth aspects is mounted.

According to the first aspect of the invention, in addition to the opening portion of the sound guide portion, a passage for transmitting sound to the buttocks is secured, so that sound is output even if the opening portion of the sound guide portion is blocked with ear wax. can do. In addition, forming a passage formed of a groove formed on the back surface of the collar portion and a through hole opened in the wall surface of the sound guide portion following the groove is relatively easier to mold than a passage having a through hole in the collar portion. Since it is easy, the unit price can be reduced.

  According to the second aspect of the invention, in addition to the opening of the sound guide portion, a plurality of passages for transmitting sound are also provided to the buttocks, so even if ear wax adheres to some openings, all the passages Sound can be output until it is blocked.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the acoustic resistance is not provided to the hearing aid or the like, but the acoustic resistance is provided to the earpiece intrusion prevention chip that is easy to attach and detach, thereby eliminating the need for complicated replacement of the acoustic resistance. The replacement of the acoustic resistance can be easily performed in the earwax intrusion prevention chip, or the earwax intrusion prevention chip itself can be replaced.

According to the invention of claim 4 , since there are no angular edges at the periphery of the buttocks and the opening of the sound guide, the earwax attached to the ear canal is scraped off when an ear hearing aid is inserted into the ear canal. And the openings and passages are less likely to become clogged with earwax.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, by mounting the earwax intrusion prevention chip, there is no possibility that the earwax falls into the earphone. Moreover, even if the earwax is clogged in the opening of the buttocks and all the passages of the earwax intrusion prevention chip, the earwax intrusion prevention chip can be easily replaced, so that the hearing aid can be worn more comfortably.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Here, FIG. 1 is a perspective view in three directions of an earwax intrusion prevention chip according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the same, FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing an attachment state of acoustic resistance, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 is a front view of a modified example of the earwax intrusion prevention chip.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the earwax intrusion prevention chip 1 according to the present invention has a substantially cylindrical sound guide portion 2 that is almost entirely inserted into a sound output port of a hearing aid, earplug, etc. The flange portion 4 is formed at one end of the portion 2 and has an opening 3 and is integrally formed of a resin such as polyethylene. The collar part 4 is formed thinly as it approaches the periphery. The edge of the opening 3 is subjected to R processing. The opening 3 is provided with a fence 5 arranged in a cross shape in order to prevent large earwax from entering. The arrangement shape of the fence 5 is not limited to a cross shape, but may be a radial shape, a concentric circle shape, a slit shape, a lattice shape, or the like as long as a sufficient opening area can be secured.

  Further, a taper 2a is formed at the other end of the sound guide portion 2 so that it can be easily inserted into a sound output port such as a hearing aid or an ear plug. Further, a ring-shaped stopper 6 is provided on the outer periphery of the sound guide portion 2 in the vicinity of the taper 2a to prevent the earwax intrusion prevention chip 1 from falling off from a hearing aid or an earplug. Further, a groove 7 is formed on the back surface 4a of the flange portion 4, and the outside of the flange portion 4 and the inside of the sound guide portion 2 are formed together with the through hole 8 opened in the wall portion of the sound guide portion 2 shown in FIG. A communication passage 9 is formed.

  Here, although it is conceivable to provide a through hole in the heel part 4 instead of the groove 7, the ear part intrusion prevention chip 1 is a very small component attached to the eardrum side tip of the ear hole type hearing aid. It is very difficult to provide a through hole in 4 and requires high technology and cost. Accordingly, it is relatively easy to form the mold 7 by providing the groove 7 in the flange portion 4, so that the unit price can be reduced.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, an acoustic resistor 10 such as a damper or a sponge can be disposed in the sound guide portion 2. A ring-shaped stopper 11 is provided on the inner wall of the sound guide portion 2 so that the acoustic resistance 10 does not fall off. Since the acoustic resistor 10 is lightweight, the acoustic resistor 10 having an appropriate size may be merely inserted into the sound guide portion 2 without providing the stopper 11.

  The original role of the acoustic resistor 10 is to suppress the peak of the output sound, but it also serves to prevent the earwax from falling into the earphone. However, since the conventional acoustic resistance is arranged in a tube that connects the earphone of the hearing aid and the sound output port, the replacement of the acoustic resistance requires a high level of technology and is complicated. In the present invention, the acoustic resistor 10 can be easily replaced by disposing the acoustic resistor 10 in the earwax intrusion prevention chip 1.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the ear wax intrusion prevention chip 1 is mounted by inserting the sound guide portion 2 into the sound output port of the ear hole type hearing aid 15. The earwax intrusion prevention chip 1 becomes thinner as it goes to the periphery, so that the appearance gradually rises from the case around the sound output port of the ear hole type hearing aid 15. Similarly, with respect to the ear-type hearing aid of the type in which the earphone is incorporated in the earplug, the earwax intrusion prevention chip 1 can be attached to the earplug. Moreover, you may mount | wear with an ear mold or a ready-made earplug. It has the effect of preventing ear wax from entering the inside and the effect of suppressing howling.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, in the ear hole type hearing aid 15, the earphone intrusion prevention chip 1 can be attached by directly fitting the earphone 16 to a tube (made of rubber) 18 attached to the shell 17. . A holder for attaching the earwax intrusion prevention chip 1 can be separately prepared, or the shape of the sound output port of the shell 17 can be made such that the earwax intrusion prevention chip 1 is directly held.

  When the earwax intrusion prevention chip 1 is attached to the ear hole type hearing aid 15, a tunnel 20 is formed by the groove 7 and the front end surface of the shell 17, and the sound output from the earphone 16 is transmitted to the tunnel 20 in addition to the sound output port 19 on the front. Is released via. If a plurality of grooves 7 are provided, a plurality of tunnels 20 for emitting sound output from the earphone 16 are formed, so that all of the sound outlets 19 including the sound output port 19 and the tunnel 20 for emitting sound can be obtained. The possibility of being blocked is reduced. Since the earwax tends to stay on the surface of the earwax intrusion prevention chip 1, most earwax can be removed by simple cleaning such as cleaning the surface with a brush.

  As a modification of the earwax intrusion prevention chip 1, as shown in FIG. 6A, the number of grooves 7 formed in the heel part 4 is not limited to two, but may be four. Any number of spaces are allowed. The more grooves 7, the easier it is to secure a passage 9 that emits sound even when ear wax adheres to the ear wax intrusion prevention chip 1. In addition, although it is difficult to mold as compared with the groove 7 structure, as shown in FIG. 6 (b), a plurality of through holes 27 are provided in the same direction as the opening 3 of the flange 4, and each through hole 27 and the sound are processed. A passage 9 that communicates the outside of the flange portion 4 and the inside of the sound guide portion 2 with the through hole 8 opened in the wall portion of the guide portion 2 can also be configured.

  By attaching the earwax intrusion prevention chip of the present invention to the sound output port of the earphone type hearing aid, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the earphone falls into the earphone while reducing the fact that no sound is output. Even if the earwax is clogged in the opening of the buttocks and all the passages of the earwax intrusion prevention chip, the earwax intrusion prevention chip can be easily replaced, so that a more comfortable earphone type hearing aid can be provided. .

3 is a perspective view in three directions of an earwax intrusion prevention chip according to the present invention. FIG. It is sectional drawing of the ear-wax intrusion prevention chip | tip concerning this invention, (a) is sectional drawing of a groove direction, (b) is sectional drawing of a perpendicular direction to a groove | channel. Cross-sectional view of the earwax intrusion prevention chip showing the attachment state of the acoustic resistance Perspective view of an earpiece type hearing aid equipped with an earwax intrusion prevention chip Cross-sectional view of an earpiece type hearing aid equipped with an earwax penetration prevention chip It is a front view of the modified example of the earwax intrusion prevention chip, (a) when there are four grooves, (b) when there are four through holes

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Ear wax intrusion prevention chip, 2 ... Sound guide part, 3 ... Opening part, 4 ... Gutter part, 4a ... Back surface, 5 ... Fence, 7 ... Groove, 8 ... Through-hole, 9 ... Passage, 10 ... Acoustic resistance, 15 ... ear ear type hearing aid, 19 ... sound output port.

Claims (5)

An earwax intrusion prevention chip attached to a sound output port of a hearing aid or the like, and is formed at a sound guide portion having a substantially cylindrical shape and open at both ends, which is almost entirely inserted into the sound output port, and at one end of the sound guide portion. In addition to the opening , the passage is formed of a flange having an opening, and communicates the outside of the flange with the inside of the sound guide portion. The passage includes a groove formed on the back surface of the flange, An earwax intrusion prevention chip comprising a through hole opened in a wall surface of the sound guide portion following the groove . The earwax intrusion prevention chip according to claim 1, wherein at least two of the passages are formed. The earwax intrusion prevention chip according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an acoustic resistance is provided in the sound guide portion. The earpiece intrusion prevention chip according to claim 1, 2, or 3 , wherein the collar portion is formed thinner as it approaches the periphery, and the edge of the opening portion is rounded. A hearing aid comprising the ear wax intrusion prevention chip according to any one of claims 1 to 4 .