(19)
(11) EP 1 578 168 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
01.02.2006 Bulletin 2006/05

(43) Date of publication A2:
21.09.2005 Bulletin 2005/38

(21) Application number: 05014328.8

(22) Date of filing: 01.07.2005
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
H04R 1/10(2006.01)
 H04R 25/00(2006.01)
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR
Designated Extension States:
AL BA HR MK YU

(71) Applicant: PHONAK AG
8712 Stäfa (CH)

(72) Inventors:
  • Meier, Hilmar
    8008 Zürich (CH)
  • Schwob, Christoph
    4132 Muttenz (CH)

(74) Representative: Troesch Scheidegger Werner AG 
Schwäntenmos 14
8126 Zumikon
8126 Zumikon (CH)

   


(54) In-ear device


(57) A housing (1) inserted in to the ear of a user is disclosed, said housing (1) comprising a lateral end (8) defined by being a part of the housing (1) which is directed towards surroundings if the housing (1) is inserted into the ear, a medial end (6) defined by being a part of the housing (1) which is directed towards the inner ear of the user if the housing (1) is inserted into the ear, said medial end (6) comprising at least a medial opening (5, 9), wherein at least the lateral end (8) of the housing (1) is covered by a cover element (2). The cover element (2) is acoustically transparent and made of open porous foam. The inventive in-ear device can be used as hearing device to improve the hearing of a hearing impaired person or as a communication device for natural and/or for remote communication.







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