Abstract:
The invention as presently conceived discloses a hand tool that assists in the removal and replacement of hearing aid batteries. The tool has a specially designed tweezer frame to aid in holding and placement of the small batteries. One side of the tweezer tip has a magnet that provides additional capabilities with holding the battery. The opposite side of the tweezer tip consists of a sharp point that aids in positioning or removing batteries from the battery compartment. Although the tool can benefit anyone who wears a hearing aid, it is particularly useful for the elderly.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention was first described in and claims the benefit of Disclosure Document No. 607,445 on Oct. 16, 2006. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention related to battery removing tools and, more particularly, to a hearing aid battery removal tool for assisting in the removal and replacement of hearing aid batteries. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Hearing aids are used by a large number of people to help restore their hearing to a suitable level. Whether the hearing loss was caused by an accident, excessive loud noise, old age, a genetic abnormality or the like, the hearing aid allows these people to overcome their disability and become a full functioning member of society. Current electronic technology allows hearing aids to be extremely small which affords discretion for the user as well. However, their small nature also makes battery replacement very difficult, especially for those with reduced vision and dexterity. This is especially ironic since the typical hearing aid wearer is often afflicted with these other disabilities as well. Accordingly, there is a need for a means by which batteries in hearing aids can be easily replaced. 
     Several attempts have been made in the past to design a tool for assisting in the removal and replacement of hearing aid batteries. U.S. Pat. No. 5,288,119 in the name of Crawford discloses an apparatus for removing and replacing small batteries in electronic devices such as hearing aids. The invention has a housing in which a reciprocating shaft is placed, with a magnet at one end. When the reciprocating shaft is placed in its extended pickup position, the magnet is brought close to the end of the housing, and into contact with the battery or other magnetic object. Once in contact with the object, the apparatus may be used for manipulation. Once the object is placed where it is to be left, the reciprocating shaft may be moved to a retracted position, weakening the magnetic field, and holding the battery to the end of the apparatus. The reciprocating shaft is moved and locked into its extended and retracted positions with a rotating ratchet mechanism operated with a thumb of the hand that holds the apparatus. A shim in separable parts of the housing makes adjustment of the terminal end position of the magnet possible. A non-magnetic shield member or barrier layer surrounding the magnet at the tip effectively blocks the lateral attraction force so that only the object desired is picked up without disturbing surrounding objects. Unfortunately, this prior art example is not designed to open the battery door of a device. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,348,359 in the name of Boozer discloses an electromagnetic pick-up retriever tool having a number of interchangeable accessories to assist in locating, illuminating, viewing and retrieving both magnetic and non-magnetic objects such as small mechanical parts. The tool has a pistol-like handle which contains the power source and circuitry and which has a receptacle which selectively receives various attachments such as a bendable/reformable wand having an electromagnet at the end. Illuminating lights and fiber optic viewers may be selectively attached to the device. Unfortunately, this prior art example does not remove and install batteries in small devices. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,039,185 in the name of Pedracine discloses a thin flexible sheet of PETG or similar plastic with a disk shaped body with a number of radially protruding petals. The outer perimeter of one side of the inserter is coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive. A hearing aid battery with its connected selectively-gas-permeable tab is adhered to each of the inserter petals. Each petal has a small through hole positioned in alignment with the vent hole on the battery, which permits exchange of gases through the semipermeable tab. A battery is inserted into a hearing aid while attached to the inserter by gripping the inserter between the thumb and forefinger, and positioning the battery into an adjacent hearing aid battery compartment and then separated from the inserter by a sliding or wiping motion. The inserter is retained in a container fixed by removable side strips to a backing card. Unfortunately, this prior art example is not designed to open the battery door of a device. 
     None of the prior art particularly describes a hearing aid battery removal tool for assisting in the removal and replacement of hearing aid batteries. Accordingly, there is a need for a means by which batteries in hearing aids can be easily replaced. The present invention satisfies such a need by providing a tool that is convenient and easy to use, lightweight yet durable in design, and designed for assisting in the removal and replacement of hearing aid batteries. The present invention is simple to use, inexpensive, and designed for many years of repeated use. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the prior art, it has been observed that there is need for assisting in the removal and the replacement of hearing aid batteries. 
     The present invention is an apparatus which assists in the removal and replacement of batteries used in hearing aids. The invention utilizes a tweezer frame to aid in holding and placement of the small batteries. One side of the tweezer tip comprises a magnet to further aid in the holding and retention effort. The other side of the tweezer tip is comprised of a sharp point to aid in positioning and/or removing the battery from the battery compartment. 
     A hearing aid battery removal tool includes a first linear tweezer arm, a second linear tweezer arm, and a pair of linear stiffener ribs monolithically formed with distal ends of the first and second tweezer arms such that the first and second tweezer arms are resiliently pivotable towards each other. A magnet is directly attached to the first tweezer arm. 
     The tool further includes a post directly attached to the second tweezer arm and is selectively engaged with the magnet. The magnet and the post are removably engaged when the first and second tweezer arms are biased towards each other for effectively providing a secure mechanical clamp about an existing hearing aid battery. The post is located at a tip of the second tweezer arm and includes a pointed metal tool oriented at a perpendicular and central location with respect to the face of the magnet when engaged therewith. 
     The tool further includes a linear tweezer base monolithically formed with the stiffener ribs, and an opener tool directly attached to a distal end of the tweezer base for unfastening an existing battery compartment portion of an existing hearing aid. The opener tool is conveniently formed from a rigid material and protrudes outwardly from the distal end of the tweezer base along a plane registered parallel thereto. The opener tool further has a thickness smaller than a thickness of the tweezer base. 
     The tool further includes a magnet holder connected to a proximal end of the first tweezer arm to advantageously maintain the magnet at a static and fixed position against the first tweezer arm. Such a magnet holder has a substantially cylindrical shape. 
     A method of utilizing a hearing aid battery removal tool includes the steps of: providing a tweezer frame with first and second resiliently adaptable tweezer arms; grasping a battery of a hearing aid; opening a battery compartment of the hearing aid by prying an opener tool therein; aligning a magnet with the battery and squeezing the first and second tweezer arms to thereby clamp the battery; sliding the battery vertically downward and out of the battery compartment; releasing and opening the first and second tweezer arms to thereby retain the battery securely upon the magnet; manually removing and discarding the battery; securing a new battery to the magnet of the tweezer frame; sliding the new battery into the battery compartment while maintaining the first and second tweezer at an open position; releasing the new battery from the magnet by sliding the magnet horizontally into the battery compartment; and closing the battery compartment by using the opener tool. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1   a  is a side view of a hearing aid battery magnetic removal tool  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 1   b  is a close-up view of an opener tool portion  24  of the hearing aid battery magnetic removal tool  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 2  is a close-up view of a magnet portion  22  of the hearing aid battery magnetic removal tool  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 10 
                 hearing aid battery magnetic removal tool 
               
               
                 20 
                 first tweezer arm 
               
               
                 21 
                 stiffener 
               
               
                 22 
                 magnet 
               
               
                 23 
                 post 
               
               
                 24 
                 opener tool 
               
               
                 25 
                 magnet holder 
               
               
                 26 
                 tweezer base 
               
               
                 27 
                 second tweezer arm 
               
               
                 50 
                 battery 
               
               
                 51 
                 battery compartment 
               
               
                 52 
                 hearing aid 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 2 . However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention, and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
     The present invention describes a device and method for a hearing aid battery magnetic removal tool (herein described as the “device”)  10 , which provides a means for a tweezer frame  20 ,  27 ,  26  to aid in holding and placement of the small batteries  50 . A first tweezer arm  20  comprises a magnet  22  to further aid in the holding and retention effort and a second tweezer arm  27  is comprised of a post  23  to aid in positioning and/or removing of a spent battery  50  from the battery compartment  51  of a hearing aid  52  and replacing with a new battery  50 . The device  10  provides the ability to replace hearing aid batteries  50  in a manner, which is quick, easy and effective. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b , a side view and a close-up view of the opener tool  24  portion of the device  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. The device  10  is illustrated here being applied to a miniature battery  50  being located therein a standard hearing aid  52 ; however, the device  10  may be used to remove small batteries  50  from a variety of appliances such as circuit boards, personal electronics, and the like, and as such should not be interpreted as a limiting factor of the present invention  10 . The device  10  comprises a first tweezer arm  20 , a second tweezer arm  27 , a pair of stiffener ribs  21 , a magnet  22 , a post  23 , an opener tool  24 , a magnet holder  25 , and a tweezer base  26 . The device  10  comprises a pair of tweezers which are similar to conventional tweezers but with particular enhancements. The device  10  provides a fixed base  26  and a pair of freely moving arms  20 ,  27 . The tweezer arms  20 ,  27  and tweezer base  26  are envisioned to be made using a preferred material of durable injection-molded plastic such as nylon, polypropylene, or the like; however, may be alternately provided using materials such as stainless steel or other metals. The stiffener ribs  21  provide a strengthening means to the tweezer arms  20 ,  27  during use and comprise molded-in linear ribs being located perpendicularly along an inclusive surface of each tweezer arm  20 ,  27 . 
     Located at the free end of the first tweezer arm  20  is a magnet  22 . Located at the free end of the second tweezer arm  27  is a post  23 . The magnet  22  and post  23  combine to provide a secure mechanical clamping means during installation or removal of a battery  50  (see  FIG. 2 ). 
     The tweezer base  26  comprises an integrally molded opener tool  24  (see  FIG. 1   b ). The opener tool  24  provides a nimble prying means to unfasten and open the battery compartment  51  portion of the hearing aid  52 , thereby gaining access to the battery  50 . The opener tool  24  is envisioned to be a thin metal protrusion with rounded corners, thereby emulating a small screwdriver or fingernail. The opener tool  24  is envisioned being made using materials such as brass, stainless steel, or the like. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a close-up view of the magnet  22  portion of the device  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The device  10  comprises a first tweezer arm  20 , a second tweezer arm  27 , a magnet  22 , a magnet holder  25 , and a post  23 . The magnet  22  and the magnet holder  25  provide a magnetic holding means to a battery  50  during the installation or removal of said battery  50  and are envisioned to be integral to and located upon the tip of the first tweezer arm  20 . The magnet holder  25  provides an attachment means to a miniature magnet  22  by such methods as the application of various adhesives or may be included in the aforementioned plastic injection molding process. The magnet  22  comprises a cylindrical-shaped miniature permanent magnet and is envisioned being made of ferrite or ceramic materials common in the industry. 
     The post  23  is located at the tip of the second tweezer arm  27  and comprises a pointed cylindrical metal tool preferably one-sixteenths ( 1/16) of an inch in diameter, and oriented at a perpendicular and central location with respect to the face of the magnet  22 . The post  23  is envisioned to be molded integrally thereto the second tweezer arm  27 ; however, it may be provided using adhesives as an alternate attachment means. The post  23  is further envisioned to be made using non-magnetic materials such as brass, stainless steel, or the like. 
     It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the device  10 , it would be utilized as indicated in  FIG. 1   a.    
     The method of utilizing the device  10  may be achieved by performing the following steps: grasping and conveniently positioning a hearing aid  50  or other electronic appliance containing a miniature battery  50 ; opening the battery compartment door  51  using the opener tool  24 , thereby exposing the spent battery  50 ; aligning the magnet  22  with the spent battery  50  and squeezing the tweezer arms  20 ,  27 , thereby clamping said spent battery  50 ; sliding said battery  50  vertically downward and out of the battery compartment  51 ; releasing and opening the tweezer arms  20 ,  27  and, thereby retaining the spent battery  50  securely upon the magnet  22 ; manually removing and discarding the spent battery  50 ; securing a new battery  50  to the magnet  22  portion of the device  10 ; sliding the new battery  50  into the battery compartment holder  51  with the device  10  in the open state; releasing the new battery  50  from the magnet  22  by sliding the magnet  22  horizontally; closing the battery compartment  51  using the opener tool  24  as required; installing the hearing aid  52  into one&#39;s ear; and, benefiting from the increased nimbleness and time saved using the device  10  to change a miniature battery  50 . 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention and method of use to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions or substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.