# US 8,571,247 B1 · Hearing aid insertion tool > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,571,247 B1 - Document ID: US8571247B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 13/212,753 - Filed: 2011-08-18 - Granted: 2013-10-29 - Earliest claimed: 2011-08-18 - Applicants: John J. Oezer - Inventors: John J. Oezer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8571247B1 ## CPC - H04R 25/00: Electric hearing aids - H04R 2460/17: Hearing device specific tools used for storing or handling hearing devices or parts thereof, e.g. placement in the ear, replacement of cerumen barriers, repair, cleaning hearing devices - H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K) ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The tool of claim 1, wherein said lower jaw is hingedly attached to said upper jaw by a pivot pin between said rearward ends and said forward ends for providing pivoting movement of said upper jaw relative to said lower jaw. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The tool of claim 2, further comprising a spring disposed about said pivot pin having opposing ends in contact with said rearward ends of said upper jaw and said lower jaw; wherein said opposing ends of said spring apply a spring force upon said rearward ends for biasing said forward ends of said upper jaw and said lower jaw together in a closed position; and, wherein application of a compression force upon said handle and said thumb pad moves said forward ends of said upper jaw and said lower jaw in an open position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The tool of claim 3, wherein said forward end of said upper jaw comprises a serrated inner surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The tool of claim 3, wherein said forward end of said lower jaw comprises a serrated inner surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The tool of claim 3, wherein said forward ends of said upper jaw and said lower jaw each comprises an inner surface having serrated edges. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The tool of claim 3, wherein said handle is molded over at least a portion of said rearward end of said lower jaw. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The tool of claim 7, wherein said handle further comprises a rubberized exterior. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The tool of claim 7, wherein said thumb pad is molded over said rearward end of said upper jaw. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The tool of claim 9, wherein said handle and said thumb pad each comprises a rubberized exterior. ### Claim 11 (depends on 3) The tool of claim 3, wherein said thumb pad further comprises a rectangular body and a flat top surface for supporting a thumb of a user's hand. ### Claim 12 (depends on 3) The tool of claim 3, further comprising a storage pouch comprising a pouch body with an open top defining an inner space adapted to retain at least one said tool. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The tool of claim 12, wherein said storage pouch further comprises a flap affixed to an edge of said open top for covering said inner space. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The tool of claim 13, wherein said storage pouch further comprises a flap retainer having opposing ends affixed to sides of said pouch body and laterally extending across an upper portion of said pouch body; wherein an end of said flap is retained between an exterior of said pouch body and an interior of said flap when covering said inner space. ### Claim 15 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. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The tool of claim 15, wherein said forward ends of said lower jaw and said upper jaw each comprises an inner surface having serrated edges. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The tool of claim 16, further comprising a storage pouch comprising: a pouch body with an open top defining an inner space adapted to retain at least one said tool; a flap affixed to an edge of said open top for covering said inner space; and, a flap retainer having opposing ends affixed to sides of said pouch body and laterally extending across an upper portion of said pouch body; wherein an end of said flap is retained between an exterior of said pouch body and an interior of said flap when covering said inner space. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The tool of claim 16, wherein said upper grip end and said lower grip end each further comprises an inner surface having serrated edges. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The tool of claim 16, wherein said handle is approximately between one-half and one inch long.