Patent Publication Number: US-7221770-B2

Title: Connection piece for hearing device support hook

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention concerns a one-part, metallic connection piece for a hearing device support hook, with a sound channel passing through this connection piece. 
     Behind-the-ear hearing aids are typically fastened on a support hook behind the ear of the hearing device user. In addition to the fastening of the hearing device behind the ear, the support hook normally fulfills an additional function. Namely, a sound channel normally passes through it via which the sound generated via a speaker arranged in the hearing device is conveyed to a sound tube connected with the forward end of the support hook, and via this sound tube and an ear fitting piece, into the auditory canal of the hearing device user. 
     It is preferable, for cosmetic reasons, and also to increase the wearing comfort with behind-the-ear hearing devices, to have optimally small and narrow housing structural shapes. 
     In the behind-the-ear hearing device SIGNIA S produced by Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH, the support hooks are comprised of a curved titanium tube which is partially extrusion-coated by plastic material. This tube is continuous from the attachment point at the earpiece to the forward end of the support hook. 
     For attachment and affixing, a fastening clip made from plastic is molded on between the actual hearing device housing and the support hook, this fastening clip comprising a bore through which an attachment screw is guided. This known hearing device in fact exhibits a particularly slim structural shape between the actual hearing device housing and the support hooks; however, the housing of the hearing device must always be open to an exchange of the support hook. A screw connection for the support hook is not possible with this structural shape since the titanium tube cannot be provided with a threading. 
     Furthermore, behind-the-ear hearing devices with a metal connection piece are known that comprise a threading at the forward end of the connection piece. A support hook can be screwed onto the threading. This enables a simple exchange of the support hook in the event of repair. In the known connection piece, a catch/stop via which the connection piece is attached and affixed in the housing of the hearing device is located behind the winding. Via this catch, the relatively high turning and bending moments, particularly those generated upon screwing on and removal of the support hook, are transferred from the connection piece to the hearing device housing. This known solution has the advantage that, in the transition region between the actual hearing device housing and the support hook, relatively large forces are transferred to a narrowly limited region of the hearing device housing, whereby this forward housing region can not exceed a specific structural size. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is the object of the present invention to enable a narrow structural shape in a behind-the-ear hearing device with a detachable support hook that can be fastened to the hearing device in the transition region between the support hook and the actual hearing device housing. 
     This object is achieved via a one-part, metallic connection piece, with a sound channel running through it, for a hearing device support hook with a fastening section for detachable fastening of the support hook, a stop connecting to the fastening piece, a curved and/or angled first tube section connecting to the fastening piece, a second tube section, and a connection clip that is arranged between the first tube section and the second tube section. 
     The use of a connection piece according to various embodiments of the invention discussed below brings a series of advantages. Thus, in comparison with the known hearing device with a titanium tube, an extrusion coating with plastic is done away with, whereby the manufacturing expenditure is reduced and the production costs can be lowered. Furthermore, in contrast to the titanium tube, the connection piece comprises a fastening section, such that a support hook can be connected with the connection piece or detached from it in a simple manner and without opening the actual hearing device housing. In particular, this support hook can also be completely produced from a transparent plastic material and a sound channel can pass through it, achieving cosmetic advantages. Due to the possibility of a support hook that is simple to exchange, further variation possibilities result with regard to the size and the bending radius of the support hook, as well as the sound channel length and the sound channel diameter. 
     In contrast to the further known connection piece with a threading part for detachable connection with a support hook, in the connection piece, the stop in connection with the fastening section is relatively small. Nevertheless, in order to absorb relatively high turning and bending moments occurring over the connection piece in the fastening of the support hook, and in order to be able to lead into the housing of the hearing device, the connection piece is provided with a fastening clip. The fastening clip does not thereby connect directly to the stop, but rather the connection piece comprises a short tube section between the stop and the fastening clip. This tube segment is preferably buckled or bent or provided with a curve in the connection region at the stop or the fastening clip. The entire connection piece, thus the fastening segment, the stop, the tube section and the fastening clip, are produced as one part from a metal or a metal alloy. 
     Via the division of the fastening mechanism in the stop and the fastening clip, the relatively high turning and bending moments occurring in the fastening of the support hook are absorbed via a relatively large lever/moment arm created by this division and are passed into the hearing device housing. Furthermore, the stop fashioned relatively small and the uneven curve of the sound channel connected thereto enable a particularly narrow structural shape in the transition region between the actual hearing device housing and the support hook. 
     To attach and affix the connection piece in the housing of the hearing device, the stop and the fastening clip engage in correspondingly shaped recesses of the housing. However, the fastening clip is preferably provided with a bore through which a further fastening element (for example a screw or a bolt) is directed. The lever arm to absorb forces via the connection piece and to pass these forces into the hearing device housing is thereby additionally enlarged. Furthermore, the housing part can be held together with such a screw given a multipart housing shell of the hearing device housing. 
     There are a plurality of possibilities to fasten the support hook at the forward end of the connection piece: on the one hand, a fastening segment can be executed as a threading at the forward end of the stop piece. The support hook can then be fastened to the connection piece via a screw motion and released from this as needed. However, other attachment possibilities can also be selected, such as a latch or a close fit. 
     Given the use of a threading or latch connection, additional measures should be taken in order to also attain an optimally sealed sound channel in the transition region. For example, the forward region of the stop axial and/or radial sealing surfaces can be provided that cooperate with corresponding sealing surfaces of the support hook and thereby effect a good sealing of the sound channel. 
     Finally, the connection piece can also be fashioned curved or bent at the rear end opposite the fastening segment in order to enable an optimal connection to the wearer of the hearing device. A short piece of sound tube is thereby advantageously used between the rear end of the connection piece and the sound support of the wearer. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention is subsequently explained in detail using exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings. 
         FIG. 1  is a pictorial diagram illustrating the design of the support hook in the behind-the-ear hearing device SIGNIA S® by Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH; 
         FIG. 2  is a pictorial diagram illustrating a conventional connection piece with a threading; 
         FIG. 3  is a pictorial 3D view of a first embodiment of a connection piece with a fastening clip according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 4  is an isometric view of an embodiment with a curved first tube section; and 
         FIG. 5  is a pictorial view of an embodiment with bent tube sections. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  shows the sectional drawing of an upper sub-region of the housing of the behind-the-ear hearing device SIGNIA S® by Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH. The upper region of the housing  1  passes into the support hook  2  with a positive fit. The support hook  2  is comprised of a titanium tube  3  and a first plastic part  4 , whereby the titanium tube  3  is extrusion coated by the plastic. To fasten the titanium tube  3 , a fastening clip  5  is provided that is likewise generated via extrusion coating of the titanium tube  3  with a plastic material. 
     The titanium tube  3  is furthermore fastened and affixed at the rear end via a clamping element  6  in the housing  1  of the hearing device. What is disadvantageous in this embodiment is that the titanium tube  3  cannot be provided with a fastening segment, for example, a threading. It is therefore not possible to achieve a detachable connection of the support hook  2  in the transition region to the housing  1  of the hearing device. In this embodiment, the titanium tube  3  also passes completely through the support hook  2 . This prevents a transparent embodiment of the support hook  2 . 
       FIG. 2  shows a known solution for the detachable fastening of a support hook to the upper end of a hearing device housing. The attachment thereby ensues to a metal connection piece  10  that is built into the upper housing end of the hearing device. The known connection piece  10  is provided at its forward end with a threading  11  on which a support hook made of plastic can be screwed. In order to absorb forces acting on the connection piece  11  and to be able to be pass them into the housing of the hearing device, the connection piece  10  comprises a stop  12  that rises relatively far over the winding in the radial direction. The stop  12  is fastened and affixed via correspondingly shaped receptacles in the housing of the hearing device. Via the relatively large projection of the stop  12 , a lever/moment arm is generated that is necessary to absorb the existing forces and to transfer the forces to the hearing device housing, whereby the forces occur particularly upon fastening and detaching of the support hook. However, this design of the housing of the hearing device in the connection region of the support hook cannot exceed a specific minimum dimension. 
     The illustrated embodiment of the invention provides a one-part connection piece, produced from a metal or a metal alloy, with a fastening segment for detachable connection of a support hook. As is visible from the exemplary embodiment according to  FIG. 3 , the holding and fastening function of the connection piece  20  in the housing of a hearing device is distributed to at least two separate regions. The first region thereby forms a reduced stop  21  relative to the stop  12  according to  FIG. 2 . The stop  21  is provided with a radial sealing surface  22  on the front. Furthermore, an axial sealing surface  23  is located between a fastening segment of the connection piece  20  and the stop  21 . Via the sealing surfaces  22  and  23 , a good seal of the sound channel is ensured in the transition region from the connection piece  20  to a support hook fastened thereto. 
     The fastening section at the forward end of the connection piece  20  is executed as a threading  24  in the exemplary embodiment according to  FIG. 3 . However, other fastening possibilities are also possible, for example, a fastening section fashioned as a latch. Furthermore, the connection piece  20  comprises a fastening clip  25  for its fastening and affixing in the housing of a hearing device. The fastening clip  25  is a component of the one-part connection piece  20 . In order to allow for narrowed space relationships in the upper housing region of the hearing device, a curved tube section  26  is provided between the stop  21  and the fastening clip  25 . The rear end of the connection piece  20  is also fashioned as a tube section  26 . A sound channel  27  passes through the entire connection piece  20 . 
     The connection piece  20  fashioned according to the exemplary embodiment is best suited to accept and convey the shear, traction, turning and bending moments absorbed from the support hook. In particular, via the distributed fastening mechanism (stop  21  and fastening clip  25 ), the necessary lever arms are fashioned in order to be able to absorb and convey the cited forces. The fastening clip  25 —as shown in FIG.  3 —is preferably provided with a bore  29  through which a screw or a bolt can be directed for additional anchoring of the connection piece  20  in the housing of a hearing device. 
       FIG. 4  shows the connection piece  20  according to  FIG. 3  in a three-dimensional representation. In particular, the sound channel  27  that passes through the entire connection piece is visible from this representation. Furthermore,  FIG. 4  shows a screw  30  with a screw head  31 , this screw  30  being inserted into the bore  29 . A metal plate  32  with a thread bushing  33  with inner threading exists as a counterpart in which the screw  30  engages, whereby the screw head  31  of the screw  30  and the outside of the metal plate  32  at least approximately form a smooth surface with the opposite outside of the hearing device housing. A relatively large lever arm via which the cited forces can be passed into the housing of the hearing device is also created via this screw connection. 
     The shown exemplary embodiment enables a very narrow structural shape of the hearing device housing in the transition region between the housing and the support hook. The connection between the support hook and the housing of the hearing device is detachable, whereby a simpler exchange of a support hook is enabled. Furthermore, a particularly more inconspicuous, more transparent support hook without a metal tube passing through it can also be connected with the hearing device. Moreover, the production process of the connection piece  20  as well as a support hook that can be connected with it is thereby relatively simple, since the extrusion coating of a metal part with a plastic connection is done away with. 
       FIG. 5  exemplarily shows various modification possibilities of a connection piece  40  according to an embodiment of the invention relative to the preferred embodiment according to  FIGS. 3 and 4 . The connection piece  40  also comprises a stop  41 . In contrast to the exemplary embodiment according to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the fastening piece to fasten a support hook is in fact fashioned as part of a latch  42 . In contrast to the embodiment according to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , this latch  42  enables a faster and simpler exchange of the support hook fastened to the connection piece  40 . The acoustic seal is, however, more elaborate. 
     In the connection piece  40  according to  FIG. 5 , the transfer of the occurring forces also ensues via two separated sub-regions, namely on the one hand via the stop  41  and on the other hand via the fastening clip  43 . Furthermore, differently than in the embodiment according to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a first tube section  44  between the stop  41  and the fastening clip  43  is not curved, but rather is bent both in the transition region to the stop  41  and in the transition region to the fastening clip  43 , whereby the sound channel within the connection piece also experiences a buckling both in the transition region between the stop  41  and the first tube section  44  and in the transition region between the first tube section  44  and the fastening clip  43 . The tube section  45  at the end of the connecting piece  40  is also bent relative to the fastening clip  43 . 
     In further contrast to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , at the shown viewing angle, the fastening clip  43  according to  FIG. 5  is primarily arranged not above but rather below the tube sections  44  and  45 . In the shown view, the bore  46  through the fastening clip  43  is correspondingly also located below the tube sections  44  and  45 . 
     The different embodiment of the connection piece  40  in the transition region between the stop  41 , the tube section  44  and the fastening clip  43  relative to the embodiment according to  FIGS. 3 and 4  is particularly dependent on different production methods, whereby the embodiment according to  FIG. 5  can predominantly be produced using turning and milling methods. From a functional viewpoint, however, the curve of the connection piece according to the exemplary embodiment according to  FIGS. 3 and 4  offers acoustic advantages relative to the bent sections, since a more uniform course of the sound channel within the connection piece is created via the curve. 
     If a connection piece with an initially straight course of the sound channel is not only curved in the region of the first tube section, but rather is clamped to the fastening section as well as to the second tube section and is curved over this entire region, in practice both curves in the tube sections (as illustrated in  FIG. 3 ) and bent regions in the transitions to the stop or to the fastening clip, as they are visible from  FIG. 5 , result via the stretching and upsetting deformation/buckling. The curving event thereby preferably ensues under heat exposure. 
     In addition to both shown exemplary embodiments, a plurality of further geometric modifications that lie in the scope f the invention is possible. 
     For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference has been made to the preferred embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language has been used to describe these embodiments. However, no limitation of the scope of the invention is intended by this specific language, and the invention should be construed to encompass all embodiments that would normally occur to one of ordinary skill in the art. The particular implementations shown and described herein are illustrative examples of the invention and are not intended to otherwise limit the scope of the invention in any way. For the sake of brevity, conventional aspects of the systems (and components of the individual operating components of the systems) may not be described in detail. Furthermore, the connecting lines, or connectors shown in the various figures presented are intended to represent exemplary functional relationships and/or physical or logical couplings between the various elements. It should be noted that many alternative or additional functional relationships, physical connections or logical connections may be present in a practical device. Moreover, no item or component is essential to the practice of the invention unless the element is specifically described as “essential” or “critical”. Numerous modifications and adaptations will be readily apparent to those skilled in this art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     REFERENCE CHARACTERS 
     
         
           1  housing 
           2  support hook 
           3  titanium tube 
           4  first plastic part 
           5  fastening clip 
           6  clamping element 
           10  metal connection piece 
           11  connection piece 
           12  stop 
           20 ,  40  connection piece 
           21 ,  41  stop 
           22  radial sealing surface 
           23  axial sealing surface 
           24  threading 
           25 ,  43  fastening clip 
           26 ,  44  curved tube section 
           27  sound channel 
           28 ,  45  tube section 
           29  bore 
           30  screw 
           31  screw head 
           32  metal plate 
           33  thread bushing 
           42  latch/fastening section