Sound tube for an earpiece, sound tube arrangement, earpiece with such a sound tube or sound tube arrangement and hearing device with such an earpiece

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9749759-B2
Application number	US-201315033487-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 20, 2013
Priority date	Nov 20, 2013
Publication date	Aug 29, 2017
Grant date	Aug 29, 2017

Abstract

The present invention proposes a sound tube ( 3 ) for an earpiece ( 1 ), wherein a first section ( 4 ) of an inner surface of the sound tube ( 3 ) has a structured surface, in particular a textural pattern forming a relief comprising convexities ( 13 ) and/or concavities ( 11 ). Alternatively or additionally, the sound tube ( 3 ) features a radially extending, circumferential flange ( 8 ), annular lip ( 8 ′) or collar at an outer surface of the sound tube ( 3 ). The present invention is further directed to a sound tube arrangement comprising two of the proposed sound tubes integrally formed in one piece and to an earpiece ( 1 ) with such a sound tube ( 3 ) or such a sound tube arrangement as well as to a hearing device with such an earpiece ( 1 ).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A hearing device, comprising:
an earpiece defining an outer surface;
a transducer with a sound port that is lateral of the earpiece outer surface; and
a sound tube defining an inner surface, an outer surface, a first section and a second section that is lateral of the first section, the inner surface of the first section having a textural pattern defining convexities and/or concavities and configured to create capillary forces that oppose movement of contaminants out of the first section, at least some of the convexities and/or concavities being located medial of the earpiece outer surface, and the inner surface of the second section lacking convexities and concavities and being mounted on the transducer sound port;
wherein the first and second sections together define an integral one-piece structure.

2. A hearing device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the sound tube defines first and second ends, the first and second sections form the entire inner surface of the sound tube, the first section extends from the first end towards the second end, and the second section extends from the second end towards first end.

3. A hearing device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the textural pattern comprises a periodic textural pattern.

4. A hearing device as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the textural pattern is at least one of sawtooth-shaped, wave-shaped, jagged, and lamellar.

5. A hearing device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the textural pattern includes at least one of a groove, a notch, a protrusion, a bulge, and a ridge.

6. A hearing device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the sound tube defines a longitudinal axis and the textural pattern extends circumferentially around the longitudinal axis.

7. A hearing device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the sound tube defines an inner diameter (ID), the textural pattern defines a roughness height (Rz) and an average roughness (Ra), Rz=10 μm to 0.5 ID, and Ra=10 μm to 1 mm.

8. A hearing device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the textural pattern is configured to restrain cerumen, sweat, oil and other liquids, and physiological debris from passing through the sound tube.

9. A hearing device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
the transducer comprises a receiver;
the sound tube comprises first and second sound conduction channels, each having a textural pattern defining convexities and/or concavities;
the sound port of the receiver is connected to the first sound conduction channel; and
the hearing device further comprises a microphone connected to the second sound conduction channel.

10. A sound tube for use with an earpiece that includes a transducer with a sound port, the sound tube comprising:
a tubular body defining an outer surface and an inner surface with contiguous first and second portions, a medial end associated with the first portion, and a lateral end associated with the second portion;
a textural pattern defining convexities and/or concavities formed in the first portion of the inner surface of the tubular body;
the second portion of the inner surface of the tubular body lacking convexities and/or concavities;
a flange, defining a medial end, that extends outwardly from the tubular body such that the medial end of the flange is located a predetermined non-zero lateral distance from the medial end of the tubular body; and
means for mounting the tubular body onto the sound port such that the second portion of the inner surface of the tubular body extends from the sound port to the first portion of the inner surface of the tubular body.

11. A sound tube as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the textural pattern comprises a periodic textural pattern.

12. A sound tube as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the textural pattern is at least one of sawtooth-shaped, wave-shaped, jagged, and lamellar.

13. A sound tube as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the textural pattern includes at least one of a groove, a notch, a protrusion, a bulge, and a ridge.

14. A sound tube as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the tubular body defines a longitudinal axis and the textural pattern extends circumferentially around the longitudinal axis.

15. A sound tube as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the tubular body defines an inner diameter (ID), the textural pattern defines a roughness height (Rz) and an average roughness (Ra), Rz=10 μm to 0.5 ID, and Ra=10 μm to 1 mm.

16. A sound tube as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the textural pattern is configured to restrain cerumen, sweat, oil and other liquids, and physiological debris from passing through the tubular body.

17. A hearing device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
the first section textural pattern defines convexities and concavities; and
the concavities define concavity inner diameters and the inner surface of the second section defines an inner diameter that is less than the concavity inner diameters.

18. A hearing device as claimed in claim 17 , wherein
the convexities define convexity inner diameters and the diameter of the inner surface of the second section is less than the convexity inner diameters.

19. A hearing device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
the sound tube defines a medial end; and
the sound tube includes a flange, defining a medial end, that extends outwardly from the first portion in such a manner that the medial end of the flange is lateral of the medial end of the sound tube.

20. A sound tube as claimed in claim 10 , wherein
the tubular body and the flange include respective outer surfaces that intersect and define a circumferential edge that creates a capillary force.

21. A sound tube as claimed in claim 10 , wherein
the tubular body defines a length; and
the predetermined non-zero lateral distance is less than 1/10 of the length of the tubular body.

Assignees

• Sonova Ag

Inventors

• Meyer Jonas
• Rahn Martin
• Leist Christoph
• Hug Roland
• Keller Sven
• Breitler Marco

Classifications

• H04R25/60

  Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles (ear wax retarders, e.g. mounting thereof H04R25/654) · CPC title

• H04R25/654 Primary

  Ear wax retarders · CPC title

• H04R2225/023

  Completely in the canal [CIC] hearing aids · CPC title

• H04R2225/025

  In the ear hearing aids [ITE] hearing aids · CPC title