Hearing aid with a flexible shell
View Patent ↗A hearing aid assembled from three sections includes a first section having a first housing containing a microphone and electronics, a second section having a second housing containing a battery a flex circuit mounted around the battery and a third section having a compliant tip and a receiver contained within a receptacle in the tip. The flex circuit provides solder less electrical connections among the electrical components of the hearing aid. The hearing aid also includes an actuator switch that allows the user to engage the hearing aid in an ON or an OFF mode of operation. Preferably, the actuator is electrically connected to the hearing aid without the use of solder. Connection between the first and second sections includes a mechanical securing mechanism, such as an interlocking joint.
1. A hearing aid comprising:
a first section, the first section containing a microphone and electronics;
a second section attached to the first section, the second section containing a non-rechargeable battery permanently affixed within the hearing aid; and
a third section attached to the second section, the third section having a compliant tip and a receiver contained within a receptacle in the tip, and;
a circuit electrically connecting the microphone, electronics, receiver and battery and wherein the compliant tip comprises a mushroom shaped portion and a sound port is attached to the mushroom shaped portion and the compliant tip includes a first durometer material, a second durometer material and a third durometer material, the first durometer material being more compliant than the second durometer material and the third durometer material being less compliant than the second durometer material.
2. The hearing aid of claim 1 wherein the circuit comprises a receiver mating portion and a microphone mating portion, the receiver mating portion abutting the receiver and the microphone mating portion abutting the microphone.
3. The hearing aid of claim 1 wherein the circuit comprises compliant electrical connectors for connecting the microphone, electronics, receiver and battery, the compliant electric connectors providing strain relief for the circuit.
4. The hearing aid of claim 1 wherein the circuit includes a microphone mating portion that abuts the microphone and forms an electric connection between the circuit and the microphone.
5. The hearing aid of claim 1 wherein the circuit includes a receiver mating portion that abuts the receiver and forms an electric connection between the circuit and the receiver.
6. The hearing aid of claim 1 wherein the circuit includes a plurality of conductive paths.
7. The hearing aid of claim 6 wherein the conductive paths include of at least one receiver lead.
8. The hearing aid of claim 6 wherein the conductive paths include at least one anode lead.
9. The hearing aid of claim 8 wherein the anode lead includes a discontinuity which prevents the hearing aid from drawing power from the battery, unless bridged.
10. The hearing aid of claim 9 further comprising an actuator mounted to the hearing aid, the actuator having a conductive surface contacting the anode such that the conductive surface bridges the discontinuity in the anode to engage the hearing aid in an ON mode of operation.
11. The hearing aid of claim 1 wherein the circuit comprises at least one aperture to allow air to travel to the battery.
12. The hearing aid of claim 1 further comprising a mechanical securing mechanism between the first section and the second section.
13. The hearing aid of claim 1 wherein the first durometer material forms the mushroom shaped portion of the tip.
14. The hearing aid of claim 1 wherein the second durometer material forms the sound port of the tip.
15. The hearing aid of claim 1 wherein the third durometer material forms a body portion of the tip.
16. A hearing aid comprising:
a first section, the first section having a first housing containing a microphone and electronics;
a second section attached to the first section, the second section having a second housing containing a non-rechargeable battery permanently mounted; and
a third compliant section attached to the second section, the third section having a tip portion, a body portion and a sound port portion and a receiver contained within a receptacle formed in the body portion; and
a circuit electrically connecting the microphone, electronics, receiver and battery.
17. The hearing aid of claim 16 wherein the second section comprises a potting material surrounding the receiver such that the potting material and the receptacle of the tip encapsulate the receiver to attenuate acoustic feedback.
18. The hearing aid of claim 16 wherein the tip portion includes a channel for removal of wax from a bore in the tip.
19. The hearing aid of claim 16 wherein the tip portion is mushroom shaped and a sound port is attached to the tip portion.
20. The hearing aid of claim 19 wherein the tip portion comprises a first durometer material and a second durometer material, the first durometer material being more compliant than the second durometer material.
21. The hearing aid of claim 20 wherein the first durometer material forms the mushroom of the tip portion.
22. The hearing aid of claim 20 wherein the second durometer material forms the sound port portion.
23. The hearing aid of claim 16 wherein the circuit comprises a receiver mating portion and a microphone mating portion, the receiver mating portion abutting the receiver and the microphone mating portion abutting the microphone.
24. The hearing aid of claim 16 wherein the circuit comprises compliant electrical connectors for connecting the microphone, electronics, receiver and battery, the compliant electric connectors providing strain relief for the circuit.
25. The hearing aid of claim 16 wherein the circuit includes a microphone mating portion that abuts the microphone and forms an electric connection between the circuit and the microphone.
26. The hearing aid of claim 16 wherein the circuit includes a receiver mating portion that abuts the receiver and forms an electric connection between the circuit and the receiver.
27. The hearing aid of claim 16 wherein the circuit includes a plurality of conductive paths.
28. The hearing aid of claim 27 wherein the conductive paths include of at least one receiver lead.
29. The hearing aid of claim 27 wherein the conductive paths include at least one anode lead.
30. The hearing aid of claim 29 wherein the anode lead includes a discontinuity which prevents the hearing aid from drawing power from the battery, unless bridged.
31. The hearing aid of claim 30 further comprising an actuator mounted to the hearing aid, the actuator having a conductive surface contacting the anode such that the conductive surface bridges the discontinuity in the anode to engage the hearing aid in an ON mode of operation.
32. The hearing aid of claim 16 wherein the circuit comprises at least one aperture to allow air to travel to the battery.
33. The hearing aid of claim 16 further comprising a mechanical securing mechanism between the first section and the second section.
34. The hearing aid of claim 16 wherein the second section includes a potting material covering the receiver such that the potting material and the receptacle of the body portion encapsulate the receiver to attenuate acoustic feedback.
35. The hearing aid of claim 16 wherein the sound port portion includes a channel for removal of wax from a bore in the sound port portion.
36. The hearing aid of claim 16 wherein the tip portion is mushroom shaped and the sound port portion is integral with the tip portion.
37. The hearing aid of claim 36 wherein the tip portion comprises a first durometer material and the sound port portion comprises a second durometer material, the first durometer material being more compliant than the second durometer material.
38. The hearing aid of claim 37 wherein the first durometer material forms the mushroom shape of the tip.
39. The hearing aid of claim 36 wherein the tip further comprises a body portion, and the sound port is integral with the body portion.
40. The hearing aid of claim 39 wherein the first durometer material forms the mushroom of the tip.
41. The hearing aid of claim 39 wherein the second durometer material forms the sound port portion.
42. The hearing aid of claim 39 wherein the third durometer material forms the body portion.