IP Library Granted Patent US 8,126,177
Granted Patent B2
US 8,126,177 · App. 11/805,187 · Granted Feb 28, 2012

Modular charger for hearing aid

Assignee: Zounds Hearing, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,126,177
App. No.
11/805,187
Granted
Feb 28, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A battery charger for a hearing aid includes a housing that defines at least one socket for receiving any one of a plurality of adapters. Each adapter closely fits and at least partially contains one hearing aid to hold the hearing aid in place during charging. The hearing aid includes a plurality of electrical contacts in a pattern and the adapter defines a plurality of apertures in the same pattern. Resilient contacts in the charger extend through the apertures in the adapter to contact the hearing aid.

Claims (11)

1. A battery charger for hearing aids, said charger including electronics in a housing, characterized in that

the housing defines at least one socket for receiving one of a plurality of adapters; and

said one adapter closely fits at least one hearing aid;

whereby a hearing aid is held in place by the adapter during charging.

2. The battery charger as set forth in claim 1 wherein the hearing aid includes a plurality of electrical contacts in a pattern and said one adapter defines a plurality of apertures in the same pattern as the electrical contacts of the hearing aid.

3. The battery charger as set forth in claim 2 further characterized in that the charger includes resilient contacts that extend through the apertures in the adapter to provide electrical contact to a hearing aid.

4. The battery charger as set forth in claim 3 wherein the resilient contacts are molded into a plastic carrier.

5. The battery charger as set forth in claim 3 wherein said resilient contacts are leaf spring types of contacts.

6. The battery charger as set forth in claim 1 wherein said adapter resiliently holds a hearing aid.

7. The battery charger as set forth in claim 1 wherein said adapter frictionally engages a hearing aid.

8. The battery charger as set forth in claim 1 wherein said adapter is molded in more than one piece.

Assignments (5)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 15, 2012
From: ZOUNDS ACQUISITION, LLC
To: ZOUNDS HEARING, INC.
Reel/Frame 028789/0862 →
TRANSFER OF ASSETS IN BANKRUPTCY Recorded Oct 22, 2009
From: ZOUNDS, INC.
To: ZOUNDS, LLC (FORMERLY ZOUNDS ACQUISITION LLC)
Reel/Frame 023413/0826 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 23, 2009
From: ZOUNDS, INC.
To: D. SUMNER CHASE, III 2001 IRREVOCABLE TRUST, THE; DS&S CHASE, LLC; DS&S CHASE, LLC; DS&S CHASE, LLC; DERWOOD S. CHASE, JR. GRAND TRUST, THE; DERWOOD S. CHASE, JR. GRAND TRUST, THE; DERWOOD S. CHASE, JR. GRAND TRUST, THE; STUART F. CHASE 2001 IRREVOCABLE TRUST, THE; STEWART, J. MICHAEL; MICHAELIS, LAWRENCE L.; HUDSON FAMILY TRUST; COSTELLO, JOHN H.; POCONO LAKE PROPERTIES, LP; LINSKY, BARRY R.; WHEALE MANAGEMENT LLC; O'CONNOR, RALPH S.; BARNES, KYLE D.; MCGAREY, MAUREEN A.; CONKLIN, TERRENCE J.; ALLEN, RICHARD D.; NIEMASKI, WALTER, JR.; TROPEA, FRANK; STOUT, HENRY A.; POMPIZZI FAMILY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; GEIER, PHILIP H., JR.; HICKSON, B.E.; LANCASTER, JAMES R., TTEE JAMES R. LANCASTER REVOCABLE TRUST U/A/D9/5/89; COLEMAN, CRAIG G.; SHOBERT, BETTY; SHOBERT, ROBERT; REGEN, THOMAS W.; MASSAD & MASSAD INVESTMENTS, LTD.; SCOTT, DAVID B.; C. BRADFORD JEFFRIES LIVING TRUST (1994); JULIAN, ROBERT S., TRUSTEE, INSURANCE TRUST OF 12/29/72; HINTLIAN, VARNEY J.; BOLWELL, FARLEY; SOLLOTT, MICHAEL H.; FOLLAND FAMILY INVESTMENT COMPANY; BEALL FAMILY TRUST; STOCK, STEVEN W.; PATTERSON, ELIZABETH T.; BORTS, RICHARD; STONE, JEFFREY M.; LANDIN, ROBERT; GOLDBERG, JEFFREY L.; LAMBERTI, STEVE; ROBERT P. HAUPTFUHRER FAMILY PARTNERSHIP; SCHELLENBACH, PETER; MIELE, R. PATRICK; MIELE, VICTORIA E.
Reel/Frame 022440/0370 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 5, 2009
From: ZOUNDS, INC.
To: DS&S CHASE, LLC; THE DERWOOD S. CHASE, JR. GRAND TRUST; THE D. SUMNER CHASE, III 2001 IRREVOCABLE TRUST; THE STUART F. CHASE 2001 IRREVOCABLE TRUST; STEWART, J. MICHAEL
Reel/Frame 022214/0011 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 22, 2007
From: JENSEN, LARS TUBORG
To: ZOUNDS, INC.
Reel/Frame 019385/0603 →
Continuity (1)
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