1.-22. (canceled)
23. A torsional vibration damper comprising
a damper mass carrier;
at least one damper mass movably received at the damper mass carrier relative to the damper mass carrier;
at least one stop associated with each stop side of the at least one damper mass,
wherein the at least one damper mass and the stop have an extension in a direction of a central axis,
a plurality of damper mass elements associated with the at least one damper mass arranged in the direction of the central axis,
wherein the stop has in the direction of the central axis a stop profile at its side facing the stop sides of the damper mass elements,
the stop profile having different radial distances from the central axis in association with each of the damper mass elements.
24. The torsional vibration damper according to claim 23, wherein
the stop profile has a maximum radial distance from the central axis in association with a first damper mass element, a minimum radial distance in association with a second damper mass element, and a radial distance in association with at least one further damper mass element,
wherein a magnitude of the radial distance lies between the maximum radial distance and the minimum radial distance.
25. The torsional vibration damper according to claim 24, wherein
the first damper mass element is provided at a first axial side of the damper mass,
the second damper mass element is provided at a second axial side of the damper mass, and
the at least one further damper mass element is provided axially between the first damper mass element and the second damper mass element.
26. The torsional vibration damper according to claim 25, wherein a change in radial distance between the stop profile of the stop and the central axis follows an at least substantially continuous course between the first axial side of the damper mass and the second axial side of the damper mass.
27. The torsional vibration damper according to claim 26, wherein, starting from the first axial side of the damper mass, the stop profile of the stop narrows in a wedge shape at an angle in direction of the second axial side of the damper mass.
28. The torsional vibration damper according to claim 23, wherein the stops are fixed in circumferential direction between every two damper masses.
29. The torsional vibration damper according to claim 28, wherein the stops for the damper mass are fixed by at least one stop receiver.
30. The torsional vibration damper according to claim 29, wherein the at least one stop extends at least within a region between the associated stop receiver and the damper mass provided at both sides of this stop receiver.
31. The torsional vibration damper according to claim 30, wherein the stop in association with the respective stop receiver is provided with at least one holder that encloses the stop receiver.
32. The torsional vibration damper according to claim 31, wherein the at least one holder is configured to form a free space with an axial offset relative to the associated stop receiver.
33. The torsional vibration damper according to claim 29, wherein the at least one stop receiver for the stops is formed by at least one holding projection which, after engaging through one of a first associated recess and through engagement in a second associated recess of a component part of a coupling arrangement, is fixedly held through the component part.
34. The torsional vibration damper according to claim 23, wherein the at least one stop for the damper mass is displaceable in circumferential direction relative to the damper mass.
35. The torsional vibration damper according to claim 34, wherein at least one stop receiver is associated with the at least one stop for the damper mass, the at least one stop receiver configured to center the stop relative to the central axis.
36. The torsional vibration damper according to claim 35, wherein a sheath is associated with the at least one stop receiver.
37. The torsional vibration damper according to claim 23, wherein the stop is supported by its radially inner side at a component part of a coupling arrangement.
38. The torsional vibration damper according to claim 23, wherein the stop sides of the damper mass elements are adapted with respect to their geometry to a shape of the stop profile of the stop.
39. The torsional vibration damper according to claim 23,
wherein the damper mass carrier, with respect to every damper mass, has two first guideways that cooperate with two second guideways of the respective damper mass,
wherein rolling bodies configured to receive the damper masses at the damper mass carrier allow relative movement thereof and connect the two first guideways and the two second guideways to one another,
wherein at least one of the two second guideways have in a radially outer region and the two first guideways have in a radially inner region one of a planar shaping and a widening so that a radial extension of the respective guideway takes on a maximum in a circumferential region of the respective initial region.
40. The torsional vibration damper according to claim 23, wherein, for a plurality of damper masses, the stops are collectively arranged at a common, annular, component part.
42. The torsional vibration damper according to claim 23, wherein the stops for the damper masses are arranged radially inwardly of the damper masses.
42. The torsional vibration damper according to claim 37, wherein respective stops for respective damper masses are at least one of secured to and least centered at, one of the damper mass carrier, a component part of a damping device of the coupling arrangement, and a component part of the coupling arrangement.
43. The torsional vibration damper according to claim 23 further comprising:
a coupling arrangement, wherein the coupling arrangement has a torsional vibration damper unit in which the damping device having at least one circumferential spring set has a torsion damper input and a torsion damper output,
wherein at least one of the torsion damper input, the torsion damper output, and an intermediate torsion damper component located between the torsion damper input and the torsion damper output is provided for receiving at least one damper mass support element of the damper mass carrier to be fixed with respect to relative rotation.
44. The torsional vibration damper according to claim 43, wherein the torsional vibration damper unit cooperates with a clutch mechanism.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A hearing aid adapted for use in the ear canal of a user comprising:
a) a plate member with a plurality of hearing aid components mounted thereto, said components including at least a battery, microphone, amplifier and speaker;
b) a soft polymeric body that is bonded to the plate member and including a supporting interface portion comprised of soft-solid polymeric material that is of sufficient thickness to closely conform to both the ear canal and at least one of the components;
c) the soft polymeric body and components defining a soft structure compliant to the ear canal during use, and that is substantially solid and free of void spaces between at least one of the components and the ear canal;
d) the combination of the soft compliant structure and encapsulated hearing aid component minimizing feedback;
e) the hearing aid components including a wiring harness that interfaces with multiple electronic hearing aid components, said wiring harness being multiple stainless steel wires that form a multi-strand cable of multiple slated stainless steel wires, the cable being coated with a bio-compatible insulation.
2. The hearing aid of claim 1 wherein the plate member has opposing generally flat sides including a medial side and a lateral side, and the hearing aid components are mounted to extend medially from the medial side.
3. The hearing aid of claim 1 wherein the plate member is generally circular in shape.
4. The hearing aid of claim 1 wherein the components include electronic hearing aid components and the plate member carries a number of controls for the electronic components on the lateral side of the plate member.
5. The hearing aid of claim 1 wherein a bonding enhancer forms an interface between the soft polymeric body and the plate member.
6. The hearing aid of claim 1 wherein the soft polymeric body includes silicone.
7. The hearing aid of claim 1 wherein the soft polymeric body includes silicone with a hardness of between 3 and 40 Durometer Shore A.
8. The hearing aid of claim 1 wherein the plate member is acrylic.
9. The hearing aid of claim 7 wherein the plate member is acrylic.
10. The hearing aid of claim 1 wherein the soft polymeric body has a hardness of between about 10 and 35 Durometer Shore A.
11. The hearing aid of claim 1 wherein the soft polymeric body anatomically fits the contours of the ear canal.
12. A hearing aid adapted for use in the ear canal of a user comprising;
a) a mounting member having medial and lateral side portions, the medial side supporting a plurality of hearing aid components;
b) a soft polymeric body is of bondable silicone that is joined to the mounting member and which encapsulates a plurality of the hearing aid components, the body shaped to closely conform the ear canal of a user;
c) the soft polymeric body and encapsulated hearing aid components defining an interface portion comprised of a soft structure compliant to the ear canal during use, the soft polymeric body of sufficient thickness to closely conform to both the ear canal and at least one of the components being;
d) the combination of the soft compliant structure and encapsulated electronic hearing aid components minimizing acoustic leakage; and
e) a wiring harness that links multiple of the components, the harness being a multi-strand stainless steel cable of plated strands and covered with a bio-compatible insulation coating.
13. A hearing aid adapted for use in the ear canal of a user comprising:
a) a plastic mounting member supporting a plurality of connected electronic hearing aid components, the mounting member having medial and lateral surface portions;
b) a soft polymeric body that is bonded to the plastic mounting member medial surface portion, and which encapsulates at least some of the electronic hearing aid components, the body being shaped to conform to the ear canal of a user;
c) the soft polymeric body and encapsulated electronic hearing aid components defining a soft structure compliant to the user’s ear canal during use, and that is substantially solid and free of void spaces;
d) wherein the soft polymeric body defines an interface portion of sufficient thickness to closely conform to both the ear canal and one of the components; and
e) a wiring harness that links multiple of the components, the harness being a multi-strand stainless steel cable of multiple plated strands and covered with a bio-compatible insulation coating.
14. The hearing aid of claim 13 wherein the soft polymeric body includes silicone.
15. The hearing aid of claim 13 wherein the soft polymeric body has a hardness of between about 10 and 35 Durometer Shore A.
16. The hearing aid of claim 1 wherein the mounting member is acrylic.
17. The hearing aid of claim 1 further comprising a wiring harness that interconnects some of the electronic components and a load carrying member for preventing at least some transfer of tensile load to the wiring harness.
18. The hearing aid of claim 17 wherein the load carrying member provides longitudinal stability.
19. The hearing aid of claim 18 wherein the load carrying member is the vent tube.
20. The hearing aid of claim 13 wherein the electronic components include a multiple S-loop wiring harness.
21. The hearing aid of claim 13, sized to fit completely in the ear canal of the user.
22. The hearing aid of claim 1, sized to fit completely in the ear canal of the user.
23. The hearing aid of claim 12, sized to fit completely in the ear canal of the user.
24. The hearing aid of claims 1, 12 or 13 wherein the overall diameter of the coated wire cable is about 0.13 millimeters.
25. The hearing aid of claims 1, 12 or 13 wherein the uncoated diameter of the multi-strand cable is about 0.08 millimeters.
26. The hearing aid of claims 1, 12 or 13 wherein the overall coated diameter is between about 0.025 millimeters and 0.18 millimeters for the multi-stranded cable.
27. The hearing aid of claims 1, 12 or 13 wherein the overall uncoated diameter of the multi-strand cable is between about 0.013 and 0.025 millimeters.
28. The hearing aid of claims 1, 12 or 13 wherein the coating has a thickness of about 0.001 inches.
29. The hearing aid of claims 1, 12 or 13 wherein the coating has a thickness of between about 0.0001 and 0.004 inches.
30. The hearing aid of claims 1, 12 or 13 wherein the strands of the multi-strand cable are coated with silver.
31. The hearing aid of claims 1, 12 or 13 wherein the strands of the multi-strand cable are coated with gold.
32. The hearing aid of claims 1, 12 or 13 wherein the strands of the multi-strand able are plated with a plating that enables the wire to be soldered.
33. The hearing aid of claims 1, 12 or 13 wherein the coating material is a bio-compatible coating selected from the group that includes teflon, ETFE and PTFE.
34. The hearing aid of claims 1, 12 or 13 wherein the plating is a copper flash coating.
35. The hearing aid of claims 1, 12 or 13 wherein the individual wires of the multi-strand wire are each plated.
36. The hearing aid of claims 1, 12 or 13 wherein the overall multi-strand wire is coated with insulation.
37. (canceled)