IP Library Granted Patent US 7,580,538
Granted Patent B2
US 7,580,538 · App. 12/141,724 · Granted Aug 25, 2009

Behind the ear hearing aid part with exchangeable cover

Assignee: Bernafon AG
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,580,538
App. No.
12/141,724
Granted
Aug 25, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention regards a BTE hearing aid shell shaped to fit behind an outer portion of an ear of a user wherein the shell has first and second opposed side walls where the first side wall faces away from, and the second side wall faces towards the head of the user. According to the invention an ornamental cover plate is detachably attached to at least one of the opposed side walls, and a release tool is provided for release of the cover plate.

Claims (19)

1. BTE hearing aid shaped to fit behind an outer portion of an ear of a user, the BTE hearing aid comprising:

a shell having first and second opposed side walls where the first side wall faces away from, and the second side wall faces towards the head of the user;

a first ornamental cover plate detachably attached to said first side wall, and a second ornamental cover plate detachably attached to said second side wall,

wherein said first side wall has an accessing space that allows access to underneath said first ornamental cover plate for applying a pressure or force to said first ornamental cover plate, said pressure or force having an outward component in a direction perpendicular to said first side wall, to separate said first ornamental cover plate from said first side wall using a tool inserted in said accessing space underneath said first ornamental cover plate,

wherein said accessing space is located closer to an outer contour of said first ornamental cover plate than to a center area of said first ornamental cover plate,

wherein said first ornamental cover plate is configured to be removed by pushing a lower surface of said first ornamental cover plate using said tool, and wherein said first ornamental cover plate is removed by detaching said first ornamental cover plate from said first side wall from a region located at a distance from said accessing space.

2. BTE hearing aid shaped to fit behind an outer portion of an ear of a user, the BTE hearing aid comprising:

a shell having first and second opposed side walls where the first side wall faces away from, and the second side wall faces towards the head of the user;

a first ornamental cover plate detachably attached to said first side wall, and a second ornamental cover plate detachably attached to said second side wall,

wherein said first side wall has an accessing space that allows access of a tool, in an undeformed state of said first ornamental cover plate, to a first region located underneath a circumference of said first ornamental cover plate, for applying, at said first region, a pressure or force to said first ornamental cover plate, said pressure or force having an outward component in a direction perpendicular to said first side wall, to separate said first ornamental cover plate from said first side wall using said tool,

wherein said accessing space is located closer to an outer contour of said first ornamental cover plate than to a center area of said first ornamental cover plate,

wherein said first ornamental cover plate is configured to be removed by pushing a lower surface of said first ornamental cover plate using said tool, and wherein said first ornamental cover plate is removed by detaching said first ornamental cover plate from said first side wall from a second region located at a distance from said first region.

3. BTE hearing aid shaped to fit behind an outer portion of an ear of a user, the BTE hearing aid comprising:

a shell having first and second opposed side walls where the first side wall faces away from, and the second side wall faces towards the head of the user;

a first ornamental cover plate detachably attached to said first side wall, and a second ornamental cover plate detachably attached to said second side wall,

wherein said first side wall has an accessing space that allows access of a tool to a first region located underneath a circumference of said first ornamental cover plate, for applying a pressure or force to said first ornamental cover plate at said first region, said pressure or force having a component in a direction perpendicular to said first side wall to overcome a contact force holding said first ornamental cover plate attached to said first side wall and to separate said first ornamental cover plate from said first side wall using said tool inserted in said accessing space,

wherein said contact force holds said first ornamental cover plate attached to said first side wall at an attachment structure located at a distance from said accessing space,

wherein said accessing space is located closer to an outer contour of said first ornamental cover plate than to a center area of said first ornamental cover plate,

wherein said first ornamental cover plate is configured to be removed by pushing a lower surface of said first ornamental cover plate using said tool, and wherein said first ornamental cover plate is removed by detaching said first ornamental cover plate from said first side wall from said attachment structure.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 11, 2019
From: BERNAFON AG
To: OTICON A/S
Reel/Frame 050344/0160 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 22, 2008
From: CROOK, BEN
To: BERNAFON AG
Reel/Frame 021430/0958 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 07113963 · Aug 7, 2007 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20090041273A1 · Feb 12, 2009