A BATTERY CARRIER ASSEMBLY

Abstract

 The present invention provides a battery carrier assembly for a hearing aid. The battery carrier assembly comprises a battery carrier and a guide. The battery carrier is configured to hold a battery at least during insertion of the battery into the hearing aid through an opening. And the guide is configured to guide the battery carrier in a translatory movement into and out of the hearing aid.

Description

Field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery carrier assembly for a hearing aid. The battery carrier assembly comprises a battery carrier and a guide. The battery carrier is configured to hold a battery at least during insertion of the battery into the hearing aid through an opening. The guide is configured to guide the battery carrier during insertion.

Background of the invention

[0002] Traditionally, a battery door is hinged to a hearing aid. However, as hearing aid may require a high battery change frequency, such as up to more than once a week, the hinge has to be very robust and easy to handle.

[0003] Consequently, a metallic hinge pin is often moulded into a part of the hearing aid, such as a faceplate. This manufacturing step increases production costs due to increase time consumption and expensive mounting tools.

Description of the invention

[0004] It is an object of embodiments of the invention to provide an improved battery carrier assembly.

[0005] It is a further object of embodiments of the invention to provide a more robust battery carrier assembly.

[0006] It is an even further object of embodiments of the invention to provide a battery carrier assembly with reduced size.

[0007] According to a first aspect, the invention provides a battery carrier assembly for a hearing aid, the battery carrier assembly comprising a battery carrier and a guide, wherein the battery carrier is configured to hold a battery at least during insertion of the battery into the hearing aid through an opening, and wherein the guide is configured to guide the battery carrier in a translatory movement into and out of the hearing aid.

[0008] The hearing aid may comprise a behind-the-ear part, an in-the-ear part, and/or an in-the-channel part. Dependent on the hearing aid in question, the battery carrier assembly may be of different shape and size.

[0009] The battery carrier is configured to hold the battery at least during insertion of the battery through the opening and into the hearing aid. It should however be understood, that the battery carrier may further be configured to hold the battery in the hearing aid during use of the hearing aid and/or during removal of the battery, e.g. due to battery change.

[0010] A battery receiving compartment may be formed in an inner space of the hearing aid, and the opening may be an opening in an outer shell of the hearing aid. The battery carrier may in one embodiment be configured to close the opening when inserted into the hearing aid.

[0011] The battery carrier may have an inner shape which corresponds to the shape of a capsule battery, such as a disc-shaped battery, as this type of battery is typically used in hearing aids. To ensure contact between the battery and the terminals in the hearing aid; such as in the battery receiving compartment, the battery carrier may have at least one opening on each side of the battery carrier.

[0012] The battery carrier assembly comprises a guide configured to guide the battery carrier in a translatory movement into and out of the hearing aid, i.e. a substantially linear movement, whereby a hinged connection between the battery carrier assembly and the battery carrier for removal of the battery out of and into the hearing aid can be avoided. Furthermore, reinforcement of the guide which has to withstand the forces associated with the movement may be performed substantially without increasing the size of the hearing aid. The latter is especially important if the hearing aid is to be positioned in the ear of a user.

[0013] In the context of the present invention, the term "translatory movement" also covers substantially translatory movements, as the guide may possess a certain flexibility which allows the battery carrier to deviate from the translatory movement. Thus, when the guide guides the battery carrier in a translatory movement, the battery carrier may slide along the guide in a substantially linear movement.

[0014] The guide may form a track to support the battery carrier during movement hereof. To increase the support, the track may match the shape of a part of the battery carrier. To further increase the support, the guide and the battery carrier may comprise matching engagement structure to facilitate engagement of the battery carrier to the guide.

[0015] The guide may be formed in or attached to a faceplate. In the context of the present invention, the term "faceplate" should be understood as a part of an outer shell of a hearing aid. In one embodiment, the faceplate may be formed integrally with the outer shell of the hearing aid. However, the faceplate may alternatively be formed as a separate element which may subsequently be joined with the remaining part of the hearing aid. In the latter embodiment, the faceplate may be releasably joined with the hearing aid thereby allowing for replacement of the faceplate, e.g. in case of malfunction.

[0016] The guide may be formed integrally with the faceplate or another part of the hearing aid, so that the guide forms part hereof. In an alternative embodiment, the guide may be formed in a separate guide element being attachable to the faceplate and/or the hearing aid. The guide may be releasably attachable to the faceplate or the hearing aid to facilitate replacement of the guide, if necessary.

[0017] In one embodiment, the guide is formed by the circumference of the opening in the faceplate or the hearing aid. However, to increase the guiding, the guide may along at least a part of the circumference of the opening extend into the hearing aid.

[0018] Alternatively or additionally, the guide may comprise an extension part extending from an outer surface of the hearing aid or the faceplate. In this embodiment, the battery carrier may primarily be supported by the guide outside the hearing aid when the battery carrier is guided into and out of the hearing aid in a translatory movement.

[0019] As an example, the extension part may comprise at least one elongated element, such as a bar or string. It should be understood, that the elongated element may be sufficiently stiff to guide the battery carrier, but also sufficiently flexible to allow the bar/string to bend if the hearing aid it to be positioned in the ear of a user to thereby ensure comfort for the user.

[0020] The battery carrier may comprise an opening through which the elongated element extends whereby the battery carrier can slide along the elongated element which may consequently guide the battery carrier in a translatory movement.

[0021] In one embodiment, the extension part comprises two substantially parallel elongated elements to increase the support of the battery carrier during guidance in a translatory movement. The battery carrier may likewise comprise two openings, one for each of the elongated elements.

[0022] When the faceplate assembly is for a hearing aid to be positioned at least partly in the ear of a user, it may be an advantage if the extension part comprises a gripping part extending transversally to the extending part to facilitating gripping hereof. Consequently, this extension part with a gripping part may facilitate removal of the hearing aid from the ear. It should however be understood that the elongated elements itself may be used to remove the hearing aid from an ear of a user, as the user may grip the elongated element.

[0023] In one embodiment the gripping part may be formed as an enlargement of the outer end of the extension part, e.g. as a sphere attached to or formed integrally with the extension part. It should however be understood, that the gripping part may have any arbitrary shape. To ensure comfort for the user, it may however be an advantage if the gripping part is formed without any sharp edges.

[0024] If the extension part comprises two substantially parallel elongated elements, the gripping part may be formed as a transverse element joining the outer ends of the extension parts. To improve comfort, the transverse element may be without sharp edges, and may e.g. be formed as an arch-shaped element.

[0025] To limit the risk of losing the battery carrier, the extension part may comprise a stop member to limit the translatory movement out of the hearing aid. The above described gripping part may act as stop members, as a sliding movement of the battery carrier along the elongated elements may be stopped when the battery carrier touches the gripping part. It should however be understood, that a stop member may be significantly smaller than a gripping part, as the stop member may limit the translatory movement without being grippable for a user.

[0026] To ensure that the battery carrier is not unintentionally removed from the hearing aid, e.g. during use, the battery carrier may comprise engagement means for releasable fixing of the battery carrier to the hearing aid and/or the faceplate.

[0027] In one embodiment, the engagement means may comprise a snap-fit. The snap-fit may be formed by features on the hearing aid or the faceplate and/or one the battery carrier, e.g. as one or more indentations on one part and one or more protrusions on the other part. Alternatively or additionally, the engagement means may be formed by flexible parts, such as springs, mounted on the hearing/faceplate and/or on the battery carrier.

[0028] In one embodiment, the battery carrier assembly may further comprise a hinge facilitating tilting of the battery carrier relative to the hearing aid and/or the faceplate, when the battery carrier is at least partly removed from the hearing aid. As the release of the battery carrier is performed as part of the translatory movement out of the hearing aid, this hinge can be of a smaller size and be less robust than traditional battery door hinges which should also be able to withstand forces associated with the release of the battery carrier.

[0029] To enable release of the battery carrier from the hearing aid, the battery carrier may comprise release means to enable disengagement of the battery carrier from the hearing aid and/or the faceplate.

[0030] The release means may comprises at least one of an indentation and a protrusion facilitating gripping of the battery carrier. As an example, the release means may be formed as two protrusions so that a user may grip the battery carrier by positioning the nails in the two indentations formed by the two protrusions, whereby the release means are formed as a nail-grip.

[0031] In another embodiment, the release means may be activatable by deforming an elastically deformable release element. The may be achieved by forming a part of at least one of the battery carrier and the hearing aid/faceplate so that it may be compressed to thereby release the battery carrier from the hearing air or the faceplate.

[0032] The elastically deformable release element may be formed by a push button. In one embodiment, the push button may trigger a spring which may subsequently release the battery carrier.

[0033] It should be understood, that the battery carrier assembly may also comprise a push button which may be used to switch programs in the hearing aid and/or used for other purposes.

[0034] A push button may in an alternative embodiment be form of a material which is not elastically deformable, such as a non-elastomer.

[0035] A sound inlet may be formed in the faceplate. Alternatively, the sound inlet may be formed in the hearing aid.

Brief description of the drawings

[0036] Embodiments of the invention will now be further described with reference to the drawings, in which:

Figs. 1a and 1b illustrate an embodiment of a battery carrier assembly,

Figs. 2a and 2b illustrates two different embodiments of a battery carrier assembly,

Fig. 3 illustrates another embodiment of a battery carrier assembly,

Fig. 4 illustrates removal of a battery from a hearing aid, and

Fig. 5 illustrates details of the battery carrier assembly of Fig. 4.

Detailed description of the drawings

[0037] It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

[0038] Figs. 1a and 1b illustrate a battery carrier assembly 1 for a hearing aid (not shown). The battery carrier assembly 1 comprises a battery carrier 2 and a guide 3. The battery carrier 2 is configured to hold a battery 4 at least during insertion of the battery 4 into the hearing aid through an opening 5. The guide 3 is configured to guide the battery carrier 2 in a translatory movement into and out of the hearing aid.

[0039] In the illustrated embodiment, the opening 5 is formed in a faceplate 6. The faceplate 6 is configured to form part of an outer shell of the hearing aid by joining the faceplate 6 with the remaining part of the outer shell of the hearing aid.

[0040] As illustrated in Fig. 1b, the battery carrier 2 is configured to close the opening 5, when the battery carrier 2 is inserted into the hearing aid.

[0041] In the illustrated embodiment, the guide 3 comprises an extension part 3A extending from an outer surface of the faceplate 6. The guide 3 comprises an extension part 3A in the form of two substantially parallel elongated elements to increase the support of the battery carrier 2 during guidance in a translatory movement.

[0042] The battery carrier 2 comprises two openings 7 through each of which an elongated element 3A extends, whereby the battery carrier 2 can slide along the elongated elements.

[0043] The elongated elements 3A are sufficiently stiff to guide the battery carrier 2 in a substantially linear movement, but also sufficiently flexible to allow the elements 3A to bend when the hearing aid it positioned in the ear of a user to thereby ensure comfort for the user.

[0044] The extension part 3A comprises a gripping part 8 extending transversally to the extension part to facilitate gripping hereof, and thereby facilitate removal of the hearing aid from the ear of a user. In the illustrated embodiment, the gripping part 8 is formed as a transverse element joining the outer ends of the extension parts 3A. To improve comfort, the transverse element 8 is arch-shaped.

[0045] This arch-shaped element 8 also acts as a stop member to limit the translatory movement out of the hearing aid, thereby limiting the risk of losing the battery carrier 2, as a sliding movement of the battery carrier 2 along the elongated elements 3A is stopped when the battery carrier 2 touches the stop member 8.

[0046] Figs. 2a and 2b illustrate two different embodiments of a battery carrier assembly 1, 101. The battery carrier assembly 1 illustrated in Fig. 2a is similar to the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1a and 1b.

[0047] In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 2b, the guide 3 comprises a single extension part 103A extending from an outer surface of the faceplate 6. The battery carrier 2 comprises one opening 7 through which the elongated element 103A extends to allow the battery carrier 2 to slide along the elongated element.

[0048] In this embodiment, the gripping part 108 is formed as a sphere attached to the outer end of the extension part 103A.

[0049] Fig. 3 illustrates a further embodiment of a battery carrier assembly 201. The guide 203 is formed integrally with the faceplate 6. As illustrated, the guide 203 is formed partly by the circumference of the opening in the faceplate 6. However, to increase the support, the guide 203 extends into the hearing aid along a part of the circumference.

[0050] To enable release of the battery carrier 202 from the hearing aid, the battery carrier 202 comprises release means 9 to enable disengagement of the battery carrier 202 from the faceplate 6. In the illustrated embodiment, the release means 9 is formed as two protrusions 9A so that a user may grip the battery carrier 202 by positioning the nails in the two indentations 9B formed by the two protrusions 9A.

[0051] The battery carrier assembly 202 further comprises a hinge 10 facilitating tilting of the battery carrier 202 relative to the faceplate 6, when the battery carrier 202 is partly removed from the hearing aid (see also Fig. 4b).

[0052] Figs. 4a and 4b illustrate removal of a battery from a hearing aid. The arrow 11 illustrates the translatory movement of battery carrier 202 out of the hearing aid of which only the faceplate 6 is illustrated. The arrow 12 illustrates tilting of the battery carrier 202 relative to the faceplate 6, and the arrow 13 illustrated how the battery 4 may be press out of the battery carrier 202.

[0053] The arrows 14 illustrated in Fig. 4c illustrate how the hinge 10 may be press together to allow the hinge 10 to be inserted in indentations 15 in the faceplate 6 to enable the tilting illustrated in Fig. 4b.

[0054] Fig. 5 illustrates details of the battery carrier assembly 201 of Fig. 4. As illustrated, the guide 203 forms two extensions into the hearing aid. Furthermore, the indentations 15 for the hinge 10 illustrated in Fig. 4c are illustrated.

Claims

1. A battery carrier assembly for a hearing aid, the battery carrier assembly comprising a battery carrier and a guide, wherein the battery carrier is configured to hold a battery at least during insertion of the battery into the hearing aid through an opening, and wherein the guide is configured to guide the battery carrier in a translatory movement into and out of the hearing aid.

2. A battery carrier assembly according to claim 1, wherein the battery carrier is configured to close the opening when inserted into the hearing aid.

3. A battery carrier assembly according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the guide forms part of a faceplate being attachable to the hearing aid.

4. A battery carrier assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the guide comprises an extension part extending from an outer surface of the hearing aid or the faceplate.

5. A battery carrier assembly according to claim 4, wherein the extension part comprises a gripping part extending transversally to the extending part to facilitating gripping hereof.

6. A battery carrier assembly according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the extension part comprises a stop member to limit the translatory movement out of the hearing aid.

7. A battery carrier assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the battery carrier comprises engagement means for releasable fixing of the battery carrier in the hearing aid.

8. A battery carrier assembly according to claim 7, wherein the engagement means comprises a snap-fit.

9. A battery carrier assembly according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a hinge facilitating tilting of the battery carrier, when the battery carrier is at least partly removed from the hearing aid.

10. A battery carrier assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the battery carrier comprises release means to enable disengagement of the battery carrier from the hearing aid.

11. A battery carrier assembly according to claim 9, wherein the release means comprises at least one of an indentation and a protrusion facilitating gripping of the battery carrier.

12. A battery carrier assembly according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the release means is activatable by deforming an elastically deformable release element.

13. A battery carrier assembly according to claim 12, wherein the elastically deformable release element is formed by a push button.

14. A battery carrier assembly according to any of claims 3-13, wherein a sound inlet is formed in the faceplate.

Drawing