TITLE Recharging device for hearing aid with rechargeable battery.
AREA OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a recharging devise for a hearing aid with a rechargeable battery.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is well known to use a normal charging device for rechargeable hearing aid batteries, where the batteries have to be taken out of the hearing aid and inserted in the charging device. After recharging the batteries have to be re-inserted into the hearing aid. This is a difficult task for many people due to the small size of the hearing aid instrument and even smaller size of the batteries. A charging device of this kind is disclosed in US 3297933. It is also known to integrate a rechargeable battery into the construction of the hearing aid, but such integrated batteries cannot easily be taken out of the hearing aid, and the user cannot choose between normal batteries and rechargeable ones.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In a first aspect of the invention a charging device for a standard rechargeable hearing aid battery is provided, which comprises a first set of connection means whereto an external power source is connectable, at least one second set of connection means arranged for connecting the poles of the hearing aid battery and electronic regulation means for directing a suitable charging current from the external power source to the poles of the hearing aid battery, whereby the charging device further comprises means for receiving and releasable holding at least a portion of the hearing aid and where the second set of connection means are further arranged to contact the poles of the battery while the battery remains associated with the hearing aid. The hearing aid user does not need to take the battery out of the hearing aid, but can insert the hearing aid with the battery still associated therewith into the charging device. Here a portion of the hearing aid is releasably held in the device, while the poles of the battery are connected to the second set of connections in the device. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the charging device has means for releasable holding the hearing aid with the battery lid open, and such that the second set of connections are arranged to contact the battery in the open battery lid whereby charging will take place with the battery inserted in the lid of the hearing aid. In this way the user may use the same hearing aid for both conventional batteries and rechargeable ones, and further the choice of rechargeable batteries does not result in the need to frequently take out and re-insert the batteries, as these remains with the hearing aid during the recharging cycles. Any conventional hearing aid to which the charging device is adapted can now be used with rechargeable batteries without the usual problems associated with rechargeable batteries. In order to recharge the battery, the user simply has to open the battery lid or battery drawer and insert the hearing aid into the charging device. Typically the recharging takes place during the night, where the hearing aid is not in use.
It is further preferred, that the device comprises a container enclosing the electronic circuitry and further that the container has an upwardly turned surface, wherein at least one recess is provided, and where the recess has a first part adapted to receive and hold a part of a hearing aid casing and adjacently thereto a second part adapted to receive the battery door and battery, wherein the second part has electrically conducting contact means for contacting the two poles of the battery.
In a further aspect of the invention a method for providing electric power for a hearing aid is provided, whereby a standard rechargeable battery is permanently fastened inside a battery lid or battery drawer of a hearing aid, where the poles of the battery are available for contacting from the outside when the battery lid or drawer is open, and where the hearing aid is inserted into a charging device for charging the battery with the battery drawer or lid in the open position whereby connecting means of the charging device contacts the two poles of the hearing aid battery. The permanent fastening of the battery in the battery lid or battery drawer could be accomplished by means of glue or similar means. This fastening ensures that the user does not inadvertently remove the rechargeable battery and that the battery does not happen to fall out of the hearing aid during the repeated opening and closing of the battery lid or drawer. In this way it becomes possible to use the exact same hearing aid for both usual batteries for one time use and for rechargeable batteries. In an embodiment of the invention the battery drawer or lid is changed along with the battery once the rechargeable battery is worn out and has to be changed. In most hearing aids the battery door or drawer is a relatively cheep spar part, which is easily exchanged. Therefore the extra battery doors or drawers, which will be used according to this embodiment of the invention is not relevant compared to the advantages which are provided for the user.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a plane view of a charging device according to the invention,
Fig. 2 is a side view of the charging device in fig. 1,
Fig. 3 is a side view of a charging device for an in the ear type hearing aid.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
In fig. 1 a box 1 is shown from above. In the topside of the box 1 two recesses 2 are provided. Each recess has a first part 2a, which is shaped to fit snuggly around a part of the outer shell of a hearing aid 5. The second part 2b is shaped to fit around the open battery drawer or door 6 of the hearing aid 5 (seen in fig. 2) positioned in the recess 2a. The box 1 may accommodate a number of larger batteries 10 and also a converter (not shown) could be integrated into the box for supply by mains. Electronic circuitry 13, 14 is provided, which is designed to supply a suitable current and/or voltage to the batteries 7 in the hearing aid for the recharging thereof. Such circuitry is well known in the art and need not be further described. For each of the hearing aids to be connected to the charging device a circuitry part 14 is provided, and a circuitry part 13 is arranged with a transformer (not shown) for the mains supply.
In the recess part 2b two connectors are provided for connecting the poles of the rechargeable battery 7. Only one of the connectors 8 is shown. The connectors 8 are provided such that the poles of the battery 7 may be contacted with the battery 7 still sitting in the battery drawer 6. In fig. 3 an ITE hearing aid 5a is shown with the battery lid 6 open and inserted into a recess 2, which receives the hearing aid 5 a. Here a connector 8 is also shown, which contacts one of the battery poles. The connector for the other pole is not shown.
In the above described examples the rechargeable battery 7 is glued onto the battery door 6 or battery drawer of the hearing aid 5, 5a.
A light emitting diode 11 (fig. 1 and 2) may be provided to indicate the charging condition of the battery in the charger. Also a switch 12 is indicated for switching between mains and battery power supply for the charger.