IP Library Granted Patent US 8,363,869
Granted Patent B2
US 8,363,869 · App. 12/119,337 · Granted Jan 29, 2013

Hearing aid housing apparatus

Inventors: Owen Brimhall (South Jordan, UT); Jeremy Horton (Sandy, UT); Craig Collotzi (Riverton, UT)
Assignee: Sonic Innovations, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,363,869
App. No.
12/119,337
Granted
Jan 29, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A hearing aid including an audio-processing device. The audio-processing device may be configured to receive a signal from a microphone and send the signal to a receiver. The hearing aid may include a hearing aid housing coupled to the audio-processing device. The hearing aid housing may have a body and a battery door. The battery door may be coupled to the body to form a battery cavity. The battery door may be movable about an axis of rotation that extends through a circular cross section of the battery cavity. Additional hearing aid housing configurations and methods for manufacturing hearing aids are also disclosed.

Claims (19)

1. A hearing aid, comprising:

an audio-processing device configured to receive a signal from a microphone and send a processed signal to a receiver;

a hearing aid housing coupled to the audio-processing device, the hearing aid housing comprising:

a body including an air vent providing air to a battery of the hearing aid;

a battery door configured to open by at least partially retracting into the hearing aid housing, the battery door having a semicylindrical shape; and

a seal positioned in an interface between the body and the battery door.

2. The hearing aid of claim 1 , wherein:

the battery door is coupled to the body of the hearing aid housing to form a battery cavity;

an axis of rotation of the battery door is at least substantially parallel with a cylindrical axis of the battery cavity.

3. The hearing aid of claim 2 , wherein:

the battery door is configured to retract to expose at least a portion of a negative terminal face and at least a portion of a positive terminal face, opposite to the negative terminal face, of a battery positioned in the battery cavity.

4. The hearing aid of claim 1 , further comprising:

a positive battery contact, the positive battery contact being positioned to couple a positive terminal of a battery to the audio processing device;

a negative battery contact, the negative battery contact being positioned to couple a negative terminal of the battery to the audio processing device, wherein the battery door is configured to rotate to an open position that disconnects the battery from the positive and negative battery contacts.

5. The hearing aid of claim 1 , wherein:

the hearing aid housing encloses a first volume;

a battery cavity encloses a second volume;

the first volume comprises the second volume;

a ratio of the second volume to the first volume is at least 0.10.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 11, 2019
From: SONIC INNOVATIONS, INC.
To: OTICON A/S
Reel/Frame 050344/0337 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 13, 2008
From: BRIMHALL, OWEN; HORTON, JEREMY; COLLOTZI, CRAIG
To: SONIC INNOVATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 020937/0900 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20090279727A1 · Nov 12, 2009