Patent ID: 9236203
Filing Date: 2016-01-12
CPC Classification: H01H,H04R

Claim Text:
1. An apparatus for engaging a pushbutton assembly used in controlling a hearing aid configured to fit at least partially within a user's ear, the apparatus comprising: a pushbutton assembly; a housing for at least partially enclosing the pushbutton assembly within an interior portion of the housing, the housing having a first end portion disposed opposite a second end portion, the first end portion having a first aperture with a first aperture width sized to receive the pushbutton assembly, the second end portion having a second aperture with a second aperture width; and a pullstring assembly comprising: an engagement portion disposed within the second end portion of the housing, the engagement portion being movable with respect to the housing and operable to engage the pushbutton assembly when a pushing force is applied to the engagement portion, the engagement portion operable to engage the second end portion of the housing when a pulling force is applied to the engagement portion, the engagement portion having an engagement portion width that is larger than the second aperture width; and an elongate string portion having a first string end and a second string end, the first string end disposed within the housing and securely attached to the engagement portion, the second string end disposed outside the housing, the string portion having a string portion width that is less than the second aperture width, so that the string portion may move through the second aperture when a pushing force or pulling force is applied to the string portion, whereby the user of the hearing aid may apply a pushing force to the string portion of the pullstring assembly to cause the engagement portion to engage the pushbutton assembly for controlling the hearing aid, and whereby the user of the hearing aid may apply a pulling force to the string portion of the pullstring assembly to cause the engagement portion to engage the second end portion of the housing to remove the hearing aid from the user's ear.