Patent Application
20150047960
This invention relates to hearing aids. More particularly, this invention relates to a structure that may be used to operate a pushbutton on a hearing aid and to remove the hearing aid from the ear canal.
Electronic hearing aids are provided in various configurations, including behind the ear (BTE), in the ear (ITE), in the canal (ITC) and completely in the canal (CIC) models. Push button controls are provided on most hearing aids for controlling program selection and other functions. Due to the very small size of most modern hearing aid devices, in particular the ITC and CIC configurations, usable surface space for control components such as push buttons is at a premium. Thus, it is desirable to minimize the needed surface area for push button controls.
It is also desirable to provide control structures on hearing aid devices that are more readily accessible than standard push buttons so that users may more easily change programs and adjust other functions.
What is needed, therefore, is an improvement in hearing aid push button design to save space and make push buttons easier to operate.
The above and other needs are met by an apparatus for engaging a pushbutton assembly used in controlling a hearing aid configured to fit at least partially within a user's ear. The apparatus is also referred to herein as a pushbutton pullstring adaptor. In a preferred embodiment, the pushbutton pullstring adaptor includes a housing and a pullstring assembly.
The housing has an interior portion that at least partially encloses the pushbutton assembly. The housing has a first end portion disposed opposite a second end portion. The first end portion has a first aperture that has a first aperture width. The second end portion has a second aperture that has a second aperture width.
The pullstring assembly includes an engagement portion and an elongate string portion. The engagement portion is disposed inside the housing adjacent the second end portion of the housing. The engagement portion is movable with respect to the housing and is operable to engage the pushbutton assembly when a pushing force is applied to the engagement portion. The engagement portion is also operable to engage the second end portion of the housing when a pulling force is applied to the engagement portion. The engagement portion has an engagement portion width that is larger than the second aperture width. The elongate string portion has a first string end and a second string end. The first string end is disposed within the housing and is securely attached to the engagement portion. The second string end is disposed outside the housing. The string portion has a string portion width that is less than the second aperture width so that the string portion may move through the second aperture when a pushing force or pulling force is applied to the string portion.
In this configuration, the user of the hearing aid may apply a pushing force to the string portion of the pullstring assembly to cause the engagement portion to engage the pushbutton assembly for controlling the hearing aid. The user may also apply a pulling force to the string portion of the pullstring assembly to cause the engagement portion to engage the second end portion of the housing to remove the hearing aid from the user's ear.
In some preferred embodiments, the first end portion of the housing is cylindrical and has a first inner diameter. In these embodiments, the first aperture is circular and has a first aperture diameter that is larger than the outer diameter of a cylindrical body portion of a pushbutton assembly. The first inner diameter of the first end portion is sized to receive the cylindrical body portion of the pushbutton assembly in a press fit configuration.
In some preferred embodiments, the second end portion of the housing is also cylindrical and has a second inner diameter that is larger than the outer diameter of the cylindrical button portion of the pushbutton assembly. With this configuration, the button portion may move freely within the second end portion of the housing when the engagement portion of the pullstring assembly applies a pushing force to the button portion.
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:
A preferred embodiment of a pushbutton pullstring adapter 10 is depicted in
With the dimensions described above, the open interior of the housing 12 is configured to receive a standard pushbutton assembly 20, such as depicted in
The housing 12 includes a large first aperture 26a in the first end portion 12a that is open to receive the pushbutton 20. In a preferred embodiment, the diameter of the first aperture 26a is approximately 0.076 inch. A smaller second aperture 32b is centrally located in the second end portion 12b. In a preferred embodiment, the diameter of the second aperture 26b is approximately 0.0028 inch.
The adapter 10 also includes a pullstring assembly 14 comprising a string portion 16 and an engagement portion 18. In a preferred embodiment, the pullstring assembly 14 is an integral structure formed of plastic, such as by injection molding. The engagement portion 18 is preferably cylindrical, having a diameter of approximately 0.070 inch and thickness of approximately 0.020 inch. The string portion 16 comprises a relatively stiff yet flexible rod having a diameter of slightly less than the diameter of the aperture 26.
To assemble the adapter 10, the string portion 16 of the pullstring assembly 14 is passed through the first aperture 26a into the first end portion 12a of the housing 12, into the second end portion 12b, through the second aperture 26b in the second end portion 12b, and pulled through to a position at which the engagement portion 18 is disposed within the second end portion 12b of the housing 12. After assembly, the adapter 10 is preferably configured as shown in
The pushbutton assembly 20 is assembled with the adaptor 10 by inserting the button portion 22 into the first aperture 26a of the housing 12 and pushing the body portion 24 forward to engage the inside surface of the first end portion 12a of the housing 12. In a preferred embodiment, the outer diameter of the body portion 24 of the pushbutton assembly 20 is only slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the first end portion 12a of the housing so that the body portion 24 engages the first end portion 12a in a press-fit configuration. A small amount of adhesive, such as epoxy, may be applied between the body portion 24 of the pushbutton assembly 20 and the inner surface of the first end portion 12a of the housing 12 to more securely attach the pushbutton assembly 20 to the housing 12.
In a preferred embodiment, the engagement portion 18 of the pullstring assembly 14 is disk shaped, with the flat sides of the disk engaging the button portion 22 to activate the pushbutton assembly 20 when the string portion 16 is pushed, and engaging the inner surface of the second end portion 12b of the housing 12 when the string portion 16 is pulled. However, it should be appreciated that the engagement portion 18 may be in another shape, such as spherical or cubical. Thus, the invention is not limited to any particular shape of the engagement portion 18.
In some embodiments, it may be desirable for the engagement portion 18 to substantially fill the space between the surface of the button portion 22 and the inner walls of the second end 12b of the housing 12 when the engagement portion 18 is in the position shown in
The foregoing description of preferred embodiments for this invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments are chosen and described in an effort to provide the best illustrations of the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.
