Protective cover

Abstract

A protective cover for a hearing aid has a hollow body of elastic, waterproof material, which has rings or beaded portions through which the hearing aid is received and which is stretchable to fit the rings around parts of the hearing aid. The cover also has domelike portions which are positioned over controls on the hearing aid for permitting the adjustment of the covered controls. Covers for behind-the-ear and eye-glass type hearing aids are disclosed.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to hearing aids, and more particularly to a protective cover for a hearing aid of the behind-the-ear type or the like. Efforts to provide devices compensating for loss of hearing have come a long way from the old ear horns or trumpets to the modern transistorized hearing aids with their miniature electronics and energy cells. However, these present-day hearing aids are not without their problems. The entry therein of body perspiration or ambient moisture, such as descending rain or dust or the like, often leads to corrosion and short-circuiting, resulting in malfunctioning of the hearing aid and causing deterioration in its effectiveness or rendering it completely inoperative.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a protective covering for modern hearing aids which minimizes the entry of body perspiration and ambient moisture or other harmful matter, and maximizes the effectiveness and useful life of the aids.

Another object is to provide a protective cover for a hearing aid, which cover is made of a stretchable, waterproof material having openings for receiving the hearing aid and accommodating the input and output sections thereof.

A further object is to provide a protective cover for a hearing aid of the behind-the-ear type, or the like, the cover having rings or beaded openings and domelike or blister portions for accommodation of the hearing aid and its connections and controls.

A still further object is to provide a protective cover for an eyeglass side frame type of hearing aid.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention are achieved by the provision of a protective cover made of an elastic waterproof material having rings or beaded openings and domelike or arched blister portions, the aid being received through one of the openings and fitted in the cover with the rings around the input and output of the hearing aid and the blister portions over the controls for minimizing entry of ambient moisture and body perspiration into the aid while permitting adjustment of the controls while covered.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a protective cover for a hearing aid in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a behind-the-ear type hearing aid and the protective cover of the present invention being applied thereto.

FIG. 3 is a view somewhat similar to FIG. 2 but showing the protective cover encasing the hearing aid.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the protective cover in section.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of an eyeglass side frame type of hearing aid in a modified form of protective cover, the cover being shown in section.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a protective cover 10 embodying the principles of the present invention and including a bladder-like hollow body member 12 having rings or beaded open end portions 14 and 16 and a domelike blister portion 18. The member 12 is made of an elastic, waterproof material which is stretchable, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, over a hearing aid A of the behind-the-ear type. The hearing aid A has a body B mounting a rotary control C, a downwardly facing microphone input I, and a spout or horn H, which is connected to the audio output O of the aid. The free end of the spout is adapted to have one end of a plastic sound conducting tube T (fragmentarily shown) connected thereto, the other end of the tube being connected to an earpiece (not shown) molded to fit the ear of the wearer of the hearing aid.

The spout H is preferably detachably secured to the output O by a snap-on or threaded connection. To cover the hearing aid A, the spout is detached therefrom, and the cover 10 is applied thereto in rolled form, as shown in FIG. 2, the beaded end portion 16 being snugly fitted around the output section O. The cover is unrolled and stretched over the hearing aid body B, the domelike blister 18 being properly positioned over the control C, and the beaded end portion 14 surrounding the microphone I to allow the passage of acoustic vibrations or sound waves thereto. The spout is re-attached, and squeezes the beaded portion 16 against the hearing aid body for forming a very effective seal. In the case where the spout is fixed to or integral with the body, the beaded portion 16 fits snugly around the spout and thereby provides an effective seal. The tight fit of the cover minimizes the entry of moisture and dust.

It is believed that the operation of the protective cover of the present invention is clearly apparent, and is briefly summarized at this point. With the spout H detached and the cover 10 rolled up, the beaded portion 16 is snugly fitted around the output O and the cover is unrolled and stretched until the hearing aid A is encased, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The spout is re-attached, and the beaded portion 16 is squeezed between the spout and the body B of the hearing aid, as shown in FIG. 4. With the earpiece in the ear of the wearer, force is applied to the domelike portion 18, several times if necessary, to stretch it and turn the control C to desired adjustment of sound intensity. The covered aid is then placed behind the wearer's ear. Alternatively, the covered control can be adjusted while the aid is behind the wearer's ear. If desired, the spout can be re-attached while the cover is in the form shown in FIG. 2, and the control then adjusted, after which covering of the aid is completed and the control further adjusted as hereinbefore described.

The protective cover of the present invention can be modified to receive and accommodate hearing aids of other forms having additional controls and input and output sections that are located differently from those of the aforesaid hearing aid A.

For example, as shown in FIG. 5, in the case of an eyeglass side frame type E of hearing aid having a frame body F (fragmentarily shown) mounting a rearwardly facing input microphone M, sound output S, volume control V and switch control K, there is provided a protective cover 20 of suitable stretchable, waterproof material having beaded openings 22, 24 and 26. The cover also has an elongated arched portion 28 and domelike blister portions 30 and 32. The cover 20 is adapted to be rolled up beginning with the beaded portion 26 and the rolled-up cover is applied to the side frame with the beaded end portion 22 ahead of the volume control V and the cover is unrolled and fitted to properly position the portion 32 over the volume control. The cover is further unrolled to place the beaded portion around the output S, and the portion 30 over the switch control K, with the arched portion 28 over the microphone M and the lower rear end of the side frame, and the beaded end portion 26 around its lower rear end. The arched portion 28 provides a cover for the microphone and an air passage or canal by which sound waves reach the microphone. The canal has a downwardly facing mouth to minimize the entry of moisture or other matter. The output S is adapted to have connected thereto a plastic sound conducting tube which in turn is connected to an earpiece, the tube sealing the beaded portion 24. The control V can be adjusted before or after it is covered. Switch K is preferably of the pressed on-off type for ease of operation while covered. The operation of this form of the invention in FIG. 5 is basically the same as that of FIGS. 1-4, and further description is believed unnecessary.

It will also be appreciated that the protective cover of the present invention is applicable also to hearing aids having an electrical output which is conducted by insulated wiring to a receiver in the wearer's ear. In such case, the wiring can terminate in a jack which is disconnectible prior to covering the hearing aid and readily connectible thereafter, the appropriate beaded portion fitting snugly therearound.

There has thus been provided a hearing aid protective cover of simple, inexpensive construction, which is very effective in minimizing the entry of body perspiration, ambient moisture, and other harmful matter into the aid and thereby making for a longer effective life of the hearing aid.

Although the present invention has been herein described in considerable detail, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited by such details, but may take various other forms within the scope of the claims.

Claims

Having described the invention, what is claimed and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A protective cover for a hearing aid, comprising:

a hollow body member of waterproof material adapted to receive a hearing aid and having an opening through which the hearing aid is received, said opening facing downwardly in the operative position of the hearing aid for protection of the hearing aid against descending harmful matter, said member having a plurality of openings for accommodating the input and output sections of the hearing aid, and said material being stretchable, and said member being stretched for receipt of the hearing aid and accommodation of the sections thereof.

2. The cover of claim 1, wherein said member has a dome-like portion disposable over a control on the hearing aid.

3. A protective cover for a hearing aid, comprising:

a hollow body member of waterproof material adapted to receive a hearing aid and having an opening through which the hearing aid is received, said opening facing downwardly in the operative position of the hearing aid for protection of the hearing aid against descending harmful matter, said material being elastic and said opening having a bead therearound, said member being adapted to be rolled up around said bead and applied in rolled-up form to the hearing aid, after which it is unrolled and stretched to receive the hearing aid and accommodate the parts thereof.

4. A protective cover for a hearing aid, comprising:

a hollow body member of waterproof material adapted to receive a hearing aid and having an opening through which the hearing aid is received, said opening facing downwardly in the operative position of the hearing aid for protection of the hearing aid against descending harmful matter, said member being adapted to receive a hearing aid of the behind-the-ear type and made of an elastic waterproof material, said member having beaded portions encompassing the input and output sections of the hearing aid and a dome-like portion over a control of the hearing aid.

5. A protective cover for a hearing aid, comprising:

a hollow body member of waterproof material adapted to receive a hearing aid and having an opening through which the hearing aid is received, said opening facing downwardly in the operative position of the hearing aid for protection of the hearing aid against descending harmful matter, said member being adapted to protect a hearing aid of the eyeglass side frame type and made of an elastic waterproof material, said member having beaded portions encompassing the side frame and output of the hearing aid, dome-like blister portions over the controls of the hearing aid, and an elongated arched portion for passage of sound waves to the input of the hearing aid.