Split shell system and method for hearing aids
AssigneeGN ReSound A/S
InventorsRobert Stinauer, Erik Lindberg, Michael Haberman, Roman Klyachman, Russell Lee Schreiner, James R. Anderson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An in-the-ear hearing aid has a housing with an audio input end and an audio output end. The housing is formed of two sections which are coupled together along a seam which extends between the two ends. An elastomeric sheath can enclose the housing.
Claims38
A hearing aid comprising:
- first and second housing sections each elongated along a common centerline wherein the sections engage one another generally along the centerline to form a substantially closed housing insertable, at least in part, into a user's ear canal, the sections each close, at least in part, a first end of the housing, wherein the housing defines an interior component receiving region and a separate substantially self-contained electronic module that is carried by the housing sections at a second end thereof, the module closes at least in part, the second end;
- wherein at least one of the housing sections carries a receiver supporting member which extends into the interior receiving region;
- and
- wherein the supporting member comprises a compliant support.
A hearing aid comprising a hollow housing, with first and second displaced ends, one of which is insertable at least in part into a user's ear canal, the housing has first and second elongated, separate, housing segments, each segment engages the other along a seam that extends through the ends and, a vent which is formed in only one of the segments, the vent extends from the first end to the second end.
A hearing aid as in clam 18 which includes a receiver in the housing carried by the component support feature.
A hearing aid comprising:
- a first housing part and a second, separate, housing part, the parts engage one another to form a housing which defines an internal region;
- a receiver, the receiver installable on a housing part prior to joining the housing parts together;
- a microphone installable on a housing part prior to joining the two parts together;
- and
- an ear canal vent formed in only one of the housing parts, the vent extending from a first end to a second end of the one housing part.
A hearing aid insertable at least in part into a user's ear canal, the aid comprising:
- an elongated housing with a longitudinal axis and an end insertable into the user's ear canal, and a displaced second end, the housing substantially bounding an internal component receiving region, the housing formed of first and second sections joined along an elongated seam line that extends generally along the longitudinal axis and a separate battery container located at the second end, the container having an access door outside of the housing, and, wherein at least one of the sections includes a receiver support member.
A housing adapted to be insertable, at least in part, into an ear canal of a user, the housing comprising:
- first and second matable housing sections, the housing sections being sized for the user's ear canal, when mated the sections define a substantially closed interior region and first and second spaced apart ends, one of the ends defines an audio output port, the other end carries a separate microphone module which defines an audio input port, an exterior periphery of the one end is configured to slidably engage a portion of the user's ear canal with a seam formed by the mated sections extending generally between the ends, the module has a selected size and shape usable with different sizes of housing sections.
A hearing aid insertable at least in part into a user's ear canal, the aid comprising:
- an elongated housing with a longitudinal axis and an end insertable into the user's ear canal, and a displaced second end, the housing substantially bounding an internal component receiving region, the housing formed of first and second sections joined along an elongated seam line that extends generally along the longitudinal axis and a separate battery container located at the second end, the container having an access door outside of the housing, and, wherein at least one of the sections includes a compliant receiver support member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.