Abstract:
An instant custom ear mold with a removable receiver insert having threads on the insert and ear mold in a plurality of places. The instant custom ear mold with a removable receiver insert allows for the easy removal, cleaning, repair or replacement of the receiver and allows the same day fitting advantages of instant ear mold material.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to auditory devices. In particular, this invention relates to an instant custom ear mold and a removable receiver insert for auditory devices, with the exclusion of hearing instruments as defined by the U.S. Food &amp; Drug Administration. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Instant custom ear molds are becoming increasingly popular as an added option for auditory devices. An instant custom ear mold allows for same day fittings of ear molds specifically contoured to an individual&#39;s ear. Many instant custom ear molds are used with radio communication devices, swim molds, noise protectors and blue tooth devices. 
         [0003]    The utilization of a removable receiver insert with an instant custom ear mold has not been adequately addressed. U.S. Pat. No. 7,139,404 provides a BTE/CIC auditory device and modular connector system. However, the device does not feature a removable receiver insert. Furthermore, the device is not made of an instant ear mold material. 
         [0004]    U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,275,596; 6,009,183; and 5,381,484 provide ear molds and open fit devices of various designs. However, none of these patents provides an instant custom ear mold with a removable receiver insert. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The disadvantages of the prior art may be overcome by providing an instant custom ear mold with a removable receiver insert that allows for the easy removal, cleaning, repair or replacement of the receiver and allows the same day fitting advantages of instant ear mold material. Still other advantages will be apparent from the disclosure that follows. 
         [0006]    According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided an instant custom ear mold with a removable receiver insert that allows the easy removal of the receiver and receiver tube. Inside and outside the removable receiver insert are sets of threads that allow the retention of the insert within the instant custom ear mold as well as the easy removal. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the present invention, 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a side view of the instant custom ear mold with the removable receiver insert in the ear mold. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the removable receiver insert with the external flange removed. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is an alternate embodiment of the instant ear mold with a removable cover in the ear mold. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    In the following detailed description, certain specific terminology will be employed for the sake of clarity and a particular embodiment described in accordance with the requirements of 35 USC 112, but it is to be understood that the same is not intended to be limiting and should not be so construed inasmuch as the invention is capable of taking many forms and variations within the scope of the appended claims. 
         [0012]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-2 , the present invention comprises an instant custom ear mold with a removable receiver insert. Referring to  FIG. 1 , the instant custom ear mold  14  with the removable receiver insert  10  of the present invention is generally illustrated. The instant custom ear mold is a flexible material that generally comprises a canal  8 , a concha  18 , and an orifice on the canal side  30  connected to a larger threaded orifice opposite the canal  28  on the concha side. The canal side  8  rests in the human ear canal  4 . The removable receiver insert generally comprises a hollow threaded cylinder  20  and a removable external flange  22  that attaches to the cylinder. The threaded cylinder  20  is inserted into the concha side of the ear mold while the ear mold material is soft and is removed once the material is hardened to create the larger threaded orifice opposite the canal  28 . Glue may also be used to secure the cylinder  20  within the larger threaded orifice  28 . The removable external flange  22  has a large threaded orifice  60  connected to a smaller orifice  62 . The cylinder  20  is inserted into the large threaded orifice  60  on the removable external flange  22 . The receiver  40  is attached to receiver wire assembly  42  and a receiver tube  44 . A knot  46  is tied in the receiver wire near the receiver to prevent the receiver from being pulled through the smaller orifice  62  in the removable external flange  22 . The wires terminate in an audio jack  80 . The length of the cylinder  20  is such that the receiver  40  is fully covered when inside the cylinder. The height of the receiver tube  44  is such that the receiver tube extends beyond the end of the tip of the canal  8  to allow for trimming flush to the canal. The cylinder  20  and external flange  22  can be made of any suitable material such as plastic. The receiver  40  is attached to the receiver wire assembly  42  by soldering methods which are well known in the art. The receiver  40  is attached to the receiver tube  44  by gluing methods which are well known in the art. 
         [0013]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the threaded cylinder  20  is secured to the removable external flange  22  by mating threads  60  and  64 . The section of the threaded cylinder  20  on the concha side that fits within the external flange  22  is of a smaller diameter than the threaded orifice  60  in the removable external flange. The receiver rests against the bottom of the cylinder  20 , and is secured within the cylinder by the small cylinder orifice  70  on the canal side which is smaller than the diameter of the receiver and the external flange  22  on the side opposite the canal. The receiver wire assembly has a smaller diameter than the small orifice on the removable external flange  22 , allowing the wires to pass through the small orifice. The section of the threaded cylinder proximate to the canal side  66  allows the cylinder to be threaded into the larger threaded orifice of the instant custom ear mold. 
         [0014]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , an alternative embodiment comprising of the instant ear mold with a removable cover in the ear mold. The instant custom ear mold  72  with the removable cover  74  of the present invention is generally illustrated. The instant custom ear mold is a flexible material that generally comprises a canal  76 , a concha  78 , and an orifice on the canal side  80  connected to a larger orifice opposite the canal  82  on the concha side. The canal side  76  rests in the human ear canal  84 . The removable cover generally comprises a cylinder  86  and a flange  88  with a larger orifice and a smaller orifice  91  through the center. The concha side of the ear mold has an orifice  90  with a diameter smaller than the diameter of the flange on the removable cover. The removable cover  74  is inserted into the orifice  90  on the concha side of the ear mold and retained by the flange  88 . The receiver  92  is attached to receiver wire assembly  94  and a receiver tube  96 . A knot  98  is tied in the receiver wire near the receiver to prevent the receiver from being pulled through the smaller orifice  89  in the removable cover  74 . The wires terminate in an audio jack  100 . The height of the receiver tube  96  is such that the receiver tube extends beyond the end of the tip of the canal  76  to allow for trimming flush to the canal. The removable cover  74  can be made of any suitable material such as plastic. The receiver  92  is attached to the receiver wire assembly  94  by soldering methods which are well known in the art. The receiver  92  is attached to the receiver tube  96  by gluing methods which are well known in the art. 
         [0015]    In an alternative embodiment, the receiver tube orifice is created by attaching a wire to the otoblock. In an alternative embodiment, the receiver tube orifice is drilled through the instant custom ear mold. In an alternative embodiment, the removable receiver insert assembly is sold with an instant custom ear mold kit and glue. In an alternative embodiment, the removable external flange is snapped onto the cylinder. 
         [0016]    In each of these embodiments the instant custom ear mold with removable receiver insert may further include numerous accessories commercially available. Multiple colors may be used for aesthetics. 
         [0017]    The above described embodiments of the invention are intended to be an example of the present invention and alterations and modifications may be effected thereto, by those of skill in the art, without departing from the scope of the invention.