JPH0526876Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a hearing aid, and more specifically, to a waterproof structure at a joint between a plurality of case members and an adjustment plate that constitute a hearing aid case.

[Background technology and its problems]

Hearing aids amplify sound so that hearing-impaired people can hear it, and therefore a power switch and a volume adjustment knob are attached to the surface of the hearing aid case.

However, in reality, hearing aids are equipped with various functions in addition to the amplification function. For example, in addition to a main gain adjuster (volume adjustment knob) that is mainly operated by a hearing aid user, some devices include a sub gain adjuster that is preset according to the hearing loss of the hearing aid user.
Furthermore, since there are various types of hearing loss among people with hearing loss, it is difficult to respond to hearing aids with a single frequency characteristic.
Therefore, some hearing aids are equipped with a sound quality adjustment function that changes the frequency characteristics of the hearing aid. There are also other output limiting functions. Therefore, hearing aids equipped with these various functions are provided with an adjustment plate that includes switches for adjusting the various functions described above in addition to the power switch and volume adjustment knob. For this reason,
In a hearing aid equipped with such a function, the hearing aid case is composed of a plurality of case members and an adjustment plate that is a part of the case.

However, in the case of such a hearing aid case having an adjustment plate on its surface, although the adjustment plate 9 and the case members 3, 2 are tightly joined as shown in FIG. Moisture such as sweat and rain enters through the joints with the hearing aid case members 3 and 2 due to capillary action, causing insulation deterioration and corrosion of the electrical circuit built into the case, which is a major cause of hearing aid failure. was.

Incidentally, such adverse effects due to moisture are particularly noticeable in behind-the-ear hearing aids and spectacle hearing aids that are used by being worn on the ears, which directly counteract the effects of sweating on the head.

[Purpose of invention]

An object of the present invention is to provide a hearing aid that can prevent moisture from entering through the joint between the adjusting plate and the hearing aid case member.

[Summary of the idea]

In order to achieve this object, according to the present invention, when the recess formed on the end face of the case member and the end of the adjusting plate are fitted together, a slight gap is formed between the two, and a sealing material is interposed in this gap. Do it like this.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a behind-the-ear hearing aid according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a hearing aid case which has a curved shape as a whole, and houses an electric circuit section (not shown) and the like. A hearing aid case 1 is comprised of a pair of hearing aid case members 2 and 3. 4 is the volume adjustment knob, 5 is the power switch,
6 is a lid portion of the battery holder. Further, 7 is a windproof cover that reduces the influence of wind on a microphone (not shown), and 8 is an ear foot to which a sound guide tube (not shown) having an ear sensor at the tip is connected.

Incidentally, reference numeral 9 denotes an adjustment plate that is joined to the pair of hearing aid case members 2 and 3, the details of which are shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line A--A in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the adjustment plate 9 includes a sound quality adjustment volume 9A for treble sounds and a sound quality adjustment volume 9A for bass sounds.
B is provided. Of course, as described above, adjustment means for functions other than the sound quality adjustment volume may be added.

The adjustment plate 9 and the case members 2, 3 are connected to each other as shown in FIG.
This is achieved by fitting recesses 2A and 3A formed on the respective end faces of the . However, as clearly shown in FIG. 2A, the recesses 2A, 3A and the end of the adjusting plate 9 are fitted so that a slight gap 10 is formed between them.

There are various means for forming the gap 10. For example, it is sufficient to set the dimension of the adjustment plate 9 to be slightly smaller than the dimension between the recess 2A and the recess 3A when the pair of hearing aid case members 2 and 3 are joined.
Incidentally, since the adjustment plate 9 is connected not only electrically but also mechanically to the printed board built into the hearing aid case 1, the adjustment plate 9 does not move freely.

However, in order to facilitate the positioning of the adjustment plate 9, the recesses 3A, 2A may be shaped to become narrower toward the back, as shown in FIG. 3, to form a gap 10. In addition, as shown in FIG.
An appropriate number of protrusions 9C are formed on the sides of the recesses 2A and 3A, and a gap 10 is formed by contact between the protrusions 9C and the walls of the recesses 2A and 3A.

Now, this gap 10 is provided with a sealing material, and various sealing materials are known, such as elastic materials such as rubber. By press-fitting the adjusting plate 9 into the recesses 2A and 3A against the elastic force of the rubber, a sealing effect is created and moisture can be prevented from entering. Of course, if an elastic body is used as a sealing material, the case members 2, 3 and the adjustment plate 9 must be joined against the elastic force, and the case members 2, 3 must be joined to the adjusting plate 9.
The case members 2 and 3 require a certain degree of mechanical strength because they are constantly subject to elastic force. Considering this point, a syrup-like sealing member such as liquid packing or silicone grease is suitable as the sealing material. If the sealing material has similar properties, it will not have elasticity, so the case members 2 and 3 will not require much mechanical strength. Furthermore, since a sealing material with such properties can take any shape, it also has the advantage that it is not necessary to form gaps with such exact precision compared to when rubber is used.

[Effect of idea]

As described above, the present invention forms a recess on the end face of the case member at the joint between the hearing aid case member and the adjustment plate, fits this recess and the adjustment plate so that a gap is created, and seals the gap. This can effectively prevent moisture such as sweat and rain from entering from the joint.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a behind-the-ear hearing aid showing an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 1. FIG. 2A is a sectional view of the main part of FIG. FIG. 3 is a sectional view of main parts showing another embodiment. FIG. 4 is a partial schematic diagram of an adjustment plate showing another embodiment. FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a conventional example. 2, 3... Hearing aid case member, 2A, 3A...
Recessed portion, 9...Adjustment plate, 10...Gap.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claim for Utility Model Registration] In a hearing aid case in which a pair of hearing aid case members 2 and 3 are fitted together so as to sandwich the end of an adjustment plate 9 in recesses 2A and 3A formed on the end faces of each, A hearing aid in which a gap 10 is formed between the end of the adjustment plate 9 and the recesses 2A, 3A, and a sealing material is provided in the gap 10.