Field of the Invention

[1] This invention relates generally to a tool designed to hold an earpiece of a hearing aid for insertion into the auditory canal.

Background of the Invention

[2] A conventional hearing aid is a device which is worn for amplifying sound for those hard of hearing.

[3] One type of hearing aid has a behind-the-ear amplifier, an earpiece and an over-the-ear connector which drapes over the ear between the earpiece and amplifier. The over-the-ear connector is usually an electrical wire or an air tube. The earpiece may comprise a rubber dome and a stem and the over-the-ear connector leads out from the stem.

[4] The present invention seeks to provide a hearing aid insertion tool which is designed to hold the earpiece for insertion into the auditory canal , which will overcome or substantially ameliorate at least some of the deficiencies of the prior art, or to at least provide an alternative.

[5] It is to be understood that, if any prior art information is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the information forms part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

Summary of the Disclosure

[6] There is provided herein a hearing aid insertion tool comprising a proximal handle and a distal insertion end.

[7] The distal insertion end defines an earpiece stem holding socket, a stem and a hearing aid connector lead-in channel along the holding socket which widens at the stem to provide greater freedom of movement for the connector.

[8] The channel may define a socket centroid angle at the socket and a stem centroid angle at the stem and wherein the stem centroid angle is greater than the socket centroid angle. [9] The widening of the channel at the stem allows greater freedom of movement for the connector which therefore poses less twisting or bending hindrance during insertion of the earpiece as compared to if the connector were more constrained by the channel.

[10] Furthermore, the widening of the channel allows for engagement of specific types of hearing aids wherein the earpiece comprises a retaining lock. In embodiments, the channel may have a minimum centroid angle of more than 90° at the stem so that the channel can accommodate the retaining lock diverging orthogonally from the connector. In further embodiments, the channel may have a minimum centroid angle of more than 170° at the stem, preferably approaching 180° to accommodate the retaining lock diverging oppositely from the connector.

[11 ] The channel may be further configured so that the stem of the earpiece can clip sideways into the socket. In this regard, the channel may define a minimum centroid angle of more than 45° at the socket and preferably more than 90°.

[12] Other aspects of the invention are also disclosed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[13] Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[14] Figure 1 shows a type of conventional hearing aid;

[15] Figure 2 shows a hearing aid insertion tool in accordance with a first embodiment;

[16] Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of an insertion end of the tool of Figure 2;

[17] Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional end view of a socket of the insertion end;

[18] Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional end view of a stem of the insertion end;

[19] Figure 6 shows another type of conventional hearing aid;

[20] Figure 7 shows a hearing aid insertion tool in accordance with a second embodiment; [21 ] Figure 8 shows a perspective view of an insertion end of the tool of Figure 7; and

[22] Figure 9 shows an end view of insertion end of the tool of Figure 7.

Description of Embodiments

[23] Figure 1 shows a conventional hearing aid 101 having a behind-the-ear amplifier 102, an earpiece 103 and an over-the-ear connector 104 therebetween. According to the embodiment shown in Figure 1 , the over the ear connector 104 is in electrical wire electrically connecting the amplifier 102 and a miniature speaker within the earpiece 103. The earpiece 103 comprises a rubber dome 105 and a stem 106. The connector 104 leads out from the stem 112.

[24] Figure 6 shows another type of conventional hearing aid 101 wherein the connector 104 comprises an air tube which conveys soundwaves generated by a microphone within the body of the amplifier 102 pneumatically to the earpiece 103.

[25] This type of hearing aid 101 may further comprise a flexible plastic retaining lock 107 which holds the earpiece 103 in the auditory canal in opposition to a lower portion of the ear.

[26] Figure 2 shows a hearing aid insertion tool 100 in accordance with a first embodiment. The tool 100 comprises a proximal stem 109 and a distal insertion end

110. The distal insertion end 1 10 is configured to hold the earpiece 103 and the tool 100 is held by the handle 109 to place the earpiece 103 in the auditory canal.

[27] The distal insertion end 110 defines an earpiece stem holding socket 1 11 and a stem 112. The insertion end 110 further has a hearing aid connector lead-in channel 108. When the stem 106 of the earpiece 103 is inserted into the socket

11 1 , the connector 104 is led along the channel 108 as is illustrated in Figure 2.

[28] Figure 7 shows insertion tool 100 in accordance with a further embodiment which similarly comprises the distal insertion end 110 defining the earpiece stem holding socket 11 1 , the stem 112 and the channel 108 for the connector 104.

[29] The channel 108 is along the socket 1 11 and is configured to widen at the stem 110. The widening of the channel 108 provides greater freedom of movement for the connector 104 to therefore reduce or eliminate twisting or bending forces applied by the connector 104 during insertion. Furthermore, the widening of the channel 108 can also accommodate the retaining lock 107 as is illustrated in Figure 7.

[30] Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the insertion end 110 of the tool according to the embodiment shown in Figure 2.

[31 ] The socket 1 11 defines a bore 113 which accepts a portion of the stem 106 of the earpiece 103 therein. The channel 108 leads out from the bore 1 13 at the stem 112 and widens at the stem 1 12.

[32] Specifically, Figure 4 shows a cross-section of the socket 1 11 at section A shown in Figure 3 and Figure 5 shows a cross-section of the stem 112 at section B.

[33] As is shown in Figure 4, the channel 108 defines a socket centroid angle 114 with reference to a centroid 116 at the socket 1 11 and, as is shown in Figure 5, the channel 108 defines a stem centroid angle 115 at the stem 112. The channel 108 widens at the stem 1 12 wherein the stem centroid angle 115 is greater than the socket centroid angle 114.

[34] Similarly, Figure 9 shows the stem centroid angle 1 15 being greater than the socket centroid angle 114 according to the embodiment of Figure 7.

[35] According to the first embodiment shown in Figure 2, the socket 1 11 has a greater outer cross-section than the stem 1 12.

[36] Furthermore, the socket 11 1 may have a noncircular cross-section so that the bore 1 13 has a noncircular cross-section. The noncircular cross-section of the bore 113 allows the socket 111 to rotationally key the stem 106 of the earpiece 103.

[37] As is shown in Figure 4, the stem 106 may have a noncircular cross-section which rotationally keys into the noncircular bore 113. As is further shown in Figure 4, one side of the bore 113 may be generally rectangular to engage a corresponding rectangular side 117 of the stem 106. The stem 106 may have a more rounded or circular opposite side 118.

[38] As is shown in Figure 5, the stem 112 may have a semicircular cross-section. [39] According to the second embodiment shown in Figure 9, both the socket 1 11 and the stem 1 12 may have the same outer cross-section which is preferably semicircular.

[40] Furthermore, the socket 11 1 and the stem 1 12 may define a uniform bore 113. In other words, the diameter of the bore 1 13 remains constant between the socket 1 11 and the stem 112.

[41 ] According to the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the socket 1 11 is designed so that the stem 106 of the earpiece 103 is pushed into the bore 1 13 along a longitudinal axis of the insertion end 1 10.

[42] However, according to the embodiment of Figure 7, the channel 108 is designed to be sufficiently wide so that the stem 106 of the earpiece 103 can be clipped sideways into the socket 1 11.

[43] In accordance with this embodiment, the channel 108 may have a minimum centroid angle 114 of more than 45° at the socket 1 11 , preferably more than 90°. As such, as the stem 106 is pushed sideways into the channel 108 defined by the socket 1 11 , the socket 11 1 opens to accept the stem 106 of the earpiece 103 and then closes to clip around the stem 106.

[44] As is illustrated in Figure 9, the channel 108 may have a minimum centroid angle 1 15 of more than 90° at the stem 112 which can therefore accommodate the retaining lock 107 and the connector 104 diverging orthogonally. However, as is shown in Figure 9, the centroid angle 1 15 may be more than 170°, approaching 180° so that the channel 108 can accommodate the retaining lock 107 and connector 104 diverging almost oppositely.

[45] The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that specific details are not required in order to practise the invention. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the invention are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed as obviously many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the following claims and their equivalents define the scope of the invention.