Hearing aid device

Abstract

A hearing aid device includes: a hearing aid housing surrounding an inner space; a frame structure arranged in the inner space, the frame structure configured for mounting at least a microphone and a signal processing unit; a sound emitter sized for being arranged in an ear canal; a conductor, wherein the sound emitter is arranged on a first end of the conductor; a connector socket arranged in the frame structure, wherein the hearing aid housing comprises a passage located in front of the connector socket; a connector plug arranged on a second end of the conductor, the connector plug configured for insertion through the passage for connection to the connector socket; a recess at an outer surface of the connector plug; and a locking plug having a first part configured to extend through a housing opening at the hearing aid housing, and engage with the recess.

Claims

1. A hearing aid device, comprising: an elongated member with a connector, the elongated member having a member end for coupling with an earpiece; a structure; and a connector lock configured to secure the connector of the elongated member relative to the structure of the hearing aid device; wherein the connector lock comprises a first end, a second end, and a body extending between the first end and the second end of the connector lock; wherein the connector lock has a first part at the first end, and wherein the first part of the connector lock is configured to engage with the connector to secure the connector relative to the structure; wherein the connector lock has a second part, wherein the second part forms an angle with respect to the body; and wherein the first part of the connector lock has two resilient members, the resilient members having respective member bodies and respective free ends, wherein the member bodies define a first spacing, and wherein the free ends define a second spacing that is different from the first spacing.

2. The hearing aid device of claim 1, wherein the structure comprises a frame and a hearing aid housing.

3. The hearing aid device of claim 1, wherein the first part is configured for insertion into an opening of the structure.

4. The hearing aid device of claim 1, wherein one of the resilient members is configured to be displaced in a direction that is perpendicular to a longitudinal extent of the connector lock.

5. The hearing aid device of claim 1, wherein the two resilient members extend on opposite sides of the connector.

6. The hearing aid device of claim 1, wherein the two resilient members are displaceable away from each other by the connector.

7. The hearing aid device of claim 1, wherein the structure comprises a passage; and wherein the connector comprises a connector plug configured for insertion into the passage of the structure.

8. The hearing aid device of claim 1, wherein the elongated member is configured to transmit an electrical signal.

9. The hearing aid device of claim 1, wherein the elongated member is configured to transmit sound.

10. The hearing aid device of claim 1, wherein the structure comprises a hearing aid housing or is coupled to the hearing aid housing.

11. The hearing aid device of claim 10, wherein the connector lock comprises an exterior surface visible from outside the hearing aid housing when the connector lock is inserted in the hearing aid housing, and wherein an exterior surface of the connector lock has a color that is different from a color of the hearing aid housing.

12. The hearing aid device of claim 11, wherein the hearing aid housing comprises a surface, and the exterior surface of the connector lock is flush with the surface of the hearing aid housing when the connector lock is coupled with the hearing aid housing.

13. The hearing aid device of claim 11, wherein the exterior surface of the connector lock is surrounded by a surface of the hearing aid housing.

14. The hearing aid device of claim 10, wherein the connector lock is configured to be inserted from outside of the hearing aid housing.

15. The hearing aid device of claim 1, further comprising an additional connector lock, wherein the connector lock and the additional connector lock are interchangeable, and have different respective identification features.

16. The hearing aid device of claim 1, further comprising a hearing aid housing, wherein the connector lock is configured to lock the structure relative to the hearing aid housing.

17. The hearing aid device of claim 1, further comprising a hearing aid housing, wherein the structure comprises a surface that abuts against an inner surface of the hearing aid housing.

18. The hearing aid device of claim 1, wherein the first part and the second part of the connector lock are at different respective positions along a longitudinal axis of the connector lock.

19. The hearing aid device of claim 1, further comprising a signal processing unit and a hearing aid housing, wherein at least a part of the structure is located between the signal processing unit and a portion of the hearing aid housing.

20. The hearing aid device of claim 1, further comprising a signal processing unit, wherein the structure comprises a hearing aid housing, and wherein the signal processing unit is located in the hearing aid housing.

21. A hearing aid device, comprising: an elongated member with a connector, the elongated member having a member end for coupling with an earpiece; a structure; and a connector lock configured to secure the connector of the elongated member relative to the structure of the hearing aid device; wherein the connector lock comprises a first end, a second end, and a body extending between the first end and the second end of the connector lock; wherein the connector lock has a first part at the first end, and wherein the first part of the connector lock is also configured to engage with the connector to secure the connector relative to the structure; wherein the connector lock has a second part; wherein the structure comprises a hearing aid housing, the hearing aid housing containing a frame; and wherein the second part of the connector lock is sized for insertion through an opening at the hearing aid housing to engage with the frame contained in the hearing aid housing.

22. A hearing aid device, comprising: an elongated member with a connector, the elongated member having a member end for coupling with an earpiece; a structure; and a connector lock configured to secure the connector of the elongated member relative to the structure of the hearing aid device; wherein the connector lock comprises a first end, a second end, and a body extending between the first end and the second end of the connector lock; wherein the connector lock has a first part at the first end, and wherein the first part of the connector lock is also configured to engage with the connector to secure the connector relative to the structure; and wherein the body of the connector lock comprises an exterior surface configured to abut a skin of a user when the hearing aid device with the connector lock is being worn by the user.

23. The hearing aid device of claim 22, wherein the structure comprises a frame in the hearing aid housing.

24. The hearing aid device of claim 22, wherein the structure comprises a part of the hearing aid housing.

25. The hearing aid device of claim 22, wherein the first part is configured for insertion into an opening of the structure.

26. The hearing aid device of claim 22, wherein the first part comprises two resilient members.

27. The hearing aid device of claim 26, wherein one of the resilient members is configured to be displaced in a direction that is perpendicular to a longitudinal extent of the connector lock.

28. The hearing aid device of claim 26, wherein the two resilient members extend on opposite sides of the connector.

29. The hearing aid device of claim 26, wherein the two resilient members are displaceable away from each other by the connector.

30. The hearing aid device of claim 22, wherein the structure comprises a passage; and wherein the connector comprises a connector plug configured for insertion into the passage of the structure.

31. The hearing aid device of claim 22, wherein the exterior surface is visible from outside the hearing aid housing when the connector lock is inserted in the hearing aid housing, and wherein an exterior surface of the connector lock has a color that is different from a color of the hearing aid housing.

32. The hearing aid device of claim 22, wherein the hearing aid housing comprises a surface, and the exterior surface of the body of the connector lock is flush with the surface of the hearing aid housing when the connector lock is coupled with the hearing aid housing.

33. The hearing aid device of claim 22, wherein the exterior surface of the body the connector lock is surrounded by a surface of the hearing aid housing.

34. The hearing aid device of claim 22, further comprising an additional connector lock, wherein the connector lock and the additional connector lock are interchangeable, and have different respective identification features.

35. The hearing aid device of claim 22, wherein the connector lock is configured to lock the structure relative to the hearing aid housing.

36. The hearing aid device of claim 22, wherein the structure comprises a surface that abuts against an inner surface of the hearing aid housing.

37. The hearing aid device of claim 22, further comprising a signal processing unit located in the hearing aid housing.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) FIG. 1 shows a hearing aid device according to some embodiments.

(2) FIG. 2 shows a cross section along the line A-A shown in FIG. 2a of a part of the hearing aid device shown in FIG. 1 in one embodiment.

(3) FIG. 2a is a front view of the hearing aid device part shown in FIG. 2.

(4) FIG. 2b is a cross section along the line B-B shown in FIG. 2

(5) FIG. 3 shows a cross section along the line A-A shown in FIG. 3a of a part of the hearing aid device shown in FIG. 1 in an alternative embodiment.

(6) FIG. 3a is a front view of the hearing aid device part shown in FIG. 3.

(7) FIG. 3b is a cross section along the line B-B shown in FIG. 2 or 3.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION

(8) Various embodiments are described hereinafter with reference to the figures. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. Like elements will, thus, not be described in detail with respect to the description of each figure. It should also be noted that the figures are only intended to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the claimed invention or as a limitation on the scope of the claimed invention. In addition, an illustrated embodiment needs not have all the aspects or advantages shown. An aspect or an advantage described in conjunction with a particular embodiment is not necessarily limited to that embodiment and can be practiced in any other embodiments even if not so illustrated, or if not so explicitly described.

(9) Thus, FIG. 1 shows a hearing aid device of the BTE (Behind The Ear) or the RITE (Receiver In The Ear) type. The hearing aid device has a hearing aid housing 1 and a separate sound emitter 2 connected to the hearing aid housing via a conductor 3 being releasably plugged into the hearing aid housing 1 via a connector plug 4. In order to keep the connector plug 4 attached to the hearing aid housing 1 a locking plug 6 is inserted into the hearing aid housing through an opening arranged in a concave surface 5 on the outside of the hearing aid housing 1.

(10) As will be described in more detail below the hearing aid housing encloses a frame structure 7 providing a secure support for mounting various functional components of hearing aid devices, such as a microphone arranged for converting exterior sound into an audio input signal and a signal processing unit 8 configured for processing the audio input signal according to a hearing loss of a user of the hearing device into an audio output signal. As it is evident for the skilled person that these and other functional components may be mounted to the frame 7 in many different ways and positions, then most of these components are not shown in these drawings.

(11) In the BTE embodiment shown on FIGS. 2, 2a and 2b the hearing aid housing 1 also encloses a receiver 19 configured for converting the audio output signal from the signal processing unit (not shown in this drawing) into an output sound, and the conductor 3 is a tube configured for transmitting the output sound to the sound emitter 2 (not shown in this drawing).

(12) In the RITE embodiment shown on FIGS. 3, 3a and 3b, the receiver (not shown) configured for converting the audio output signal (output electrical signal) from the signal processing unit 8 into an output sound is arranged in the sound emitter 2 shown on FIG. 1, and the conductor 3 is in this embodiment configured for transmitting, e.g. with electrical wiring 9, the audio output signal (output electrical signal) to the receiver arranged in the sound emitter 2.

(13) In these embodiments the locking plug 6, both in the BTE and the RITE version shown in FIGS. 2, 2a, 2b and FIGS. 3, 3a, 3b respectively, has a U-shaped configuration with a first leg 10 and a second leg 11 and an intermediate portion extending between the first leg 10 and the second leg 11 and the intermediate portion forms the visible surface 12 on the locking plug 6.

(14) This provides the option of providing different ornamentation or colouring on the visible surface 12 on the intermediate portion of the locking plug 6 in order e.g., to show information, such as a left/right indication, to the user. Due to the fact that the visible surface 12 on the locking plug 6 is arranged on the concave surface or side 5 of the hearing aid housing 1, then this information will be concealed for others, due to the fact that the concave surface or side 5 most often faces the ear of the user carrying the hearing aid housing behind the ear.

(15) As shown especially on FIGS. 2 and 3 the first leg 10 extends into a first slot 13 in the frame structure 7 and the second leg 11 extends into a second slot 14 in the frame structure 7 so that the intermediate portion is held in a fixed position extending between the two slots. Due to the locking plug 6 being fixed with respect to the frame structure 7, and the intermediate portion fitting snugly into an opening in the hearing aid housing 1, then the hearing aid housing 1 is thereby fixed by the locking plug 6 with respect to the frame structure 7.

(16) As mentioned above the connector plug 4 is inserted into the hearing aid housing 1 where it is connected to the connector socket 15. In order to fix the connector plug 4 in the connector socket 15 the free end of the second leg 11 on the locking plug 6 is formed by two resilient legs 17, 18 that extends via the second slot 14 into the connector socket 15 formed in the frame structure 7, and so that each resilient leg 17, 18 engages with a recess 16 on opposite sides of the connector plug 4 and thereby locks the connector plug 4 in its inserted position in the connector socket 15.

(17) In the above embodiments, both the first leg 10 and the second leg 11 of the locking plug 6 are inserted into respective openings at the frame structure 7. In other embodiments, only one of the legs 10, 11 is inserted into an opening at the frame structure 7. For example, in other embodiments, the first leg 10 may be inserted through a housing opening at the hearing aid housing to reach the connector plug 4. In such case, the frame structure 7 does not have an opening for allowing the first leg 10 to extend therethrough.

(18) Also, in other embodiments, the locking plug 6 may not include the second leg 11.

(19) Although some embodiments have been described and shown in detail, the claimed invention is not restricted to them, but may also be embodied in other ways within the scope of the subject matter defined in the following claims. In particular, it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the claimed invention. As an example of this it will be apparent to the skilled person that the claimed invention may also be used in relation to hearing aids having other or different functional components arranged in the hearing aid housing 1 or the sound emitter 2 than what has been mentioned above.

(20) In device claims enumerating several features, several of these features can be embodied by one and the same item of hardware. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims or described in different embodiments does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

(21) It should be emphasized that the term comprises/comprising when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

(22) Although particular features have been shown and described, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the claimed invention, and it will be made obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention. The specification and drawings are, accordingly to be regarded in an illustrative rather than restrictive sense. The claimed invention is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents.