JPH0444879B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to the internal structure of hearing aids, and more particularly to receiver suspension and sound effects units for "in-the-ear" or "canal" hearing aids.

PRIOR ART Such hearing aids have a shell that holds the hearing aid components and fits within the user's outer ear. The hearing aid component includes a receiver and an audio transmission line interconnecting the receiver and the shell. Other components of the hearing aid send electrical signals to the receiver, and the receiver responds by producing sound. Sound is transmitted from the receiver to the user's auditory canal and eardrum via the audio transmission path and shell.

Many of the units currently available for physically supporting the receiver within the hearing aid shell and providing acoustic communication between the receiver and the outside of the hearing aid are special features for "in-the-ear" or "canal" hearing aids. It is not well adapted to meet specific requirements. Since the hearing aid is placed inside the outer ear, the shell must be small. Therefore, the structural members within the shell, including the receiver and the audio transmission path, must be constructed as compactly as possible.

Of course, the receiver must be securely mounted inside the hearing aid shell. However, the support unit must allow the receiver to be easily and quickly removed for repair or replacement.

In order to ensure correct operation of the receiver, the support unit must allow close interconnection between the receiver and the audio transmission path. This allows almost all of the sound generated by the receiver to be transmitted to the sound transmission path and to the user's eardrum rather than being dispersed within the hearing aid itself.

Furthermore, the receiver is a typical piece of equipment that is delicate. The support unit should provide cushioning for the receiver against shocks, such as those that occur when a hearing aid accidentally falls onto the floor.

The support arrangement must also isolate the receiver from mechanical and acoustic feedback so that the receiver does not transmit spurious, unwanted sounds or vibrations to the hearing aid microphone. Such feedback can cause distortion in the audio heard by the hearing aid user. In extreme cases, such feedback can induce oscillations (an unpleasant “squeal” in the receiver).
).

Furthermore, the support unit must be manufactured simply and inexpensively. As a result, the consumer price of hearing aids will also be lower.

Problem to be Solved by the Invention It is an object of the invention to improve a receiver suspension and sound effects unit. Another challenge is to reduce the level of mechanical and acoustic feedback transmitted by the receiver in the receiver suspension and sound effects unit. A further object is to make more advantageous use of the space available within the hearing aid shell and the sound transmission path in the receiver suspension and sound effects unit.

Another object is to provide a receiver suspension and sound effects unit that provides greater cushioning to the receiver and protects it from physical damage. Yet another object is to provide a receiver suspension and sound effects unit that allows the receiver to be more easily and quickly removed from the hearing aid. Yet another object is to provide a receiver suspension and sound effects unit that allows for closer interconnection between the receiver and the audio transmission path of the hearing aid.

Yet another object is to provide a receiver suspension and sound effects unit that more securely holds the receiver in place. Yet another object is to provide a receiver suspension and sound effects unit that is easier and cheaper to manufacture.

Means for Solving the Problems The means of the present invention for solving the above problems are as follows:
a combination of an outer shell and a flexible suspension member for retaining the receiver; the shell having a closed end, an open end and a sidewall between the ends; defines an output port, and the closed end and the sidewall define an inner surface of the shell and an interior region of the shell adjacent the inner surface; a flexible suspension member is fabricated from a flexible material; and substantially adhering to and extending inwardly from the inner surface of the shell within an interior region of the shell, further defining a receiver receiving recess for receiving a receiver and an elongated output path. and an elongated output path extends between the receiver receiving recess and the output port of the shell, one end of the output path being connected to a coupling member that locks and receives the acoustic output port of the receiver. The acoustic output port of the receiver is thus acoustically coupled to the output path.

In order to solve the above problems, the manufacturing method of the receiver suspension/acoustic effect unit according to the present invention includes the main parts:
fabricating a mandrel having an elongate protrusion extending from the main portion; inserting the mandrel into the shell until the elongate protrusion protrudes from the output port of the shell and the main portion is seated within the shell; A polymerizable liquid material is poured into the shell; the liquid material is polymerized around the mandrel to form an elastomer, the elastomer forming a receiver receiving recess in the main portion of the mandrel, and forming a longitudinal protrusion in the mandrel. forming an output path extending between the receiver receiving recess and the output port of the shell; and removing the mandrel from the shell through the open end of the shell.

EMBODIMENTS A receiver suspension and sound effects unit according to the invention includes a number of ribs extending into a receiver receiving recess. This rib increases the flexibility of the receiver suspension and sound effects unit of the invention and further reduces vibration transmission.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A receiver suspension and sound effects unit for a hearing aid is indicated generally at 10. For ease of understanding, a typical canal type hearing aid 12 is shown in FIG.

The hearing aid 12 includes an acrylic shell 14 and a top plate 16. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the shell 14 has a closed end 18, an open end 20 (to which the face plate 16 is attached), and a sidewall 22 between the closed end 18 and the open end 20. are doing.

Closed end 18 and sidewall 22 define an interior surface 24 of shell 14 and an interior space 26 of the shell adjacent interior surface 24. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the closed end 18 of the shell 14 defines an output port 28. Output port 28 has a diameter of approx.
It is 0.28 cm (0.11 inch) cylindrical in shape and extends from the inner surface 24 of the shell 14 to the exterior area 30 of the hearing aid 12.

The interior space 26 of the shell 14 houses most of the components of the hearing aid 12 (including the vent, the microphone (not shown), the receiver 34 and the flexible suspension member 36 for the receiver). Figure and 5th
figure). For clarity, only the vent 32, receiver 34 and flexible suspension member 36 are shown in FIG.

A vent 32 extends from the closed end 18 of the shell 14 and reaches the faceplate 16. The air pressure created in the user's auditory canal by inserting the hearing aid 12 into the ear is therefore released through the vent hole 32. The vents 32 also modify the acoustic response of the hearing aid 12.

As seen in FIG. 5, receiver 34 includes a first end wall 38, a second end wall 40, and four side walls 42 between the end walls. The first end wall 38 and the second end wall 40 are approximately 0.250 inches apart.
First end wall 38 has a cylindrical acoustic output port 44 that is approximately 0.152 cm from receiver 34.
(0.060 inch) protruding. Sound output port 4
4 has a diameter of approximately 0.139 cm (0.055 inch).

Flexible suspension member 3 inside shell 14 of hearing aid 12
6 is formed from an elastomeric material, such as cold vulcanized silicone rubber ("RTV"). For example, General Electric Company (General
Electric Company and DoW Corning
It has been found that the RTV produced by J.D. Corporation, Inc., is sufficiently superior when used in the present invention.

The RTV is attached to the inner surface 24 of the shell 14 and extends inwardly. However, within the shell 14, the flexible suspension member 36 has a receiver receiving recess 46 for receiving the receiver 34, and a receiver receiving recess 46 for receiving the receiver 34.
6 ribs 48, 50, 52, 5 extending into 6
4, 56, and 58, and constitute a vertically elongated audio transmission path 60 (FIGS. 5 and 6).

As can be seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, the receiver receiving recess 46 has four generally closed sides 62, 64,
66, 68, a generally closed end 72, and an open end 70. The two opposing sides 62, 64 are approximately 0.140 inches apart. The other two opposing sides 66, 68 are approximately 0.190 inches apart.

The open end 70 of the receiver receiving recess 46 is closer to the open end 20 of the shell 14 than the generally closed end 72.
It is located near. Therefore, the open end 70
can receive receiver 34 when it is inserted into shell 14 . The substantially closed end 72 of the receiver receiving recess 46 is connected to the open end 7
0 near the closed end 18 of the shell 14. Open end 70 and substantially closed end 7
2 is approximately 0.508cm (0.2 inch) to 0.762cm (0.3 inch)
inches) apart.

Each of the six ribs has edges 74, 46, 78, 8
It has 0,82,84. Furthermore, ribs 48,5
Since ribs 0, 52, 54, 56, and 58 are substantially the same, the ribs will be explained using the rib 48 as an example.

The rib 48 is an extension of the other portion of the RTV forming the flexible suspension member 36 within the shell 14 and extends approximately 0.010 inch from the other portion of the flexible suspension member 36 into the receiver receiving recess 46. ing. Rib 48 has two generally planar sides 86, 88 that intersect at edge 74 at an angle of about 45 DEG to each other. As can be seen from FIG.
6.

As can be seen in FIG. 6, the ribs 52, 58 are located approximately in the center of the closed sides 66, 68, respectively. Each edge 74, 76, 80, 82 of the ribs 48, 50, 54, 56 has a closed side 6
It is located approximately 0.134 cm (0.053 inch) from 6,68.

An elongated audio transmission line 60 extends from the generally closed end 72 of the receiver recess 46 to the output port 28 of the shell 14. The audio transmission path 60 defines a centerline 90 between the receiver receiving recess 46 and the output port 28 of the hearing aid 12 . Centerline 90 is located directly in the middle of audio transmission line 60 and is shown as a straight line in the preferred embodiment. A cross section (not shown) of the audio transmission path 60 is perpendicular to the center line 90 and has a predetermined circular shape. The diameter of this circular shape is approximately 0.127 cm (0.050 inch).

Receiver 34 can be inserted into receiver receiving recess 46 as shown in FIG. The side wall 42 of the receiver 34 defines a shape substantially identical to that defined by the edges 74-84 of the six ribs 48-58 extending into the receiver receiving recess 46. When fully inserted into the receiver receiving recess 46, the audio transmission line 60 grips the audio output port 44 of the receiver 34.

The diameter of the audio output port 44 is slightly larger than the diameter of the audio transmission line 60 so that the audio transmission line 60 widens slightly to receive the audio output port 44.
As a result, the audio transmission line 60 tightly seals the audio output port 44 to help ensure that audio emitted through the audio output port 44 is not dispersed within the hearing aid. Rather, substantially all of the sound generated from the acoustic output port 44 of the receiver 34 is transmitted through the audio transmission path 60 and the output port 28 of the hearing aid 12 to the user's ear canal and eardrum (not shown).

Additionally, ribs 48-58 support receiver 34 and provide cushioning. When the hearing aid 12 is subjected to an impact, the receiver 34 is compressed against the flexible suspension member 36 and the flexible suspension member 36 deforms to prevent damage to the receiver 34. When the impact ceases, flexible suspension member 36 substantially resumes its previous shape and returns receiver 34 to its previous position within shell 14.

Ribs 48-58 constitute a highly flexible suspension member for receiver 34. Additionally, a safe space 91 is provided around the audio transmission path 60 adjacent to the audio output port 44 of the receiver 34 to increase flexibility in this area. As a result, the flexible suspension member 36 acts as a sufficient vibration isolator,
Vibrations caused by the driven receiver 34 are prevented from being transmitted as undesirable feedback to the hearing aid microphone. Such feedback can cause signal disturbances or oscillations.

The audio transmission line 60 locks the audio output port 44 and the ribs 48-58 connect to the side wall 42 of the receiver 34.
, so the flexible suspension member 36 is resilient. That is, the receiver 34 can be pulled out from the receiver receiving recess 46 even after insertion.

The receiver suspension/acoustic effect unit 10 can be easily and inexpensively manufactured. In this preferred embodiment, a mandrel 92 and support block 94 are fabricated (FIG. 4). Both mandrel 92 and support block 94 are made of polyethylene and are manufactured by injection molding. Mandrel 92 has a main portion 96 and a cylindrical longitudinal projection 98 extending from the main portion.

The main portion 96 of the mandrel 92 has substantially the same shape as the receiver receiving recess 46 described above. Furthermore, the main portion 96 has an upper flange 100.
A hole 102 with a diameter of 0.086 cm (0.034 inch) is formed in the upper flange 100, and a wire 10 is formed in the upper flange 100.
4 is passed through this hole 102.

The elongated projection 98 of the mandrel 92 has an upper region 106 and a lower region 108. Projection 9
Upper region 106 of 8 directly follows main portion 96 and has a diameter of approximately 0.050 inches. The lower region 108 directly follows the upper region 106 at one end and has a tapered end 110 at the other end. Length approx. 0.177cm
The lower region 108 has a diameter of approximately 0.111 cm (0.044 inch), except for the tapered end 110 (0.07 inch). An upper range 106 of relatively large diameter and a lower range 10 of relatively small diameter of protrusion 98
The joint with 8 constitutes a shoulder 112.

The support block 94 has a substantially cylindrical shape,
Upper range 114, lower range 116, vertical axis line 11
8, and a central hole 120 (FIG. 4). Lower region 116 has an outer diameter of approximately 0.140 inches. Upper range 114 as shown in FIG.
is slightly tapered and has an average outer diameter of approximately
It has 0.274cm (108 inches). The junction of the relatively large diameter lower region 116 and the relatively small diameter upper region 114 constitutes a shoulder 122 .

Center hole 120 has a diameter of approximately 0.116 cm (0.046 inch)
and extends along longitudinal axis 118.
The central hole 120 is located in the upper region 11 of the support block 94.
4 and the lower range 116.

As shown in FIG. 5, while holding the wire 104, the formed mandrel 92 is
It is lowered into the internal space 26 of. The elongated projection 98 enters the shell 14 first, followed by the main portion 96 of the mandrel 92. Next, the tapered end 110
into the output port 28 of the hearing aid 12 and guide the protrusion 98 within the output port so that the mandrel 92 is submerged into the shell 14.

The center hole 120 of the support block 94 is then placed around the protrusion 98. As shown in FIG.
Ciel 1 until 22 is applied to Ciel 14
Push it inside 4.

The mandrel 92 is lowered further until the shoulder 112 between the upper region 106 and the lower region 108 of the projection 98 abuts the upper region 114 of the support block 94. Once the mandrel 92 is in the proper position,
Liquid RTV is poured into the shell 14 around the main portion 96 and upper region 106 of the mandrel 92 . In this state, the main part 96 of the mandrel 92
approximately 0.508 cm (0.2 inch) to 0.762 cm during RTV
It is buried at a depth of (0.3 inches).

RTV vulcanizes and changes from a liquid to an elastic solid. This process occurs when RTV is left at room temperature.
However, it has been found that placing the RTV in a furnace (not shown) with an elevated temperature of about 150°C (66°C) allows the vulcanization process to be completed more quickly, within a few hours. The RTV defines the receiver receiving recess 46 and the audio transmission path 60 at the main portion 96 and protrusion 98 of the mandrel 92, respectively.

After the vulcanization process is complete, the mandrel 92 is removed from the shell 14 by pulling the wire 104. Support block 94 can then also be pulled away from shell 14.

Once mandrel 92 is removed from shell 14, receiver 34 can be inserted into shell 14.
It is further noted that the support block 94 is sufficient to prevent RTV from entering the output port 28 of the hearing aid 12. That is, the output port 28 is kept substantially empty so that, for example, a wax (not shown)
A device can be inserted into the output port 28 to prevent the audio from entering the audio transmission line 60 or the receiver 34. Such devices are described, for example, in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 584,451 (filed February 29, 1984, Richard Brander, Mark F. Stanton, "Wax Guard System"). )It is described in.

Excellent embodiments of the present invention have been described by way of example.
However, it will be understood that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the true scope and spirit of the invention. The true scope and spirit of the invention is determined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents, which should be interpreted within this specification.

Effects of the Invention By configuring the receiver suspension/acoustic effect unit used in a hearing aid as in the present invention, the receiver is supported with a cushioning effect by the flexible material, and the shell is different from the shell. substantially vibrationally isolated.

Further, by the method of manufacturing a receiver suspension and sound effect unit according to the present invention, the receiver suspension and sound effect unit can be easily and inexpensively manufactured. Moreover, the receiver is inserted into a receiver receiving recess made of an elastic molded material, and the acoustic output port of the receiver is gripped by the audio transmission line of the shell.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a typical hearing aid employing an excellent embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 2 is an excellent embodiment of the receiver suspension/acoustic effect unit of the present invention used in the hearing aid of Fig. 1. A perspective view of , Figure 3 is 3 in Figure 2.
- A cross-sectional view approximately along line 3, Figure 4 is 4 in Figure 3.
- An enlarged cross-sectional view of the receiver receiving recess and the audio transmission path when the mandrel is inserted into the shell, taken approximately along line 4; FIG. 5 is taken approximately along line 5-5 of FIG. 3; Figure 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the receiver receiving recess and the audio transmission path, showing the receiver.
It is a sectional view taken almost along the line. 10...Receiver suspension and sound effect unit, 12...
Hearing aid, 14... shell, 16... surface plate, 18... closed end, 20... open end, 22... side wall, 24... inner surface, 26... internal space, 28... output port, 30...
range, 32...ventilation hole, 34...receiver, 36...flexible suspension member, 38, 40...end wall, 42...side wall, 44
...Acoustic output port, 46...Receiver receiving port, 4
8, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58...rib, 60
...Audio transmission line, 62, 64, 66, 68...side surface,
70, 72...end, 74, 76, 78, 80, 8
2, 84... Edge, 86, 88... Side, 90... Center line, 91... Safety space, 92... Mandrel, 94
...Support block, 96...Main part, 98...Protrusion part,
100... Upper flange, 102... Hole, 104... Wire, 106... Upper range, 108... Lower range, 11
0...Tapered end, 112...Shoulder, 114...Upper range,
116...Lower range, 118...Longitudinal axis, 120...Central hole, 122...Shoulder.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A hearing aid comprising a receiver having two end walls and a side wall between these end walls, and one end wall of the receiver having an acoustic output port. In the receiver suspension and sound effects unit for
a combination of an outer shell and a flexible suspension member for retaining the receiver; the shell having a closed end, an open end and a sidewall between the ends; defines an output port, and the closed end and the sidewall define an inner surface of the shell and an interior region of the shell adjacent the inner surface; a flexible suspension member is fabricated from a flexible material; and substantially adhering to and extending inwardly from the inner surface of the shell within an interior region of the shell, further defining a receiver receiving recess for receiving a receiver and an elongated output path. a coupling member having an elongated output path extending between the receiver receiving recess and the output port of the shell, one end of the output path lockingly receiving the acoustic output port of the receiver; 1. A receiver suspension/acoustic effect unit comprising: a receiver suspension/acoustic effect unit, comprising: a coupling member so that an acoustic output port of the receiver is acoustically coupled to an output path; 2. A plurality of ribs extending into the receiver receiving recess are provided to support the side walls of the receiver, such that the receiver is damped by the flexible suspension member and is sufficiently acoustically isolated from the shell. 2. A receiver suspension and sound effects unit according to claim 1, wherein the receiver suspension and sound effect unit is adapted to be isolated from the receiver. 3. A receiver for use in a hearing aid comprising a receiver having two end walls and a side wall between the end walls, one end wall of the receiver having an acoustic output port. an instrument suspension and sound effects unit comprising an outer shell and a flexible suspension member for retaining the receiver; the shell has a closed end, an open end and a side wall between these ends a flexible suspension member, the closed end defining an output port, and the closed end and the sidewall defining an inner surface of the shell and an interior region of the shell adjacent the inner surface; is fabricated from a flexible material and substantially adheres to the inner surface of the shell within the interior of the shell and extends inwardly from the inner surface, and has a receiver receiving recess for receiving the receiver. and an elongated output path extends between the receiver receiving recess and the output port of the shell, with one end of the output path defining an acoustic output path of the receiver. A coupling member that locks and receives the port is constructed, and the acoustic output port of the receiver is acoustically coupled to the output path by the coupling member. In a method for fabricating a mandrel having a main portion and an elongated projection extending from the main portion; a polymerizable liquid material is poured into the shell; the liquid material polymerizes around the mandrel to form an elastomer that forms a receiver receiving recess in the main portion of the mandrel. forming and forming an output path extending between the receiver receiving recess and the output port of the shell at the elongated protrusion of the mandrel; removing the mandrel from the shell through the open end of the shell; A method for manufacturing a receiver suspension/sound effect unit characterized by: 4. The method according to claim 3, comprising the step of inserting the support block into the support block along the longitudinal protrusion so that the polymerizable liquid material is firmly held inside the shell. Method. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the support block has a shoulder and the support block is inserted into the output port until the shoulder of the support block rests firmly against the shell. 6. Removing the support block from the output port, such that the output port and the elastomer form a chamber for holding a device to prevent wax from entering the output path of the shell and the receiver. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the method comprises: 7. The main part of the mandrel has a plurality of vertical slits for forming ribs protruding into the receiver receiving recess, and in this way, when the receiver is inserted, the receiver receiving recess and the ribs are formed. 6. A method according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the receiver is adapted to support the receiver.