Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02758399 2011-11-14
SECURITY AND PROTECTION DEVICE FOR AN EAR-MOUNTED AUDIO
AMPLIFIER OR TELECOMMUNICATION INSTRUMENT
Cross Reference to Related Application
This application is a continuation-in-part of United States Patent
Application No. 11/376,637 filed March 15, 2006 entitled Ear Gear.
Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of devices for securing ear-mounted
audio amplifiers such as hearing aids and ear-mounted telecommunication
instruments
such as wireless headsets for cellular telephones to the body or clothing of
the user, and
in particular to a soft resilient sleeve having apertures positioned to
accommodate the
insertion and removal of the various instruments.
Background of the Invention
Ear-mounted audio amplifiers such as hearing aids and ear-mounted
telecommunication instruments such as Bluetooth TM wireless headsets for
cellular
phones are hard objects about the size of a thumb that fit Behind the Ear
(BTE) or In the
Ear (ITE). They come in various lengths and widths. Wireless headsets such as
referred
to as Bluetooth TM headsets, referring to the wireless communication format or
protocol
employed, communicate with correspondingly equipped cellular telephones, and
other
telecommunication devices such as mounted in vehicles. These wireless headsets
are
worn by, for example, the vehicles' drivers to provide hands-free use, and
include an
earpiece which, like a hearing aid earmold, is inserted into the user's ear.
The earpiece is
mounted to the device body.
CA 02758399 2011-11-14
With respect to hearing aids, there are also Cochlear models that are
surgically inserted behind the ear. A processor that resembles the BTE Hearing
Aids
mounts externally onto the inserted portion. Hearing Aid Instruments are made
of plastic
and are designed to improve the hearing of the person wearing them. ITE, BTE
and BTE
Cochlear hearing aids are worn by young children, adults and elderly people
with a range
of special needs.
Some young children who are hard of hearing also have other
developmental delays while some elderly individuals may have dementia, or
simply may
be forgetful. Both young children and elderly people with impaired mental
functioning
will from time to time take off their BTE, ITE or BTE Cochlear hearing aids
and discard
them, or not put them in a safe place.
The hearing aid instruments can squeal and cause irritation, perspiration
and chaffing for the person wearing them. This is a problem as the wearer can
develop
sores behind their ear or in their ear. Additionally, when Hearing Aid
Instruments are
exposed to moisture the batteries in the hearing aids burn out more quickly.
Hearing Aids
can fall off when a person is running or involved in a sporting activity such
as tennis or
soccer.
Applicant is aware of three security devices on the market for Hearing Aid
Instruments, and two other devices that attempt to reduce the amount of
moisture that
Hearing Aid Batteries are exposed to.
One such security device was developed by PHONAKTM and is called
Kids Clip. It has a small plastic ring that surrounds a BTE Hearing aid. A
pair of the
plastic rings are attached to a long (16") cord that meet at the centre
attaching to a clip.
The clip then attaches to clothing. To applicant's knowledge, the PHONAKTM
plastic
2
CA 02758399 2011-11-14
ring breaks with little wear and tear and can easily be chewed by a small
child that would
put the device in their mouth.
The second security device of which applicant is aware is called a Huggie
CatcharTM. It has a larger main plastic ring that goes around the ear. The
main plastic ring
has two smaller plastic rings that go around the BTE at the top and bottom of
the BTE.
This device also has a plastic cord that attaches to a clip used to secure the
device to
clothing. This devise is cumbersome and makes a Hearing Aid even more
uncomfortable
on small ears.
The third security device is called an Oto clipTM. It includes a piece of
string having a plastic loop at each end. A clip at the centre attaches to
clothing. This
device is difficult to place on a BTE and does not provide adequate security
since the
loop can slip open or the plastic piece can break off.
There are also two devices that attempt to protect hearing aids from
moisture. These are called the Hearing Aid Sweatband and Super Seals.
The Hearing Aid Sweat Band is made from fabric that is both moisture
repellent and moisture absorbent, the fabric does not inhibit sound. It is
disposable and
has limited wear.
Super Seals are flexible latex covers made for protecting a hearing aid
from moisture. They protect the amplifier, case, controls and battery
compartment of a
hearing aid, while leaving an opening for sound to enter the microphone. While
Super
Seals may protect hearing aid Instruments from moisture they do not reduce
chafing. In
addition, they do not provide security. Super Seals do not let moisture in but
conversely
they also trap moisture.
3
CA 02758399 2011-11-14
Hearing Aid Sweat Band and Super Seals may protect Hearing
Instruments batteries from perspiration, moisture, dirt and grime, but they do
not protect
the wearer's ear from chaffing and do not protect against loss of the hearing
aid.
In the prior art, I am aware of United States Patent No. 5,249,234 which
issued to Butler September 28, 1993, for a Cover for Behind-the-Ear Type
Hearing Aids
and Methods of Making and Using Same.
Summary of the Invention
The Protective deviceaccording to the present invention is a hearing aid
security and protection device that protects hearing aid instruments from
loss, moisture,
wind and dirt while making them more comfortable for the user of the hearing
aid to
wear. The Protective deviceis made from spandex or other soft resilient
materials. It
includes a sleeve and cord, in a variety of lengths and widths to fit
different types of
hearing aids; including BTE, ITE, Mini, Cochlear, and FM wearing aids, (herein
referred
to in short form as BTEs, ITEs, Minis, Cochlears and FMs respectively and
collectively
as Protective devices).
The protective devices have sleeves having a small opening at the top end
of the sleeve and a large opening at the bottom end. A left sleeve and a right
sleeve are
attached to the opposite ends of a length of stretch cord. The center of the
length of cord
is connected to a clip, which releasably attaches the cord to clothing. To
install the
Protective deviceon a hearing aid, the hearing aid earmold is removed from the
hearing
aid; and the top end of the hearing aid slid upwardly through the opening
bottom in the
end of the Protective devicesleeve until the hearing aid is fully encased
within the sleeve
within the top of the hearing aid flush with the top end of the sleeve. The
earmold is then
reattached to the hearing aid.
4
CA 02758399 2011-11-14
The sleeve is sized to fit securely and snuggly around the hearing aid
instrument. The sleeve maybe made of soft stretch fabric and advantageously
repels
external moisture and/or absorbs moisture forming internally within the
sleeve, or
perspiration from the wearer without appreciably attenuating sound. An
independent test
of a spandex TM fabric sleeve has shown a loss of volume of 1 db. In one
embodiment the
sleeve is one and 3/4 inches long and fits most BTEs. The sleeve for FMs is
approximately two and 3/4 inches long and fits a BTE with a FM attachment.
Both
sleeves have an approximately 1/4 inch opening at the top end of the sleeve
and a slightly
wider approximately 5/8 inch opening at the bottom end of the sleeve. The
middle of the
sleeve is approximately 3/4 inch across when laid flat. The BTE is held firmly
in place
on the hearing aid by the stretch fabric of the sleeve and because the smaller
opening in
the sleeve is only as large as the top end of the hearing aid where it
attaches to the
earmold. This inhibits the sleeve from slipping off and securely attaches the
sleeve to the
hearing aid. To remove the sleeve from the hearing aid a user has to slip the
sleeve off
deliberately. The stretch cord between the left and right sleeves, ie between
a pair of
hearing aids when mounted in the sleeves, may be approximately 16 inches for
adult
users, and approximately 12 inches long for infant and children users. The
clip may be
fastened mid way along the length of the cord. One advantage of having the
pair of
sleeves attached to the ends of the cord is that when the hearing aids fall
off the user's
ears, the hearing aids are somewhat protected encased within their sleeves,
hanging down
around the user's torso.
The protective devices protect hearing aid instruments from shutting off
because of moisture from perspiration, rain or snow, and stops dust and dirt
infiltration.
The sleeve is sufficiently light weight and flexible so that hearing aid
controls can be
easily operated through the sleeve when in place on the hearing aid. The
protective sleeve
simply slips over the hearing aid and there is no need for an application
procedure or
special tool as in the Butler prior art referred to above. The fabric of the
sleeve reduces
5
CA 02758399 2011-11-14
chaffing around the top of the user's ear. When the user perspires, for
example during
exercise, the fabric of the sleeve will absorb the moisture and thereby reduce
chaffing.
The sleeve may be constructed using fabrics which resiliently stretch and
are both moisture repelling on the outside and moisture absorbing on the
inside of the
sleeve. Such fabrics may include neoprene, spandex, elasticized wool or
elasticized
cotton. The sleeve may be knitted or otherwise constructed so that the cord
and the sleeve
may be made as one integral unit. In one embodiment the cord is sewn to the
sleeves.
That attachment may be reinforced with rubber glue.
There are several variations that can be made to the sleeve. One variation
is the length of the sleeve. It can be shorter or longer to accommodate a
range of BTEs or
ITEs. For use with BTEs the sleeve may be open at the back, so that users can
access
controls more easily. This open back can also include a flap, fastened using
fasteners
such as a clip, or hook-and-eye, or hook-and-loop. Another variation that can
be made to
the sleeve on BTE models is to close the bottom either by sewing it shut, or
by adhesive,
or again by applying a fastened flap. Some FM users may want the extra
security
provided by the closed bottom. For the ITE model the sleeve will be
considerably shorter
and come in various sizes to accommodate a range of ITE models. The ITE sleeve
maybe
open at the top or closed at the top and open at the bottom to accommodate the
insertion
of the ITE into the ear.
There are also several variations that can be made to the protective device
cord. The cord can be shortened or lengthened to accommodate infant, children
and adult
users. The cord can also adjusted to accommodate mono models.
In summary, the present invention may be characterized as a security and
protection device for an ear-mounted audio amplifier or telecommunication
instrument
wherein the device includes a resilient water-pervious hollow sleeve sized and
shaped to
6
CA 02758399 2011-11-14
snugly conform to the shape of an audio amplifier or telecommunication
instrument
having an earpiece insertable in to the ear of a user when the sleeve is slid
over the
instrument. The sleeve provides protection to the instrument and soft
resilient comfort to
a wearer. The sleeve has a top opening at a top end of the sleeve and a bottom
opening at
an opposite bottom end of the sleeve. The bottom opening is sized to snugly
receive the
instrument into the hollow sleeve so as to substantially completely cover the
instrument
when journalled in the sleeve. The top opening is sized to snugly receive
through the top
opening a corresponding upper end of the instrument. The upper end of the
instrument is
connected to the instrument earpiece.
The sleeve has a longitudinal axis and is elongate along said longitudinal
axis. The bottom opening lies in a plane which is substantially orthogonal to
the
longitudinal axis. The top opening lies substantially in a plane which is
substantially
parallel to the longitudinal axis and laterally offset therefrom, so as to beg
in a side wall
of the sleeve. Advantageously the sleeve is made of a light woven, breathable
resilient
moisture-wicking fabric, for example chosen from the group comprising:
neoprene,
spandex, cotton, wool.
The device may further include a length of resilient cord mounted at a first
end thereof to the sleeve, and at an opposite end thereof to a releasable
fastener. The
sleeve may be a pair of sleeves mounted at opposite ends of the cord, in which
case the
fastener may be midway along the cord. The fastener may be a clip.
An aperture may be formed in a back surface of the sleeve corresponding
to controls on the instrument when the instrument is journalled in the sleeve.
The top and
bottom openings may each include a releasably fastenable closure.
In one embodiment the instrument is a wireless headset for
communicating with a wireless telecommunication device, wherein the headset
includes a
7
CA 02758399 2011-11-14
microphone positioned on the headset so as to be adjacent the cheek of the
user when the
earpiece of the headset is mounted in the user's ear. In that embodiment the
sleeve
covers the microphone of the headset when the headset is mounted in the sleeve
with the
earpiece protruding from the top opening.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Figure 1 shows, in side elevation, the head of a woman wearing a hearing
aid within a sleeve according to one embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a frontal view of a pair of sleeves mounted at the opposite ends
of a length of resilient cord, where each sleeve has an opening at its
opposite ends.
Figure 3 is, in perspective view, one of the sleeves of Figure 2 shown
expanded and slid over a hearing aid.
Figure 4a is, in top perspective view, one of the sleeves of Figure 2.
Figure 4b is, in bottom perspective view, one of the sleeves of Figure 2.
Figure 5a is, in side elevation view, one of the sleeves of Figure 2 with the
cord removed.
Figure 5b is the view of Figure 5a with the sleeve lengthened to
accommodate a longer hearing aid.
Figure 5c is a sleeve according to Figure 5a with the length shortened to
accommodate a shorter hearing aid.
8
CA 02758399 2011-11-14
Figure 12b is, in side elevation view, a sleeve such as found in Figure 2,
with the bottom of the sleeve closed.
Figure 5e is a sleeve according to a further embodiment further including a
third opening on the back of the sleeve.
Figure 5f is, in side elevation view, an enlarged sleeve having top and
bottom openings and a third opening on the back surface thereof
Figure 6a is the view substantially of figure 2 juxtaposed along side the
view of Figure 6b.
Figure 6b is a view in juxtaposed along side Figure 6a to show an
embodiment having a shorter cord.
Figure 6c illustrates an embodiment having a single sleeve attached to one
end of a single length of cord, a clip mounted to the opposite end of the
cord.
Figure 7a is, in front view, a further embodiment of the device of Figure 2.
Figure 7b is, in perspective view, one of the sleeves from Figure 7a.
Figure 7b is, in perspective view, a further embodiment of one of the
sleeves from Figure 7a.
Figure 8 is, in perspective view, a further embodiment of the protective
device according to one aspect of the present invention, mounted onto a
Bluetooth TM
Jawbone TM headset (shown in dotted outline), and having a resilient cord and
mounting
clip at the opposite end of the cord mounted to one end of the sleeve.
9
CA 02758399 2011-11-14
Figure 9 is, in plan view, the view of Figure 8.
Figure 10 is, in right side elevation view, the view of Figure 8.
Figure 11 is, in left side elevation view, the view of Figure 8.
Figure 12 is, in bottom view, the view of Figure 8.
Figure 13 is, in one end elevation view, the view of Figure 8.
Figure 14 is, in the opposite end view, the view of Figure 8.
Detailed Description of Embodiments of the Invention
To install a hearing aid such a BTE into protective device sleeve 12, the
eannold 14a is removed from the BTE, and then the top end of the BTE is slid
upwardly
into the larger hole 16b at the bottom end 12b of the protective device sleeve
12. The top
end or hook part of the BTE comes out of the smaller hole 16a at the top end
12a of the
sleeve. The earmold 14a is then reattached to the BTE hook. For the ITE model,
the
Protective devicesleeve is modified, and slips over the top of the ITE,
leaving the inner
mold exposed. There are currently eight embodiments of Protective devices, as
follows:
1. Original Binaural & Mono, Original cordless
2. FM Binaural & Mono, FM cordless
3. Infant Binaural & Mono, Infant Binaural & Mono FM
10
CA 02758399 2011-11-14
4. Cochlear, Cochlear cordless
5. Mini, Mini cordless
6. ITE Binaural & Mono, ITE cordless
7. Open back
8. Bottom closed sleeve
The Original Binaural has a cord 18 which is approximately 16 inches
long. Either end of the cord attaches to a left and right sleeve. The centre
of the cord is
attached to a clip 18a which in turn attaches to clothing (not shown) such as
a shirt,
jacket, or sweater. The cord 18 also has a plastic cinching ring 20 that
allows the user to
adjust the cord length and limits the bi-lateral movement of the hearing aid
instruments.
As seen in Figure 6c, the original Mono embodiment has a single cord, approx.
8 inches
long, that attaches to a single sleeve. The cord is attached at one end to the
sleeve and at
the other end to the clip which in turn is attached to clothing.
In a first embodiment the sleeve 12 is approximately one and 3/4 inches
long (to fit most BTE's 14). Sleeve 12 has an approximately 1/4 inch diameter
top
opening 16a at the top 12a of the sleeve 12 and a slightly wider diameter
opening 16b at
the bottom 12b of sleeve 12, for example approximately 5/8 inch. The width of
sleeve 12
at the middle when laid flat is approximately 3/4 inch. A sleeve 12 is mounted
at each
opposite end of the cord 18.
As stated above, other variations of the Protective deviceinclude Cordless,
Binaural and Mono Open Back, Binaural and Mono Closed Bottom. Each different
11
CA 02758399 2011-11-14
embodiment accommodates different hearing aid models and the different needs
of
hearing aid users. The FM Binaural, like the first embodiment, also has a cord
18 which
is approximately 16 inches long, and the cord has a clip 18a mounted mid-way
along its
length. However, the FM sleeve 12 is longer, approximately two and 3/4 inch,
to adjust
for the attachment of an FM unit at the bottom of a BTE. The FM Mono
embodiment;
like the Mono embodiment, has a shorter cord 18, approximately 8 inches long,
that is
attached to a single sleeve 12. Other variations to the FM embodiment include
FM
Cordless, FM Binaural and Mono Open Back, and the FM Binaural and Mono Closed
Bottom embodiments. The Infant Binaural embodiment is a variation of the first
embodiment, where the cord length is shorter, being approximately 12 inches
long. A left
and a right sleeve 12 attaches to either end of the 12 inch lengthen of cord
18. Again,
plastic cinching ring 20 allows the user to adjust the cord length and limits
the bi-lateral
movement of the hearing aid instruments.
In the mono-aural embodiment a single sleeve 12 is employed on a single
cord which is half the length of cord 18. For an infant using a mono aural
embodiment,
cord 18 may be approximately 6 inches long. The sleeve 12 for infant BTE and
the adult
size sleeve 12 are approximately the same size and fit a one and 3/4" (approx.
length)
BTE.
The infant FM Binaural embodiment is a variation of the FM embodiment.
The protective device Infant FM embodiment has a cord 18 which is
approximately 12
inches long. A left sleeve 12 and a right sleeve 12 are attached to opposite
ends of the
cord 18. In the Infant FM Mono embodiment a shorter cord 18, approximately 6
inches
long, attaches to a single sleeve 12. Like the FM embodiment, sleeve 12 of the
Infant FM
Binaural and mono-aural embodiments is longer, being approximately two and
3/4", to
adjust for the attachment of an FM unit at the bottom of the BTE. Some hearing
aid users
do not need or want the security provided by the cord 18 and attaching clip
18a in which
case only sleeves 12 are required.
12
CA 02758399 2011-11-14
The embodiment having a back opening 12c is provided for use with
BTE's having volume controls located at the back of the hearing aid instrument
14. Back
opening 12c may be closed with a flap, or with a releasable fastener (not
shown), such as
a hook-and-loop strip, or a hook and eye mounted in the opening.
The embodiment having a closed bottom is provided because some
hearing aid users want to ensure that their hearing aid is enclosed. This is
particularly
important for FM hearing aid Instruments, that may include a boot that
attaches to the
bottom of the instrument, and so consequently the users want to ensure that
the FM boot
does not slip off the instrument and fall through the opening 16b in the
bottom end 12b of
the sleeve. The bottom end 12b may be closed either by being sewn closed or
closed with
a fastener (not shown) such as a hook-and-loop strip or hook and eye. All
embodiments
may be adapted to include an opening 12c and/or to have a closed bottom 12b.
The
Cochlear embodiment has a wider sleeve to accommodate the larger Cochlear
processor.
The Cochlear embodiment has an approximately 5/8 inch opening at the top 12a
and is
approximately one and 1/4 inches wide at the centre. The Cochlear embodiments
all have
an opening 12c to accommodate a short wire cord that attaches the BTE
processor to the
actual Cochlear hearing aid instrument.
Some Cochlear BTE users use a standard BTE on one ear and a Cochlear
processor on the other ear. The correct sized sleeve 12 is chosen depending on
the
hearing aid being used. A Mini Binaural embodiment has a cord 18 which is
approximately 16 inches long. A Mini Mono-aural embodiment uses a shorter
cord,
approximately 8 inches long, which is attached to only a single sleeve. So-
called "Open
Fit" BTE's are less than one and 3/4 inches long. Again, sleeve 12 is sized
accordingly.
The ITE embodiment accommodates hearing aids worn in the user's ear.
There are various sizes of ITE and consequently the ITE embodiment is provided
in
13
CA 02758399 2011-11-14
various corresponding sizes. The ITE sleeve 12 is only different in that it is
shorter. The
sleeve 12 for an ITE may range from approximately 3/4 inches to one and 1/4
inches in
length. One such sleeve is closed at the top end 12a and open at the bottom
end 12b.
Another has a sleeve 12 that is open on both ends. Cord 18 for such sleeves
are
approximately 16" long.
The present invention provides improved security and comfort, as it both
wicks away moisture from the user's ear and prevents chaffing, and helps
protect the
hearing aid batteries which may become damaged when exposed to excessive
moisture.
Users may find the sleeve 12 more attractive to wear than an exposed hearing
aid 14.
As stated above, sleeve 12 is provided in the same shape as a BTE hearing
aid to provide protection for the hearing aid and soft resilient comfort for
the user's ear.
The sleeve has a small opening 16a at the top end, 12a which maybe
approximately 1/4
inch in diameter for securely fitting over the hearing aid top end or hook and
onto the
body of the hearing aid. There is a larger approximately 5/8 inch opening 16b
on the
bottom end 12b that provides access to the battery compartment. The sleeve may
range
from one inch or less in length in the mini embodiment to two and 3/4 inches
in the FM
embodiment, or longer. A typical sleeve 12 may be approximately one and 3/4
inches
long. Each sleeve 12 may be made of a light woven, breathable fabric. Sleeves
12 can be
made from a wide range of fabrics including neoprene, spandex, cotton, and
wool. The
sleeve may range from one inch or less in length and accommodate an "Open Fit"
BTE.
The ITE embodiment sleeve covers the outer exposed area of the ITE
hearing aid and leaves the earmold uncovered. The bottom of the ITE embodiment
sleeve
is approximately 1/4 inch long and reinforced with stitching 12d. Again,
sleeves 12 can
be made from a wide range of fabrics including but not limited to neoprene,
spandex or a
jersey cotton knit. Attached to the centre of the back of each sleeve 12 is a
length of
resilient cord 18 that will typically range from approximately 16 to 12 inches
in length
14
CA 02758399 2011-11-14
and be either sewn to the sleeve or woven from the back in one continuous
piece. The left
sleeve 12 and right sleeve 12 will both be attached to either end of the cord.
Clip 18a is
attached by fastener 18b at the centre of the cord. The cord may be of equal
length on
either side of clip 18a. Other fastening devices other than clip 18a or the
metal cylinder
18b of Figure 7a may be used. Opening 12c may be reinforced with stitching 12d
and
allows access to hearing aid controls.
Figure 1 illustrates a BTE-style battery operated hearing aid 14 (a "BTE")
worn behind the ear 10 of a user. The BTE 14 is enclosed inside of resilient
sleeve 12. As
seen in Figure 2 elastic cord 18 has one end attached to one sleeve 12 the
opposite end
attached to another sleeve 12. Clip 18a is attached mid way along the length
of cord 18.
A cinching ring 20 may be provided to cinch the loop of cord 18 up behind the
nape of
the neck of the user to reduce lateral movement of the cord during use.
A BTE style hearing aid is better seen in Figure 3, enclosed in a sleeve 12
with the elastic cord 18 leading from the BTE, it being understood that the
other end of
the cord is attached to the other sleeve 12. The hook 14a of the BTE 14 is
visible,
extending from the body of the BTE inside the sleeve. An ear mold 14b is
mounted on
the end of hook 14a. The sleeve 12 expands to fit over the BTE. Figures 4a and
4b show
sleeve 12 in a perspective view from top and bottom respectively, before being
fitted over
a BTE. In this embodiment the smaller opening 16a at the top 12a is 1/4" inch
while the
larger opening 16b at the bottom 12b is 5/8 of an inch. The sleeve 12 expands
as it is slid
over the body of the hearing aid, thereby providing a snug, secure fit.
FIG. 5a illustrates a typical sleeve 12 which is one and 3/4 inches long.
FIG. 5b illustrates the sleeve of the FM embodiment at two and 3/4 inches
long. FIG. 5c
illustrates the sleeve of the mini embodiment at 1 inch long. FIG. 5d
illustrates the sleeve
of Figure 5a with a closed bottom end 12b. FIG. 5e illustrates the sleeve of
Figure 5a
with an opening 12c on its back to improve access by a user to volume controls
on the
15
CA 02758399 2011-11-14
BTE. FIG. 5f illustrates the Cochlear embodiment of sleeve 12, at two and 1/2
inches
long. It is wider than the sleeve of Figure 5a and has an opening 12c at the
back to
accommodate the wire cord that connects the Cochlear processor to the Cochlear
hearing
aid instrument.
FIG. 6a illustrates a pair of sleeves 12 mounted on the opposite ends of a
length of cord 18. Again, clip 18a is mounted to cord 18 midway along the
length of the
cord. In this embodiment cord 18 is approximately 8" long on each side of clip
18a. FIG.
6b illustrates the shorter cord 18 of the Infant embodiment. The cord 18 is
approximately
6" long on each side of clip 18a. FIG. 6c illustrates mono-aural embodiment.
The cord is
attached at one end to a single sleeve 12 and at the other end to clip 18a. In
FIGS. 6a and
6b cord 18 is one continuous length that slips through a metal cylinder
fastener 18b that is
attached to the clip 18a. In FIG. 6c the cord is attached to the clip by
crimping a piece of
metal to the end of the cord and to the clip.
FIG. 7a illustrates the ITE embodiment. As seen in Figure 6a and 6b a
cinching ring 20 reduces lateral movement when cinched towards sleeves 12. The
ITE
sleeve 12 of Figure 7a is smaller to fit ITE hearing aid instruments. Again,
cord 18 is
attached to the sleeve 12 and clip 18a. The ITE sleeve 12 is the same shape as
an ITE
hearing aid instrument. The ITE hearing aid is both a hearing instrument and
ear mold in
one piece. The ITE sleeve is closed at the top 12a and open on the bottom 12b
to
accommodate the ITE mold. FIG. 7b further illustrates the ITE embodiment
sleeve of
Figure 7a. FIG. 7c illustrates an ITE embodiment where the top end 12a is open
to
accommodate smaller ITE hearing instruments and the bottom end 12b is open to
accommodate the ITE mold.
In the embodiment of Figures 8 -14, sleeve 12 is adapted to snugly fit over
a telecommunication headset 22 ( shown in dotted outline) which may for
example be a
telecommunication headset such as sold under the trademark Jawbone TM for
wireless
16
CA 02758399 2011-11-14
communication between headset 22 and for example a wireless telephone such as
a
cellular telephone. Headset 22 as illustrated, mounts into ear 10 by the snug
insertion of
a resilient earpiece 22a. A hard body or housing 22b which contains the
processor,
transceiver, microphone, etc is mounted to earpiece 22a so that earpiece 22a
extends
substantially at right angles from the upper end of body 22b. As before, the
upper end
12a of sleeve 12 corresponds to the upper end of the insert within the sleeve,
that is the
upper end of body 22b. Again as before, the upper end of the insert, in this
case the
upper end of body 22b and earpiece 22a are inserted into sleeve 12 through the
opening
16b in the lower end of 12b of sleeve 12. Cord 18 is mounted at one end to the
upper end
12a of sleeve 12, for example, and without intending to be limiting, by being
sewn into
the stitched seam 12e used to close the upper end 12a of sleeve 12. Clip 18a
is mounted
at opposite end of cord 18. Instead of the use of a cinching ring 20, a
resiliently biased
clamp 24 may be mounted along cord 18 so as to resiliently pinch, for example
by the
operation of a spring (not shown) housed within clamp 24 acting to resiliently
bias
plunger 24a in direction A, so as to thereby pinch or clamp both ends of the
loop 18a
formed for example substantially mid way along the length of cord 18. As
before, clip
18c is used to clip the distal end of cord 18, distal from sleeve 12, to the
clothing of the
user.
As before, sleeve 12 may be advantageously made of a light, resilient
breathable fabric, which may be for example a woven fabric, and may for
example be
made of spandex, neoprene, cotton, wool, etc. Thus for example for use with a
Jawbone
TM, Bluetooth TM, wireless headset for wireless communication between the
headset and a
cellular telephone, applicant has determined that spandex fabric will not
interfere with the
operation of the Jawbone which requires the user to compress the housing or
buttons on
the housing of the head set, and does not substantially interfere with the
clarity of audio
amplification (as sleeve 12 does not cover over earpiece 22a), and does not
noticeably
interfere with or otherwise appear to attenuate the reception of the
telecommunication
transmission being received and transmitted by headset 22. Thus with respect
to the
17
CA 02758399 2011-11-14
Jawbone TM headset in particular, the recommended usage of the Jawbone TM
headset
recommends that the rubber nub 22c which is mounted to so as to extend from
the bottom
end of body 22b, protruding on the same side from body 22b as earpiece 22a and
power
switch 22d, in operation rests against the user's cheek. Applicant has
determined that the
interleaving of the fabric of sleeve 12 between nub 22c and the cheek of the
user does not
interfere with the telecommunication operation of the headset.
Although only the Jawbone TM style headset 22 is illustrated, it is
understood that sleeve 12 may be adapted to snugly fit over other wireless
headsets for
example other wireless Bluetooth TM headsets for use in association with
cellular
telephones and the like without departing from the scope of the present
invention. Also,
for headsets of the style which, in the manner of hearing aid BTE embodiments,
which
mount behind the ear of the user, it is further understood that, sleeve 12 may
also be
adapted to snugly fit over such behind-the-ear telecommunication headsets 22.
However,
again, with respect to the illustrated Jawbone TM headset 22, which has an
internal
microphone (not separately visible) which one might expect the fabric of
sleeve 12 to
interfere with as sleeve 12 covers over the microphone, again applicant has
determined
that sleeve 12 is substantially acoustically transparent to the passing of
audio from the
user to the microphone. Consequently, sleeve 12 has only the minimum necessary
number of apertures, namely opening 16b at the bottom end 12b, and earpiece
opening
16c at the top end 12a through which earpiece 22a protrudes, to thereby , to
the extent
possible, protect headset 22 from dust, moisture either incursion or
retention, and also to
provide a light impact protection to the headset.
When installing headset 22 into sleeve 12, the headset is inserted, earpiece
22a first, in direction B along the longitudinal axis C of the sleeve 12 until
the earpiece
can be popped through the resilient circumference of the rim of top opening or
earpiece
opening 16c. As the earpiece passes through opening 16c, the body 22b of the
headset
seats snugly into sleeve 12 so as to completely occupy the available volume
within the
18
CA 02758399 2011-11-14
sleeve, and advantageously so as to slightly resiliently expand sleeve 12
thereby ensuring
a snug fit and good retention of the sleeve on the headset. Once the earpiece
has passed
through opening 16c, the resilient circumference or rim around opening 16c
closes snugly
around the narrow stalk 22e of the earpiece to snugly seal around the stalk.
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing
disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of
this
invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the
scope of
the invention is to be construed in accordance with the substance defined by
the
following claims.
19
