HEARING DEVICE

Abstract

A hearing device includes a housing elongated along a longitudinal axis, having an oval cross section, and configured to house electrical components. A loudspeaker disposed outside the housing in an intended wearing state of the hearing device is interconnected with at least a part of the electrical components. A plug connector is connected to the loudspeaker and carries at least six contact elements for interconnecting the loudspeaker with corresponding electrical components. A plug connector receptacle for receiving the plug connector interconnects the contact elements. The plug connector receptacle is disposed in a surface of the housing oriented toward a lower side in the intended wearing state. The plug connector and the plug connector receptacle define a plug-in direction extending from a front side to a rear side in the intended wearing state.

Claims

1. A hearing device, comprising: a housing elongated along a longitudinal axis, said housing having an oval cross section, said housing configured to house electrical components of the hearing device, and said housing having a front side, a rear side, a lower side and a surface oriented toward said lower side in an intended wearing state of the hearing device; a loudspeaker disposed outside said housing in the intended wearing state, said loudspeaker configured to be interconnected with at least a part of the electrical components; a plug connector connected to said loudspeaker, said plug connector carrying at least six contact elements for interconnecting said loudspeaker with corresponding electrical components; a plug connector receptacle for receiving said plug connector and respectively interconnecting said contact elements, said plug connector receptacle disposed in said surface of said housing oriented toward said lower side; and said plug connector and said plug connector receptacle defining a plug-in direction extending from said front side to said rear side in the intended wearing state.

2. The hearing device according to claim 1, wherein said plug connector receptacle is countersunk in said surface oriented toward said lower side, causing said plug connector to be withdrawn from view from a lateral direction in the intended plugged-in state.

3. The hearing device according to claim 1, wherein said plug connector and said plug connector receptacle are complementary to one another and self-aligning.

4. The hearing device according to claim 3, wherein said plug connector and said plug connector receptacle are asymmetrical.

5. The hearing device according to claim 3, wherein said plug connector and said plug connector receptacle have a partially flattened oval profile.

6. The hearing device according to claim 1, wherein said plug connector and said plug connector receptacle each include a part of a retaining device being automatically actuatable in said plug-in direction.

7. The hearing device according to claim 6, wherein said plug connector has a groove, and said plug connector receptacle includes a wire spring engaging in said groove in an intended coupling state.

8. The hearing device according to claim 1, wherein said plug connector includes an injection-molded main body made of a first plastic, and a circumferential seal made of a second plastic is molded on said main body.

9. The hearing device according to claim 1, wherein said plug connector includes an injection-molded main body made of a first plastic, said main body is disposed obliquely relative to said surface oriented toward said lower side in an intended coupling state, said main body has an end face facing toward said loudspeaker, and a loudspeaker connecting cable exits from said end face and is placed obliquely relative to a cable exit direction of said loudspeaker connecting cable following said surface oriented toward said lower side.

10. The hearing device according to claim 9, wherein said main body has an end face facing away from said loudspeaker, said plug connector includes a contact carrier formed as a plate protruding on said end face facing away from said loudspeaker, and said contact elements are formed on said plate as contact surfaces disposed on both sides of said plate.

11. The hearing device according to claim 10, wherein said plug connector receptacle includes corresponding spring contacts for contacting each of said contact surfaces.

12. The hearing device according to claim 1, wherein said plug connector includes a coding or a color coding for indicating a side associated with a corresponding ear of a user.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0026] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic, side perspective view of a hearing device having an external loudspeaker;

[0027] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the hearing device with a decoupled loudspeaker;

[0028] FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, partially sectional view of a plug connector for connecting the loudspeaker to a plug connector receptacle of a housing of the hearing device;

[0029] FIG. 4 is a detailed front-elevational view of the plug connector and the plug connector receptacle;

[0030] FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, perspective view showing a further intended use of the plug connector receptacle;

[0031] FIGS. 6 and 7 are sectional views according to FIG. 3 of a further exemplary embodiment of the plug connector and the plug connector receptacle in a disassembled state and an assembled state; and

[0032] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the plug connector according to FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0033] Referring now in detail to the figures of the drawings, in which parts corresponding to one another are always provided with the same reference signs, and first, particularly, to FIG. 1 thereof, there is seen a diagrammatic illustration of a hearing device in the form of a hearing aid device, which is referred to herein for short as a “hearing aid 1.” The hearing aid 1 has a housing 2 which conceals electronics, is to be worn behind the ear (“BTE”) and includes an external loudspeaker 4. The loudspeaker 4 is to be worn at least partially in the auditory canal of a user in the intended wearing state and is therefore also referred to as “receiver in canal” (“RIC”). In the intended coupling state (see FIG. 1), the loudspeaker 4 is interconnected with the housing 2, specifically with the electronics disposed therein, for example a signal processor, by using a loudspeaker connecting cable (referred to herein as a “cable 6” for short).

[0034] In order to have sufficient space on the housing 2 for a microphone opening 8 facing forward in as straight a line as possible (i.e., along a horizontal) in the intended wearing state, a plug connector receptacle (referred to herein as a “socket 10” for short) for receiving a plug connector 12 of the cable 6 is disposed on a surface 14 facing downward in the intended wearing state of the hearing aid 1. In order to conceal the plugged-in plug connector 12 as much as possible from the view of third parties and/or to avoid skin irritation due to protruding edges, the socket 10 is incorporated into the above-mentioned surface 14, i.e., countersunk. Specifically, the socket 10 is countersunk in such a way that, in the plugged-in state (see FIG. 1), the plug connector 12 protrudes only negligibly or not at all above the surface 14.

[0035] In FIGS. 2 and 3, the plug connector 12 is shown removed from the socket 10. It can be seen in this case that the plug connector 12 includes a main body 16, which is injection molded from a first thermoplastic. A circumferential seal 18 made of liquid silicone rubber is injection molded onto this main body 16. In addition, the main body 16 includes a groove 20 as part of a retaining device.

[0036] A bow-shaped wire spring 22 is inserted in the socket 10 as a further part of the retaining device. The wire spring 22 is first tensioned radially outward when the main body 16 is plugged in and subsequently “snaps” into the groove 20. The plug connector 12 can thus be held in the socket 10, without further locking elements being required.

[0037] The plug connector 12 and the socket 10 are constructed in this case in such a way that the coupling takes place by way of a linear insertion movement along a plug-in direction 24.

[0038] In order to provide contacting, the plug connector 12 includes a plate 26, around which the main body 16 is preferably injection molded and which carries a plurality, three herein in each case, of contact elements 28 on an upper side and on a lower side. The contact elements 28 are disposed as planar elements in the surface of the plate 26. Contact springs corresponding to the contact elements 28 are disposed in a manner not shown in greater detail in the socket 10.

[0039] As can be seen from FIG. 4, the plug connector 12 and the socket 10 have profiles complementary to one another, specifically asymmetrical ovals having a flattened (upper) side. A unique alignment is thus enabled during the assembly.

[0040] FIG. 4 shows a further use of the socket 10. In this case, the plug connector 12 is used to connect, for example, a permanently installed, rechargeable battery of the hearing aid 1 to an energy source. Additionally (or alternatively), the plug connector 12 can also be used to couple a signal processor of the hearing aid 1 to a programming unit, specifically a computer, on which adaptation software is implemented to be executable.

[0041] A further invention, which is also an invention on its own and which in particular represents an additional or alternative embodiment to the above-described retaining device, relates to: [0042] A. A hearing device (“hearing aid 1”), comprising: [0043] a housing 2, which is stretched or elongated along a longitudinal axis, is formed in an oval shape in cross section, and is configured to house electrical components of the hearing device, [0044] a loudspeaker 4, which is disposed outside the housing 2 in the intended wearing state of the hearing device and is interconnected with at least a part of the electrical components, [0045] a plug connector 12, which is connected to the loudspeaker 4 and which carries at least six contact elements 28 for interconnecting the loudspeaker (4) with the corresponding electrical components, and [0046] a plug connector receptacle (“socket 10”) for receiving the plug connector 12 and interconnecting the respective contact elements 28, in particular wherein the plug connector receptacle is disposed in a surface 14 of the housing 2 oriented toward the lower side in the intended wearing state,
wherein the plug connector 12 and the plug connector receptacle are constructed in such a way that a plug-in direction 24 extends from a front side to a rear side in the intended wearing state, and wherein the plug connector 12 and the plug connector receptacle are configured for mutual magnetic retention. (The above-described retaining device is thus implemented in this case in particular by the magnetic attraction between plug connector 12 and plug connector receptacle.) [0047] B. The hearing device according to A, wherein a magnet (30, 32), in particular a permanent magnet, is disposed in each case on both the plug connector 12 and also in the plug connector receptacle. [0048] C. The hearing device according to A, wherein a permanent magnet (30, 32) is disposed on the plug connector 12 or in the plug connector receptacle and paramagnetic material is disposed in the plug connector receptacle or on the plug connector 12, respectively. [0049] D. The hearing device according to A, B, and/or C, wherein the plug connector receptacle is countersunk in the surface 14 oriented toward the lower side, so that the plug connector 12 is withdrawn from view from a lateral direction in the intended plugged-in state. [0050] E. The hearing device according to A, B, C, and/or D, wherein the plug connector 12 and the plug connector receptacle are formed complementary to one another and self-aligning, in particular having an asymmetrical, preferably partially flattened oval profile. [0051] F. The hearing device according to A, B, C, D, and/or E, wherein the plug connector 12 includes an injection-molded main body 16 made of a first plastic and wherein a circumferential seal 18 is molded from a second plastic on the main body 16. [0052] G. The hearing device according to A, B, C, D, E, and/or F, wherein the plug connector 12 includes an injection-molded main body 16 made of a first plastic, wherein the main body 16 is disposed in the intended coupling state obliquely to the surface 14 of the housing 2 oriented toward the lower side, and wherein an end face of the main body 16 which faces toward the loudspeaker 4 and from which a loudspeaker connecting cable 6 exits, is placed obliquely in relation to a cable exit direction of the loudspeaker connecting cable 6, following the surface 14 of the housing 2 oriented toward the lower side. [0053] H. The hearing device according to A, B, C, D, E, F, and/or G, wherein the plug connector 12 includes a contact carrier (which is in particular formed in one piece with the main body 16), on which the contact elements 28 are formed as contact surfaces disposed on both sides, in particular wherein the magnet 30 is integrated, in particular injected, in the contact carrier, in particular wherein contact springs 34 corresponding to the contact elements 28 are disposed in the plug connector receptacle. [0054] I. The hearing device according to A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and/or H, wherein the plug connector 12 is color-coded, in particular to be able to differentiate it in the context of a hearing device system formed therefrom and a further hearing device from a plug connector assigned to the other ear.

[0055] The subject matter of the invention is not restricted by the above-described exemplary embodiments. Rather, further embodiments of the invention can be derived by a person skilled in the art from the above description.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0056] 1 hearing aid [0057] 2 housing [0058] 4 loudspeaker [0059] 6 cable [0060] 8 microphone opening [0061] 10 socket [0062] 12 plug connector [0063] 14 surface [0064] 16 main body [0065] 18 seal [0066] 20 groove [0067] 22 wire spring [0068] 24 plug-in direction [0069] 26 plate [0070] 28 contact element [0071] 30 magnet [0072] 32 magnet [0073] 34 contact spring