EARWAX TRAP FOR USE WITH HEARING-AID APPARATUS, AND HEARING-AID APPARATUS WITH SUCH A TRAP

Abstract: In a earwax trap for use with hearing-aid apparatus and of the kind comprising a) in a first part (6) a space (8) adapted to communicate acoustically an interior part (not shown) of said hearing-aid apparatus (not shown) with the external auditory meatus (not shown) of the user's ear, and b) means (7) to prevent earwax having entered said space (8) from leaving same towards said interior part (3), the novel feature is that said leaving-preventing means comprise at least one piston- or plug-shaped member (7), which is adapted by relative movement between itself and the first part (6) containing said space (8) to enter said space (8) in a first direction away from said interior part of said hearing-aid appartus, and to leave said space (8) in the opposite direction and thus re-establish the acoustic connection between said interior part and said space (8). In this manner, earwax (15) having collected in the space (8) communicating with the user's external auditory meatus (not shown), can be expelled without using external means, such as pipe cleaners or the like, and without risk of damage to the internal parts of the hearing-aid (not shown).

Description: EARWAX TRAP FOR USE WITH HEARING-AID APPARATUS, AND HEARING-AID APPARATUS WITH SUCH A TRAP TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an earwax trap of the kind set forth in the preamble of claim 1. BACKGROUND ART Earwax traps of this kind are known from the European Patent Application No. 0 326 513 and Japanese Patent Publication No. 55-61194. In the earwax traps thus known, there are no means to remove the earwax, which has to be removed by external means, such as pipe cleaners or the like, which may damage the earwax trap and/or internal parts of the hearing-aid apparatus, such as the so-called receiver converting electric signals into sound. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION It is the object of the present invention to provide an earwax trap of the kind initially referred to, in which the earwax may be removed without using external means, and this obejct is achieved with an earwax trap exhibiting the features set forth in the characterizing clause of claim 1. The piston- or plug-shaped member is always present in the earwax trap, and when it is moved in the first direction mentioned in the claim, it will push any earwax having collected of out the trap, and when it is moved in the opposite direction, it no longer constitutes an obstruction in the acoustical path. Claims 2-6 relate to advantageous embodiments of the earwax trap according to the present invention, the effects of which embodiments are explained in more detail in the following detailed portion of the present specification. The present invention also relates to a hearing-aid apparatus of the kind set forth in the preamble of claim 7, and according to the present invention, this apparatus is characterized as set forth in the characterizing clause of claim 7. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the following detailed specification, the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to various embodiments of earwax traps according to the invention shown in the drawing, in which Figure 1 is a sectional view through a part of a hearing-aid apparatus incorporating an earwax trap according to a first embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the earwax trap shown in figure 1, Figure 3 a-c are sectional views illustrating the functioning of the earwax trap, and Figure 4 a-f are sectional views of various possible practical variations of an earwax trap according to said first embodiment, and Figure 5 a, b are sectional views showing an earwax trap according to a second embodiment of the present invention in operating and wax-removal positions respectively. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) Figure 1 shows an insertion portion 1 of a hearing-aid apparatus, of which only the components relevant to the present invention are shown, i.e. said insertion portion 1, - a connecting piece 2 constituting an acoustical connection through the wall of the tip of said insertion portion 1, an electro-acoustical transducer or receiver 3 adapted to generate sound in response to electrical signals from a microphone and amplifier (not shown) associated with or constituting part of the hearing- aid apparatus, and a connecting tube 4 constituting an acoustical connection from the receiver 3 to the connection piece 2. Apart from serving as an acoustical conductor through the wall of the insertion portion 1, the connecting piece 2 is also adapted to prevent earwax from the user's external auditory meatus from entering and eventually blocking the acoustical conduit leading from the receiver 3 to the outside of the insertion portion 1, in a manner to be explained in more detail below. For this reason, the connecting piece 2 is also designated "earwax trap", which designation will be used in the remainder of the present specification. Referring now to Figure 2, the components of the earwax trap 2 of direct relevance to the present invention are a housing 5 adapted to be secured in the wall of the tip of the insertion portion 1 in the manner shown in Figure 1, or - alternatively - to constitute a part of said wall, an earwax collector 6 slideably supported in the housing 5 between the normal operative position shown in Figure 2 and a wax-removal position shown in Figure 3c, and an earwax ejector 7, the cross-sectional shape of which corresponds at least roughly to the cross- sectional shape of a duct 8 formed and oriented in the earwax collector in such a manner, that when the earwax collector 6 is moved from the operating position shown in Figure 2 to the wax-removal position shown in Figure 3c, the duct 8 will be substantially fully occupied by and slideably receive the end portion of the earwax ejector 7, while - a helical compression spring 9 constantly urges the earwax collector 6 towards the operating position shown in Figure 2. The sound-transmission path through the earwax trap 2 with the earwax collector 6 in the operating position shown in Figure 2 consists of the space inside a tube connector 10 adapted to be connected with the connecting tube 4 shown in figure 1, at least one aperture 11 formed in a collar 12 surrounding and supporting the earwax ejector 7, a space 13 surrounding the ejector 7 and surrounded by the housing 5, an annular gap 14 between the tip of the ejector 7 and the adjacent part of the collector 6 surrounding the duct 8, and the duct 8 itself. Figure 3a-c shows how a lump of earwax 15 having collected in the earwax collector 6 is removed by simply pushing the earwax collector 6 into the housing 5 against the action of the spring 9, the force being represented by arrows 16 and suitably exerted by pressing two adjacent fingers onto the collector 6. Figure 3a shows the situation in the operating position shown also in Figure 2, whereas Figure 3b shows an intermediate situation, in which the collector 6 is partly depressed, and Figure 3c shows the wax-removal position, in which the lump of earwax 15 lies freely accessible on the tip of the ejector 7 and can be removed without difficulty, such as by wiping it off with a piece of tissue or flicking it away with a finger. Figures 4 a-f illustrate various possibilities in the practical realization of the present invention. Thus, in Figure 4a, the housing 5 shown in Figure 2 is replaced by the adjacent portion of the wall of the insertion portion 1, Figure 4b shows an arrangement in which the tube connector 10 shown in Figure 2 is replaced by a projecting flange on said wall and the outer limit for the movement of the earwax collector 6 is defined by a locking ring 17 inserted.in said wall, Figure 4c shows a similar arrangement but with an ejector 7 in the form of a separate part, Figure 4d shows an arrangement corresponding to that of Figure 2, inserted against a flange 18 formed in said wall, Figure 4e shows an arrangement with a tube connector 19 in the form of a separate part, and Figure 4f shows an arrangement, in which only four parts are inserted in a passage through said wall, i.e. a combination 20 comprising both a tube connector and an earwax ejector, a spring 9, an earwax collector 6, and a locking ring 17. It will be obvious to persons skilled in this art that the present invention may also be realized otherwise than shown, in the drawing and explained above. Thus, an earwax collector 6 may comprise more than one duct 8, each adapted to cooperate with its own ejector 7. Further, the earwax trap need not necessarily be rotationally symmetrical as indicated in Figure 2, but may be square, rectangular, or otherwise shaped as seen in cross section in a plane at right angles to the plane of the drawing in Figure 2. The requisite relative movement between the earwax collector 6 and the earwax ejector 7 may also be achieved otherwise than shown and explained; thus, the collector 6 may be arranged stationary with respect to the insertion portion 1 and the ejector 7 moveable, or both components may be moveable in opposite directions. The essential requirement is, of course, that the transition between an operating position corresponding to that shown in Figure 2 and wax-removal position corresponding to that shown in Figure 3c always proceeds with the relative movement between the collector 6 and ejector 7 being such, that the latter moves towards the outside of the insertion portion 1, i.e. in a direction opposite the direction towards the receiver 3. In the embodiment shown in Figure 5, the earwax collector 6a is an integral part of the housing 5a, while the earwax ejector 7a is slidingly supported inside the housing 5a guided by the flange 12a, the latter being constantly urged in the downward (i.e. in operation inward) direction by the spring 9. To make it possible to move the earwax ejector 7a to the wax-removal position shown in Figure 5b, a thin stem 21 with a knob 22 on its free end is formed integral with the ejector 7a. Any earwax (not shown) will collect on a shoulder 23 at the transition from the ejector 7a proper to the stem 21, and can easily be wiped off as described above with reference to Figure 3a. Apertures 11a in the collar 12a allow the passage of sound coming through the ample clearance between the stem 21 and the walls of the duct 8, and a collar 12b on the tube connector 10 connects the latter to the housing 5a. The earwax trap according to the present invention may be manufactured from any suitable material known to persons skilled in this art. Thus, the collectors 6, 6a and the ejectors 7, 7a may be made from a suitable plastics material (synthetic resin), while the spring 9 may suitably be made from spring steel. If for some reason it is considered undesirable to have metal components in the earwax trap, the spring 9 may be replaced by an elastic rubber bellows or the like placed close to the inside wall of the housing 5 or the corresponding part of the insertion portion 1. In normal operation, any earwax collecting in the duct 8 can be removed from time to time by operating the trap in the manner described above. After prolonged periods of time, however, small amounts of earwax may have crept into the space 13, and for this reason it is desirable to make it possible to dismantle the trap or remove it bodily from the insertion portion 1. Persons skilled in this art will be able to devise methods of achieving this effect, not least after having seen Figures 4a-f. The present invention is primarily intended for use with hearing-aid apparatus of the so-called in-the-ear (ITE) type, but may be used with the same effect with other types of hearing-aid apparatus, provided that these are adapted to deliver an acoustical signal into the external auditory meatus of the user. In this manner, the customary use of pipe cleaners and the like may be dispensed with. LIST OF PARTS 1 insertion portion 2, 2a connecting piece/ earwax trap 3 electro-acoustical transducer/receiver 4 connecting tube 5, 5a housing 6, 6a earwax collector 7 earwax ejector 8 duct 9 spring 10 tube connector 11, 11a aperture 12, 12a, 12b collar 13 space 14 annular gap 15 earwax 16 arrow 17 locking ring 18 flange 19 tube connector 20 combination

Claims: C L A I M S 1. An earwax trap for use with hearing-aid apparatus and of the kind comprising a) in a first part (6, 6a) a space (8) adapted to connect acoustically an interior part (3) of said hearing-aid apparatus with the external auditory meatus of the user's ear, and b) means (7, 7a) to prevent earwax having entered said space (8) from leaving same towards said interior part (3), characterized in that said leaving-preventing means comprise at least one piston- or plug-shaped member (7, 7a), which is adapted by relative movement between itself and the first part (6, 6a) containing said space (8) to enter said space (8) in a first direction away from said interior part (3) of said hearing-aid apparatus, and to leave said space (8) in the opposite direction and thus re-establish the acoustic connec- tion between said interior part (3) and said space (8). 2. A trap according to claim 1, characterized in a) that elastic means (9) are provided to urge said plug-shaped member (7, 7a) towards a position relative to said first part (6, 6a) containing said space (8), in which the plug-shaped member does not obstruct the acoustic communication between said interior part (3) and said external auditory meatus, and b) that the arrangement is such that said relative movement (mentioned in claim 1) may be caused by manually influencing (22, 16) said piston- or plug- shaped member (7a) and/or said first part (6) containing said space (8) or parts connected thereto, and that said relative position (mentioned in a above) is resumed when said manual influence ceases. 3. A trap according to claim 2, characterized in that said plug-shaped member (7) is adapted to be stationary relative to the housing (5) of the trap (2), and that said first part (6) containing said space (8) is adapted to be moved relative thereto by being pushed into said housing (5). 4. A trap according to claim 2, characterized in that said first part (6a) containing said space (8) is adapted to be stationary relative to the housing (5a) of the trap (2), and that said plug-shaped member (7a) is adapted to be moved relative thereto by being pulled out of said housing (5a), for this purpose comprising an externally accessible extension (21,22) extending outwardly with ample clearance through said space (8). 5. A trap according to any one or any of the claims 1-4, characterized in that it is adapted to be inserted into the wall of an insertion portion (1) of a hearing-aid apparatus, said insertion portion (1) being adapted to be inserted into the external auditory meatus of the user's ear. 6. A trap according to any one or any of the claims 1-4, characterized in that it . is at least partly integral with the wall of an insertion portion (1) of a hearing-aid apparatus, said insertion portion (1) being adapted to be inserted into the external auditory meatus of the user's ear. 7. A hearing-aid apparatus with an earwax trap (2) of the kind comprising a) in a first part (6, 6a) a space (8) adapted to communicate acoustically an interior part (3) of said hearing-aid apparatus with the external auditory meatus of the user's ear, and b) means (7, 7a) to prevent earwax having entered said space (8) from leaving same towards said interior part (3), characterized in that said earwax trap (2) exhibits the features set forth in any one or any of the claims 1-6.

Inventors: DANIELSEN FINN, DANIELSEN, FINN
Applicants: OTICON AS, OTICON A/S
Application year: 1991
Main classification: H04R25
IPC codes: H04R1, H04R25