Patent Description:
Hearing aids enhance a user's hearing by transmitting sound through a speaker in the hearing aid and into the inner ear of the user. However, a problem exists if a user requires a hearing aid and also requires hearing protection, such as in military, industrial, hunting, or loud musical settings. Therefore, there is a need for a device that allows users to easily switch between hearing aid functionality and hearing protection functionality.

Previous hearing protection devices, such as earplugs, adequately block out unwanted sound but provide no path for desired sound to travel. In other words, the user must take out the earplug out to hear the desired sound. Current hearing protection devices (such as described in <CIT> and <CIT>) provide hearing protection that involves manual operation of a movable structure to unblock some form of opening to allow sound through to the user's ear. These devices require manual sliding or rotation of the movable structure to alter the level of sound attenuation, but they do not provide for an electronic hearing device within the system. <CIT> describes a system that includes an electronic hearing device, but the electronic hearing device is external to the hearing protection system in a bulky and cumbersome orientation. <CIT> a hearing protection system comprising an earplug and an electronic hearing device.

Thus, current hearing protection systems do not provide easy access to switch between quality sound filtering and adequate noise obstruction.

What is needed, therefore, is a device that allows users to easily switch between a hearing aid mode and a hearing protection mode, that provides for electronic programmability of hearing aid functions, and that fits comfortably, securely, and discreetly in the user's ear.

The above and other needs are met by a custom electronic switchable hearing protection system that includes an earplug and an electronic hearing device. The earplug includes a first portion, a second portion and sound tube that extends through the first portion and the second portion. The first portion is configured to be placed in the user's outer ear and the second portion is configured to go in the user's ear canal. The first portion includes a recessed cavity having an inner profile. The sound tube includes a first opening disposed within the recessed cavity of the first portion and a second opening disposed at a distal end of the second portion.

In preferred embodiments, the electronic hearing device is received at least partially within the recessed cavity of the earplug. The electronic hearing device includes a housing that contains a speaker and other electronic components. The housing includes a front surface, a rear surface opposite the front surface, a side surface, and a speaker opening in the rear surface. The side surface, which is disposed between the front and rear surfaces, has an outer profile that corresponds to the inner profile of the recessed cavity in the earplug. The speaker opening is configured to emit sound from the speaker.

The housing is configured to be rotatable between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the speaker opening aligns with the first opening of the sound tube, thereby permitting the sound generated by the speaker to propagate through the sound tube to the second opening. In the second position, the rear surface of the housing at least partially blocks the first opening of the sound tube, thereby at least partially preventing sound from entering the sound tube.

In some embodiments, the hearing protection system includes a grip portion extending out from the front surface. The grip portion is configured to be gripped by the user for rotating the housing. In some embodiments, the grip portion comprises a rotatable circular structure with at least one tab configured to be gripped by the user.

In some embodiments, the earplug is shaped to fit the shape of the user's ear canal.

In some embodiments, the earplug is made of silicone.

In some embodiments, the housing of the electronic hearing device is made of plastic.

In some embodiments, the electronic hearing device incorporates programmable digital signal processing, allowing the device to be programmed according to the user's hearing profile.

In some embodiments, the housing is configured to rotate <NUM> degrees from the first position to the second position.

In some embodiments of the electronic hearing system, a protrusion extends outward from the rear surface of the housing and is spaced apart from the speaker opening. The protrusion is configured to align with and at least partially block the first opening of the sound tube when the housing is rotated to the second position.

In some embodiments of the hearing protection system, an indentation in a surface of the recessed cavity engages the rear surface of the housing. The indentation is configured to at least partially receive the protrusion when the housing is in the first position.

In some embodiments, the hearing protection includes a push button disposed on the front surface of the housing of the electronic hearing device. The push button is configured to be pressed by a user to power-on or power-off the electronic hearing device, The push button can also be used to adjust the sound generated by the speaker.

In some embodiments, the inner profile of the recessed cavity is cylindrical, and the side surface of the housing is cylindrical.

In some embodiments, the electronic hearing device incorporates fast compression programming to immediately shut off sound amplification upon detection of a loud noise, and to resume amplification after the loud noise ends.

In some embodiments, an annular protrusion extends outward from the side surface of the housing of the electronic hearing device. In these embodiments, the housing is disposed within an outer ring having an outer profile configured to correspond to the inner profile of the recessed cavity. The outer ring also includes an annular channel on its inner surface configured to engage the annular protrusion on the housing, thereby securely holding the housing within the outer ring while simultaneously allowing for rotation of the housing within the outer ring.

In another aspect, embodiments of the invention are directed to a method for using a hearing protection system that includes an earplug having a recessed cavity and a sound tube, and an electronic hearing device disposed within the recessed cavity. The method includes:.

Other embodiments of the invention will become apparent by reference to the detailed description in conjunction with the figures, wherein elements are not to scale so as to more clearly show the details, wherein like reference numbers indicate like elements throughout the several views, and wherein:.

<FIG> depict a custom electronic switchable hearing protection system <NUM>. In some preferred embodiments, hearing protection system <NUM> includes an earplug <NUM> having a first portion <NUM> and a second portion <NUM>. The first portion <NUM>, which is configured to fit in the user's outer ear, contains a recessed cavity <NUM> having an inner profile <NUM>, as depicted in <FIG>. The second portion <NUM> is configured to precisely fit into a user's ear canal. In a preferred embodiment, the earplug is molded from silicone using a mold having dimensions based on laser measurements or digital imaging of the user's ear canal. Alternatively, an impression of the ear canal may be made by casting.

In a preferred embodiment, the earplug <NUM> includes a sound tube <NUM> extending through the first portion <NUM> and the second portion <NUM> of the earplug <NUM>. The sound tube includes a first opening <NUM> disposed within the recessed cavity <NUM> of the first portion <NUM> and a second opening <NUM> disposed at a distal end of the second portion <NUM>. In some configurations of the system <NUM>, the sound tube <NUM> allows sound to travel through the first opening <NUM> to the second opening <NUM> and then into the user's ear canal.

In a preferred embodiment, the hearing protection system <NUM> includes an electronic hearing device <NUM> that is at least partially received within the recessed cavity <NUM> of the earplug <NUM>. The electronic hearing device <NUM> includes a microphone <NUM> for receiving external sound, programmable electronics <NUM> for processing and amplifying the received sound according the user's preferences, a pushbutton <NUM> for controlling the electronics, a battery <NUM> for powering the electronics, and a speaker <NUM> for generating the processed and amplified sound. The battery may be replaceable or rechargeable.

The electronic hearing device <NUM> includes a housing <NUM> having a front surface <NUM> and an opposing rear surface <NUM>. In the preferred embodiment, the housing <NUM> includes a generally cylindrical side surface <NUM> aligned perpendicular to the front and rear surfaces <NUM>-<NUM>. A speaker opening <NUM> is disposed in the rear surface <NUM> of the housing through which the sound generated by the speaker <NUM> is emitted. In the preferred embodiment, the housing <NUM> of the electronic hearing device <NUM> is molded from a sturdy plastic, such as Photoplastic, or formed from metal. In some embodiments, the housing <NUM> is an acrylic material in which the electronic components are encased (potted) for protection from moisture.

The preferred embodiment of the system <NUM> includes a generally cylindrical outer ring <NUM> that surrounds the side surface <NUM> of the housing <NUM>. As described in more detail hereinafter, the housing <NUM> is operable to rotate within the outer ring <NUM>.

In a preferred embodiment, the electronics <NUM> incorporate programmable digital signal processing that provides for personalizing the electronic hearing device <NUM> to accommodate the hearing needs of the user based on user-selected algorithms. Examples of hearing assistance devices that incorporate such programmable digital signal processing are described in <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. In some embodiments, only one preset program is provided for amplification, in which case no user selection of programs is needed.

In a preferred embodiment, the push button <NUM> is configured to allow the user to cycle the electronic hearing device <NUM> between different settings, including at least two different user-selected signal processing algorithms. In some embodiments, the push button <NUM> is also configured to be pressed by a user to power-on or power-off the electronic hearing device <NUM>. In some embodiments, the push button <NUM> also can be used to adjust the volume of the sound generated by the speaker <NUM>.

In a preferred embodiment, the hearing protection system <NUM> includes a grip portion <NUM> extending outward from the front surface <NUM> of the housing <NUM>. The grip portion <NUM> is configured to be gripped by the user for rotating the housing <NUM> within the recessed cavity <NUM>. In some embodiments, the grip portion <NUM> is comprised of a rotatable circular structure with at least one tab to be gripped by the user. In an alternative embodiment, the grip portion <NUM> comprises a knurled knob that extends outward from the front surface <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the outer ring <NUM> has an outer profile <NUM> that is configured to correspond to the inner profile <NUM> of the recessed cavity <NUM> of the earplug <NUM>. The outer profile <NUM> and inner profile <NUM> are configured so that the electronic hearing device <NUM> is held securely within the earplug <NUM>, but also to allow the electronic hearing device <NUM> to easily be removed and replaced by the user, such as when the charge on the battery <NUM> is depleted. In a preferred embodiment, the friction force between the outer profile <NUM> and the inner profile <NUM> is larger than the friction force between the outer ring <NUM> and the housing <NUM>, so as to allow the user to rotate the housing <NUM> within the outer ring <NUM> without causing rotation of the outer ring <NUM> within the recessed cavity <NUM>.

In a preferred embodiment, at least one annular retainer protrusion <NUM> extends outward from the cylindrical side surface <NUM> of the outer ring <NUM>. The retainer protrusion <NUM> is received with a corresponding annular retainer channel <NUM> in the inner surface of the recessed cavity <NUM>. This arrangement ensures that the electronic hearing device <NUM> is retained within the recessed cavity <NUM> until a user intentionally removes the electronic hearing device <NUM> from the cavity <NUM> by applying a sufficient pulling force.

Also in a preferred embodiment, at least one annular protrusion <NUM> extends outward from the cylindrical side surface <NUM> of the housing <NUM>. The protrusion <NUM> is received with a corresponding annular channel <NUM> in the inner surface of the outer ring <NUM>. This arrangement keeps the housing <NUM> locked into the outer ring <NUM>, while allowing the housing <NUM> to rotate within outer ring <NUM> when a rotational force is applied to the housing <NUM>.

In a preferred embodiment, the housing <NUM> is configured to be rotatable within the outer ring <NUM> between multiple positions, including a first position and a second position. In the first position, the speaker opening <NUM> aligns with the first opening <NUM> of the sound tube <NUM>, thereby permitting the sound generated by the speaker <NUM> to propagate through the sound tube <NUM> to the second opening <NUM>. In the second position, the rear surface <NUM> of the housing <NUM> at least partially blocks the first opening <NUM> of the sound tube <NUM>, thereby at least partially preventing sound from entering the sound tube <NUM>. In the preferred embodiment, the housing <NUM> is configured to rotate <NUM> degrees from the first position to the second position. However, it will be appreciated that the first and second positions could be rotationally spaced apart at other angles.

In some embodiments, the electronic hearing device <NUM> includes a protrusion <NUM> extending outward from the rear surface <NUM> of the housing <NUM> and spaced apart from the speaker opening <NUM> of the housing <NUM>. The protrusion <NUM> is configured to align with and at least partially block the first opening <NUM> of the sound tube <NUM> when the housing <NUM> is rotated to the second position. In some embodiments, an indentation <NUM> is disposed within the surface of the recessed cavity <NUM> that engages the rear surface <NUM> of the housing <NUM>. The indentation <NUM> is configured to at least partially receive the protrusion <NUM> when the housing <NUM> is in the first position.

In some embodiments, when a loud noise is detected by the microphone <NUM>, the programmable electronics <NUM> of the electronic hearing device <NUM> utilizes a fast compression algorithm to quickly attenuate the corresponding sound provided to the speaker <NUM> so that the sound that reaches the user's ear canal will not cause hearing damage. The fast compression algorithm preferably has a fast-acting attack time of between <NUM> msec and <NUM> msec to implement the attenuation. In a preferred embodiment, the programmable electronics <NUM> remove the attenuation when the excessive loud noise ceases, thereby returning to normal operation. The attack time is preferably a programmable preset value.

<FIG> depicts a preferred embodiment of the hearing protection system <NUM> in the active hearing aid mode. The external sound is received through the microphone <NUM> and is provided to the programmable electronics <NUM> of the electronic hearing device <NUM>. The programmable electronics <NUM> process and amplify the sound signal, which is provided to the speaker <NUM> to generate audible sound at the speaker opening <NUM>. The sound from the speaker <NUM> propagates into the first opening <NUM> of the sound tube <NUM> and through the sound tube <NUM> to the second opening <NUM> and into the user's ear canal.

Claim 1:
A hearing protection system (<NUM>) comprising:
an earplug (<NUM>) having a proximal end configured to be disposed in a user's outer ear and a distal end configured to be inserted into the user's ear canal, the earplug comprising:
a recessed cavity (<NUM>) in the proximal end; and
a sound tube (<NUM>) extending through the earplug from the proximal end to the distal end, the sound tube having:
a first opening (<NUM>) disposed within the recessed cavity; and
a second opening (<NUM>) disposed at the distal end; and
an electronic hearing device (<NUM>) received at least partially within the recessed cavity of the earplug, the electronic hearing device having a speaker (<NUM>) for generating sound,
wherein the electronic hearing device is rotatable within the recessed cavity between multiple positions, including:
a first position in which the speaker aligns with the first opening of the sound tube, thereby permitting the sound generated by the speaker to propagate through the sound tube to the second opening; and
a second position in which the first opening of the sound tube is at least partially blocked, thereby at least partially preventing sound from entering the sound tube.