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 Title: |
US5533130:
Cosmetically disguised hearing aid
[ Derwent Title ]
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| Country: |
US United States of America
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| Inventor: |
Staton, Ed; Hot Springs, AR 71913
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| Assignee: |
None
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| Published / Filed: |
1996-07-02
/ 1994-08-15
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| Application Number: |
US1994000290520
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| IPC Code: |
Advanced:
G02C 11/02;
G02C 11/06;
H04R 25/00;
IPC-7:
G02C 5/14;
H04R 25/00;
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| ECLA Code: |
G02C11/02; G02C11/06; H04R25/55B;
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| U.S. Class: |
Current:
381/327;
181/129;
351/111;
Original:
381/068.5;
381/068;
381/069;
351/111;
181/129;
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| Field of Search: |
381/068,68.2,68.4,69,69.2,68.5,68.6,68.7
181/126,129,130,134,135
D24/174
351/111,123
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| Priority Number: |
| 1994-08-15 |
US1994000290520 |
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| Abstract: |
A hearing aid designed to be affixed to a pair of eyeglasses used by the wearer or suspended from an ear mold that is lodged in the ear of the wearer is disclosed. The hearing aid is cosmetically disguised and may be worn by either males or females. The hearing aid comprises a hemispherically shaped ornamental outer shell that covers all of the components and circuitry of a conventional hearing aid. The hearing aid components are housed inside a casing. Preferably, the hearing aid uses a rotatable clasp to mount to the wearer's eyeglass frames or earlobe. In an alternative embodiment, the hearing aid does not mount to the wearer's eyeglasses. In a first preferred embodiment, a clasp secures the hearing aid to the wearer's eyeglasses. In a second preferred embodiment, a clip mounts the hearing aid to the wearer's eyeglass frames. In a third preferred embodiment, a cable tie mounts the hearing aid to the eyeglass frames through width adjustment slots in a projecting tab. A volume control knob, tone controls, battery access door and a rotatable clasp or deflectable clip protrude from the rear surface of the casing. The outer shell gives the hearing aid the appearance of an earring or an eyeglass tether mount. The outer shell of my hearing aid may be quickly exchanged with any of several other ornamental shells to give the earring or eyeglass tether mount the desired coloration and shape.
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| Attorney, Agent or Firm: |
Carver, Stephen D. ;
Keisling, Trent C. ;
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| Primary / Asst. Examiners: |
Isen, Forester W.; Mei, Xu
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| Maintenance Status: |
E1 Expired Check current status
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| INPADOC Legal Status: |
Show legal status actions
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| Family: |
None
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First Claim:
Show all 19 claims |
What is claimed is:
1. A cosmetically disguised ornamental hearing aid comprising:
- means for amplifying sound;
- a casing for housing said means for amplifying sound, said casing having a front surface projecting away from a wearer and a rear surface projecting towards the wearer;
- a decorative, removable, hollow shell snap fitted to said casing to cover said front surface;
- a concealed sound jack projecting from said casing rear surface towards the ear of the wearer; and,
- clasp means projecting from said rear surface for attaching said hearing aid to an eyeglass temple, said clasp means movable between a first position engaging said eyeglass frame and an inoperative, concealed position proximate said rear surface and unattached to said eyeglass temple, said clasp means comprising a rotatable hub pivoted to said casing rear surface, an integral spaced apart foot, and a channel formed between said hub and said foot in which a portion of said eyeglass frame may be captivated.
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| Background / Summary: |
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| Drawing Descriptions: |
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| Description: |
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| Forward References: |
Show 38 U.S. patent(s) that reference this one
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