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US 7,814,678 B2Granted
Hearing aid dryer
AssigneeHearing Technologies International, Inc.
InventorHarvey Romanek
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An application for a hearing aid drying/disinfecting system includes a closable container with an internally mounted ultra-violet lamp for disinfecting the hearing aid. A heating element creates an internal temperature that is higher than ambient temperature and a fan circulates air through shielded vents from the outside of the container through the container and back out, thereby drying the hearing aid contained within the drying/disinfecting system.
Claims20
A drying system for a hearing aid, the drying system comprising:
- an enclosure, the enclosure comprising a lid portion and a base portion, the lid portion hingedly connected to the base portion;
- an ultra-violet lamp adapted to emit ultra-violet light, at least some of the ultra-violet light directed towards the hearing aid;
- a shelf within the base portion, the shelf adapted to supporting the hearing aid;
- a heater disposed within the base portion and beneath the shelf;
- at least two air vents in the base portion, each of the at least two air vents comprising an inner air vent and an outer air vent, whereas the inner air vent is staggered with respect to the outer air vent, thereby reducing leakage of the ultra-violet light;
- a fan disposed within the base portion, the fan drawing air into the drying system through a first air vent of the at least two air vents and the fan pushing air out of the drying system through a second air vent of the at least two air vents;
- a power source connected to the fan, the heater and the ultra-violet lamp through a power switch.
4 more elements
A drying system for a hearing aid, the drying system comprising:
- an enclosure, the enclosure comprising a lid portion and a base portion, the lid portion hingedly connected to the base portion;
- an ultra-violet lamp adapted to emit ultra-violet light, at least some of the ultra-violet light directed towards the hearing aid;
- a shelf within the base portion, the shelf adapted to supporting the hearing aid;
- a heater disposed within the base portion and beneath the shelf;
- at least two air vents in the base portion, each of the at least two air vents comprising an inner air vent and an outer air vent, whereas the inner air vent is staggered with respect to the outer air vent, thereby reducing leakage of the ultra-violet light;
- a fan disposed within the base portion, the fan drawing air into the drying system through a first air vent of the at least two air vents and the fan pushing air out of the drying system through a second air vent of the at least two air vents;
- a power source;
- a power switch, the power switch adapted to connect the fan, the ultra-violet lamp and the heater to the power source when the power switch is closed;
- a timer interfaced between the power source and the the ultra-violet lamp, the timer adapted to connect the power source to the ultra-violet lamp during a timer interval;
- and
- an interlock switch, the interlock switch interfaced to the timer;
- the interlock switch operatively coupled between the lid portion and the base portion;
- and the interlock switch adapted to disable the ultra-violet lamp upon detection of an open condition between the base portion and the lid portion and the interlock switch adapted to initiate the timer interval upon detection of a closed condition between the base portion and the lid portion.
10 more elements
A drying system for a hearing aid, the drying system consisting of:
- an enclosure, the enclosure comprising a lid portion and a base portion, the lid portion hingedly connected to the base portion;
- an ultra-violet lamp adapted to emit ultra-violet light, at least some of the ultra-violet light directed towards the hearing aid;
- a shelf within the base portion, the shelf adapted to supporting the hearing aid;
- a heater disposed within the base portion and beneath the shelf;
- at least two air vents in the base portion, each of the at least two air vents comprising an inner air vent and an outer air vent, whereas the inner air vent is staggered with respect to the outer air vent, thereby reducing leakage of the ultra-violet light;
- a fan disposed within the base portion, the fan drawing air into the drying system through a first air vent of the at least two air vents and the fan pushing air out of the drying system through a second air vent of the at least two air vents;
- a power source;
- a timer interfaced between the power source and the ultra-violet lamp;
- the timer adapted to operate the ultra-violet lamp during a timer interval;
- an interlock switch interfaced to the timer;
- the interlock switch operatively coupled between the lid portion and the base portion and the interlock switch adapted to signal the timer to disconnect power to the ultra-violet lamp responsive to the interlock switch detecting a separation between the lid portion and the base portion and the interlock switch adapted to signal the timer to initiate the timer interval responsive to the interlock switch detecting a closure between the lid portion and the base portion;
- and
- a power switch, the power switch adapted to provide power to the fan, the heater and the timer when the power switch is closed.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.