Hearing aid, hearing aid body and holding member

Abstract

To enable a change of outer appearance of a hearing aid in response to a purpose and a scene or the like.SOLUTION: A hearing aid 100 includes: a main body 1 (hearing aid body) whose surface (inner side surface 11) on one side is to have contact with an ear E when wearing; and a holding part 2 (holding member) removably arranged with respect to the main body 1. In the main body 1, a step part 13 is arranged at an outer peripheral edge of a surface (outer side surface 12) on the other side different from the one side to have contact with the ear E. The holding part 2 includes: a fitting part 21 to be fitted to the step part 13; and an attachment part 22 to be attached to the ear E.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a hearing aid, a hearing aid body, and a holding member. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, hearing aids have been disclosed that transmit bone-conducted sound to the head from a hearing aid body that is worn between the auricle and the head, thereby providing sound to a user (for example, a behind-the-ear hearing aid in Patent Document 1). When the hearing aid is placed between the auricle and the head in this way, the fact that the hearing aid is being worn is not very noticeable, and the hearing aid can be used relatively without any resistance. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2013-115800 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, hearing aids are used on a daily basis and are expected to be used in a variety of situations. Therefore, if hearing aids could be used in a way that suited the situation, like an accessory, people would be able to enjoy wearing the hearing aid in a positive way, and this would lead to a positive desire to wear the hearing aid when going out in various situations.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a hearing aid, a hearing aid main body, and a holding member whose appearance can be changed depending on the use, situation, etc. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, one aspect of the hearing aid of the present invention is to Equipped with a battery,When worn, one side On the underside of the ear, corresponding to the cavity of the concha A body in contact with the A holding portion that supports the main body from below when attached, A holding portion that is detachably provided to the main body; Equipped with The main body has a step portion provided on an outer periphery of a surface on the other side different from the one side that contacts the ear, The holding portion includes a fitting portion that fits with the step portion, An attachment portion formed continuously and integrally with the mating portion, An attachment part that is attached to the ear; It is characterized in that it contains Effect of the Invention

[0007] The present invention has the effect of enabling the appearance of a hearing aid to be changed depending on the application, situation, etc. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of the main parts of a hearing aid seen from the outside, showing the state in which a first holding part is attached to the main body. [Diagram 2] 2 is a perspective view of the main part of the hearing aid shown in FIG. 1, seen from the inside. [Diagram 3] 2 is an exploded perspective view of the hearing aid showing the state in which the holding part has been removed from the main body. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the main body of the hearing aid. [Diagram 5] 5 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the main body taken along line VV in FIG. 4. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic diagram of the main internal configuration of a hearing aid according to an embodiment in a perspective view of the main parts as seen from the inside. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of parts of the ear to explain the wearing position of a hearing aid. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of parts of the ear to explain the wearing position of a hearing aid. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the position at which a hearing aid according to an embodiment is worn on the ear. [Figure 10] 1 is a perspective view of the main parts of a hearing aid according to an embodiment, seen from above when worn on an ear. [Figure 11] 1 is a perspective view of the main parts of a hearing aid seen from the outside, showing the state in which a second holding part is attached to the main body. FIG. [Figure 12] 12 is a perspective view of the main part of the hearing aid shown in FIG. 11, seen from the side. [Figure 13] 12 is a perspective view of the essential parts of the hearing aid shown in FIG. 11 when worn on the ear, seen obliquely from behind. [Figure 14] 1A and 1B are perspective views of the main parts of a hearing aid seen from the outside, showing the state in which a third retaining part is attached to the main body, where (a) is a hearing aid for the left ear and (b) is a hearing aid for the right ear. [Figure 15] 14(a) is a perspective view of the main part of the third holding part, where FIG. 14(a) shows the state in which only the holding part has been removed, and FIG. 14(b) shows the holding part shown in FIG. 14(a) in an orientation in which the mounting part is facing forward. [Figure 16] 13 is a diagram showing a hearing aid with a third holding part attached to the main body when worn on the ear. FIG. [Figure 17] 13 is a perspective view of the main parts of the hearing aid as seen from the outside, showing the state in which the fourth holding part is attached to the main body. FIG. [Figure 18] 18A and 18B are perspective views of the main parts of the fourth holding part, where (a) shows the state in which only the holding part has been removed from FIG. 17, and (b) shows the holding part shown in (a) as seen from the inside side when attached to the main body. [Figure 19] 13 is a diagram showing a hearing aid with a fourth holding part attached to the main body when worn on the ear. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] An embodiment of a hearing aid according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, the embodiments described below are subject to various limitations that are technically preferable for implementing the present invention, but the scope of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments and illustrated examples.

[0010] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the main part of a hearing aid seen from the outside, showing a state in which a holding part (first holding part) is attached to a main body. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the main part of the hearing aid shown in Fig. 1 seen from the inside, and Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the hearing aid, showing a state in which the holding part is removed from the main body. In the following embodiment, up / down and left / right refer to the directions shown in Fig. 1. Also, an inner surface 11 of the main body 1 described later is referred to as "one side surface", and an outer surface 12 is referred to as "the other side surface" different from the "one side surface".

[0011] As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the hearing aid 100 of this embodiment comprises a hearing aid main body (hereinafter referred to as "main body 1") and a holding member (hereinafter referred to as "holding part 2"). The holding portion 2 is provided detachably to the main body 1 as shown in FIG. In the hearing aid 100 of this embodiment, the holding part 2 (first holding part 2a) shown in FIG. 1, etc., the holding part 2 (second holding part 2b) shown in FIG. 12, etc., the holding part 2 (third holding part 2c) shown in FIG. 15, etc., and the holding part 2 (fourth holding part 2d) shown in FIG. 18, etc. are prepared so as to be replaceable with respect to the main body 1. The types of holding parts 2 prepared are not limited to the four types exemplified in the embodiment. There may be fewer types, or holding parts 2 of shapes other than those shown here may be prepared. Hereinafter, when simply referring to "holding part 2", it includes the first holding part 2a, the second holding part 2b, the third holding part 2c, and the fourth holding part 2d. The material from which the retaining portion 2 is formed is not particularly limited. However, in the following embodiment, it is assumed that the first retaining portion 2a and the second retaining portion 2b are formed from various resin materials, and the third retaining portion 2c and the fourth retaining portion 2d are formed from various metal materials, as described below.

[0012] Each of the retaining parts 2 (i.e., the first retaining part 2a, the second retaining part 2b, the third retaining part 2c, and the fourth retaining part 2d) includes a mating part 21 attached to the main body 1, and an attachment part 22 that engages with the ear E when the hearing aid 100 is worn. Note that the mating part 21 of the first retaining part 2a will be referred to as mating part 21a, the mating part 21 of the second retaining part 2b as mating part 21b, the mating part 21 of the third retaining part 2c as mating part 21c, and the mating part 21 of the fourth retaining part 2d as mating part 21d, and when simply referred to as "mating part 21", this refers to all of these in common. Furthermore, the mounting portion 22 of the first holding portion 2a is referred to as mounting portion 22a, the mounting portion 22 of the second holding portion 2b is referred to as mounting portion 22b, the mounting portion 22 of the third holding portion 2c is referred to as mounting portion 22c, and the mounting portion 22 of the fourth holding portion 2d is referred to as mounting portion 22d, and all of these are generally referred to as "mounting portion 22." In this embodiment, the engagement portion 21 and the mounting portion 22 are formed continuously and integrally. The engagement portion 21 is formed in a ring shape, and the holding portion 2 is attached to the main body 1 by fitting the engagement portion 21 into a step portion 13 provided on the outer surface 12 of the main body 1 .

[0013] Here, the configuration of the main body 1 to which the holding portion 2 is attached will be described with reference to FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the main body. Note that the up / down and left / right directions in FIG. 4 are the same as those in FIG. The main body 1 is arranged so that when the hearing aid 100 is worn on the ear E (see Figure 8, etc.), the inner surface 11, which is the "one side surface," comes into contact with the ear E, and the entire body is positioned behind the ear E. A step portion 13 is provided on the outer peripheral edge of the outer surface 12, which is the “other side” different from the one side of the main body 1. The step portion 13 is formed around the entire outer peripheral edge of the outer surface 12.

[0014] Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the main part taken along line VV in Fig. 4, showing the configuration of the step portion. In Fig. 5, the engagement portion 21 of the holding portion 2 that fits into the step portion 13 is shown by a two-dot chain line. As shown in Fig. 5, the step portion 13 has a depth approximately equal to the thickness γ of the engagement portion 21. The depth of the step portion 13 is not limited to this example. It may be formed deeper than the illustrated example if there is no problem from the viewpoint of design and the like. Also, if the depth of the step portion 13 of the main body 1 is shallow, the engagement portion 21 of the holding part 2 becomes easily detached, which is not preferable, but if various locking structures as described below are provided to make it difficult to come off, the depth of the step portion 13 may be shallower than the thickness γ of the engagement portion 21.

[0015] In this embodiment, the surface 131 rising from the bottom surface of the step portion 13 is recessed in a direction away from the outer circumferential end. In addition, the side of the mating portion 21 of the holding portion 2 that corresponds to the surface 131 of the step portion 13 (i.e., the inner peripheral surface 211 of the mating portion 21) is shaped to have a bulge along this recess. This provides an engagement structure that ensures a more secure fit and is less likely to come off when the mating portion 21 is fitted into the step portion 13. Note that the surface 131 of the step portion 13 and the inner peripheral surface 211 of the mating portion 21 may be provided with a locking claw and a locking recess that fit into each other at corresponding positions, and the locking claw may be engaged with the locking recess to provide a configuration (locking structure) that ensures a more secure and less likely to come off.

[0016] The shapes and configurations of the step portion 13 and the engagement portion 21 are not limited to those exemplified here. Also, for example, it is preferable that the stepped portion 13 and the mating portion 21 have built-in magnets (not shown) that attract each other, in which case, in addition to the fitting due to the shapes of the stepped portion 13 and the mating portion 21, the mating portion 21 is also attracted to the stepped portion 13 of the main body 1 by the magnetic attraction, making it difficult to come off. If the magnetic attraction alone is sufficient to hold the stepped portion 13 and the mating portion 21 together, it is not necessary to provide a locking structure or the like for the stepped portion 13 and the mating portion 21 to fit together.

[0017] The step portion 13 may be formed to have a constant width all around, but in this embodiment, the width α (see FIG. 4) near the longitudinal ends of the main body 1 (the upper end and the lower end in FIG. 4) is set wider than the width β (see FIG. 4) of the portions on both the left and right sides of the main body 1. By providing a portion with a wider width, the holding portion 2 is less likely to come off the main body 1 than when the width of the step portion 13 is "width β" all around.

[0018] It is preferable that the width of each part of the holding part 2 on the mating part 21 side is also set according to the shape of the step part 13. When the holding part 2 is attached to the main body 1, the engagement part 21 of the holding part 2 supports the main body 1 by embracing it from below, as shown in Fig. 2, for example. For this reason, in particular, when the step part 13 and the engagement part 21 are in contact with each other over a wide width on the underside of the hearing aid 100, the main body 1 can be stabilized and the holding part 2 can be configured to be less likely to come off.

[0019] The main body 1 also includes a microphone 14 . The microphone 14 is a sound wave input unit (sound collection unit) that collects sound waves (sound data) from the outside. The sound waves (sound data) collected by the microphone 14 are input to a control device 17 (see FIG. 6) described later. The position of the microphone 14 is not particularly limited, but a position that easily collects external sound waves (sound data) is preferable. In this embodiment, the microphone 14 is provided on the outer surface 12 of the main body 1 around the upper part.

[0020] It is preferable that at least the sound collecting portion of the microphone 14 is exposed to the outside, and the holder 2 is disposed so as not to cover the microphone 14. That is, the fitting portion of the fitting portion 21 of the holding portion 2 with the main body 1 is ring-shaped, and for the fitting portion 21a of the first holding portion 2a, the fitting portion 21c of the third holding portion 2c, and the fitting portion 21d of the fourth holding portion 2d, the ring-shaped fitting portion functions as a "hole" formed inside the fitting portion 21 to expose the microphone 14 to the outside. Also, as described later, the fitting portion 21b of the second holding portion 2b is provided with an exterior portion 23, and a slit portion 231 formed in this exterior portion 23 functions as a "hole" to expose the microphone 14 to the outside. In this way, no matter what shape the holder 2 is attached to the main body 1, the microphone 14 is not covered and sound collection by the microphone 14 is not hindered.

[0021] The main body 1 is a case made of, for example, resin, in which various functional parts for functioning as a hearing aid are housed. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the hearing aid as seen from the inside, showing a schematic diagram of the main functional parts provided within the device. As shown in FIG. 6, the hearing aid 100 includes a control device 17, a storage device 18, a power supply unit 19, a vibrator 15, and the like.

[0022] The control device 17 is a computer that includes an IC (Integrated Circuit), an LSI (Large Scale Integration), etc., and controls each part of the hearing aid 100. The storage device 18 stores various programs, data, etc. required for the control device 17 to realize various functions.

[0023] The power supply unit 19 is an internal battery or the like that supplies power to each part of the hearing aid 100. As shown in Fig. 6 etc., the main body 1 is provided with a charging terminal 16, and the battery of the power supply unit 19 etc. can be charged by connecting the charging terminal 16 to various external power sources. The position of the charging terminal is not particularly limited, but in this embodiment it is provided near the bottom end of the main body 1 (the bottom end in Figs. 1, 4 etc.) as shown in Fig. 6 etc. The connection with the external power source may be either contact or non-contact, and if non-contact charging is possible, the charging terminal does not need to be exposed on the side surface of the main body as in the illustrated example. In this embodiment, for example, when the hearing aid 100 is housed in a dedicated case (not shown), the charging terminal is connected to an external power source and charging is possible.

[0024] The transducer 15 transmits the sound waves (sound data) collected by the microphone 14 as vibrations to the bones of the ear E, which includes cartilage. The transducer 15 is disposed in the lower part of the main body 1, on the inside of the inner surface 11, etc. 4, the main body 1 of this embodiment is slightly wider in the left-right direction at the bottom than at the top, and has a plump, rounded shape overall. The main body 1 also has an arch-like curve in the up-down direction, so that when placed behind the ear E, the inner surface 11 naturally fits the skin behind the ear. The transducer 15 is preferably disposed so as to come into contact with the vicinity of the bone of the ear E, including the cartilage, when the hearing aid 100 is worn on the ear E.

[0025] 7 and 8 are explanatory diagrams showing the structure of a typical ear. The part of the ear E from the pinna AE of the external ear exposed to the outside to the ear canal is formed of cartilage, and vibrations are easily transmitted from the "concha CE" (see Figure 7, etc.), which includes the "concha CE1" and "cavity of the concha CE2" near the entrance of the ear canal. In Figure 8, the positions corresponding to the "concha CE1" and "cavity of the concha CE2" when a person's head is viewed from diagonally behind are shown shaded.

[0026] When the hearing aid 100 of this embodiment is worn on the ear E, the main body 1 fits between the auricle AE and the head (temporal region TH in FIG. 8 and other figures) (see FIG. 10). Then, as shown in FIG. 9, when worn on the ear E, the inner surface 11 of the main body 1 comes into contact with the back side of the ear E from below. In this embodiment, the main body 1 does not necessarily have to be disposed above the auricle AE. It is sufficient that the main body 1 is disposed at least below the auricle AE close to the ear hole (such as a position corresponding to the "cavity of the concha CE2" in FIG. 8). When the main body 1 is in contact with the back of the ear E in this manner, it is preferable that the transducer 15 is positioned at a position corresponding to the "concha CE" (particularly the lower "cavity of the concha CE2") shown in Figures 8 and 9 (see Figure 9). This allows the transducer 15 to easily transmit sound waves (sound data) as vibrations to the bone (cartilage).

[0027] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 10, when the hearing aid 100 of this embodiment is worn on the ear E and viewed from above (top of the head), the hearing aid 100 (at least the main body 1) positioned between the auricle AE and the temporal region TH has an approximately trapezoidal shape when viewed from above. The short side of the trapezoid (i.e., the side of the inner surface 11) is placed on the base of the ear E, and the width gradually increases toward the long side of the trapezoid (i.e., the side of the outer surface 12). This allows the hearing aid 100 (at least the main body 1) to fit almost perfectly in the gap between the pinna AE and the temporal region TH, and is held in a state where it is unlikely to fall off or rattle.

[0028] Furthermore, since the holding part 2 is attached to the ear E so as to support the entire main body 1 from below, the inner surface 11 of the main body 1 (especially the lower part in which the vibrator 15 is arranged inside) is easily fitted in close contact with the back of the ear E. 9 and 10, the attachment portion 22a of the first holding portion 2a is hooked onto the auricle AE from above the ear E, and the tip portion 221 of the attachment portion 22a wraps around to the front side of the ear E. If the first holding portion 2a is made of a resin that has a certain degree of elasticity and flexibility, such as an elastomer, the main body 1 is pulled upward by the holding portion 2, making it easier to fit the back side of the ear E. In addition, the side of the first holding part 2a that is arranged on the skull side (temporal part TH side) is linear as shown in Fig. 10 etc. Therefore, the first holding part 2a and the main body 1 to which the first holding part 2a is attached are arranged along the temporal part TH, and are stable and do not easily float off the head.

[0029] Figure 11 is an oblique view of the main parts of a hearing aid showing the second holding part attached to the main body, and Figure 12 is an oblique view of the main parts of the hearing aid seen from the side with the second holding part attached to the main body. The second holding part 2b shown in FIG. 12 etc. has a more glamorous design than the first holding part 2a, and is the holding part 2 intended for scenes in which active activities such as sports and various leisure activities are carried out.

[0030] The second holding portion 2b is formed of a resin having a certain degree of elasticity and flexibility, such as elastomer, in the same manner as the first holding portion 2a. The second holding portion 2b is assumed to be relatively colorful, such as fluorescent. It may also contain fluorescent materials so that it stands out even in dark places. In the second holding portion 2b, it is preferable that an exterior portion 23 is provided on the fitting portion 21b that fits into the step portion 13 of the main body 1. The exterior portion 23 is provided over the entire fitting portion 21b, and is adapted to encase the outer surface 12 of the main body 1.

[0031] The exterior part 23 is appropriately provided with a slit part 231, and the microphone 14 is exposed from this slit part 231. In this way, even if the exterior part 23 is provided, sound collection by the microphone 14 is not hindered. The shape of the exterior part 23 is not limited to the illustrated example, and may be a swirl pattern, horizontal stripes, etc. However, regardless of the design, it is preferable that the holding part 2 (second holding part 2b) is arranged so as not to cover the microphone 14 provided on the outer surface 12.

[0032] As shown in Fig. 12, the attachment portion 22b of the second holding portion 2b is formed in a substantially U-shape. As shown in Fig. 13, the tip 221 of the attachment portion 22b is inserted into and locked in the triangular fossa TF (see Figs. 13 and 7) of the ear E. This prevents the hearing aid 100 from falling off or shifting even if it is subjected to a certain amount of vibration during sports, etc., and allows the user to enjoy the experience without even noticing the presence of the hearing aid 100. It is preferable that the attachment portion 22b (particularly the tip portion 221) is made of a soft material. For example, the tip portion 221 may be formed by covering only the tip of the attachment portion 22b with a cap or the like made of silicone or the like. This prevents pain even when the tip portion 221 is inserted into the triangular fossa TF (see FIG. 13) or the like when the hearing aid 100 is worn, and does not impose a burden on the user.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 12, the second holding part 2b is provided with an attachment part 22b that protrudes largely toward the inside of the hearing aid 100, and an exterior part 23 that encases the outer surface 12 of the main body 1, and is disposed so as to surround the outside of the main body 1. Therefore, even if the hearing aid 100 falls off the ear E, the impact of the fall, etc. is absorbed to some extent by the holding part 2 (second holding part 2b) made of elastomer or the like. This makes it possible to avoid a large impact being applied directly to the main body 1, and the main body 1 is configured to be less likely to be damaged. Furthermore, by forming the holding part 2 (second holding part 2b) from elastomer or the like, the holding part 2 itself is less likely to bend or break due to an impact.

[0034] Figure 14 is an oblique view of the main parts of a hearing aid showing the state in which the third holding part is attached to the main body, where (a) shows a hearing aid for the left ear and (b) shows a hearing aid for the right ear. Figure 15 is an oblique view of the main parts of the third holding part, where (a) is an oblique view of the third holding part with only the holding part removed from Figure 14(a), and (b) is an oblique view of the third holding part shown in (a) with the mounting part facing forward. The third holding part 2c shown in Figures 14(a) and 14(b) has a sophisticated and subdued design, and is a holding part 2 designed for parties and other stylish occasions. A hearing aid 100 equipped with the third holding part 2c can be worn like an accessory, and the design is suitable for women.

[0035] The third holding portion 2c is formed of a metal, etc. As the metal forming the third holding portion 2c, it is preferable to use a metal that is relatively unlikely to cause metal allergies, such as gold, platinum, titanium, etc., which is also used in ordinary accessories. In the third holding part 2c, it is preferable that a gap 212 is provided in a part of the fitting part 21c that fits into the step part 13 of the main body 1. By providing the gap 212 in a part of the fitting part 21c rather than making the fitting part 21c a continuous ring shape, the fitting part 21c spreads somewhat at the gap 212 when fitting the fitting part 21c into the step part 13, and the fitting can be performed relatively smoothly without applying force. In addition, the fitting part 21c can be removed relatively easily from the main body 1.

[0036] 14(a) and 14(b), the third holding portion 2c is disposed so that the holding portion 2 (third holding portion 2c) surrounds the outside of the main body 1 from the outer surface 12 side to the inner surface 11 side of the main body 1. Therefore, even if the hearing aid 100 falls off the ear E, the holding portion 2 (third holding portion 2c) hits the ground or the like first, and the impact of the fall or the like is absorbed to some extent. This makes it possible to prevent a large impact from being applied directly to the main body 1, and the main body 1 is configured to be less likely to be damaged.

[0037] FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a hearing aid with a third holding part attached to the main body, worn on the ear. 16, in the third holding portion 2c, an attachment portion 22c connected to a fitting portion 21c that fits into the main body 1 disposed behind the ear E passes beside the ear E and wraps around to the front side of the ear E. A tip portion 221 of the attachment portion 22c may be engaged in an ear hole or the like. The main body 1 is positioned in a predetermined position by clamping the ear E (e.g., the auricle AE or earlobe EL) between the main body 1 and at least a part of the third holding portion 2c (i.e., the mounting portion 22c of the third holding portion 2c). The specified position is a position where, when the main body 1 is in contact with the back of the ear E, the vibrator 15 is positioned corresponding to the "concha CE" (particularly the lower "cavity of the concha CE2"), as shown in Figure 16.

[0038] FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the main part of the hearing aid showing the state in which the fourth holding part is attached to the main body. Figure 18 is an oblique view of the main parts of the fourth holding part, Figure 18(a) is an oblique view of the fourth holding part with only the holding part removed from Figure 17, and Figure 18(b) is a view of the fourth holding part shown in (a) from the inside side when attached to the main body.

[0039] The fourth retaining portion 2d shown in Figures 18(a) and 18(b) is a retaining portion 2 with a relatively simple design, and a hearing aid 100 equipped with the fourth retaining portion 2d as shown in Figure 17 has a design that is easy to wear even for men with little resistance. The fourth holding portion 2d, like the third holding portion 2c, is formed of a metal such as gold, platinum, or titanium. As with the third holding portion 2c, the fourth holding portion 2d may also be configured to have a gap or the like in part of the engagement portion 21d to facilitate engagement (easy attachment and detachment).

[0040] Similarly to the third retaining portion 2c, the fourth retaining portion 2d is disposed so that the retaining portion 2 (fourth retaining portion 2d) surrounds the outside of the main body 1 from the outer surface 12 side to the inner surface 11 side of the main body 1. Therefore, even if the hearing aid 100 falls off the ear E, the retaining portion 2 (fourth retaining portion 2d) hits the ground or the like first, so that the impact of the fall or the like is absorbed to some extent, and it is possible to prevent a large impact from being applied directly to the main body 1. Therefore, the main body 1 is less likely to be damaged.

[0041] FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a hearing aid with a fourth holding part attached to the main body, worn on the ear. 19, in the fourth holding part 2d, an attachment part 22d connected to a fitting part 21d that fits into the main body 1 arranged behind the ear E passes beside the ear E and goes around to the front side of the ear E. A tip part 221 of the attachment part 22d may be engaged in an ear hole or the like. The main body 1 is positioned in a predetermined position by clamping the ear E (e.g., the auricle AE or earlobe EL) between the main body 1 and at least a part of the fourth holding portion 2d (i.e., the mounting portion 22d of the fourth holding portion 2d). The predetermined position is the same as that explained for the hearing aid 100 to which the third holding portion 2c is attached, and therefore the explanation will be omitted.

[0042] Next, the operation of the hearing aid 100 according to this embodiment will be described. First, in a normal situation (that is, in a daily living situation), the first holding portion 2a is attached to the main body 1. The holding portion 2 has a straight line on the side of the mounting portion 22 that is placed on the skull side, and has different shapes on the left and right sides, but the main body 1 has the same shape on the left and right sides. The functional part of the hearing aid mounted on the main body 1 may be customizable by the user. In this case, different settings may be made for the left and right ears due to differences in hearing ability between the left and right ears. In such a case, the fitting part 21a of the first holding part 2a is fitted into the step part 13 of the main body 1, matching the left and right distinction between the holding part 2 and the main body 1.

[0043] Specifically, when the first holding part 2a is made of elastomer or the like, for example, the corresponding part of the mating part 21a is hooked on a wide part of the step part 13 (for example, the upper end or lower end of the main body 1) to slightly widen the mating part 21a and fit it into the step part 13. This causes the mating part 21a to be attached to the step part 13 under tension. Note that when the first holding part 2a is made more difficult to remove by the attraction force of a magnet or the like, the first holding part 2a is also held by the magnet.

[0044] 9 and 10, the main body 1 is placed behind the ear E so that its inner surface 11 is in contact with the skin, and the attachment part 22a of the first holding part 2a is hooked from above the ear E and engaged with the ear E. At this time, the position of the main body 1 is adjusted so that the part where the transducer 15 is provided is in contact with the vicinity of the bone part of the ear E including the cartilage (for example, a position corresponding to the cavity of the concha CE2). As a result, the sound waves (sound data) collected by the microphone 14 are transmitted to the bone part (cartilage part) as vibrations, and the sound can be heard well.

[0045] Furthermore, the second holding portion 2b is attached to the main body 1 in situations where active activities such as sports are being carried out. The second holding part 2b also has a straight line on the side of the mounting part 22b that is arranged on the skull side, and has different shapes on the left and right sides, and each fitting part 21b is fitted into the step part 13 of the main body 1. When fitting the fitting part 21b to the main body 1, the mounting position of the second holding part 2b is adjusted so that the microphone is exposed from the slit part 231 of the exterior part 23. Note that the specific mounting method of the second holding part 2b is the same as that of the first holding part 2a, so a description thereof will be omitted.

[0046] 13, the main body 1 is placed behind the ear E with the inner surface 11 in contact with the skin, and the second holding part 2b is hooked from above the ear E and engaged with the ear E. In the second holding part 2b, the attachment part 22b wraps around to the front side of the ear E, and the tip part 221 is inserted into the triangular fossa TF or the like. As with the first holding portion 2a, the position of the main body 1 is adjusted so that the portion where the transducer 15 is provided is in contact with the vicinity of the bone portion of the ear E including the cartilage (for example, a position corresponding to the cavity of the concha CE2).

[0047] As a result, sound waves (sound data) collected by the microphone 14 are transmitted as vibrations to the bones (cartilage), allowing the hearing aid 100 to be heard well. In addition, since the attachment portion 22b of the second holding portion 2b wraps around and stays deep in the ear E, the hearing aid 100 is unlikely to fall off even during vigorous movements such as sports. Furthermore, since the second holding portion 2b is disposed so as to surround the outside of the main body 1, even if the hearing aid 100 is dropped, the impact on the main body 1 in which the functional portion of the hearing aid is housed can be minimized.

[0048] In addition, in situations where the wearer wishes to enjoy wearing a hearing aid as a fashion accessory, the third holding portion 2c and the fourth holding portion 2d are attached to the main body 1. The third holding portion 2c and the fourth holding portion 2d are formed from various metals and the like, and the user can enjoy a high-class and stylish appearance. The third holding portion 2c and the fourth holding portion 2d also have different shapes on the left and right, and the respective mating portions 21b are fitted into the stepped portions 13 of the main body 1. When the third holding portion 2c and the fourth holding portion 2d are attached to the main body 1, the third holding portion 2c and the fourth holding portion 2d are positioned so that the microphone 14 is not covered by the attachment portions 22c and 22d.

[0049] Then, as shown in Figures 16 and 19, for example, main body 1 is placed behind ear E with inner surface 11 in contact with the skin, and the third holding portion 2c and the fourth holding portion 2d are hooked from the side of ear E, and main body 1 is positioned in a predetermined position by pinching ear E (e.g., auricle AE or earlobe EL) between main body 1 and holding portion 2 (third holding portion 2c and fourth holding portion 2d).

[0050] As a result, sound waves (sound data) collected by microphone 14 are transmitted as vibrations to the bone (cartilage), allowing the sound to be heard well. Also, third holding part 2c and fourth holding part 2d are arranged to surround the outside of main body 1, as shown in Figures 14(a) and 17. Therefore, even if hearing aid 100 is dropped, the impact on main body 1, in which the functional part of the hearing aid is housed, can be minimized.

[0051] In this way, by changing the holding part 2 depending on the situation in which the hearing aid 100 is worn, it is possible to wear the hearing aid 100 with an appearance that suits the situation, without having to own multiple types of hearing aids.

[0052] As described above, the hearing aid 100 of this embodiment comprises a main body 1 whose inner surface 11, which is the "one side surface," contacts the ear E when worn, and a retaining portion 2 which is detachably attached to the main body 1, and the main body 1 has a step portion 13 provided on the outer peripheral edge of the outer surface 12, which is the "other side surface" different from the "one side" that contacts the ear E, and the retaining portion 2 includes an engagement portion 21 which engages with the step portion 13, and an attachment portion 22 which is attached to the ear E. This allows the retaining part 2 to be easily attached by fitting the engagement part 21 into the step part 13 of the main body 1. Since the retaining part 2 can be easily attached and detached just by fitting the ring-shaped engagement part 2 into and detaching it from the step part 13, the appearance of the hearing aid 100 can be easily changed by attaching the desired retaining part 2 to the main body 1 depending on the purpose, situation, etc. in which the hearing aid 100 is worn.

[0053] Furthermore, the main body 1 includes a microphone 14 that collects external sounds, and the holder 2 attached to the main body 1 is positioned so as not to cover the microphone 14. If the microphone 14 is covered, it becomes difficult to collect external sounds, but by leaving the microphone 14 uncovered, it is possible to properly collect sounds, which is important for the function of the hearing aid.

[0054] Furthermore, the main body 1 may include a vibrator 15, and the vibrator 15 may be arranged so as to come into contact with the vicinity of the bone of the ear E, including the cartilage, when worn. If the transducer 15 is used to transmit sound by bone conduction (or cartilage conduction), sound can be heard without inserting a receiver (speaker) in the ear canal. Therefore, when worn, the hearing aid 100 including the main body 1 can be placed behind the ear E, making it less noticeable that the hearing aid 100 is being worn.

[0055] Furthermore, in the hearing aid 100 of this embodiment, the main body 1 is formed in a trapezoidal shape when viewed from above when worn, and the shorter side of the trapezoid is placed on the base of the ear E side. Therefore, the main body 1 of the hearing aid 100 fits and stabilizes in the gap between the ear E and the skull (temporal region TH). This makes it difficult to notice that the hearing aid 100 is being worn, and the main body 1 is less likely to shift position as it fits just behind the ear E.

[0056] Furthermore, when the holding portion 2 is arranged to surround the outside of the main body 1, for example as in the second holding portion 2b shown in Figure 11, the third holding portion 2c shown in Figure 14(a), or the fourth holding portion 2d shown in Figure 17, the holding portion 2 can absorb impact to a certain extent even if the hearing aid 100 falls from the ear E. Therefore, the main body 1 incorporating the functional part as a hearing aid can be protected from impact and prevented from being damaged.

[0057] Furthermore, for example, as in the third retaining portion 2c shown in Figure 14(a) and the fourth retaining portion 2d shown in Figure 17, if the main body 1 is positioned in a predetermined position by clamping the ear E between at least a part of the retaining portion 2 (specifically, the attachment portions 22c, 22d) and the main body 1, it can look like an accessory worn on the ear E, and there is less resistance to wearing the hearing aid 100.

[0058] In addition, the main body 1 as the hearing aid main body has a step portion 13 on the outer peripheral edge of the outer surface 12, which is the "other surface" different from the inner surface 11, which is the "one surface" that contacts the ear E when worn, and is detachable from the retaining portion 2 (retaining member) which has a mating portion 21 that mates with this step portion 13. This makes it possible to replace the holding part 2 attached to the main body 1, and the appearance of the hearing aid 100 can be easily changed by attaching the preferred holding part 2 to the main body 1 depending on the purpose, situation, etc. in which the hearing aid 100 is worn.

[0059] In addition, the retaining portion 2 as a retaining member has a step portion 13 provided on the outer peripheral edge of the outer surface 12, which is the "other surface" different from the inner surface 11, which is the "one surface" that contacts the ear E when worn, and a mating portion 21 that detachably matings with the step portion 13 in the main body 1 (hearing aid main body) that includes a microphone 14, which is a sound collection portion that collects external sounds, and includes a hole on the inside of the mating portion 21 to expose the microphone 14 to the outside. This allows the holding part 2 attached to the main body 1 to be replaced, and regardless of which holding part 2 is attached, the microphone 14 is not covered, allowing the sound collection function, which is important for the function of the hearing aid, to be performed properly.

[0060] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0061] For example, in this embodiment, an example has been shown in which the main body 1 is placed in a "predetermined position" such that the transducer 15 is placed at a position corresponding to the "concha CE" (particularly the lower "cavity of the concha CE2") when the main body 1 is in contact with the back side of the ear E, as shown in Figure 9 etc., but the placement of the main body 1 is not limited to this. The main body 1 only needs to be placed so that the transducer 15 is in contact with the vicinity of the bone part of the ear E including the cartilage when the hearing aid 100 is worn, and the position of the ear E in which the transducer 15 is placed can be set appropriately.

[0062] Furthermore, the positions of the microphone 14 and the transducer 15 on the main body 1 are not limited to the examples described in the embodiment. The position can be appropriately set as long as it does not impede the sound collection function of the microphone 14 or the sound transmission function of the transducer 15.

[0063] In this embodiment, the first retaining portion 2a and the second retaining portion 2b are formed from a resin such as elastomer, and the third retaining portion 2c and the fourth retaining portion 2d are formed from a metal such as gold or platinum, but the materials for forming the retaining portions 2 are not limited to these. For example, the first holding portion 2a and the second holding portion 2b may be made of metal, and the third holding portion 2c and the fourth holding portion 2d may be made of resin.

[0064] In addition, it is possible to appropriately change the shapes of the main body 1 and the holding part 2. It is also possible to customize the shapes of the main body 1 and the holding part 2 in accordance with the shape of the user's ear E and its surroundings.

[0065] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but includes the scope of the invention described in the claims and its equivalents. [Explanation of symbols]

[0066] 1 Main unit 11 Inner surface 12 External surface 13 Step 14. Mike 15 Transducers 2 Holding part 21 Engagement part 22 Mounting part 100 Hearing aids AE Auricle CE Concha E ear TH temporal region

Claims

1. A main body equipped with a battery, one side of which contacts the underside of the back of the ear corresponding to the cavity of the concha when worn; A holding portion that supports the main body from below when the device is attached, the holding portion being detachably provided on the main body; Equipped with The main body has a step portion provided on an outer periphery of a surface on the other side different from the one side that contacts the ear, The holding portion includes a mating portion that mates with the step portion, and an attachment portion that is formed continuously and integrally with the mating portion and is attached to the ear. A hearing aid characterized by:

2. The body includes a microphone; The holding portion is positioned so as not to cover the microphone.

2. The hearing aid according to claim 1.

3. The body includes a transducer. The transducer is disposed so as to be in contact with the vicinity of an ear bone including cartilage when worn.

2. The hearing aid according to claim 1.

4. The holding portion is an elastic member.

2. The hearing aid according to claim 1.

5. The main body is formed in a trapezoidal shape when viewed from above when worn, and a short side of the trapezoid is disposed on the base of the ear.

5. A hearing aid as claimed in claim 4.

6. The holding portion is disposed so as to surround the outside of the main body.

2. The hearing aid according to claim 1.

7. The main body is placed in a predetermined position by pinching the ear between at least a part of the holding portion and the main body.

2. The hearing aid according to claim 1.

8. A body including a microphone, one side of which contacts the ear when worn; a holder that is disposed so as not to cover the microphone and is detachably provided on the main body; Equipped with The main body has a step portion provided on an outer periphery of a surface on the other side different from the one side that contacts the ear, The holding portion includes a mating portion that mates with the step portion and an attachment portion that is attached to the ear. fruit, The fitting portion is provided with an exterior portion that encases the outer surface of the main body, The exterior portion is provided with at least one slit portion, The slit portion is disposed so as not to cover the microphone. hearing aid.

9. The holding portion is a metal member, The mating portion has a gap in a part thereof.

2. A hearing aid as claimed in claim 1.

10. The step portion has a width at both ends in a longitudinal direction of the main body that is set wider than a width at both ends in a lateral direction of the main body.

2. A hearing aid as claimed in claim 1.

11. A battery is provided, and a step portion is provided on the outer periphery of the other side surface, which is different from the one side surface that contacts the underside of the back of the ear corresponding to the cavity of the concha when worn, A hearing aid main body characterized in that it is detachable between a retaining member having a mating portion that mates with the step portion and an attachment portion that is formed continuously and integrally with the mating portion.

12. a step portion provided on the outer periphery of the surface of the hearing aid that is different from the surface of the hearing aid that contacts the lower side of the back of the ear corresponding to the cavity of the concha when the hearing aid is worn, and a fitting portion that detachably fits between the step portion of the hearing aid body that includes a sound collecting portion that collects external sounds and a battery; a mounting portion formed continuously and integrally with the mating portion, the mounting portion being adapted to be attached to the ear; having A holding member characterized in that the holding portion includes a hole on the inside of the engagement portion for exposing the sound collecting portion to the outside.

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