Transducer protection system, hearing device and usage of a transducer protection system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10136232-B2
Application number	US-201415517565-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 15, 2014
Priority date	Oct 15, 2014
Publication date	Nov 20, 2018
Grant date	Nov 20, 2018

Abstract

A transducer protection system for the protection of at least one transducer opening in a housing of a hearing device, including a support and a plurality of fibers each fixed at one end to the support and free to move on the other end.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A transducer protection system ( 100 ) for protection of at least one transducer opening ( 108 ) in a housing of a hearing device ( 110 ), comprising a supporting means and a plurality of fibers ( 104 ) that are each fixed at one end to the supporting means ( 102 ) and free to move at another end,
wherein the supporting means comprises a central shaft ( 102 ), wherein the fibers ( 104 ) are fixed to the central shaft ( 102 ) so as to protrude radially therefrom, and wherein the supporting means is adapted to be inserted into the transducer opening ( 108 ) so as to be aligned with a center axis of the transducer opening ( 108 ).

2. The transducer protection system ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the fibers ( 104 ) are fixed to the central shaft ( 102 ) so as to originate across at least a portion of a center axis of the central shaft ( 102 ).

3. The transducer protection system ( 100 ) according to claim 2 , wherein a distribution density of the fibers ( 104 ) along a center axis of the central shaft ( 102 ) decreases towards a distal end of the central shaft ( 102 ).

4. The transducer protection system ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , wherein a length of the fibers ( 104 ) exceeds a radius of the transducer opening ( 108 ).

5. The transducer protection system ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the supporting means further comprises a carrier structure ( 106 ) supporting the central shaft ( 102 ) and adapted to couple the central shaft ( 102 ) to at least a portion of the hearing device ( 110 ).

6. The transducer protection system ( 100 ) according to claim 5 , wherein the carrier structure ( 106 ) is adapted to abut on at least a portion of an outer periphery of the transducer opening ( 108 ).

7. The transducer protection system ( 100 ) according to claim 5 , wherein the central shaft ( 102 ) is supported by the carrier structure ( 106 ) such that a center axis of the central shaft ( 102 ) and is perpendicular to the carrier structure ( 106 ).

8. The transducer protection system ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , wherein distal ends of the fibers ( 104 ) are adapted to get stuck by a transducer opening wall ( 116 ) so as to fixedly mount the supporting means to the housing of the hearing device ( 110 ).

9. The transducer protection system ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the fibers ( 104 ) are monofilament fibers.

10. The transducer protection system ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , further comprising a hydrophobic coating applied to the fibers ( 104 ).

11. The transducer protection system ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , wherein a cross section of the fibers ( 104 ) varies along a main axis thereof.

12. A hearing device ( 110 ) comprising a housing and at least one transducer ( 118 ) provided into the housing, wherein the housing comprises at least one transducer opening ( 108 ), each at least one transducer opening ( 108 ) exposing the at least one transducer ( 118 ) to an outside of the housing,
wherein the hearing device ( 110 ) further comprises the transducer protection system ( 100 ) according to claim 1 mounted to the at least one transducer opening ( 108 ).

13. The transducer protection system ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the transducer protection system ( 100 ) is configured to protect the at least one transducer opening ( 108 ) against entry of at least one of cerumen and debris particles ( 22 ).

14. The transducer protection system ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , further comprising a hydrophobic polymer coating applied to the fibers ( 104 ).

15. The transducer protection system ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the fibers ( 104 ) are each fixed at the one end to the central shaft ( 102 ).

Assignees

• Sonova Ag

Inventors

• Karamuk Erdal
• Mueller Josef
• Vonlanthen Andi
• Jenni Thomas

Classifications

• H04R25/604

  of acoustic or vibrational transducers · CPC title

• H04R2460/17

  Hearing device specific tools used for storing or handling hearing devices or parts thereof, e.g. placement in the ear, replacement of cerumen barriers, repair, cleaning hearing devices · CPC title

• H04R25/654 Primary

  Ear wax retarders · CPC title

• H04R1/1016

  Earpieces of the intra-aural type · CPC title