Hearing aid insertion tool
OwnerJohn J. Oezerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hearing aid insertion tool assists a user in the insertion and removal of hearing aids into and from an ear. The tool includes a handle, a thumb pad, and a spring clip. The spring clip is adapted to releasably clamp an ear-piece portion of a hearing aid, such that a user can utilize the tool to subsequently guide the ear-piece into their ear. Once the ear-piece is in place, the user can squeeze the spring clip to release the tool from the hearing aid. The tool is provided in a short-handled embodiment which provides a smaller overall construction adapted for travel and a long-handled embodiment for use at home or by users with diminished strength or dexterity.
Claims19
A hearing aid insertion tool comprising:
- an upper jaw pivotably attached to said lower jaw, further comprising an rearward end and an upper actuating end opposite said upper grip end, said rearward end being disposed at a non-zero angle with respect to said forward end;
- and,
- a lower jaw comprising a rearward end affixed to said handle and a forward end opposite said rearward end, said rearward end of said lower jaw being longer than said rearward end of said upper jaw;
- a thumb pad affixed to said rearward end of said upper jaw, said thumb pad comprising a width and a thickness substantially greater that said upper jaw;
- a handle affixed to said rearward end of said lower jaw, said handle comprising a length substantially greater than said thumb pad;
- wherein said forward ends of said upper jaw and said lower jaw are biased together;
- and
- wherein said forward ends of said upper jaw and said lower jaw are configured to operably grip at least a portion of a hearing aid for insertion into and removal from an ear.
A handled hearing aid insertion tool comprising:
- a lower jaw comprising a rearward end and a forward end opposite said rearward end;
- an upper jaw hingedly attached to said lower jaw by a pivot pin for providing pivoting movement of said upper jaw relative to said lower jaw, said upper jaw comprising a rearward end and a forward end opposite said rearward end;
- said rearward end of said upper jaw being disposed at a non-zero angle with respect to said forward end of said upper jaw;
- said rearward end of said lower jaw being longer than said rearward end of said upper jaw;
- a spring disposed about said pivot pin having opposing ends in contact with said rearward ends of said lower jaw and said upper jaw;
- a thumb pad comprising a rectangular body and a flat top surface for supporting a thumb of a user's hand affixed to said rearward end of said upper jaw, said thumb pad comprising a width and a thickness substantially greater than said upper jaw;
- a cylindrical handle comprising a rubberized exterior affixed to said rearward end of said lower jaw, said handle comprising a length substantially greater than said thumb pad;
- wherein said opposing ends of said spring apply a spring force upon said rearward end of said lower jaw and said upper jaw for biasing said forward ends of said lower jaw and said upper jaw together in a closed position;
- wherein application of a compression force upon said handle and said thumb pad moves said forward ends of said lower jaw and said upper jaw into an open position;
- and,
- wherein said forward ends of said upper jaw and said lower jaw are configured to operably grip at least a portion of a hearing aid for insertion into and removal from an ear.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.