Patent Publication Number: US-8124900-B2

Title: Pushbutton for a hearing device

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority of German application No. 10 2008 020 926.0 filed Apr. 25, 2008, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a pushbutton for a hearing device having a probe and a locking element. 
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     Hearing devices are wearable hearing apparatuses which are used to assist the hard-of-hearing. In order to accommodate numerous individual requirements, various types of hearing devices are available such as behind-the-ear hearing devices, hearing device with external receiver and in-the-ear hearing devices, for example also concha hearing devices or canal hearing devices. The hearing devices listed as examples are worn on the outer ear or in the auditory canal. Bone conduction hearing aids, implantable or vibrotactile hearing aids are also available on the market. The damaged hearing is thus stimulated either mechanically or electrically. 
     The key components of hearing devices are principally an input converter, an amplifier and an output converter. The input converter is normally a receiving transducer e.g. a microphone and/or an electromagnetic receiver, e.g. an induction coil. The output converter is most frequently realized as an electroacoustic converter e.g. a miniature loudspeaker, or as an electromechanical converter e.g. a bone conduction hearing aid. The amplifier is usually integrated into a signal processing unit. 
     This basic configuration is illustrated in  FIG. 1  using the example of a behind-the-ear hearing device. One or a plurality of microphones  2  for recording ambient sound are built into a hearing device housing  1  to be worn behind the ear. A signal processing unit  3  which is also integrated into the hearing device housing  1  processes and amplifies the microphone signals. The output signal for the signal processing unit  3  is transmitted to a loudspeaker or receiver  4 , which outputs an acoustic signal. Sound is if necessary transmitted through a sound tube, which is affixed in the auditory canal by means of an otoplastic, to the device wearer&#39;s eardrum. Power for the hearing device and in particular for the signal processing unit  3  is supplied by means of a battery  5  which is also integrated in the hearing device housing  1 . The hearing device is switched on and off with the pushbutton  6 . 
     A behind-the-ear hearing device is shown in  FIG. 2 , to the frame  7  of which only a housing upper part  8  of the hearing device housing and not the lower housing upper part is shown as attached. Numerous electronic components  9  are incorporated in the frame  7 . A battery compartment  10  is also mounted to the frame in a pivotable fashion. The battery compartment  10  accommodates a battery  5  in the form of a button cell. The pushbutton  6 , which is arranged in the housing upper part  8 , switches the hearing device on and off. 
     As a result of the miniaturization of behind-the-ear hearing devices, it is necessary to reduce the space requirement of the pushbutton without impairing the operating characteristics. 
     DE 10 2005 037 897 B3 discloses a covering facility for a program selector switch of a hearing device, with the covering facility with a locking element being locked in a covered state with the hearing device housing. 
     DE 10 2006 035 090 A1 specifies a control element, which is fastened in an opening of a housing element of a hearing device system by means of a snap-on connection. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     It is the object of the invention to specify a pushbutton, which has a minimal space requirement, can be switched to be perceptible and allows the housing shell of the hearing device housing to be easily exchanged. 
     According to the invention, the set object is achieved with the pushbutton for a hearing device of the independent claims. 
     In accordance with the invention, the pushbutton includes a probe guided into an opening of a housing shell and a locking element. The locking element produces a first snap-on connection between the housing shell and the probe during insertion into a cavity of the probe. The advantage here is that the probe can be fixedly mounted on the housing shell and the housing shell can as a result be exchanged very easily. 
     The probe may also have a large surface despite the small installation size of the hearing device. 
     In one development, the locking element with the probe can produce a second snap-on connection. As a result, the locking element is fixedly connected to the probe. 
     In a further embodiment, the first snap-on connection can be formed by at least one snap-on hook on the probe. The locking element may be embodied such that it locks the snap-on hook on the housing shell. This is advantageous in terms of simple assembly and disassembly. 
     The second snap-on connection can be advantageously formed by at least one bulge on the locking element. As a result, the second snap-on connection can be produced easily. 
     In a further embodiment, the probe can comprise a downwardly open cavity. The locking element can be inserted into the cavity. The advantage here is that the first snap-on connection can be easily effected as a result. 
     In a further embodiment, the housing shell can comprise at least one recess or at least one undercut. The snap-on hook can engage therein. This is advantageous in terms of a durable and reliable snap-on connection. 
     At least one button can also be arranged below the locking element in the hearing device. When pressing in the probe, the locking element actuates the button. This then allows the hearing device to be switched on or off for instance. 
     In a further advantageous embodiment, the button can be moved counter to a force, with a switching stage being tactually feelable when the probe is pressed in. This is advantageous in that a hearing device user can easily identify a switching stage. 
     In one development, a behind-the-ear hearing device can be equipped with at least one push button according to the invention. Small behind-the-ear hearing devices can as a result also be equipped with large-surface pushbuttons. 
     The button can be advantageously fastened to a frame of the hearing device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following explanations of several exemplary embodiments with reference to schematic drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1 : shows a schematic diagram of a behind-the-ear hearing device according to the prior art, 
         FIG. 2 : shows a detailed view of a behind-the-ear hearing device according to the prior art, 
         FIG. 3 : shows a sectional view of a housing shell with a pushbutton, 
         FIG. 4 : shows a sectional view of a pushbutton and 
         FIG. 5 : shows a view of the pushbutton from below. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
       FIG. 3  shows a sectional view of an upper housing shell  8  of a behind-the-ear hearing device. A pushbutton  6  is attached to the upper part of the housing shell  8 . The pushbutton  6  includes a probe  11  and a locking element  12 . The locking element  12  is inserted into the probe  11  and as a result forms a snap-on connection between the probe  11  and the housing shell  8 . 
     Snap-on connections are form-fit connections with numerous design possibilities. The common element to all snap-on connections is that a protruding area of a part, e.g. a hook or a bulge, is briefly moved during assembly and engages in a recess and/or undercut of a connecting partner. The connection is detachable or non-detachable depending on the design of the connecting partner. In the unloaded state, the snap-on connection is only subject to minimal voltages. It is thus generally not tight. Sealing elements are needed for tight connections. As a result of the simple assembly, the snap-on connection is one of the most cost-effective connection possibilities. 
       FIG. 4  shows a detailed view of the pushbutton  6  in  FIG. 3 . A pushbutton  6  comprising a probe  11  and a locking element  12  are shown in a sectional view. The locking element  12  is inserted into a cavity  13  of the probe  11 . The two bulges  16  of the locking element  12  form a snap-on connection together with the grooves  16  of the probe. The bulges  15  press two snap-on hooks  14  of the probe  11  outwards and thus form an additional snap-on connection. The pushbutton  6  is fastened to the housing shell  8  using this additional snap-on connection. Locking projections  17  in the form of an undercut of the housing upper part  8 , together with the snap-on hook  14  of the probe  11 , form the snap-on connection. 
     A button  18 , for instance an on/off switch of the hearing device, is attached below the locking element  12 . By actuating the probe  11 , the locking element  12  is pushed against the button  18 . As a result, a switching process is introduced with the button  18 . These constructional measures allow the installation size of the button  18  and the probe  11  to be independent of one another. The surface of the probe  11  can thus comprise an operator-friendly large pressure surface. 
       FIG. 5  shows the housing shell  8  with an incorporated pushbutton  6  from below. The pushbutton  6  consists of a probe  11  and a locking element  12 . Two snap-on hooks  14  fix the probe  11  into the housing shell  8 . The locking element  12  inserted into a cavity of the probe  11  causes the snap-on hook  14  to lock onto the housing shell  8 .