Patent Publication Number: US-8121328-B2

Title: Hearing device with a connecting piece fastened to the housing frame

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority of German Patent Office application No. 10 2007 025 936.2 DE filed Jun. 4, 2007, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a hearing device to be worn behind the ear, comprising a receiver, which has a sound outlet, a wearing hook, which has a sound channel, a connecting piece for connecting the sound outlet of the receiver to the sound channel of the wearing hook and comprising a housing frame, in which and onto which the receiver and the wearing hook are fastened respectively. 
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     Hearing devices are portable hearing apparatuses which are used to supply the hard-of-hearing. To accommodate the numerous individual requirements, different configurations of hearing devices such as behind-the-ear hearing devices (BTE), in-the-ear hearing devices (ITE), e.g. also concha hearing devices or completely-in-the-channel devices (CIC), are provided. The hearing devices listed by way of example are worn on the outer ear or in the auditory canal. Furthermore, bone conduction hearing aids, implantable or vibrotactile hearing aids are also available on the market. The damaged hearing is herewith either stimulated mechanically or electrically. 
     Essential components of the hearing devices include in principle an input converter, an amplifier and an output converter. The input converter is generally a receiving transducer, e.g. a microphone and/or an electromagnetic receiver, e.g. an induction coil. The output converter is mostly realized as an electroacoustic converter, e.g. a miniature loudspeaker, or as an electromechanical converter, e.g. a bone conduction receiver. The amplifier is usually integrated into a signal processing unit. This main configuration is shown in the example in  FIG. 1  of a behind-the-ear hearing device. One or a number of microphones  2  for recording the ambient sound are incorporated in a hearing device housing  1  to be worn behind the ear. A signal processing unit  3 , which is similarly integrated into the hearing device housing  1 , processes the microphone signals and amplifies them. The output signal of the signal processing unit  3  is transmitted to a loudspeaker and/or receiver  4 , which outputs an acoustic signal. The sound is optionally transmitted to the ear drum of the device wearer via a wearing hook  6  and a sound tube, which is fixed with an otoplastic in the auditory canal. The power supply of the hearing device and in particular of the signal processing unit  3  is supplied by a battery  5  which is likewise integrated into the hearing device housing  1 . 
     With special types of BTE hearing devices, the housing consists of a frame and a housing casing fastened thereto. Here the frame receives all the forces which are applied to the hearing device from the outside and provides the hearing device components with the necessary stabilization. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     A wearing hook  6  tailored to the hearing device wearer is generally fastened on the hearing device housing and/or hearing device frame on a BTE hearing device. The inside of the wearing hook  6  has a sound channel  7 , by way of which the sound is guided from the hearing device receiver to the auditory canal. A connecting piece is thus needed on the interface between the hearing device housing and/or hearing device frame and the wearing hook, with which connecting piece a sound guiding piece in the hearing device housing can be connected to the sound channel in the wearing hook. In the case of hearing devices with frames, this connecting piece is usually integrated into the frame. This means that the connecting piece consists of the same plastic as the frame, since frames are generally made of a plastic injection molded part. The disadvantage of such frame constructions with an integrated connecting piece is that a connecting piece of this type is not stable and is subjected to considerable wear. It must namely receive not only withdrawal and torsional forces, but also be able to withstand the repeated removal of the hearing device housing from the wearing hook for component cleaning or maintenance purposes for instance. 
     The frame construction is advantageous in that the hearing device can be manufactured in a simpler and faster manner, since the inside of the frame is left open until the covering shells are attached to the frame at the end of the manufacturing process in order to position and fix the hearing device components from several sides. 
     The publication DE 103 33 293 A1 discloses a connecting piece for hearing device wearing hooks, which also allows for a slim hearing device design in the transition region between the wearing hook and the device housing. The one-piece, metallic connecting piece which has a sound canal running therethrough has a fastening piece, a stop and a connecting lug, so that forces acting on the connecting piece can be introduced into the housing of the hearing device across several regions of the connecting piece. The publication DE 43 27 634 C1 also discloses a hearing aid device which is to be worn behind the hear having a wearing part fastening which is improved in terms of manufacturing technology and in terms of acoustics. A connection coupled to a sound transducer and fastened in the housing is detachably connected to the wearing part in a rotationally secure manner by way of a locking and sealing connection. 
     The subsequently published publication DE 10 2006 029 819 A1 also describes a hearing device with a fastening for a receiver tube. The connecting piece is connected to a receiver facility by way of the receiver tube, in order to guide an acoustic signal generated by the receiver facility to an acoustic output of the hearing device. The receiver tube and the connecting piece are embodied as a plug-in connection and are essentially connected to one another in an acoustically sealed fashion. The receiver tube and the connecting piece have at least one projection, which is embodied such that it holds the receiver tube against the connecting piece. A connecting segment can be embodied as a separate insert or alternatively in one piece with the housing. 
     The object of the present invention thus consists in providing a BTE hearing device, with which the wearing hook is fastened in a stable fashion and can be detached repeatedly without considerable wear. 
     This object is achieved in accordance with the invention by a hearing device to be worn behind the ear, comprising a receiver, which has a sound outlet, a wearing hook, which has a sound channel, a connecting piece for connecting the sound outlet of the receiver to the sound channel of the wearing hook and comprising a housing frame, in which and onto which the receiver and the wearing hook are fastened respectively, with the connecting piece largely consisting of metal or ceramic and being directly fastened to the housing frame. 
     The connecting piece, which largely consists of metal or ceramic, advantageously allows a stable, detachable connection of the wearing hook of a hearing device to the frame construction thereof. The withdrawal and torsional forces are thus transferred from the wearing hook into the frame. In addition, the connecting piece connects and seals the sound channels of the wearing hook and hearing device with one another. 
     In a special embodiment, the housing frame is embodied in two halves. As a result, the fastening of hearing device components during the manufacture is further simplified. The two halves of the housing frame are then preferably held together by means of the connecting piece. Aside from the functions “stabilizing the wearing hook” and “transmitting the sound”, the connecting piece achieves the third function of “holding together the housing halves”. There is thus no need for special assembly parts, which are exclusively used for fastening the housing halves to one another. 
     With a further advantageous embodiment, provision is made for the housing frame to be pinned to the connecting piece. This pinning process is particularly favorable precisely in respect of the assembly time. 
     With one development, a recess can be formed through the two halves of the housing frame, into which recess the connecting piece is fitted in a form-fit and rotationally secure fashion, with each halve being pinned to the connecting piece in each instance with one single pin at right angles to the fitting direction. The rotational security of the connecting piece and/or of the wearing hook in respect of the frame is improved here. 
     According to another development, a pipe connection of the connecting piece, which protrudes into the housing frame, can be flexible. This allows better allowances to be made for the space requirement in the housing frame. 
     Furthermore, it may also be advantageous for the connecting piece to be injected into one part of the housing frame. This measures again allows the assembly times to be reduced, but also increases the stability. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention is described in more detail with reference to the appended drawings, in which; 
         FIG. 1  shows a basic diagram with the essential components of a hearing device; 
         FIG. 2  shows a longitudinal side view of an inventive connecting piece; 
         FIG. 3  shows a front side view of the connecting piece in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  shows a longitudinal side view of the connecting piece in  FIG. 2  rotated axially by 90°; 
         FIG. 5  shows a section through the connecting piece in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  shows a longitudinal side view of the connecting piece according to a further embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  shows the front side view of the connecting piece in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  shows a top view of the connecting piece in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 9  shows a sectional view of the connecting piece in  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 10  shows an exploded view of a hearing device frame having a connecting piece; 
         FIG. 11  shows the hearing device frame with a connecting piece in  FIG. 10  when assembled; 
         FIG. 12  shows an exploded view of another hearing device frame with the connecting piece in  FIG. 6  and 
         FIG. 13  shows the hearing device frame with the connecting piece in  FIG. 12  when assembled. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
     The exemplary embodiments illustrated in more detail below represent preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
     A first variant of an inventive connecting piece is shown in  FIGS. 2 to 5 .  FIG. 2  shows a longitudinal side view of this connecting piece  10 . It is essentially tubular and has a flange  11 , which is provided on its part with fastening boreholes  12 . These fastening boreholes  12  run in parallel to one another and at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the connecting piece. The flange  11  separates a threaded part  13  from a pipe connection  14 . The wearing hook of the hearing device is screwed onto the threaded part  13 . The pipe connection  14  is used however to connect a receiver directly or a sound tube, which leads to the receiver of the hearing device. The flange  11  fastens the connecting piece  10  to a device frame of the hearing device (compare  FIGS. 10 to 13 ). 
       FIG. 3  shows a view of the connecting piece  10  from the side of the receiver support  14 . It is apparent that the flange  11  is essentially embodied as a square with rounded corners. This form ensures rotational security, if the connecting piece  10  is integrated into the device frame.  FIG. 3  also shows the sound channel  15  through the connecting piece  10 . 
       FIG. 4  shows a top view of the connecting piece  10  in  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 4  illustrates a sectional line V-V. The corresponding section is reproduced in  FIG. 5 . It shows the contour of the flange  11  as well as the two fastening boreholes  12  which run in parallel to one another. Furthermore, the sound channel  15  which runs at right angles to the two fastening boreholes  12  can also be seen. 
     A further variant of a connecting piece is shown in  FIGS. 6 to 9 .  FIG. 6  shows this connecting piece  20  in the longitudinal side view. Like the preceding variants, a flange  21  with a fastening borehole  22  also separates a threaded part  23  from a pipe connection  24  here. The flange  21  is in turn approximately square-shaped, with two corners of the square being beveled. This can be seen in  FIG. 7 . The fastening borehole  22  passes through those corners, which are not beveled. 
       FIG. 6  also shows the pipe connection  24 , the axis of which is somewhat inclined in respect of the axis of the threaded part  23 . This pipe connection  24  can if necessary be individually bent. As a result, the connecting piece  20  can be better adjusted to the constructive conditions within the hearing device. The inclination of the pipe connection  24 , which has the sound channel  25 , can also be seen in  FIG. 7 . 
       FIG. 8  shows a top view of the connecting piece in  FIG. 6 . The Figure shows a section IX-IX through the flange  21 .  FIG. 9  shows the associated sectional view. This also shows the fastening borehole  22 , which passes through the non-beveled segment of the flange  21  and is also at right angles to the sound channel  25 . 
       FIG. 10  now shows how the connecting piece  10  in  FIGS. 2 to 5  can be assembled in a housing frame. The housing frame consists here of two housing halves  30 ,  31 . They each have a recess  32 ,  33 . These two recesses  32  and  33  have an inner contour when the two housing halves  30  and  31  are assembled, said inner contour corresponding to the outer contour of the flange  11  of the connecting piece  10 . 
     The two housing halves  30  and  31  also each have a borehole  34 ,  35 . A pin  36  is inserted into each of these boreholes  34 ,  35  in order to assemble the connecting piece. The pins  36  also penetrate the fastening boreholes  12  of the connecting piece  10  during assembly. 
       FIG. 11  shows the hearing device housing and/or a part thereof (the housing halves  30  and  31  are not shown completely as in  FIG. 10 ) in an assembled state. It is apparent how the flange  11  of the connecting piece  10  is fitted into the corresponding recess  32 ,  33  of the frame halves  30 ,  31  in a form-fit and rotationally secure fashion. As the pins  36  are not only inserted through the boreholes  34 ,  35  of the housing halves  30 ,  31 , but instead also through the fastening boreholes  12  of the connecting piece  10 , the housing halves  30 ,  31  are held together by the connecting piece  10 . 
       FIGS. 12 and 13  show a further embodiment of the present invention. In accordance with  FIG. 12 , the connecting piece  20  in  FIGS. 6 to 9  is screwed into a one-piece housing frame  40 , which is again not shown completely here, with the aid of two screws  41 . A recess  42  in the housing frame  40  has an inner contour, which corresponds to the outer contour of the flange  21  of the connecting piece  20 . Furthermore, boreholes  43  and  44  are also provided in the side walls of the frame  40 , through which boreholes the screws  41  are guided. 
       FIG. 13  shows the housing frame  40  and the connecting piece  20  when assembled. The two screws  41  are screwed into the fastening borehole  22  (shown here with an inner thread) through the boreholes  43 ,  44 , because the connecting piece  20  was fitted into the recess  43  in the direction of the sound channel  25 . The special contour of the recess  42  and/or the flange  21  provide for the connecting piece  20  to be automatically introduced into the correct position prior to screwing during assembly. Furthermore, these contours offer a rotational safeguard if the wearing hook of the hearing device is screwed onto the threaded part  23  or is screwed off therefrom. The screws  41  likewise offer a rotational safeguard. They primarily ensure however that the connecting piece  20  is fixed in the axial direction, i.e. in the fitting direction. 
     The two exemplary embodiments thus provide for a frame construction for a hearing device with removable covering shells, thereby enabling faster manufacture of the hearing device. They also offer the possibility of inserting a very stable connecting piece  10 ,  20  made of metal or ceramic for instance. This connecting piece  10 ,  20  can if necessary also be injected into the frame  40  and/or a frame half  30 ,  31 .