STANDARD ATTACHMENT FOR A STANDARD EARPIECE AND STANDARD EARPIECE

Abstract

A standard attachment for a standard earpiece insertable into an ear canal in a direction of insertion, by which, compared to customary attachments, an improved adaptation of the corresponding standard earpiece to an ear canal is achieved, and therefore improved audio perception, and also improved wearing comfort of the respective hearing aid is ensured. The standard attachment contains a headpiece at one end and, adjoining the latter, a wing portion. The outer contour of the headpiece is configured to allow the headpiece to bear on the wall of the ear canal at several points or on several lines.

Claims

1. A standard attachment for a standard earpiece insertable into an ear canal in a direction of insertion, the standard attachment comprising: a wing portion; and a headpiece at one end and adjoining said wing portion, said headpiece having an outer contour configured to allow said headpiece to bear on a wall of the ear canal at several points or on several lines.

2. The standard attachment according to claim 1, wherein said headpiece has an outer circumference with a number of grooves formed therein and extending substantially parallel to the direction of insertion, and at least one of said grooves on said outer circumference of said headpiece extends at least as far as said wing portion.

3. The standard attachment according to claim 1, wherein said grooves of said headpiece are distributed uniformly along said outer circumference.

4. The standard attachment according to claim 3, further comprising webs, said grooves along said outer circumference of said headpiece are spaced apart from each other by said webs extending substantially parallel to the direction of insertion.

5. The standard attachment according to claim 4, wherein four of said grooves and four of said webs are disposed along said outer circumference of said headpiece, such that a substantially X-shaped cross section of said headpiece is obtained.

6. The standard attachment according to claim 2, wherein said wing portion has a number of openings formed therein and passing through said wing portion from an outside to an inside, wherein each of said openings is assigned a respective one of said grooves, and wherein each of said grooves opens into a respective one of said openings assigned to said groove.

7. The standard attachment according to claim 4, wherein said webs each have an outer contour, and said outer contour of each of said webs forms a portion of a circular trajectory.

8. The standard attachment according to claim 1, wherein said wing portion is dimensioned in such a way that, in a fitted state, said wing portion is spaced apart circumferentially from the standard earpiece.

9. The standard attachment according to claim 1, wherein said wing portion has a cross section which widens counter to the direction of insertion.

10. The standard attachment according to claim 1, wherein said headpiece has a fastening opening formed therein for a force-fit connection to the standard earpiece.

11. A standard earpiece insertable into an ear canal in a direction of insertion, the standard earpiece comprising: a standard attachment having a wing portion and a headpiece at one end and adjoining said wing portion, said headpiece having an outer contour configured to allow said headpiece to bear on a wall of the ear canal at several points or on several lines; and a standard earpiece body connected to said standard attachment.

12. The standard earpiece according to claim 11, wherein said headpiece has a fastening opening formed therein for a force-fit connection to said standard earpiece body, said force-fit connection is configured as a rotatable clip connection.

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

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0035] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic, plan view of a standard attachment according to the invention;

[0036] FIG. 2 is a side view of the standard attachment according to FIG. 1; and

[0037] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the standard attachment according to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 when mounted on an instant-fit CIC hearing aid.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0038] Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown a standard attachment 1. The standard attachment 1 is configured for a standard earpiece (shown in FIG. 3 as a CIC hearing aid 27) which is insertable into an ear canal in a direction of insertion. A direction of insertion 3, which here extends outward from the plane of the paper, is indicated in FIG. 2.

[0039] The standard attachment 1 contains a headpiece 5 at one end and, adjoining the latter, a wing portion 7. An outer contour 8 of the headpiece 5 is in this case configured to allow the headpiece 5 to bear along the wall of an ear canal at several points or on several lines. For this purpose, four grooves 11 extending substantially parallel to the direction of insertion 3 are here arranged on the outer circumference 9 of the headpiece 5. The grooves 11 are distributed uniformly along the outer circumference 9 and are spaced apart from each other by webs 13 likewise extending substantially parallel to the direction of insertion 3.

[0040] In this way, the headpiece 5 has substantially an X-shaped cross-sectional surface area 15. In the inserted state of the standard attachment 1 (in combination with a standard earpiece), the X-shaped configuration of the cross-sectional surface area 15 offers a comparatively small bearing surface while at the same time providing a secure hold in the ear canal. In this case, the rounded outer contours 17 of the webs 13 each lie on a circular trajectory 19. On account of the normally oval auditory canal, the bearing surfaces on the outer contours 17 of the webs 13 are arranged at approximately 45° to the perpendicular, such that a firm and secure fit can be achieved.

[0041] Moreover, in the present case, the wing portion 7 of the standard attachment 1 has four openings 21 passing through it from the outside to the inside. Each of the four openings 21 is assigned to one of the four grooves 11, wherein each groove 11 opens into the respective opening 21 assigned to it.

[0042] The standard attachment 1 is configured for optimal adaptation to the inside of an ear canal and is at the same time compatible with a standard earpiece. Standard earpieces of different sizes and also standard attachments 1 can be combined with each other, such that, despite differences in anatomy, an immediate adaptation of the earpiece to an ear canal is possible without taking an impression of the ear.

[0043] The standard attachment 1 is fastened to the standard earpiece by a force-fit and rotatable clip connection. For this purpose, a fastening opening 25 is formed on an insertion-side front face 23 of the headpiece 5, and a fastening element of a standard earpiece, for example a spherical head, can engage in the fastening opening 25.

[0044] By virtue of the openings 21 and the grooves 11 that open into these, i.e. by virtue of design elements that reduce occlusion, the adaptation of a standard earpiece inside an ear canal is greatly improved by comparison with customary domes or standard ear molds. Occlusion effects, such as occur in the case of ear molds that do not fit correctly and/or in the case of domes, are avoided or at least greatly reduced.

[0045] The occlusion-reducing design elements 11, 21 can be seen in FIG. 2. The openings 21 and also the grooves 11 extend substantially parallel to the direction of insertion 3, wherein the grooves 11 are incorporated in the outer circumference 9 of the headpiece 5, and the openings 21 extend through the wing portion 7. In this way, the necessary ventilation of the ear can be ensured when a standard earpiece is fitted in the ear with such a standard attachment 1.

[0046] FIG. 3 shows the standard attachment 1 mounted on a standard earpiece 27 which is configured as an instant-fit CIC hearing aid. As has already been mentioned, both components are fastened to each other by a force-fit and rotatable clip connection. For this purpose, a (symbolized) fastening element 29, for example a spherical head, of the standard earpiece 27 engages in the fastening opening 25 of the standard attachment 1.

[0047] The instant-fit CIC hearing aid 27 can be inserted into an ear canal together with the standard attachment 1. For this purpose, both components are pushed jointly into the ear canal in the direction of insertion 3. The standard attachment 1 comes to lie, with a secure hold, at only a small number of linear or punctiform positions along the webs 13 and thus feels comfortable to the person wearing the hearing aid, since he or she scarcely notices they are wearing the standard earpiece 27. As has been described above, the ventilation is provided via the occlusion-reducing design elements 11, 21 of the standard attachment 1.

[0048] Moreover, the wing portion 7 is spaced apart circumferentially from the standard earpiece 27, such that an interior 31 within the wing portion 7 is formed between the standard earpiece 27 and the wing portion 7. The interior 31 of the wing portion 7 is open at the outwardly directed side 33 of the standard attachment 1, i.e. at the entrance of the ear canal, and provides a ventilation volume. In combination with the openings 21 and the grooves 11, this ensures the necessary ventilation and, therefore, the pressure equalization.

[0049] The following is a summary list of reference numerals and the corresponding structure used in the above description of the invention: [0050] 1 standard attachment [0051] 3 direction of insertion [0052] 5 headpiece [0053] 7 wing portion [0054] 8 outer contour [0055] 9 outer circumference [0056] 11 groove [0057] 13 web [0058] 15 cross-sectional surface area [0059] 17 outer contour [0060] 19 circular trajectory [0061] 21 opening [0062] 23 front face [0063] 25 fastening opening [0064] 2 standard earpiece [0065] 29 fastening element [0066] 31 interior [0067] 33 side