Patent ID: 8437860
Filing Date: 2013-05-07
Classification: H04R

Abstract:
1. A hearing assistance system, comprising: a hearing assistance unit including an external hearing assistance unit housing defining an interior and an exterior, the interior including sound processing components and a power storage device and the exterior including an interface that has at least one hearing assistance unit electrical connector; a removable cover configured to be received by the interface and cover the at least one hearing assistance unit electrical connector; and a removable module, configured to be received by the interface in place of the removable cover when the removable cover is removed from the hearing assistance unit, including at least one module electrical connector located and configured such that the at least one module electrical connector is electrically coupled to the at least one hearing assistance unit electrical connector when the removable module is received by the interface; at least one of the hearing assistance unit and the removable module being configured such that the removable module will be mechanically connected to the hearing assistance unit when the removable module is received by the interface and such that the removable module can be mechanically disconnected from, and removed from, the hearing assistance unit after being mechanically connected to the hearing assistance unit; and at least one of the hearing assistance unit and the removable cover being configured such that the removable cover will be mechanically connected to the hearing assistance unit in such a manner that moisture is substantially prevented from entering the interface when the removable module is received by the interface and such that the removable cover can be mechanically disconnected from, and removed from, the hearing assistance unit after being mechanically connected to the hearing assistance unit.