JPH089999Y2 - hearing aid - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hearing aid, and is particularly suitable for application to a mounting structure for a howling preventive tool of an in-ear type hearing aid.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an ear-plug type hearing aid has a case in which a case containing a hearing aid signal processing circuit is inserted into a wearer's ear hole, and sound collected from a microphone provided on a panel surface exposed around the entrance of the ear hole. After hearing aids as necessary, the earphones provided at the tip of the case emit sound as hearing aids to the inner part of the ear canal so that the wearer can wear the hearing aid inconspicuously. ing.

In this type of in-ear type hearing aid, the hearing aid sound emitted from the earphones to the inner part of the ear canal of the wearer at the time of wearing goes to the outside of the ear canal from the gap between the case and the wall of the ear canal of the wearer. By leaking out and returning to the microphone again, so-called howling may occur.

Not only does this howling stop the function of the hearing aid, but it also causes a significant discomfort to the wearer due to the high sound pressure oscillating sound. Therefore, as a method of preventing a gap, a method of making the outer diameter of the portion of the case facing the ear canal of the wearer slightly thicker than the inner diameter of the ear canal of the wearer can be considered. There is an inconvenience that causes discomfort and pain to the wearer.

In order to solve this problem, a method of fitting a howling prevention band 4 around the case 3 has been conventionally proposed as shown in FIG. The howling prevention band 4 is made of a material having an annular elasticity, and three thin ribs 4A, 4B, 4C are formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof.

The case 3 is formed with an annular groove 2 for determining the mounting position of the howling prevention band 4, and the hearing aid 1 is worn with the howling prevention band 4 fitted in the groove 2. According to this method, the presence of the howling prevention band 4 can prevent the hearing aid emitted from the earphones from leaking out from the gap between the case 3 and the ear canal wall of the wearer, thus avoiding howling. You can

[0007]

However, according to the conventional method, when the wearer takes the hearing aid 1 out of his ear, the howling prevention band 4 stretches due to its elasticity due to friction with the ear wall. The case 3 is detached from the groove 2 of the case 3 and remains in the ear canal. The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to propose a hearing aid capable of effectively avoiding the risk of parts remaining in the ear canal when the hearing aid is taken out of the ear canal.

[0008]

In order to solve such a problem, according to the present invention, a connecting portion 8 is formed at the tip of a portion of the hearing aid case 3 facing the ear canal of the wearer so as to project from the tip of the hearing aid case 3. The howling preventive tool 5 is attached so as to allow insertion of the device, and the fixing chip 7 that fixes the howling preventive tool 5 to the hearing aid case 3 by being fitted to the tip end portion of the coupling portion 8.

[0009]

The howling prevention tool 5 is attached to the tip of the portion of the hearing aid case 3 that faces the ear canal of the wearer so that the joint portion 8 projecting from the tip of the hearing aid case 3 is inserted, and the howling prevention tool 5 is attached. Since the howling preventive tool 5 is fixed to the hearing aid case 3 by fitting the fixing chip 7 into the joint portion 8 that is more inserted, the howling preventive tool 5 is less likely to be separated from the hearing aid case 3. Thus, the inconvenience that the howling preventive tool 5 remains in the ear hole of the wearer can be effectively avoided.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1 in which parts corresponding to those in FIG. 6 are designated by the same reference numerals, 3A indicates a cross-sectional part of the case 3, and the tip of the case 3 is connected to a fixing chip 7 so as to project outward. The part 8 is formed. As shown in FIG. 2, the coupling portion 8 has a columnar shape as a whole, and is a groove that serves as a guideline when slidingly coupling with the fixed chip 7 (described later) in a range extending over the front side surface, the right side surface and the rear side surface in FIG. 8A is formed.

Here, as shown in FIG. 1, a hollow portion is formed in the center of the coupling portion 8, an earphone tube 10 is provided so as to pass through the hollow portion, and a claw portion formed at the tip of the earphone tube 10 is provided. The earphone tube 10 can be held by gripping the earphone tube 10 with the coupling portion 8 by 10A. A howling prevention tool 5 is attached to the tip of the case 3.

The howling preventive tool 5 is made of a flexible material such as silicone rubber, and its shape is selected as a hat-headed cap which is in close contact with the tip of the case 3 as a whole. There is. Here, as shown in FIG. 2, an opening 5D through which the coupling portion 8 is inserted is formed in the center of the head of the howling prevention tool 5, and a step 5 is formed on the left side of the opening 5D.
A circular hole 5E is formed at the center of the upper surface of the step 5F.

Further, three thin-walled collars 5A, 5B and 5C are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the howling prevention tool 5 so as to project outward at, for example, substantially equal intervals. The collar 5A and the collar 5C are formed on both sides of the side wall in the circumferential direction of the side wall, and the collar 5B formed at the center of the side wall is the collar 5
The outer diameter is selected to be slightly larger than those of A and the collar 5C.

The claw 1 exposed from the tip of the above-mentioned connecting portion 8
0A and the inner wall of the coupling portion 8 are fitted with earlobe intrusion prevention chips 6 and cylindrical protrusions 6A formed on the lower surface of the earlobe intrusion prevention chips 6 shown in FIG.
By fitting the above into the hole 5E of the head portion of the howling preventive tool 5, the both can be integrated. Figure 4
Shows a state in which the howling preventive tool 5 and the earlobe invasion preventive tool 6 are attached to the case 3. After that, the fixing chip 7 is slidably connected to the joint portion 8 to thereby prevent the howling preventive tool 5 and the earwax intruder. The intrusion prevention tool 6 is integrally fixed to the case 3.

As shown in FIG. 3, a pair of ridges 7A are formed on both inner wall surfaces of the fixed chip 7, and the ridges 7A are formed in the side wall of the connecting portion 8 described above. By sliding 8A, the fixed chip 7 is slidably coupled to the coupling portion 8. At this time, the convex portion 8B (FIG. 2) formed in the middle of the groove 8A is the protrusion 7A.
By being fitted in the recess 7B formed in the middle, the fixing chip 7 is prevented from being easily dropped from the coupling portion 8.

When the hearing aid being worn is taken out from the ear canal in the above structure, the collars 5A, 5B, 5C formed on the side wall of the howling preventive tool 5 receive a force in the direction of the fixed chip 7 due to friction with the ear wall. As a result, the howling prevention tool 5 receives the same force as when it is pulled upward in FIG. 1, but the head of the howling prevention tool 5 is fixed to the case 3 by the fixing chip 7. Therefore, it is possible to effectively avoid the inconvenience that the anti-hinging tool 5 remains in the ear hole of the wearer without coming off from the case 3. According to the above configuration, the howling prevention tool 5 is fixed to the fixing chip 7.
Therefore, howling can be prevented by a simple structure when fixed to the case 3, and easy removal of the howling preventive tool 5 from the case 3 can be effectively avoided, thus further improving the usability of the wearer. Can improve.

Further, it is easy to wash and replace parts such as the howling preventive tool 5 and the earwax intrusion preventive tool 6, which are easily soiled by the secretions secreted from the external auditory meatus, and it is easy to maintain the hygienic condition. In the above embodiment, the howling prevention tool 5 has three ribs, and the central collar 5B has a slightly larger outer diameter than the collars 5A, 5C at both ends. The number of flanges is not limited to this, and the flanges may be of the same size, and the point is that sound leakage can be effectively prevented.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the case where the collar is formed on the side wall of the howling preventive tool 5 is described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the collar is formed on the side wall of the howling preventive tool 5. Alternatively, the side wall may be thickened, and the point is that sound leakage can be effectively prevented.
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the fixed chip 7 is slidably connected to the connecting portion 8 from one direction has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the fixed chip is divided into two and connected from both opposite directions. It may be slidably coupled to the portion 8.

Further, in the above embodiment, the groove 8A
The case where the cross section has a U-shape has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and an inclined groove may be formed such that the groove becomes shallower toward the tip of the coupling portion 8. The shape may be such that the fixed chip 7 can be slidably coupled to the coupling portion 8 during the sliding coupling. Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the fixed chip 7 is slidably connected to the joint portion 8 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the fixed chip 7 may be fitted to the joint portion 8. The point is that the fixing chip 7 may have a shape that does not easily come off from the connecting portion 8 when the hearing aid 1 is taken out of the ear hole of the wearer.

Further, in the above embodiment, the case of using the howling preventive tool 5 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and when the use of the howling preventive tool 5 is not required, as shown in FIG. An earwax intrusion prevention chip 20 having a structure in which the head of the howling preventive tool 5 and the earwax intrusion prevention chip 5 are integrated may be used.

[0022]

As described above, according to the present invention, the howling prevention tool is attached to the tip of the portion of the hearing aid case facing the ear canal of the wearer, and is fixed to the body of the hearing aid case by the fixing chip. This effectively prevents the members of the hearing aid from remaining in the ear canal when the hearing aid is taken out of the ear canal.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a part of a hearing aid according to an embodiment of the present invention in section.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of the distal end portion of the hearing aid of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of the distal end portion of the hearing aid of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of the distal end portion of the hearing aid of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing another embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a conventional howling prevention tool attachment structure.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Hearing aid, 5 ... Howling prevention device, 6 ... Ear ridge invasion prevention device, 7 ... Fixing chip, 8 ... Coupling part.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] The howling preventive tool is attached to the tip of the portion of the hearing aid case that faces the ear canal of the wearer so as to insert the coupling portion projecting at the tip of the hearing aid case, and the tip of the coupling portion is fitted. Accordingly, a hearing aid comprising a fixing chip for fixing the howling prevention tool to the hearing aid case.