Patent ID: 8873785

Claim:
A hearing aid including an earpiece, wherein the earpiece is located in an ear canal during use, characterized in that the earpiece includes: a coupling containing a speaker; a retainer that mechanically engages the coupling, the retainer being formed separately from the coupling, and the retainer being formed of a composite material including an organic carrier and an inorganic filler, wherein the retainer has a first end for mechanically engaging the coupling and a second end opposite the first end thereof, the first end having a first outside diameter, and the second end having a second outside diameter, the first outside diameter being larger than the second outside diameter; and a sleeve axially surrounding the retainer, the sleeve being formed of foam rubber; wherein said retainer and said sleeve attenuate different ranges of audio frequency; wherein said sleeve has an outside diameter, a, and the first end of said retainer has an outside diameter, b, and wherein said retainer includes a flange dividing the first end of the retainer from the second end of the retainer, the flange having a diameter, d, such that a >d >b, and said flange reflects sound approaching said flange from the second end of said retainer into said sleeve.