Acoustics – Anatomic or prosthetic relation – Ear and mouth
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-11
2002-04-09
Nappi, Robert E. (Department: 2837)
Acoustics
Anatomic or prosthetic relation
Ear and mouth
C084S129000, C084S134000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06367578
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sound seal for a hearing aid and more particularly pertains to a new hearing aid sound seal device for preventing audio feedback.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of a sound seal for a hearing aid is known in the prior art. More specifically, a sound seal for a hearing aid heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 5,920,636; U.S. Pat. No. 4,830,139; U.S. Pat. No. 5,682,020; U.S. Pat. No. 4,459,247; U.S. Pat. No. 5,333,622; and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 274,753.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new hearing aid sound seal device. The inventive device includes a support assembly being adapted to be securely and removably disposed about a hearing aid and being adapted to be snugly and removably received in an ear canal of a user's ear to essentially prevent sound from passing around the hearing aid.
In these respects, the hearing aid sound seal device according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of preventing audio feedback.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of sound seal for a hearing aid now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new hearing aid sound seal device construction wherein the same can be utilized for preventing audio feedback.
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new hearing aid sound seal device which has many of the advantages of the sound seal for a hearing aid mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new hearing aid sound seal device which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art sound seal for a hearing aid, either alone or in any combination thereof.
To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a support assembly being adapted to be securely and removably disposed about a hearing aid and being adapted to be snugly and removably received in an ear canal of a user's ear to essentially prevent sound from passing around the hearing aid.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new hearing aid sound seal device which has many of the advantages of the sound seal for a hearing aid mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new hearing aid sound seal device which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art sound seal for a hearing aid, either alone or in any combination thereof.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new hearing aid sound seal device which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new hearing aid sound seal device which is of a durable and reliable construction.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new hearing aid sound seal device which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such hearing aid sound seal device economically available to the buying public.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new hearing aid sound seal device which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new hearing aid sound seal device for preventing audio feedback.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new hearing aid sound seal device which includes a support assembly being adapted to be securely and removably disposed about a hearing aid and being adapted to be snugly and removably received in an ear canal of a user's ear to essentially prevent sound from passing around the hearing aid.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new hearing aid sound seal device that substantially prevents and blocks air from causing audio feedback in a user's ear canal.
Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new hearing aid sound seal device that eliminates any distracting noises.
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3259128 (1966-07-01), Leight et al.
patent: D274753 (1984-07-01), Armstrong
patent: 4459247 (1984-07-01), Rothemund
patent: 4830139 (1989-05-01), Circillo
patent: 5002151 (1991-03-01), Olveira et al.
patent: 5044463 (1991-09-01), Carr
patent: 5333622 (1994-08-01), Casali et al.
patent: 5654530 (1997-08-01), Sauer et al.
patent: 5682020 (1997-10-01), Oliveira
patent: 5920636 (1999-07-01), Olveira et al.
patent: 6006857 (1999-12-01), Leight et al.
patent: 6082485 (2000-07-01), Smith
Lockett Kim
Nappi Robert E.
LandOfFree
Hearing aid sound seal device does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Hearing aid sound seal device, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Hearing aid sound seal device will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2926508