JP2009027409A - Hearing aid - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a hearing aid which does not show up distinctively against a skin and has a sound guide tube which is not distinctive. <P>SOLUTION: A sound guide tube 1 employs a transparent tube being colored in light brown or colored in flesh, thus the sound guide tube is suppressed from showing up against a skin and is made less distinctive. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a hearing aid having a sound guide tube such as an ear hook type.

As shown in FIG. 6, a conventional hearing aid of a type in which the main body is not directly attached to the ear hole such as the ear-hook type is composed of a hearing aid main body located on the rear side of the auricle and a sound guide tube extending from the front side of the auricle to the ear hole. It is structured to transmit the output sound of the hearing aid main body to the ear hole through the sound guide tube. Generally, a transparent resin tube with an outer diameter of about 3mm is used for the sound guide tube, and the ear plug is attached to the hook part connected to the hearing aid body at the end and the ear plug attached to the ear hole at the other end. Parts are connected.
Special table 2001-510976

  However, in a conventional hearing aid such as a hook-type hearing aid, the body of the hearing aid can be relatively inconspicuous because it is hidden behind the auricle, but the sound guide tube portion arranged on the front side of the ear is easily noticeable, For users who want to be inconspicuous, there has been a problem of applying aesthetics.

  Normally, a transparent resin tube having an outer diameter of about 3 mm is used as the sound guide tube. However, although it is transparent, it is not perfect transparency, and it appears to be whitish from the skin color due to the minute whiteness of the material itself, the minute roughness of the surface, the reflection of light, etc. Since the part that appears to float is large, it is easy to stand out.

  In addition, conventionally, a method of narrowing the tube in order to make the sound guide tube portion inconspicuous may be used (see, for example, Patent Document 1). However, in order to make it less noticeable, it is usually necessary to use a thin tube with an outer diameter of 1 mm or less, and since the inner diameter of the sound guide tube is reduced, the acoustic resistance increases and the sound pressure level as a hearing aid is limited to a low level. There was a problem of being done.

  The present invention has been made to solve the conventional problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a hearing aid having a sound guide tube that is inconspicuous.

  The hearing aid of the present invention is a hearing aid having a hearing aid main body, a tube that transmits sound from the hearing aid main body to a user's ear, and an ear plug that holds the tube in the ear hole of the user, The tube is formed of a material colored in brown or skin color based on a transparent material.

  With this configuration, the color of the sound-transmitting tube (hereinafter referred to as “sound guiding tube”) is close to the skin color of the wearer. .

  The hearing aid according to the present invention is characterized in that the inner diameter of the sound guide tube is in the range of φ1.3 and outer diameter of φ1.6 to inner diameter of 1.7 mm and outer diameter of 2.4 mm.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to realize a hearing aid that achieves both high visibility and a low sound pressure level.

  In the hearing aid of the present invention, the cross-sectional shape of the sound guide tube has at least one linear portion.

  With this configuration, in addition to suppressing the sound guide tube portion from appearing to rise from the skin, the flat surface of the tube is further matched with the skin surface of the face to be worn, so that the space between the tube and the skin surface is reduced. Fewer shadows can be produced, and the skin color can be shown more transparently, making it less noticeable.

  According to the present invention, by using a tube that is transparently lightly brown or skin-colored as the sound guide tube, it is possible to suppress the sound guide tube portion from appearing to rise from the skin and make it less noticeable.

  Hereinafter, hearing aids according to embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  A hearing aid according to the first embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 1, a sound guide tube 1 is configured using a tube material 6 in which a transparent material is lightly browned or skin-colored, and a hook portion 2 connected to the hearing aid body 2 at one end and the other end. An earplug mounting portion 5 for attaching an earplug 4 to be mounted on the ear hole is connected to the earplug.

  The effect | action is demonstrated about the hearing aid comprised as mentioned above.

  An example of the first embodiment of the present invention is shown below. In this example, the sound guide tube 1 is made of a transparent or translucent brown material. For example, the raw material is transparent or translucent nylon, a standard plate molded product (thickness 2.4mm), color difference measurement values L * = 61, a * = 29, b * = 39 (CIE (International Lighting Commission ) 1976 D-65 light source). When this raw material is extruded and formed into a hollow circular tube shape as shown in FIG. 2, the wall thickness is reduced, so that the tube material 6 in a state of being transparently thin and brown is obtained. The tube material 6 is deformed by applying heat or the like, and the sound guide tube 1 is formed from the hearing aid body into a shape along the curve from the upper part of the tragus to the external auditory canal through the upper part of the pinna and the face. can get.

  Compared with a normal transparent tube, in the sound guide tube of the hearing aid of the present invention, the lightly colored brown blends with the skin color that can be seen through the tube, thereby preventing it from appearing uplifting and making it less noticeable.

  In addition, for example, a method of making the tube less noticeable by using a tube colored in brown or skin color that is not transparent with a color that matches the average skin color of Japanese people is also conceivable. However, the actual skin color varies from person to person, and even if it matches the average skin color, the conspicuousness is not eliminated due to the difference in color. On the other hand, in the sound guide tube 1 used for the hearing aid of the present invention, the skin color of the wearer can be seen through the tube that is transparently light brown or skin color, and mixed with the light brown color. By this, it becomes possible to become inconspicuous by adapting to the skin color of each wearer.

  According to the first embodiment of the present invention as described above, a hearing aid having the sound guide tube 1 that is not easily noticeable can be realized by using a tube that is transparently lightly brown or skin-colored.

  Next, FIG. 3 shows a sound guide tube 1 of a hearing aid as an example of the second embodiment of the present invention.

  FIG. 3 shows the shape of the tube material 6 used in the present invention. A sound guide tube 1 of a hearing aid as an example of the second embodiment has a hollow circular cross section with an inner diameter of φ1.3 to 1.7 mm and an outer diameter of φ1.6 to 2.4 mm, respectively, as shown in FIG. And similarly to 1st embodiment, it is comprised using the tube material 6 transparently colored with light brown or skin color. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment of the present invention.

  In the hearing aid having the sound guide tube 1 configured as described above, the effect described in the first embodiment can be made inconspicuous and a high sound pressure level can be obtained.

  As for the diameter of the sound guide tube 1, naturally, the thinner it is, the less noticeable it will be when it is worn on the ear. Therefore, from the standpoint of inconspicuous dimensions, the sound guide tube with an outer diameter of about 3 mm used for the above-mentioned conventional hearing aids. Rather, a tube with a smaller dimension is preferable. Recently, there are some hearing aids that use thinner tubes to make them less noticeable. However, in order to obtain inconspicuousness due to the thinness of the tubes, it is usually necessary to use thin tubes with an outer diameter of 1 mm or less. However, as the inner diameter of the sound guide tube becomes smaller, the acoustic resistance increases, and the sound pressure level obtained as a hearing aid becomes lower. As a result, the range of hearing ability levels of the hearing impaired that can be handled is limited to mild hearing loss. FIG. 4 is an example showing the relationship between the inner diameter of the sound guide tube 1 and the maximum sound pressure level that can be obtained as a hearing aid.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the sound pressure level obtained varies depending on the inner diameter of the sound guide tube, and becomes lower as the inner diameter becomes smaller.

  With a hearing aid using a sound guide tube with an outer diameter of φ1 mm or less (substantially inner diameter of φ0.6 mm or less), the possible sound pressure level is 110 dB (1.6 kHz) or less, and the hearing aid can only handle mild hearing loss. . For example, in this example, a sound pressure level of about 115 to 120 dB at 1.6 kHz is required to support medium-level hearing loss as a hearing aid. For that purpose, an inner diameter of φ1.3 mm (outer diameter of φ1.7 mm) is required. The above is necessary. In the example of the second embodiment of the present invention, in addition to using a tube having an outer diameter of about 2 mm, which is thinner than a conventional sound guide tube having an outer diameter of about 3 mm, the light brown or skin color is transparently colored. The effect makes the sound guide tube less noticeable and, as a hearing aid, a sound pressure level corresponding to medium-level hearing loss can be obtained.

  Thus, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, it is thinner and thinner than the conventional sound guide tube having an outer diameter of about 3 mm, with an inner diameter of φ1.3 to 1.7 mm and an outer diameter of φ1.6 to 2.4 mm. By using a tube colored in brown or flesh, it is possible to construct a sound guide tube 1 having an inner diameter that is not noticeable and can obtain a sufficient sound pressure level. A hearing aid that achieves both pressure levels can be realized.

  Next, FIG. 5 shows a sound guide tube 1 of a hearing aid that is an example of the third embodiment of the present invention.

  FIG. 5 shows the shape of the tube material 6 used in the present invention. The sound guide tube 1 which is an example of the third embodiment has at least one straight portion in the cross-sectional shape of the sound guide tube as shown in FIG. 5 and, similarly to the first embodiment, It is configured by using a tube material 6 which is transparently light brown or skin color. At this time, the straight portion of the tube cross section forms a flat shape that is easy to follow along the skin parallel to the axis, thereby forming the shape of the tube so as to match the skin surface of the face to be worn. Yes. Other configurations are the same as those of the first or second embodiment of the present invention.

  In the sound guide tube 1 configured as described above, in addition to the effects described in the first or second embodiment, the flat surface of the tube cross section is matched with the skin surface of the face, for example, a circular cross section. In the case of a tube, the shadow generated between the tube and the skin surface can be reduced, and the skin color can be seen through more, making it less noticeable.

  Furthermore, since the cross-sectional shape of the sound guide tube 1 is closer to a flat shape than when the sound guide tube 1 is circular, the cross-section of the sound guide tube 1 is maintained while maintaining the size of the internal cross-sectional area through which sound is transmitted in the cross-sectional area. The height of the shape can be kept low. This means that the projecting height from the skin surface is low, and the step difference from the skin surface is reduced, so that the shape can be made less noticeable. Further, a curved portion (separated from the skin surface) with respect to the difference between the reflection of light on the skin and the reflection of light on the surface of the sound guide tube 1 and the straight portion along the skin surface in the cross section of the sound guide tube 1 ( It can be made more inconspicuous by reducing the discomfort of the appearance due to light refraction at the rising line portion from the skin surface.

  As described above, according to the third embodiment of the present invention, by using a tube having a cross-section that is transparent or translucent brown or skin-colored and has a flat surface in part, it is further conspicuous. A difficult sound guide tube 1 can be constructed, and a hearing aid that is not noticeable when worn on the ear can be realized.

  In addition, the sound guide tube 1 of the hearing aid described here is an example of an embodiment, and the material, shape, size, and color are not limited for the present invention.

  For example, regarding the coloring of tubes, considering that the skin color is not actually uniform, by creating unevenness in the shade, color, etc. so as to match the skin color state as much as possible, It can be inconspicuous. Furthermore, since the color of the skin is different from the race, the environment, and the season, a plurality of types of sound guide tubes may be held and replaced and used as needed. .

  As described above, the hearing aid according to the present invention can constitute a sound guide tube that is inconspicuous and can obtain a sufficient sound pressure level, and achieves both high conspicuity and high sound pressure level when worn on the ear. A hearing aid can be realized.

The figure of the sound guide tube and the hearing aid in the first embodiment of the present invention Sound guide tube explanatory diagram in the hearing aid of the first embodiment of the present invention Sound guide tube explanatory drawing in the hearing aid of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention Explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the inner diameter of the sound guide tube and the maximum output sound pressure level of the hearing aid Sectional drawing of the sound guide tube with a flat surface in the hearing aid of the 3rd Embodiment of this invention Figure of conventional sound guide tube and hearing aid

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Sound guide tube 2 Hearing aid main body 3 Hook part 4 Ear plug 5 Ear plug attachment part 6 Tube material

Claims (3)

A hearing aid having a hearing aid main body, a tube that transmits sound from the hearing aid main body to a user's ear, and an ear plug that holds the tube in the ear hole of the user, wherein the tube is made of a transparent material. A hearing aid characterized by being made of a material originally colored in brown or flesh. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the tube has an inner diameter of φ1.3 and an outer diameter of φ1.6 to an inner diameter of 1.7 mm and an outer diameter of 2.4 mm. The hearing aid according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a cross-sectional shape of the tube has at least one straight portion.