Granted Patent B2

US 12,388,216 · App. 17/939,854 · Granted Aug 12, 2025

Inventors: Michael Quiter (Wenden, DE); Stefan Szynalski (Karlsfeld, DE)

Assignee: Yamaichi Electronics Deutschland GmbH

H01R13/5205H04R1/1033

Abstract

Claims (30)

1. A connector ( 1 ) for connecting a hearing aid to a cable ( 6 ), the connector comprising:

a connector housing ( 2 ) with at least one recess;

a seal ( 10 ) with a main body ( 12 ) arranged at least in part(s) on an outer circumference of the connector housing ( 2 ), and at least one coupling portion ( 14 A-C) arranged at least partially in the recess, so that the seal ( 10 ) is connected to the connector housing ( 2 ) at least in part(s) in a substantially positive manner;

at least one hollow bore ( 4 B) that extends completely through the connector housing ( 2 ); and

wherein the at least one coupling portion ( 14 A-C) is substantially columnar and connects opposing areas of the main body ( 12 ) of the seal ( 10 ) through the at least one hollow bore.

2. The connector ( 1 ) to claim 1 , wherein the at least one recess further comprises a groove ( 4 A) and/or an indentation ( 4 C) and/or a cavity.

3. The connector ( 1 ) to claim 1 , wherein the coupling portion ( 14 A-C) of the seal ( 10 ) extends substantially axially and/or radially from the main body ( 12 ) of the seal ( 10 ).

4. The connector ( 1 ) to claim 1 , wherein the seal ( 10 ) is injected onto the connector housing ( 2 ).

5. The connector ( 1 ) to claim 1 , wherein the seal ( 10 ) encloses the connector housing ( 2 ) at least in part(s) and engages the at least one recess, so that a displacement of the seal ( 10 ) relative to the connector housing ( 2 ) is substantially prevented.

6. The connector ( 1 ) to claim 1 , wherein fixing of the seal ( 10 ) to the connector housing ( 2 ) is accomplished by means of a positive fit and without adhesive; and/or

wherein a non-destructive removal of the seal ( 10 ) exclusively takes place by stretching the seal ( 10 ) substantially in the radial direction such that the at least one coupling portion ( 14 A-C) is moved out of the at least one recess.

7. A system comprising:

a hearing aid; and

a connector ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the hearing aid has a socket for receiving at least a part of the connector ( 1 ), the socket being configured such that when the connector ( 1 ) is received it is substantially tightly connected to the hearing aid by the seal ( 10 ) of the connector ( 1 ) abutting the socket.

8. A seal ( 10 ) for attachment to a connector ( 1 ) for connecting a hearing aid to a cable ( 6 ), comprising:

a main body ( 12 ) designed to be arranged at least in part(s) on an outer circumference of a connector housing ( 2 ); and

at least one coupling portion ( 14 A-C) designed and configured in such a way to be arranged at least partially in a recess of the connector housing ( 2 ) and which is substantially columnar and connects opposing areas of the main body ( 12 ) of the seal ( 10 ),

the substantially columnar at least one coupling portion ( 14 A-C) extending through a continuous bore, the continuous bore extending entirely through the connector housing.

9. The seal ( 10 ) according to claim 8 , wherein the seal ( 10 ) is injected onto the connector housing ( 2 ).

10. A method for producing a connector ( 1 ) with a seal ( 10 ), comprising:

providing a connector housing ( 2 ) with at least one recess;

injecting a seal ( 10 ) onto the connector housing ( 2 ), as a result of which the seal ( 10 ) forms at least one coupling portion ( 14 A-C),

the at least one coupling portion ( 14 A-C) being substantially columnar and connecting opposing areas of a main body ( 12 ) of the seal ( 10 ) through at least one hollow bore ( 4 B), the hollow bore ( 4 B) extending completely through the connector housing ( 2 ), and

the at least one coupling portion being arranged at least in part(s) in the recess such that the seal ( 10 ) is connected to the connector housing ( 2 ) at least in part(s) in a positive manner.

11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the at least one recess of the connector housing ( 2 ) comprises a groove ( 4 A) and/or an indentation ( 4 C), and wherein the seal ( 10 ) is injected onto the connector housing ( 2 ).

12. A connector ( 1 ) for connecting a hearing aid to a cable ( 6 ), the connector comprising:

a connector housing ( 2 ) with at least one recess;

a seal ( 10 ) with a main body ( 12 ) arranged at least in part(s) on an outer circumference of the connector housing ( 2 ), and at least one coupling portion ( 14 A-C) arranged at least partially in the recess, so that the seal ( 10 ) is connected to the connector housing ( 2 ) at least in part(s) in a substantially positive manner;

at least one blind hollow bore ( 4 B) that extends through a portion of the connector housing ( 2 ); and

at least one coupling portion ( 14 A-C) is substantially columnar and is connected at one end to a single area of the main body ( 12 ) of the seal ( 10 ), the at least one coupling portion ( 14 A-C) extending into the at least one blind hollow bore ( 4 B) and is fully contained within the at least one blind hollow bore ( 4 B).

Assignments (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (27)