Snap-on fastening device for hearing device
View Patent ↗With housing elements of a hearing device which are fastened to a frame for accommodating internal components of the hearing device, the use of a large number of additional parts is problematic because of the risk of losing parts. In accordance with the invention a snap-on fastening means is used to fasten a housing element to the frame of the hearing device, with an opening being provided in the housing element and the frame for accommodating the snap-on fastening means.
1. A hearing device, comprising:
a frame to support at least one component of the hearing device, the frame having at least two mutually opposite frame edges spaced-apart from one another, the spaced-apart frame edges defining an opening in the frame;
a housing to accommodate the frame, the housing having at least two mutually opposite housing edges spaced-apart from one another, the spaced-apart housing edges defining a gap in the housing, wherein the gap in the housing is configured to subtend the opening and extend beyond the spaced-apart frame edges;
a snap-on fastener formed by a non-hollow structure comprising a body and a snap-on fastening spring extending perpendicular from the body, the body configured to close the gap in the housing and further configured to provide a continuous contour to the housing, the snap-on fastening spring configured to pass through the opening in the frame to directly mechanically interlock the housing, the frame and the fastener to one another, the snap-on fastening spring having a latch to secure the fastening spring to the frame;
a shoulder located proximate to a first end of the body of the snap-on fastener and arranged to engage a corresponding outer surface of the frame; and
a projection located at a second end of the body of the snap-on fastener, the projection configured to engage a corresponding indentation constructed in one of the housing edges of the housing.
2. The hearing device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of the body of the snap-on fastener comprises a type designation plate.
3. The hearing device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises two housing elements.
4. The hearing device as claimed in claim 3 , wherein one of the two housing elements is fitted on an upper side of the frame and another one of the two housing elements is fitted on a lower side of the frame.
5. The hearing device as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the two housing elements are held together by the snap-on fastener.
6. The hearing device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the snap-on fastener simultaneously anchors at least a portion of the frame in correspondence with the body of the snap-on fastener when the snap-on fastening spring is snapped onto the frame.
7. A method for fastening a housing element to a frame of a hearing device, comprising:
arranging in a frame at least two mutually opposite frame edges spaced-apart from one another, the spaced-apart frame edges defining an opening in the frame;
disposing a housing to accommodate the frame;
arranging in the housing at least two mutually opposite housing edges spaced-apart from one another, the spaced-apart housing edges defining a gap in the housing;
configuring the gap in the housing to subtend the opening and extend beyond the spaced-apart frame edges;
forming a snap-on fastener comprising a non-hollow structure;
arranging in the non-hollow structure of the snap-on fastener a body and a snap-on fastening spring extending perpendicular from the body;
configuring the body of the snap-on fastener to close the gap in the housing and further configuring the body of the snap-on fastener to provide a continuous contour to the housing;
configuring the snap-on fastening spring to pass through the opening in the frame for directly mechanically interlocking the housing, the frame and the fastener to one another; and
securing the fastening spring to the frame by way of a latch constructed in the fastening spring.
8. The method as claimed in claim 7 , further comprising simultaneously anchoring at least a portion of the frame in correspondence with the body of the snap-on fastener when snapping on the snap-on fastening spring onto the frame.
9. The method as claimed in claim 7 , further comprising defining proximate to a first end of the body of the snap-on fastener a shoulder to engage a corresponding outer surface of the frame.
10. The method as claimed in claim 9 , further comprising defining at a second end of the body of the snap-on fastener a projection to engage a corresponding indentation constructed in one of the housing edges.