EP1993324B1 - Ear piece with adapter seal - Google Patents

Abstract

The ear fitting piece (10) has an earphone (11) with an earphone connection including a snap element at a sound outlet. An adaptor (12) is inserted directly into the ear fitting piece. The adaptor has another snap element, which is latched into the former snap element. A seal (13) surrounds completely the earphone connection and consists of an elastic material better than the earphone connection and the adaptor. The seal is fitted in between the earphone connection and the adaptor.

Description

The present invention relates to an external hearing aid with an earmold, a listener having at the sound outlet a earpiece including a first snap element, and an adapter inserted directly into the earmold and having a second snap element inserted into the first earpiece Snap element is releasably snapped. A hearing device is understood to mean, in particular, a device that can be worn on the ear, such as a hearing aid, a headset, a headset, and the like.

Hearing aids are portable hearing aids that are used to care for the hearing impaired. In order to meet the numerous individual needs, different types of hearing aids such as behind-the-ear hearing aids (BTE) and in-the-ear hearing aids (IDO), e.g. also Concha hearing aids or canal hearing aids (CIC), provided. The hearing aids listed by way of example are worn on the outer ear or in the ear canal. In addition, bone conduction hearing aids, implantable or vibrotactile hearing aids are also available on the market. The stimulation of the damaged hearing takes place either mechanically or electrically.

Hearing aids have in principle as essential components an input transducer, an amplifier and an output transducer. The input transducer is usually a sound receiver, z. As a microphone, and / or an electromagnetic receiver, for. B. an induction coil. The output transducer is usually used as an electroacoustic transducer, z. As miniature speaker, or as an electromechanical transducer, z. B. bone conduction, realized. The amplifier is usually integrated in a signal processing unit. This basic structure is in FIG. 1 shown using the example of a behind-the-ear hearing aid. In a hearing aid housing 1 for carrying behind the ear are one or more microphones 2 to Built-in sound recording from the environment. A signal processing unit 3, which is also integrated in the hearing aid housing 1, processes the microphone signals and amplifies them. The output signal of the signal processing unit 3 is transmitted to a loudspeaker or earpiece 4, which outputs an acoustic signal. The sound is optionally transmitted via a sound tube, which is fixed with an earmold in the ear canal, to the eardrum of the device carrier. The power supply of the hearing device and in particular of the signal processing unit 3 is carried out by a likewise integrated into the hearing aid housing 1 battery. 5

BTE hearing aids are often equipped with an external handset. This external earpiece is inserted into the ear canal and receives its electrical signals from a hearing aid main unit carried behind the ear.

The external handset is usually made of an earmold (earmold), in which a speaker or handset is attached. For example, the earpiece is snapped into the earmold. For this purpose, the listener has a earpiece, which enters into a snap connection with the earmold. Both components of the snap connection are typically made of polyamide.

The problem of such hearing units is that at higher gains, for. B. over 40dB, often takes place a feedback of the output sound, so that the hearing aid wearer perceives an unpleasant whistling. Such feedback occurs especially in case of wear, when earphones were replaced in the earmold more often.

From the publication WO 2004/025990 A1 is a hearing aid with external handset known. The external handset consists of a loudspeaker that can be plugged into a soft earpiece with the help of an adapter. The speaker housing has a nose with which it can snap into the adapter. The material of the ear piece is softer than that of the adapter.

The adapter material in turn is softer than that of the speaker housing.

Furthermore, the document describes DE 86 11 816 U1 an adapter for hearing aids to be worn in the ear canal. An existing of an elastic plastic ear olive is intended to snap on an adapter. In a cone of the adapter, a sound outlet of the hearing aid is snapped. The adapter is made of a slightly elastic plastic.

Further, the document discloses US 4,977,976 a connector of a sound tube to an ear piece. A plug seals the connecting element with respect to the earpiece.

From the publication WO 99/07182 A2 An earmold is known in which a handset assembly including a handset and a handset housing is screwed into a sleeve which is surrounded by an acoustic seal. The acoustic seal seals the ear canal and has a sound outlet for the earpiece assembly.

The object of the present invention is therefore to avoid feedback in external hearing units of hearing devices as far as possible.

According to the invention this object is achieved by an external receiver unit according to claim 1.

Advantageously, the seals compensate for manufacturing tolerances of the adapter and the earpiece, so that sound can no longer penetrate between the adapter and the earpiece through to the outside. Thus, feedback can be efficiently avoided even for high gains.

Preferably, the adapter is made of polyamide or a similar hard plastic. The same applies to the earpiece. The seal, however, should for example consist of rubber, silicone or a similar elastic material. This material combination hard-soft-hard can achieve a sealing effect, which brings the required feedback suppression. In addition, the seal also protects the earpiece from cerumen, dirt and sweat.

The seal can be held in a form-fitting manner in the adapter. This prevents the seal from slipping out of the adapter when the handset is pulled out of the adapter.

According to a particular embodiment, the seal is injected in a 2-component injection molding technique in the adapter. In this way, under certain circumstances, the production costs and logistics costs can be reduced.

The earpiece can also have a cone-shaped surface and at the largest circumference of this surface a shoulder as a first snap element, which engages the second snap element of the adapter. This makes it possible to achieve a defined fit of the earpiece in the adapter and the required sealing effect.

The second snap element, for example, have three snap-in lugs, which are evenly distributed on the circumference of the adapter. These snap-on lugs are easy to spray on the adapter and ensure a sufficient connection force. In addition, they are solvable with appropriate design.

Furthermore, the seal may have a cylindrical portion in which a wax guard is attached. In particular, the cerumen protection can be fastened by friction in the cylindrical section, for example. Thereby the seal receives another functionality, namely that of holding the cerumen protection.

FIG 1

den prinzipiellen Aufbau eines Hörgeräts gemäß dem Stand der Technik;

FIG 2

eine externe Hörereinheit mit Ohrpassstück gemäß der vorliegenden Erfindung;

FIG 3

einen Hörer und einen Adapter im voneinander getrennten Zustand;

FIG 4

das Bild von FIG 3 im Längsschnitt;

FIG 5

den in den Adapter eingeschnappten Hörer im Längsschnitt;

FIG 6

den Adapter von FIG 3 von der dem Hörer zugewandten Seite, und

FIG 7

den Adapter von FIG 6 ohne die Dichtung und den Cerumenschutz.

The present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1

the basic structure of a hearing aid according to the prior art;

FIG. 2

an external earpiece with ear tip according to the present invention;

FIG. 3

a handset and an adapter in the separated state;

FIG. 4

the picture of FIG. 3 in longitudinal section;

FIG. 5

the listener snapped into the adapter in longitudinal section;

FIG. 6

the adapter of FIG. 3 from the side facing the listener, and

FIG. 7

the adapter of FIG. 6 without the seal and the wax guard.

The embodiment described in more detail below represents a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows an external receiver unit to be connected to a behind the pinna to be worn hearing aid main unit. The external receiver unit has an earmold 10 in which an external receiver 11 is mounted. The attachment is related to the others FIGS. 3 to 7 explained in more detail. It takes place with the aid of an earmold adapter 12 and an acoustic seal 13. The sound of the listener 11 leaves the earmold 10 via a wax guard 14.

• 1. "HALTEN": Der externe Hörer 11 soll mehrfach lösbar in dem Ohrpassstück 10 befestigt werden können.
• 2. "DICHTEN": Der externe Hörer 11 soll vor Cermumen, Schmutz Schweiß etc. geschützt sein. Darüber hinaus soll er akustisch dicht in dem Ohrpassstück 10 befestigt sein, so dass kein Schall nach außen dringen kann.
• 3. "SCWINGUNGEN DÄMPFEN": Die Schwingungen des Hörers 11 relativ zu dem Ohrpassstück 10 sollen gedämpft sein. Dies gilt umso mehr bei leistungsstarken Hörern, die verhältnismäßig große Bewegungen bzw. Eigenschwingungen ausführen.
• 4. "AUFNAHME EINES HÖRERSCHUTZES": In vorteilhafter Weise besitzt der Ohrpassstückadapter 12 auch gleichzeitig die Funktionalität einer Aufnahme für einen Cerumenschutz.

The handset 11 is supplied via a signal line 15 with electrical signals, which it receives from the hearing aid main unit. For this purpose, the signal line 15 is plugged by means of a plug 16 to the hearing aid main unit. The attachment of the receiver 11 in the earmold 10 should, for example, meet the following requirements:

• 1. "HOLD": The external handset 11 should be repeatedly releasably secured in the earmold 10.
• 2. "SEAL": The external handset 11 should be protected from cermumen, dirt, sweat, etc. In addition, it should be acoustically tightly secured in the earmold 10, so that no sound can escape to the outside.
• 3. "VIBRATION DAMPING": The vibrations of the receiver 11 relative to the earmold 10 should be damped. This applies all the more to powerful listeners who perform relatively large movements or natural oscillations.
• 4. "RECORDING A HEARING PROTECTION": Advantageously, the earmold adapter 12 also has the same functionality as a receptacle for a cerumen protection.

The four requirements presented above are fulfilled by a two-piece earmold adapter 12 according to the invention. Such an earmold adapter 12 is in FIG. 3 shown. It consists of a cylindrical adapter shell 17 and a funnel-shaped, soft seal 13. The adapter shell 17 is formed as a hard plastic part and meets the requirements of holding and multiple interchangeability according to the above point 1. This part is made for example of polyamide or a similar plastic ,

The soft seal 13, for example made of rubber or silicone assumes the requirements of sealing, vibration damping and recording of the hearing protection according to the above points 2 to 4.

In the example chosen here, the receiver 11 has a cone-shaped receiver neck 19. This has in the middle of a sound outlet 25, from which the cone-shaped surface 20 extends. At the largest circumference of the conical surface 20, the earpiece 19 has an undercut 21 or shoulder. According to the arrow 22, the handset 11 is inserted into the earmold adapter 12.

The earmold adapter 12 and the earphone 11 are in FIG. 4 shown in longitudinal section. The handset 11 consists of a receiver housing 23 and a transducer 24 located therein.

The converter 24 is electrically connected to the signal line 15. On the output side, the transducer 24 is the sound in a tubular sound outlet 25, which is formed by the earpiece 19. At the earpiece 19, the conical surface 20 and the undercut 21 can be seen.

Further, in the sectional drawing of the earmold adapter 12 as a jacket, the hard adapter shell 17 can be seen, which also has the snap function. For this purpose, the adapter shell 17 snap lugs 26. Inside the adapter shell 17 is the funnel-shaped seal 13. It has a conical inner surface which corresponds to the conical surface 20 of the earpiece 19.

The adapter shell 17 has at the sound output side a bore 27 into which a tubular portion of the seal 13 is inserted. From the sound outlet side of the cerumen guard 14 is inserted into the tubular portion of the seal 13, which is itself formed in a somewhat funnel-shaped. Since the seal 13 is made of a rubber-like, soft elastic material, and the wax guard 14 has a slightly larger outer diameter than the inner diameter of the has tubular portion of the seal 13, the cerumen guard 14 is held by the seal 13 frictionally in the earmold adapter 12.

In FIG. 5 the earmold adapter 12 and the handset 11 are shown in the assembled state. It can be seen that the snap lugs 26 of the adapter shell 17 engage behind the undercut 21 of the earphone 19, so that the handset 11 is held in the earmold adapter 12. In this case, the conical surface 20 presses against the seal 13, so that a sealing effect is ensured against cerumen, dirt and sweat as well as against sound, which could pass without seal on the earpiece 19 over to the outside.

In FIG. 6 the earmold adapter 12 is shown enlarged and visible from the side facing the receiver 11. It can be seen the adapter jacket 17 with a round opening into which the snap lugs 26 protrude. In the opening below the snap lugs 26, the funnel-shaped seal 13 is inserted. In turn, the wax guard 14 is inserted from the sound outlet side in the pipe section of the seal 13.

The seal 13, a soft component, for example, be designed as an insert with positive locking or directly into the hard component, the adapter shell 17 are glued. Alternatively, the two components 17 and 13 can also be produced by a two-component injection molding in one operation. FIG. 7 shows the adapter shell 17 without seal 13 and without wax guard 14. Again, the molded snap lugs 26 can be seen. In addition, the larger bore 29 is visible, in which the seal 13 is inserted. The attachment of the adapter shell 17 in the earmold 10 is done for example by gluing or other connection technology.

The above related to the FIGS. 2 to 7 shown active ear tip according to the present invention with the handset adapter and the seal offers many advantages. The Namely functions "HOLD" and "SEAL" are transferred to two materials or components with the corresponding properties. This allows the material properties to be optimally adapted to the requirements. Specifically, the hard part or parts take on the function of mechanical stability and multiple changeability. As a result of the lower wear, an extended service life of the components can be achieved. The soft part, here the seal 13, seals effectively, acoustically and against soiling. In addition, it optimally absorbs the earpiece protection by positive locking and also effectively seals at this interface.

Characterized in that the handset is not snapped directly into the earmold, but is inserted by means of an adapter in an opening of the earmold, a variety of heads of different design and size can be used in the earmold.

The seal also has the advantage that external handset with much higher gain than without seal can be used. Thus, reinforcements in the range of 65 dB can be realized with the active earmold according to the invention. Furthermore, the seal has the advantage that it can be replaced in case of wear (eg embrittlement) if it is designed as a so-called "service part". It is thus ensured that the fixation between the earpiece and the earmold is also sufficiently sealed in the long term.

Claims (9)

1. External receiver unit for a hearing device comprising

   - an ear mould (10),

   - a receiver (11), having a receiver connector (19) at the sound outlet,

   - an adapter (12), which is inserted directly into the ear mould (10) and,

   - a seal (13), which surrounds the receiver connector (19) completely,
   characterised in that

   - the receiver support (19) has a first snap-fit element (21),

   - the adapter (12) has a second snap-fit element (26), which is snapped into the first snap-fit element (21) in a manner such that it can be released, and

   - the seal (13) is made of a more elastic material than the receiver connector (19) and the adapter (12) and is fitted between the receiver connector (19) and the adapter (12).
2. External receiver unit according to claim 1, wherein the adapter (12) is made of polyamide or a similarly hard plastic.
3. External receiver unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the seal (13) is made of rubber, silicone or a similarly elastic material.
4. External receiver unit according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the seal (13) is held in the adapter (12) with a form fit.
5. External receiver unit according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the seal (13) is injected into the adapter (12) using a 2-component injection moulding technique.
6. External receiver unit according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the receiver connector (19) has a conical surface (20) and a shoulder forming the first snap-fit element on the largest circumference of this surface, with which shoulder the second snap-fit element (26) of the adapter (12) engages.
7. External receiver unit according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second snap-fit element (26) has three snap-fit lugs, which are distributed at regular intervals on the circumference of the adapter (12).
8. External receiver unit according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the seal (13) has a cylindrical segment, in which a cerumen protector (14) is secured.
9. External receiver unit according to claim 8, wherein the cerumen protector (14) is secured in the cylindrical segment in a friction-locked manner.

Images