CN-122029836-A - Pipeline built-in receiver assembly

Abstract

The present invention provides a in-line receiver assembly comprising a receiver housing defining a channel extending in a longitudinal direction, wherein a first sound opening is arranged at a first end, and wherein a receiver is arranged in the channel. The dome is attached to the receiver housing at a first end. The dome includes a circumferential member disposed circumferentially around the receiver housing and having a second sound opening at a front end. The extension extends from the inner surface of the circumferential member toward the channel. The receiver housing includes a first engagement structure and the dome includes a second engagement structure, wherein the first engagement structure and the second engagement structure are configured to engage each other to releasably lock the dome to the receiver housing. The assembly further comprises a first release pattern and a second release pattern configured for releasing the dome from the receiver housing upon rotational movement of the dome and the receiver housing relative to each other.

Inventors

• D. R. Debari
• P C chip
• L. M.A. Van der Vaart

Assignees

• 声扬荷兰有限公司

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20241011

Priority Date

20231011

Claims (17)

1. 1. A pipe-in-receiver assembly, comprising: -a receiver housing defining a channel extending in a longitudinal direction between a first end and an opposite second end, wherein the channel forms a channel wall at the first end, the channel wall ending in a first end face surrounding a first sound opening arranged at the first end, the first sound opening being configured for passage of sound; -a receiver arranged in the channel, and -A dome releasably attached to the receiver housing at the first end, the dome comprising: A circumferential member arranged circumferentially around the receiver housing and extending in the longitudinal direction between a front end and a rear end, wherein a second sound opening is arranged at the front end, the second sound opening being configured for passage of sound, An extension extending in the longitudinal direction from the inner surface of the circumferential member towards the channel and ending in a free end, the extension forming a space, Wherein one of the channel wall and the extension extends into the other of the channel wall and the extension so as to form an overlap between the channel wall and the extension in the longitudinal direction, Wherein the receiver housing comprises a first engagement structure and the dome comprises a second engagement structure, the first engagement structure and the second engagement structure being configured to engage each other for releasably locking the dome to the receiver housing, Wherein one of the first engagement structure and the second engagement structure forms at least one protrusion and the other of the first engagement structure and the second engagement structure forms at least one of a protrusion and an indentation, Wherein the channel wall forms a first release pattern at the first end face or the extension at the free end, the first release pattern comprising at least one recess and at least one protruding part, and wherein the other of the channel wall and the extension forms a second release pattern comprising at least one recess and at least one protruding part arranged along the inner circumference of the corresponding channel wall or extension, wherein the second release pattern is configured to abut against at least a portion of the first release pattern, and wherein the first release pattern and the second release pattern are configured to release the dome from the receiver housing upon rotational movement of the dome and the receiver housing relative to each other.
2. 2. The in-line receiver assembly of claim 1 wherein the extension extends into the channel and wherein an inner surface component of the channel wall forms an inner contact surface for contacting an outer contact surface of the extension, the first engagement structure being disposed at the inner contact surface of the channel wall and the second engagement structure being disposed at the outer contact surface of the extension.
3. 3. The in-line receiver assembly of claim 2, wherein the first engagement structure comprises an indent on the inner contact surface transverse to the longitudinal direction, wherein the second engagement structure comprises a protrusion on the outer contact surface transverse to the longitudinal direction, and wherein the shape of the protrusion matches the shape of the indent.
4. 4. The in-line receiver assembly of claim 1 wherein the extension extends around the channel and wherein the outer surface component of the channel wall forms an outer contact surface for contacting an inner contact surface of the extension, the first engagement structure being disposed at the outer contact surface of the channel wall and the second engagement structure being disposed at the inner contact surface of the extension.
5. 5. The in-line receiver assembly of claim 4, wherein the first engagement structure comprises an indent transverse to the longitudinal direction on the outer surface component of the channel wall, wherein the second engagement structure comprises a protrusion transverse to the longitudinal direction on an inner surface of the extension, and wherein the protrusion has a shape that matches the shape of the indent.
6. 6. A in-line receiver assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the extension extends into the channel, an end face of the extension forming the first release pattern, the second release pattern being arranged along the inner surface of the channel wall, wherein the shape of the first release pattern matches the shape of the second release pattern.
7. 7. The in-line receiver assembly of any one of claims 1,4 and 5, wherein the extension extends around the channel, the first end face of the channel wall forming the first release pattern, the second release pattern being disposed along an inner surface of the extension, wherein a shape of the first release pattern matches a shape of the second release pattern.
8. 8. The in-line earpiece assembly of any of the preceding claims, wherein the first relief pattern and the second relief pattern are configured to rotationally engage while releasably locking the dome to the earpiece housing.
9. 9. The in-line earpiece assembly of any of the preceding claims, wherein the first release pattern and the second release pattern each include a plurality of recesses and a plurality of protruding members.
10. 10. The in-line earpiece assembly of any of the preceding claims, wherein the shape of the first relief pattern is substantially the same as the shape of the second relief pattern, and wherein the first relief pattern is rotationally displaced relative to the second relief pattern when the dome is releasably engaged with the earpiece housing.
11. 11. The in-line earpiece assembly of any of the preceding claims, wherein each of the first relief pattern and the second relief pattern form a saw-tooth pattern.
12. 12. The in-line receiver assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the first and second release patterns, preferably both the first and second release patterns, comprises a contact surface that is inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction, wherein the contact surface of the first release pattern is configured to slide along the contact surface of the second release pattern when the dome and the receiver housing are rotationally moved with respect to each other.
13. 13. The in-line receiver assembly of any of the preceding claims, wherein a first height of the at least one recess defined as a distance from a top of the recess to a bottom of the recess along the longitudinal direction is substantially equal to a second height of the at least one protruding member defined as a distance from a top of the protruding member to a bottom of the protruding member along the longitudinal direction.
14. 14. The in-line receiver assembly of claim 13, wherein a width of the first engagement structure and/or the second engagement structure along the longitudinal direction is smaller than the first height and the second height so as to move the first engagement structure and the second engagement structure relative to each other along the longitudinal direction upon rotational movement of the dome and the receiver housing relative to each other.
15. 15. The in-line receiver assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the circumferential member has a substantially elliptical shape in a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.
16. 16. The in-line earpiece assembly of claim 15, wherein the first release pattern and the second release pattern are configured to orient the circumferential member of the dome in a predetermined orientation relative to the earpiece housing when the dome is releasably locked to the earpiece housing.
17. 17. A dome for a in-line receiver assembly comprising a receiver housing defining a channel extending in a longitudinal direction between a first end and an opposite second end, wherein the channel forms a channel wall at the first end, the channel wall terminating in a first end face surrounding a first sound opening disposed at the first end, the first sound opening configured for passage of sound, and a receiver disposed within the channel, the dome comprising: a circumferential member configured for being arranged circumferentially around the receiver housing and extending in the longitudinal direction between a front end and a rear end, wherein a second sound opening is arranged at the front end, the second sound opening being configured for sound to pass through, An extension extending from the inner surface of the circumferential member and ending in a free end for engagement with the channel, the extension forming a space, and Wherein the dome comprises a second engagement structure configured for engagement with the first engagement structure of the receiver housing for releasably locking the dome to the receiver housing, Wherein one of the first engagement structure and the second engagement structure forms at least one protrusion and the other of the first engagement structure and the second engagement structure forms at least one of a protrusion and an indentation, and Wherein the channel wall forms a first release pattern at the first end face or the extension at the free end, the first release pattern comprising at least one recess and at least one protruding part, and wherein the other of the channel wall and the extension forms a second release pattern comprising at least one recess and at least one protruding part arranged along the inner circumference of the corresponding channel wall or extension, wherein the second release pattern is configured to abut against at least a part of the first release pattern, and wherein the first release pattern and the second release pattern are configured to release the dome from the receiver housing upon rotational movement of the dome and the receiver housing relative to each other.

Description

Pipeline built-in receiver assembly Technical Field The present invention relates to a in-line receiver assembly comprising a receiver housing defining a channel, a receiver arranged in the channel, and a dome arranged circumferentially around and attached to the receiver housing, and a dome for a in-line receiver assembly. Background In-line receiver (RIC: RECEIVER IN CANAL) devices, sometimes referred to as in-the-ear Receiver (RITE) devices, have become popular components in hearing devices, where the RIC is connected to a second housing behind the ear that contains other components of the hearing device, such as a battery, an amplifier, a microphone, an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), etc. In order to position the RIC within the ear canal of the wearer, a dome is used. Both the receiver in the ear canal and the dome for positioning and holding in place are of a rather small size, i.e. of a diameter of only a few millimeters, for example between 2mm and 7 mm. The dome has a tendency to become dirty during use due to accumulation of debris such as cerumen thereon. Therefore, periodic cleaning and/or replacement of these domes is critical to prevent debris from eventually entering the receiver itself, causing it to malfunction. Thus, it is necessary to periodically remove the soiled dome and reposition the new or cleaned dome onto the RIC. For many patients wearing hearing devices, it is difficult to manipulate such tiny domes and receivers. In particular, it is not easy to accurately and securely position a new or cleaned dome on the RIC, as many patients also have difficulty removing a soiled dome from the RIC. Disclosure of Invention It is an object of embodiments of the present invention to provide an improved dome for a pipe-in-receiver assembly. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a pipe-in-receiver assembly that includes an improved dome. The present invention provides a pipe-in-receiver assembly according to claim 1 and a dome for a pipe-in-receiver assembly according to claim 17. Accordingly, a first aspect of the present invention provides a pipe-in-receiver assembly comprising: -a receiver housing defining a channel extending in a longitudinal direction between a first end and an opposite second end, wherein the channel forms a channel wall at the first end, the channel wall ending in a first end face surrounding a first sound opening arranged at the first end, the first sound opening being configured for passage of sound; a receiver arranged in the channel, and -A dome releasably attached to the receiver housing at a first end, the dome comprising: -a circumferential member arranged circumferentially around the receiver housing and extending in a longitudinal direction between a front end and a rear end, wherein a second sound opening is arranged at the front end, the second sound opening being configured for passage of sound; an extension extending in a longitudinal direction from the inner surface of the circumferential member towards the channel and ending in a free end, said extension forming a space, Wherein one of the channel wall and the extension extends into the other of the channel wall and the extension to form an overlap between the channel wall and the extension in the longitudinal direction, Wherein the receiver housing comprises a first engagement structure and the dome comprises a second engagement structure, the first engagement structure and the second engagement structure being configured to engage each other for releasably locking the dome to the receiver housing, Wherein one of the first engagement structure and the second engagement structure forms at least one protrusion, the other of the first engagement structure and the second engagement structure forms at least one of a protrusion and an indentation, Wherein the channel wall forms a first release pattern at the first end face or the extension at the free end, the first release pattern comprising at least one recess and at least one protruding part, and wherein the other of the channel wall and the extension forms a second release pattern comprising at least one recess and at least one protruding part arranged along the inner circumference of the corresponding channel wall or extension, wherein the second release pattern is configured to abut against at least a part of the first release pattern, and wherein the first release pattern and the second release pattern are configured to release the dome from the receiver housing upon rotational movement of the dome and the receiver housing relative to each other. The "in-line receiver assembly" may be used as part of a hearing aid. However, the in-line receiver assembly or a component thereof (e.g., a dome) may also be used as part of an audible wearable device (hearables) (e.g., a consumer accessory). The in-line receiver assembly includes a receiver (speaker) and may further include a microphone. The receiver and microphone may be int