US3414685A - In-the-ear hearing aid - Google Patents

In-the-ear hearing aid Download PDF

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Publication number
US3414685A
US3414685A US489513A US48951365A US3414685A US 3414685 A US3414685 A US 3414685A US 489513 A US489513 A US 489513A US 48951365 A US48951365 A US 48951365A US 3414685 A US3414685 A US 3414685A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
receiver
housing
retainer
hearing aid
ear
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US489513A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Robert L Geib
Richard T Martin
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Miracle Ear Inc
Original Assignee
Dahlberg Electronics Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Dahlberg Electronics Inc filed Critical Dahlberg Electronics Inc
Priority to US489513A priority Critical patent/US3414685A/en
Priority to GB39257/67A priority patent/GB1117245A/en
Priority to GB48606/65A priority patent/GB1117244A/en
Priority to DED48764A priority patent/DE1274656B/de
Priority to DED55534A priority patent/DE1287138B/de
Priority to DED55554A priority patent/DE1286568B/de
Priority to NL6515552A priority patent/NL6515552A/xx
Priority to DK629865AA priority patent/DK137850B/da
Priority to CH1725565A priority patent/CH470814A/de
Priority to ES0320702A priority patent/ES320702A1/es
Priority to FR44626A priority patent/FR1466647A/fr
Priority to AT58366A priority patent/AT266235B/de
Priority to NO163952A priority patent/NO117643B/no
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3414685A publication Critical patent/US3414685A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04RLOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • H04R25/65Housing parts, e.g. shells, tips or moulds, or their manufacture
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04RLOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • H04R25/60Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles
    • H04R25/609Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles of circuitry
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04RLOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R2225/00Details of deaf aids covered by H04R25/00, not provided for in any of its subgroups
    • H04R2225/025In the ear hearing aids [ITE] hearing aids
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04RLOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • H04R25/60Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles
    • H04R25/603Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles of mechanical or electronic switches or control elements
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04RLOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • H04R25/65Housing parts, e.g. shells, tips or moulds, or their manufacture
    • H04R25/658Manufacture of housing parts

Definitions

  • a hearing aid apparatus having an acoustic receiver member extending outwardly from the upper portion of a front face of a housing, the upper portion of the housing being angulated so that the receiver angle approximates the normal angle of the ear canal with the ear concha.
  • the lower portion of the housing front face being angulated to approximate the angle of the ear concha.
  • the receiver is mounted with respect to the housing by means of a cupshaped retainer supporting one end of the receiver 'while a hollow cap member encloses the remainder of the receiver.
  • This invention pertains to improvements in hearing" aids, and more particularly to improvements in an in-theear hearing aid which is designed to be worn in the external ear of the user.
  • the in-the-ear hearing aid disclosed in US. Patent No. 3,197,576 comprises generally a housing which includes a microphone, amplifier, and a source of energizing potential for the amplifier, preferably a battery.
  • a receiver which has an electrical input and produces an acoustic output has its electrical input connected to the output of the amplifier, and the receiver is mounted within a soft resilient boot, usually of a soft rubber material, and is flexibly attached to the hearing aid housing, the receiver normally extending outwardly from the front face of the housing at a 90 angle.
  • the end of the soft resilient boot has an aperture therethrough adjacent the acoustic output of the receiver so that the acoustic output energy of the receiver always travels in the same acoustic medium, that is, air.
  • a wax guard such as the wax guard shown in United States Patent, Kuklock, 3,197,577, is mounted in the aperture of the boot to prevent earwax from entering the receiver output.
  • the resilient boot in order to provide a covering for the receiver which is adequately strong, the resilient boot must be fairly thick so as to provide suflicient mechanical strength. It has been discovered that the thickness of the boot preventsthis hearing aid being used by certain people with hearing deficiencies, since their ear canal is too small to receive the "ice boot covered receiver. It has also been found that insertion of the hearing aid housing in the outer ear of the wearer sometimes causes an irritation or soreness due to engagement of the edge of the housing with the concha of the ear.
  • the present invention provides an in-the-ear hearing aid which, because of its novel construction, is much less susceptible to damage even when mistreated or mishandled by the wearer.
  • the present invention comprises a housing which, when the hearing aid is being used, is fitted in the external ear of the user.
  • the housing has a front face having an upper portion which extends downwardly and inwardly toward a vertical plane, and a lower portion which extends downwardly away from the vertical plane.
  • the housing also has a battery compartment door which forms a part of the front face and which is located between the upper and lower portions of the housing face.
  • An elongated receiver is flexibly mounted to the face of the housing and extends outwardly therefrom, the longitudinal axis of the receiver being generally perpendicular to the upper portion of the housing face.
  • the mounting for the receiver comprises a cup-shaped retainer which has a flexible link extending outwardly from the base of the retainer in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the retainer.
  • the receiver member has an electrical input and an acoustic output end, and the electrical input end is mounted within the cup-shaped retainer with the acoustic output end of the receiver extending out of the retainer.
  • the flexible link of the retainer is mounted or connected to the upper face of the housing.
  • An elongated hollow cap member preferably of plastic, is placed over the portion of the receiver which extends out of the cup-shaped retainer, the hollow cap thereby enclosing the exposed portion of the receiver.
  • the end of the hollow cap adjacent the acoustic output end of the receiver has a plurality of apertures therethrough to allow transfer of the acoustic energy output from the receiver to the users eardrum.
  • a generally umbrella-shaped tip is mounted in spaced relation to the end of the cap member to cover the apertures through the end of the'cap and prevent earwax from plugging the cap apertures, however, as mentioned previously, the tip is spaced from the end of the cap so as to allow transfer of acoustic energy.
  • the hollow cap which encloses the hearing aid receiver is readily removable so that the entire cap may be replaced in the event of damage. In the event the cap-apertures become plugged with earwax, the cap is readily removable for cleaning.
  • the receiver Since the elongated receiver is mounted such that its longitudinal axis is perpendicular to the an-gulated upper face of the hearing aid housing, the receiver extends outwardly from the housing at an angle.
  • the angle at which the receiver extends from the housing is chosen to closely approximate the approach angle of the human ear canal so as to facilitate insertion of the receiver into the ear canal, and also to minimize any strain on the flexible link or mounting between the retainer and the hearing aid housig.
  • the amount of angulation of the lower portion of the hearing aid face is chosen to closely approximate the angle of the concha of the ear so as to prevent or minimize engagement of the housing with the ear concha, thereby preventing any soreness of the ear which may be occasioned by the wearing of the hearing aid.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide an in-the-ear hearing aid, wherein the hearing aid receiver is mounted at an angle closely approximating the approach angle of the human ear canal.
  • a further object of the present invention is to provide an in-the-ear hearing aid having an improved receiver mounting and cover.
  • FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a hearing aid of the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a front elevation of a hearing aid of the present invention
  • FIG. 3 is a rear elevation of a hearing aid of the present invention.
  • FIG. 4 is an exploded view in perspective of the structure of the present invention.
  • FIG. 5 is a view in vertical section as seen from the line 55 of FIG. 2;
  • FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the retainer mounting plate utilized in the present invention.
  • FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the retainer housing utilized in the present invention for mounting the receiver and receiver cap;
  • FIG. 8 is a sectional view as seen from the line 88 of FIG. 5;
  • FIG. 9 is a sectional view as seen from the line 9-9 of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 10 is a View showing the hearing aid of the present invention in operable position within the ear of the user.
  • an in-the-ear hearing aid comprising a housing 21 adapted to be worn in the external ear of the user, housing 21 having a front face with an upper portion 22, an intermediate portion 23, and a lower portion 24.
  • the intermediate portion 23 of the front face of housing 21 is generally parallel to a vertical plane, while the upper portion 22 of the front face of housing 21 extends downwardly and inwardly toward the vertical plane, and the lower portion 24 of the front face of housing 21 extends downwardly and away from the vertical plane.
  • the upper portion 22 of the front face of housing 21 is at an angle of approximately 7 with the vertical plane of the intermediate portion 23 of the front face, while the lower portion 24 is at an angle of approximately 15 with the vertical plane through the intermediate portion 23 of the front face of housing 21.
  • the housing 21 is divided into a first end compartment 25, a center compartment 26, and a second end compartment 27.
  • End compartment 25 is separated from center compartment 26 by a wall 30; while end compartment 27 is separated from center compartment 26 by a wall 31.
  • An aperture 32 extends through an outer wall of housing 21 into end compartment 25, aperture 32 having a grommet 33 fitted therein.
  • Grommet 33 in turn has an aperture 34 therethrough.
  • a microphone grill plate 35 is positioned over aperture 32 on the outside of housing 21 and is held in place by means of a cap 36.
  • An aperture 37 extends through a wall of housing 21 into end compartment 25, aperture 37 having a volume control potentiometer 40 fitted therein.
  • a seal ring 41 and an adjustment wheel 42 are attached to potentiometer 40 by means of a screw 43, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and a cap 44 is fastened to the adjustment wheel 42 to cover the end of the screw 43.
  • a microphone 45 having an acoustic output aperture 46 is shock-mounted by means of rubber or other suitable resilient supporting members 47 and is positioned in end compartment 25 so that the microphone aperture 46 is adjacent aperture 34 of grommet 33. End compartment 25 is sealed by means of the lower portion 24 of the front face of housing 21.
  • a first conducting plate 50 is clipped over wall 30 and extends along the face of wall 30 in center compartment 26, while a second conducting plate 51 is clipped over wall 31 and extends along wall 31 in the center compartment 26.
  • a generally arcuate, wafer-type battery holder 52 is pivotally mounted between walls 30 and 31 and swings closed into center compartment 26 of hous ing 21. Battery holder 52 is adapted to hold a wafer-type battery (not shown) which makes electrical contact with the conducting plates 50 and 51 when the battery compartment 52 is in a closed position within the center compartment 26 of housing 21.
  • the front face of the battery holder 52 forms the intermediate portion 23- of the front face of the housing 21.
  • An amplifier circuit shown generally at 53 is mounted on a printed circuit board 54.
  • Amplifier 53 can be of any conventional audio-amplifier design and the details of a particular amplifier design are not shown.
  • Amplifier 53 and printed circuit board 54 are mounted in end compartment 27 and are insulated from the conducting plate 51 by means of an insulating spacer 55. Suitable conducting means (not shown) connect the microphone 45 to the input of amplifier 53, and in addition connect the battery plates 50 and 51 to amplifier 53 to provide an energizing source for the amplifier.
  • a hollow generally cup-shaped retainer 56 is formed from soft drawn brass, or other suitable material, and has a lip 57.
  • a first finger 60 extends outwardly from one side of the lip 57 of retainer 56 in generally the same direction as the longitudinal or depth axis of the retainer 56.
  • a second finger 61 extends outwardly from an opposite side of the lip 57 of retainer 56; finger 61 being generally parallel to finger 60.
  • the retainer 56 is covered by any suitable soft resilient material 62, such as silicone rubber, which is vulcanized directly to the retainer 56 itself.
  • Retainer 56 has a plurality of apertures 64 therethrough which improves the vulcanizing bond between the silicone rubber covering and the retainer 56.
  • a portion of the silicone rubber covering of the retainer 46 extends outwardly from the base of retainer 56 in generally the same direction as the longitudinal axis of the retainer and forms a flexible link 65.
  • the end of the flexible link 65 is vulcanized to an anchor plate 66 which has a plurality of apertures 67 therethrough to increase the bonding between the silicone rubber of link 65 and the anchor plate 66.
  • the upper portion 22 of the front face of housing 21 comprises a cover 68 and a clamp 70.
  • the cover 68 has a groove 71 therein, groove 71 having generally straight side walls and a generally semicircular bottom.
  • the clamp 70 has a generally semicircular groove 72 therein, while the width of the clamp 70 is approximately the same as the distance between the generally straight side walls of the groove 71 in cover 68.
  • the flexible link 65 is positioned in the semicircular bottom of the groove 71 of cover 68 and the clamp 70 is then inserted into the groove 71 of the cover 68 adjacent the straight side walls thereof, and is sealed to the cover 68, the semicircular bottom of groove 71 and the semicircular groove 72 of the clamp 70 thereby forming a generally circular aperture through the upper portion 22 of the front face of housing 21, the generally circular aperture containing the flexible link 65.
  • Removal of the flexible link 65 from the generally circular aperture in the upper portion 22 of the front face of housing 21 is prevented by the anchor plate 66 which is bonded to the end of the flexible link 65.
  • the upper portion 22 is then sealed to the housing 21 and thereby encloses the compartment 27 of housing 21.
  • a suitable insulating material 73 is positioned between the amplifier 53 and printed circuit board 54 and the upper portion 22 of the front face of housing 21.
  • An elongated receiver member 74 has an acoustic output aperture 75 at one end thereof; receiver member 74 being capable of producing an acoustic output when energized.
  • receiver 74 The electrical input end of receiver 74 is located opposite the acoustic output end, and contains electrical input terminals 76 and 77. Receiver 74 further has opposite side walls 80 and 81. The electrical input end of the elongated receiver 74 is mounted in the cup-shaped retainer 56 with the finger 60 of retainer 56 contacting side 80 of receiver 74 and finger 61 of retainer 56 contacting side 81 of receiver 74 to hold the electrical input end of receiver 74 within retainer 56.
  • An elongated thin-walled hollow cap member 82 is positioned over the receiver 74 and encloses the portion of receiver 74 which extends out of retainer 56. Opposite inside walls of the cap 82 are provided with grooves 69 which receive each one of the fingers 60 and 61 of retainer 56 and thereby hold the cap 82 in position enclosing receiver 74.
  • Cap 82 has a double tapered central aperture 83 in the end thereof adjacent the acoustic output 75 of receiver 74, and further has a plurality of apertures 84 spaced radially outwardly from the central aperture 83.
  • a generally umbrella-shaped, or spherical segmentshaped, tip 85 has a stud 86 extending outwardly from one face thereof, stud 86 being centrally located on the axis of tip 85.
  • the end of stud 86 terminates in a ball 87 which is frictionally held in the double tapered central aperture 83 in the end of cap 82.
  • the tip 85 is held in a spaced relationship from the end of cap 82 by means of a plurality of uniformly spaced protrusions 88 formed on the surface of tip 85 facing the end of cap 82.
  • a pair of electrical leads 90 are connected from the output of amplifier 53 to the electrical input terminals 76 and 77 of receiver 74.
  • FIG. shows a view of the hearing aid 20 mounted in the ear A of a user.
  • the housing 21 is worn in the exterior ear while the angulated receiver 74 covered by the cap 82 is in the ear canal B of the user.
  • the angle of the receiver closely approximates the approach angle of the ear canal B so that a minimum amount of stress or flexing is imparted to the flexible link 65 thereby preventing excessive flexing to the link 65 and also reducing the pressure applied to the users ear canal. It can also be seen from FIG.
  • said front face having an upper portion extending downwardly and inwardly toward a perpendicular plane, said front face having a lower portion extending downwardly and away from said perpendicular plane;
  • a cup-shaped retainer having a flexible link extending outwardly from the base thereof in the direction of the longitudinal axis of said retainer, said retainer further having fingers extending outwardly from opposite sides of the lip of the cup-shaped retainer in generally the same direction as said longitudinal axis;
  • an elongated received member having an acoustic output end and an electrical input end, said electrical input end being positioned in said cup-shaped retainer with the fingers of said retainer contacting opposite sides of said receiver member;
  • said hollow cap member having at least one aperture through an end thereof adjacent the acoustic output of said receiver.
  • a cup-shaped retainer having a flexible link extending outwardly from the base thereof in the direction of the longitudinal axis of said retainer, said retainer further having fingers extending outwardly from opposite side of the lip of the cup-shaped retainer in generally the same direction as said longitudinal axis;
  • (d) means connecting the flexible link of said retainer to said housing with the longitudnal axis of said retainer generally perpendicular to the upper portion of the front face of said housing;
  • an elongated receiver member having an acoustic output end and an electrical input end, said electrical input end being positioned in said cup-shaped retainer with the fingers of said retainer contacting opposite sides of said receiver member;
  • said hollow cap member having at least one aperture through an end thereof adjacent the acoustic output of said receiver.
  • said hollow cap member having at least one aperture through an end thereof adjacent the acoustic output of said receiver.
  • said front face having an upper portion and a lower portion, said lower portion extending downwardly and away from a perpendicular plane;
  • an elongated receiver member flexibly mounted to said housing and extending outwardly therefrom, the longitudinal axis of said elongated receiver being generally perpendicular to the upper portion of the front face of said housing.
  • said front face having an upper portion extending downwardly and inwardly toward a perpendicular plane, said front face having a lower portion extending downwardly and away from said perpendicular plane;
  • said hollow cap member having at least one aperture through an end thereof adjacent the acoustic output of said receiver.
  • an elongated receiver member mounted to extend outwardly from said housing, the longitudinal axis of said elongated receiver being generally perpendicular to the upper portion of the front face of said housing.
  • a cup-shaped retainer having a flexible link extending outwardly from the base thereof in the direction of the longitudinal axis of said retainer, said retainer further having fingers extending outwardly from opposite side of the lip of the cup-shaped retainer in generally the same direction as said longitudinal axis;
  • an elongated receiver member having an acoustic output end and an electrical input end, said electrical input end being positioned in said cup-shaped retainer with the fingers of said retainer contacting opposite sides of said receiver member;
  • said hollow cap member having at least one aperture through an end thereof adjacent the acoustic output of said receiver.
  • said front face having an upper portion extending downwardly and inwardly toward a perpendicular plane, said front face having a lower portion extending downwardly and away from said perpendicular plane;
  • an elongated receiver member mounted to extend outwardly from the front face of said housing, the longitudinal axis of said elongated receiver being generally perpendicular to the upper portion of the front face of said housing.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Otolaryngology (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Neurosurgery (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Headphones And Earphones (AREA)
  • Telephone Set Structure (AREA)
  • Carbon And Carbon Compounds (AREA)
  • Catalysts (AREA)
  • Battery Mounting, Suspending (AREA)
  • Audible And Visible Signals (AREA)
  • Buildings Adapted To Withstand Abnormal External Influences (AREA)
  • Valve Device For Special Equipments (AREA)
  • Sheet Holders (AREA)
US489513A 1965-09-23 1965-09-23 In-the-ear hearing aid Expired - Lifetime US3414685A (en)

Priority Applications (13)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US489513A US3414685A (en) 1965-09-23 1965-09-23 In-the-ear hearing aid
GB39257/67A GB1117245A (en) 1965-09-23 1965-11-16 Hearing aid
GB48606/65A GB1117244A (en) 1965-09-23 1965-11-16 Hearing aid
DED55534A DE1287138B (de) 1965-09-23 1965-11-26 Im Ohr zu tragendes, elektrisches Schwerhoerigengeraet
DED55554A DE1286568B (de) 1965-09-23 1965-11-26 Ohrstueck fuer im Ohr zu tragendes elektrisches Schwerhoerigengeraet
DED48764A DE1274656B (de) 1965-09-23 1965-11-26 Ohrstueck fuer im Ohr zu tragendes, elektrisches Schwerhoerigengeraet
NL6515552A NL6515552A (es) 1965-09-23 1965-11-30
DK629865AA DK137850B (da) 1965-09-23 1965-12-07 Høreapparat.
CH1725565A CH470814A (de) 1965-09-23 1965-12-13 Im Ohr zu tragender Hörapparat
ES0320702A ES320702A1 (es) 1965-09-23 1965-12-14 Un aparato auditivo de tipo directo.
FR44626A FR1466647A (fr) 1965-09-23 1966-01-03 Appareil de correction auditive se plaçant dans l'oreille
AT58366A AT266235B (de) 1965-09-23 1966-01-21 Hörhilfe
NO163952A NO117643B (es) 1965-09-23 1966-07-15

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US489513A US3414685A (en) 1965-09-23 1965-09-23 In-the-ear hearing aid

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3414685A true US3414685A (en) 1968-12-03

Family

ID=23944191

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US489513A Expired - Lifetime US3414685A (en) 1965-09-23 1965-09-23 In-the-ear hearing aid

Country Status (10)

Country Link
US (1) US3414685A (es)
AT (1) AT266235B (es)
CH (1) CH470814A (es)
DE (3) DE1274656B (es)
DK (1) DK137850B (es)
ES (1) ES320702A1 (es)
FR (1) FR1466647A (es)
GB (2) GB1117245A (es)
NL (1) NL6515552A (es)
NO (1) NO117643B (es)

Cited By (47)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3688053A (en) * 1966-07-29 1972-08-29 Juan Gasso Bosch Hearing aid including microphone suspended externally of component-containing housing
US4457396A (en) * 1982-09-24 1984-07-03 James David L Sound deflector for headset ear phones
WO1987007465A1 (en) * 1986-05-27 1987-12-03 Voroba Technologies Associates Mass production auditory canal hearing aid
US4870689A (en) * 1987-04-13 1989-09-26 Beltone Electronics Corporation Ear wax barrier for a hearing aid
US4984277A (en) * 1987-10-14 1991-01-08 Gn Danovox A/S Protection element for all-in-the-ear hearing aid
US5048090A (en) * 1988-11-11 1991-09-10 Horgeraete Geers Gmbh & Co. Kg Hearing aid with transmitter and microphone housing parts
US5131128A (en) * 1987-10-14 1992-07-21 Gn Danavox A/S Protection element for all-in-the-ear hearing aid and tool for use in the replacement hereof
US5250926A (en) * 1992-04-29 1993-10-05 Wilbrecht Electronics, Inc. Potentiometer with improved seal
US5401920A (en) * 1991-12-09 1995-03-28 Oliveira; Robert J. Cerumen filter for hearing aids
WO1996004765A1 (en) 1994-08-04 1996-02-15 Peter Joakim Lenz Hearing aid
US5701348A (en) * 1994-12-29 1997-12-23 Decibel Instruments, Inc. Articulated hearing device
US6041129A (en) * 1991-01-17 2000-03-21 Adelman; Roger A. Hearing apparatus
US6940988B1 (en) 1998-11-25 2005-09-06 Insound Medical, Inc. Semi-permanent canal hearing device
US20060050914A1 (en) * 1998-11-25 2006-03-09 Insound Medical, Inc. Sealing retainer for extended wear hearing devices
US20070003087A1 (en) * 2005-06-30 2007-01-04 Insound Medical, Inc. Hearing aid microphone protective barrier
US20080187159A1 (en) * 2006-10-23 2008-08-07 Klipsch, Llc Ear tip
US20080263855A1 (en) * 2007-04-27 2008-10-30 Front Edge Technology, Inc. Thin film battery substrate cutting and fabrication process
US20090010462A1 (en) * 2007-07-02 2009-01-08 Front Edge Technology, Inc. Compact rechargeable thin film battery system for hearing aid
US20090074220A1 (en) * 2007-08-14 2009-03-19 Insound Medical, Inc. Combined microphone and receiver assembly for extended wear canal hearing devices
US7606382B2 (en) 2001-08-10 2009-10-20 Hear-Wear Technologies LLC BTE/CIC auditory device and modular connector system therefor
USD611929S1 (en) 2008-05-29 2010-03-16 Klipsch, Llc Headphone ear tips
US7846579B2 (en) 2005-03-25 2010-12-07 Victor Krasnov Thin film battery with protective packaging
US7862927B2 (en) 2007-03-02 2011-01-04 Front Edge Technology Thin film battery and manufacturing method
US20110188690A1 (en) * 2008-10-10 2011-08-04 Widex A/S Receiver in concha
US8094850B2 (en) 2001-08-10 2012-01-10 Hear-Wear Technologies, Llc BTE/CIC auditory device and modular connector system therefor
US8457336B2 (en) 2004-02-05 2013-06-04 Insound Medical, Inc. Contamination resistant ports for hearing devices
US8502494B2 (en) 2009-08-28 2013-08-06 Front Edge Technology, Inc. Battery charging apparatus and method
US8628645B2 (en) 2007-09-04 2014-01-14 Front Edge Technology, Inc. Manufacturing method for thin film battery
US8679674B2 (en) 2005-03-25 2014-03-25 Front Edge Technology, Inc. Battery with protective packaging
US8682016B2 (en) 2011-11-23 2014-03-25 Insound Medical, Inc. Canal hearing devices and batteries for use with same
US8753724B2 (en) 2012-09-26 2014-06-17 Front Edge Technology Inc. Plasma deposition on a partially formed battery through a mesh screen
US8761423B2 (en) 2011-11-23 2014-06-24 Insound Medical, Inc. Canal hearing devices and batteries for use with same
US8865340B2 (en) 2011-10-20 2014-10-21 Front Edge Technology Inc. Thin film battery packaging formed by localized heating
US8864954B2 (en) 2011-12-23 2014-10-21 Front Edge Technology Inc. Sputtering lithium-containing material with multiple targets
US8870974B2 (en) 2008-02-18 2014-10-28 Front Edge Technology, Inc. Thin film battery fabrication using laser shaping
US9077000B2 (en) 2012-03-29 2015-07-07 Front Edge Technology, Inc. Thin film battery and localized heat treatment
US9088846B2 (en) 2013-08-14 2015-07-21 Klipsch Group, Inc. Oval variable wall earbud
US9257695B2 (en) 2012-03-29 2016-02-09 Front Edge Technology, Inc. Localized heat treatment of battery component films
US9356320B2 (en) 2012-10-15 2016-05-31 Front Edge Technology Inc. Lithium battery having low leakage anode
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US9905895B2 (en) 2012-09-25 2018-02-27 Front Edge Technology, Inc. Pulsed mode apparatus with mismatched battery
US8753724B2 (en) 2012-09-26 2014-06-17 Front Edge Technology Inc. Plasma deposition on a partially formed battery through a mesh screen
US9356320B2 (en) 2012-10-15 2016-05-31 Front Edge Technology Inc. Lithium battery having low leakage anode
US9584895B2 (en) 2013-08-14 2017-02-28 Klipsch Group, Inc. Teardrop variable wall earbud
US9369792B2 (en) 2013-08-14 2016-06-14 Klipsch Group, Inc. Round variable wall earbud
US9088846B2 (en) 2013-08-14 2015-07-21 Klipsch Group, Inc. Oval variable wall earbud
US10008739B2 (en) 2015-02-23 2018-06-26 Front Edge Technology, Inc. Solid-state lithium battery with electrolyte
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US11638108B2 (en) 2020-11-27 2023-04-25 Sonova Ag Canal hearing devices with sound port contaminant guards

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GB1117245A (en) 1968-06-19
DK137850B (da) 1978-05-16
NO117643B (es) 1969-09-08
DE1274656B (de) 1968-08-08
GB1117244A (en) 1968-06-19
CH470814A (de) 1969-03-31
NL6515552A (es) 1966-02-25
FR1466647A (fr) 1967-01-20
DK137850C (es) 1978-10-02
ES320702A1 (es) 1966-06-16
DE1286568B (de) 1969-01-09
AT266235B (de) 1968-11-11
DE1287138B (de) 1969-01-16

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