Hearing device with screwed closing arrangement

Abstract

There is described a hearing device. A module is enabled to be easily attached to the casing of a hearing device, in particular a hearing aid. Toward that end a bridge is provided which has a drilled hole. A screw is inserted through a drilled hole in the module and screwed into the drilled hole of the bridge so that the module or, as the case may be, the closure of the opening is compressed onto the opening by means of the screw. Alternatively a cylindrical projection into which the screw is screwed can also be molded onto the inner wall of the casing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a cross-section through a non-claimed hearing device and

FIG. 2 shows a cross-section through an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

The exemplary embodiments described in more detail in the following represent preferred embodiments of the present invention. In connection with FIG. 1 constructional details of a hearing device are described first which can also be advantageous for the design according to FIG. 2.

The hearing aid shell 1 depicted in FIG. 1 possesses an opening 2. A faceplate 3 is inserted into this opening 2. For the sake of simplicity it is represented in FIG. 1 simply as a plate with a vertical edge. Similarly, the opening 2 is represented merely with a simple edge. In actual fact the opening 2 and/or the faceplate 3 possess(es) a contour at their/its edge, so that the faceplate 3 can be inserted into the opening 2 with a positive fit, without falling into the interior of the hearing aid shell 1.

Disposed in the interior of the hearing aid shell 1 is a bridge 4 which has a drilled hole 5 as a screw receptacle. Into this screw receptacle 5 is screwed a screw 6 which is inserted through a drilled hole 7 in the faceplate 3. Since the bridge is anchored in the interior of the hearing aid shell 1, the faceplate 3 is firmly anchored in the opening 2 of the hearing aid shell 1 by means of the screw 6.

The bridge 4 can be inserted subsequently into the hearing aid shell 1 as a separate part. In terms of its dimensioning it is necessary for it to be longer or, as the case may be, larger than an opening width of the opening 2. If the bridge 4 is then arranged parallel to the opening 2, it cannot be removed from the interior of the casing shell 1 through said opening 2.

Alternatively the bridge 4 is joined to the hearing aid shell 1 as a single piece. In this way the bridge 4 including the drilled hole 5 can be molded into the shell during the production of the shell using, for example, “rapid prototyping” methods. The drilled hole 5 of the bridge 4 can be arranged vertically beneath the opening 2. It can, however, also be arranged outside of an imaginary cylinder whose longitudinal axis runs perpendicularly to the opening 2 and whose cylindrical surface area possesses the contour of the opening 2 in the circumferential direction. In this case the faceplate 3 can be secured by means of a transversely running screw 6 in the drilled hole 5.

The bridge 4 can be embodied in a rod shape or else in a star shape with the drilled hole 5 in the center. In any case it is ensured that the faceplate 3 or, as the case may be, the corresponding module is drawn sufficiently into the opening 2 by means of the screw 6.

The screw 6 possesses a self-tapping thread and therefore cuts its thread itself into the drilled hole 5 of the bridge 4. If countersunk head or spherical head screws or correspondingly shaped receptacles are used in the faceplate 3 it can be ensured that the screwing operation is also possible without difficulty even if the components become somewhat canted during assembly due to manufacturing tolerances.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a hearing device according to the invention, wherein for the sake of clarity the electronic components in the interior of the shell 1 are not shown here either. Once again a faceplate 3 or, as the case may be, a module is to be screwed into the opening 2 of the hearing aid shell 1. In this case the opening 2 possesses a step-shaped contour in cross-section and the faceplate 3 has a contour corresponding thereto. Optionally a seal, for example a gasket, is introduced into the opening 2.

Internally, the hearing aid shell 1 possesses a cylindrical or rod-shaped projection 8 that is molded on as a single piece. Said projection may also, as indicated in FIG. 2, be embodied as slightly conical in shape and internally has a drilled hole into which the screw 6 can be screwed. The stalagmite-like projection 8 has the advantage that it requires very little installation space, which is important in particular for in-the-ear-hearing aids. Furthermore it can be placed at practically any position opposite the opening 2.

It goes without saying that rapid prototyping methods can also be used here for the production of the shell 1. Moreover the screws described in the foregoing can also be used with this embodiment.

Owing to the screwing arrangement the preferred embodiments described above permit easy assembly and equally easy disassembly without the use of complex mechanical modules. The screwing arrangement also eliminates waiting times that would be necessary if the module or, as the case may be, the faceplate were to be secured by means of an adhesive.

Claims

1.-5. (canceled)

6. A hearing device, comprising: a casing;an opening in the casing;a closing device with a first hole, wherein the closing device is detachable and closes the opening externally;a screw inserted through the first hole and screwed into a second hole to compress the closing device onto or in the opening via the screw; anda projection integrally formed with an inner wall of the casing, wherein the projection has the second hole in a longitudinal axis of the projection, and wherein the screw is secured to the inner wall of the casing via the projection.

7. The hearing device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first hole is drilled.

8. The hearing device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the second hole is drilled.

9. The hearing device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the projection is stalagmite-like.

10. The hearing device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the projection is cylindrical.

11. The hearing device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the hearing device has a further projection and at least one further screw to work jointly with the further projection.

12. The hearing device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the closing device is a part of an electronic module.

13. The hearing device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the screw has a self-tapping thread.

14. The hearing device as claimed in claim 6, wherein a replaceable seal is between the closing device and the opening.

15. A in the ear hearing device, comprising: a casing;an opening in the casing;a closing device with a first hole, wherein the closing device is detachable and closes the opening externally;a screw inserted through the first hole and screwed into a second hole to compress the closing device onto the opening via the screw; anda projection adjacent to an inner wall of the casing, wherein the projection has the second hole in a longitudinal axis of the projection, and wherein the screw is secured to the inner wall of the casing via the projection.

16. The in the ear hearing device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the projection is stalagmite-like.

17. The in the ear hearing device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the hearing device has a further projection and at least one further screw to work jointly with the further projection.

18. The in the ear hearing device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the closing device is a part of an electronic module.

19. The in the ear hearing device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the screw has a self-tapping thread.

20. The in the ear hearing device as claimed in claim 15, wherein a seal is between the closing device and the opening.

21. The in the ear hearing device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the closing device is a faceplate.

22. The in the ear hearing device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the closing device has a contour at an edge of the closing device to prevent the closing device from falling into an interior of the in the ear hearing device.

23. The in the ear hearing device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the opening has a contour at an edge of the opening to prevent the closing device from falling into an interior of the in the ear hearing device.

24. The in the ear hearing device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the screw has a countersunk head.

25. The in the ear hearing device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the closing device is a part of an electronic module.