RETAINING CAP FOR A STANDARD EARPIECE AND STANDARD EARPIECE

Abstract

A standard earpiece which is insertable in an ear canal in a direction of insertion has a corresponding retaining cap. The retaining cap is configured in such a way, in this case, that it equally satisfies the requirements for wearing comfort, a secure seating of the standard earpiece, and proper ventilation of the ear.

Claims

1. A retaining cap for a standard earpiece being insertable into an ear canal in a direction of insertion, the retaining cap comprising: an end-side headpiece; and a blade section adjacent to said end-side headpiece, the retaining cap is configured such that the standard earpiece can be accommodated in said blade section via at least 50% of a length of the standard earpiece, wherein said blade section is peripherally spaced apart from the standard earpiece.

2. The retaining cap according to claim 1, wherein: said blade section has an inner chamber; and said end-side headpiece has a number of ventilation openings formed therein which extend through said end-side headpiece generally in parallel to the direction of insertion and open into said inner chamber of said blade section.

3. The retaining cap according to claim 1, wherein the retaining cap has a cross-section which expands counter to the direction of insertion.

4. The retaining cap according to claim 3, wherein centers of gravity of cross-sectional areas of the retaining cap extend along the direction of insertion on a curved path.

5. The retaining cap according to claim 1, wherein said end-side headpiece has a lower elasticity than said blade section.

6. The retaining cap according to claim 1, wherein said end-side headpiece has a length in the direction of insertion being less than half a length of said blade section.

7. The retaining cap according to claim 5, wherein said end-side headpiece has a fastening opening formed therein for a force-locked connection to the standard earpiece.

8. The retaining cap according to claim 1, wherein a material of said end-side headpiece has a lower elasticity than a material of said blade section.

9. A standard earpiece being insertable into an ear canal in a direction of insertion, the standard earpiece comprising: a main earpiece body; and a retaining cap having an end-side headpiece and a blade section adjacent to said end-side headpiece, said retaining cap configured such that said main earpiece body is accommodated in said retaining cap via at least 50% of a length of said main earpiece body, wherein said blade section is peripherally spaced apart from said main earpiece body.

10. The standard earpiece according to claim 9, wherein said end-side headpiece has a force-locking connection for connecting to said main earpiece body and is configured as a rotatable clip connection.

11. The standard earpiece according to claim 9, wherein the standard earpiece is configured as a standard completely-in-canal hearing aid.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0032] FIG. 1 is an illustration showing an instant-fit CIC hearing aid, with installed retaining cap, inserted in an ear canal, according to the invention;

[0033] FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional representation of the retaining cap according to FIG. 1;

[0034] FIG. 3 is a three-dimensional representation of the instant-fit CIC hearing aid according to FIG. 1;

[0035] FIG. 4 is a further three-dimensional representation of the retaining cap according to FIG. 1; and

[0036] FIG. 5 is a sectional representation of a portion of the retaining cap according to FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0037] Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown a retaining cap 1 which has been installed on a standard earpiece 3 designed as an instant-fit CIC hearing aid. The instant-fit CIC hearing aid 3 including the retaining cap 1 has been inserted within an ear canal 5. In order to insert the instant-fit CIC hearing aid 3 including the installed retaining cap 1, the two components are slid jointly into the ear canal 5 in the direction of insertion 7. In this case, the retaining cap 1 covers the entire length between an isthmus 9, i.e., the constriction in an auditory tube 11, and the opening 13 into the ear canal 5.

[0038] The retaining cap 1 has an end-side headpiece 15 and a blade section 17 adjacent to the headpiece 15, wherein the length of the headpiece 15 in the direction of insertion 7 is less than half the length of the blade section 17.

[0039] The headpiece 15 has a lower elasticity than the blade section 17. If the instant-fit CIC hearing aid 3 is inserted into the ear canal 5, when the end position is reached, i.e., when the isthmus 9 has been reached, it becomes difficult to insert the instant-fit CIC hearing aid 3 any further. The hearing aid wearer then knows that the instant-fit CIC hearing aid 3 is positioned far enough in the ear canal 5.

[0040] By way of the flexible blade section 17, it is ensured that the retaining cap 1 adapts to the anatomy of the ear canal 5, and therefore the desired wearing comfort for the hearing aid wearer is achieved.

[0041] The retaining cap 1 is fastened on the instant-fit CIC hearing aid 3 via a force-locked, rotatable clip connection 19. For this purpose, a fastening opening 21 is formed on the insertion-side end face 20 of the headpiece 15, into which a fastening element 23, such as, for example, a ball head, of the standard earpiece 3 engages.

[0042] The standard earpiece 3, i.e., the instant-fit CIC hearing aid, is accommodated within the retaining cap 1 via 75% of its length L in this case. The blade section 17 is peripherally spaced apart from the standard earpiece 3 in this case. Due to the peripheral separation between the instant-fit CIC hearing aid 3 and the retaining cap 1 or its blade section 17, the instant-fit CIC hearing aid 3 is prevented from resting against the wall of the ear canal 5 and thereby applying pressure which is unpleasant for the hearing aid wearer.

[0043] In order to ensure the ventilation of the ear or the pressure equalization which is necessary for optimal auditory perception, the retaining cap 1 has multiple ventilation openings 25 which extend through the headpiece 15 essentially in parallel to the direction of insertion 7 and open into the inner chamber 27 of the blade section 17. The inner chamber 27 in this case is defined by an annular space having a distance A between the inner wall of the retaining cap 1 and the outer wall of the instant-fit CIC hearing aid 3.

[0044] The ventilation openings 25, as well as the fastening opening 21, are formed on the insertion-side end face 20 of the headpiece 15. In combination with the inner chamber 27 resulting from the peripheral separation between the standard earpiece 3 and the blade section 17 of the retaining cap 1, a ventilation of the ear can take place through the inner chamber 27 of the retaining cap 1. Ventilation openings in the instant-fit CIC hearing aid 3 are not necessary.

[0045] A cross-section 29 of the retaining cap 1 expands counter to the direction of insertion 7, i.e. a cross-sectional areas 30 become larger counter to the direction of insertion 7. In this case, centers of gravity 31 of the cross-sectional areas of the retaining cap 1 extend along the direction of insertion 7 on a curved path 33. This is apparent in particular in the representation of the retaining cap 1 according to FIG. 2. The curvature of the retaining cap 1, which is marked for a few cross-sectional areas (not labeled), by way of example, is evident here. The centers of gravity 31 of the cross-sectional areas do not lie on a straight line. Due to the curvature, the shape of the retaining cap 1 is adapted both to the shape of the ear canal and to the shape of the instant-fit CIC hearing aid 3. The curvature mirrors the anatomy of the ear canal 5.

[0046] The instant-fit CIC hearing aid 3 is shown in an isolated representation in FIG. 3. Its curved shape is also apparent from the representation. In addition, the end-face fastening element 23, which is used for fastening the retaining cap 1, is apparent. When the retaining cap 1 is installed, the fastening element 23 engages into the fastening opening 21 formed on the insertion-side end face 20 of the headpiece 15. In this way, the force-locked and rotatable clip connection 19 between the instant-fit CIC hearing aid 3 and the retaining cap 1 is established.

[0047] The fastening opening 21 of the retaining cap 1 is shown clearly once more in FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 shows one of the ventilation openings 25 which extend through the headpiece 15 essentially in parallel to the direction of insertion 7 and open into the inner chamber 27 of the blade section 17. It is also evident from the representation according to FIG. 4 that the length of the less elastic and, therefore, less flexible headpiece 15 in the direction of insertion 7 is less than half the length of the blade section 17.

[0048] FIG. 5 shows a sectional representation of a portion 35 of the retaining cap 1. This representation shows the ventilation openings 25 and the fastening opening 21 on the insertion-side end face 20 of the headpiece 15. In addition, the transition between the headpiece 15 forming the retaining cap 1 and the blade section 17 adjacent thereto is apparent.

[0049] The following is a summary list of reference numerals and the corresponding structure used in the above description of the invention: [0050] 1 retaining cap [0051] 3 standard earpiece [0052] 5 ear canal [0053] 7 direction of insertion [0054] 9 isthmus [0055] 11 auditory tube [0056] 13 opening [0057] 15 headpiece [0058] 17 blade section [0059] 19 clip connection [0060] 20 end face [0061] 21 fastening opening [0062] 23 fastening element [0063] 25 ventilation opening [0064] 27 inner chamber [0065] 29 cross-section [0066] 30 cross-sectional area [0067] 31 center of gravity [0068] 33 curved path [0069] 35 portion [0070] L length of the standard earpiece [0071] A distance