Hearing protection calibration adapter device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11910167-B2
Application number	US-202218058512-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 23, 2022
Priority date	Jun 4, 2020
Publication date	Feb 20, 2024
Grant date	Feb 20, 2024

Abstract

A calibration device and method of manufacturing the same. The calibration device for a hearing earpiece configured to at least partially protrude into the ear canal of a user includes a calibration base. The calibration base a calibration insert. An air chamber is defined between the calibration base and the calibration insert. The calibration device also includes at least one earpiece receiving mechanism defined on the calibration insert. The at least one earpiece receiving mechanism is configured to create an sealed connection between given ear piece and the air chamber for calibration. The earpiece receiving mechanism is configured to at least partially receive the given earpiece. A corresponding method of manufacturing is also included.

First claim

That which is claimed:

1. A calibration device for a hearing earpiece, the calibration device comprising:
a calibration base comprising a calibration insert, and,
at least one earpiece receiving mechanism defined on the calibration insert, the at least one earpiece receiving mechanism configured to calibrate at least one earpiece, wherein the at least one earpiece receiving mechanism is configured to at least partially receive the at least one earpiece, wherein the at least one earpiece receiving mechanism comprises a tensioning component, wherein the tensioning component is spring loaded and is configured to hold the at least one earpiece in the at least one earpiece receiving mechanism during calibration.

2. The calibration device of claim 1 , further comprising an air chamber, wherein the air chamber is defined between the calibration base and the calibration insert.

3. The calibration device of claim 2 , wherein the at least one earpiece receiving mechanism is configured to create a sealed connection between the at least one earpiece and the air chamber.

4. The calibration device of claim 2 , further comprising a calibration tubing receiver configured to operably couple the air chamber with a calibrator system, wherein the calibrator system provides calibration to the at least one earpiece held in the at least one earpiece receiving mechanism.

5. The calibration device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one earpiece receiving mechanism comprises one or more microphone seals configured to engage with the at least one earpiece such that an airtight seal is achieved between the one or more microphone seals and at least one microphone of the at least one earpiece.

6. The calibration device of claim 1 further comprising an ejector mechanism, wherein the ejector mechanism is configured to allow for removal of the at least one earpiece from the calibration device.

7. The calibration device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one earpiece receiving mechanism comprises a stationary block, such that the at least one earpiece is held in place during operation between the stationary block and the tensioning component.

8. The calibration device of claim 7 , wherein the stationary block comprises a microphone seal, wherein the microphone seal is configured to seal at least one microphone of the at least one earpiece in an instance the at least one earpiece is positioned between the stationary block and the tensioning component.

9. The calibration device of claim 7 , wherein an interior microphone seal is positioned on the calibration device between the stationary block and the tensioning component, wherein the interior microphone seal is configured to seal another microphone of the at least one earpiece in an instance in which the at least one earpiece is positioned between the stationary block and the tensioning component.

10. The calibration device of claim 1 further comprising a calibration tubing configured to be removably attached to a tubing receiver at a first end and a calibrator system at a second end opposite the first end.

11. The calibration device of claim 9 further comprising a lid, wherein the lid is configured to be removably coupled to the calibration base at a locking end of the calibration base and operably coupled to the calibration base at a connection end opposite the locking end, wherein the lid is configured to move between an opened position and a closed position.

12. A method of manufacturing a calibration device for a hearing earpiece, the method comprising:
providing a calibration base comprising a calibration insert, and,
providing at least one earpiece receiving mechanism defined on the calibration insert, the at least one earpiece receiving mechanism configured to calibrate at least one earpiece, wherein the at least one earpiece receiving mechanism is configured to at least partially receive the at least one earpiece, wherein the at least one earpiece receiving mechanism comprises a tensioning component, wherein the tensioning component is spring loaded and is configured to hold the at least one earpiece in the at least one earpiece receiving mechanism during calibration.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising providing an air chamber, wherein the air chamber is defined between the calibration base and the calibration insert.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the at least one earpiece receiving mechanism is configured to create a sealed connection between the at least one earpiece and the air chamber.

15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising providing a calibration tubing receiver configured to operably couple the air chamber with a calibrator system, wherein the calibrator system provides calibration to the at least one earpiece held in the at least one earpiece receiving mechanism.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the at least one earpiece receiving mechanism comprises one or more microphone seals configured to engage with the at least one earpiece such that an airtight seal is achieved between the one or more microphone seals and at least one microphone of the at least one earpiece.

17. The method of claim 12 further comprising providing an ejector mechanism, wherein the ejector mechanism is configured to allow for removal of the at least one earpiece from the calibration device.

18. The method of claim 12 , wherein the at least one earpiece receiving mechanism comprises a stationary block, such that the at least one earpiece is held in place during operation between the stationary block and the tensioning component.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the stationary block comprises a microphone seal, wherein the microphone seal is configured to seal at least one microphone of the at least one earpiece in an instance the at least one earpiece is positioned between the stationary block and the tensioning component.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein an interior microphone seal is positioned on the calibration device between the stationary block and the tensioning component, wherein the interior microphone seal is configured to seal another microphone of the at least one earpiece in an instance in which the at least one earpiece is positioned between the stationary block and the tensioning component.

21. The method of claim 12 further comprising providing a calibration tubing configured to be removably attached to a tubing receiver at a first end and a calibrator system at a second end opposite the first end.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising operably coupling a lid to the calibration base, wherein the lid is configured to be removably coupled to the calibration base at a locking end of the calibration base and operably coupled to the calibration base at a connection end opposite the locking end, wherein the lid is configured to move between an opened position and a closed position.

Assignees

• Rae Systems Inc
• Honeywell Safety Products Usa Inc

Inventors

• Wilson May Bridget
• Haglund Claes Ingemar
• Sun Wei
• Jiang Lei
• Liao Huaqing

Classifications

• H04R29/00 Primary

  Monitoring arrangements; Testing arrangements {(for hearing aids H04R25/30; detection of loudspeaker connection H04R5/04; sound-field adaptation dependent on speaker detection H04S7/308)} · CPC title

• H04R1/02

  Casings; Cabinets {; Supports therefor;} Mountings therein (H04R1/28 takes precedence {; attachments for microphones H04R1/08; mounting of transducers in earpieces H04R1/1075}) · CPC title

• H04R31/00

  Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture of transducers or diaphragms therefor {(manufacture of microstructural arrangements of deformable or non-deformable structures in general B81C1/00182)} · 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

• H04R1/1008 Primary

  Earpieces of the supra-aural or circum-aural type · CPC title