Abstract: An assistive listening device has a housing enclosing at least one of a radio receiver and an infrared radiation receiver for receiving radiation carrying audio information transmitted to hearing impaired members of an audience. The infrared radiation receiver includes three infrared detectors for receiving radiation from at least three different directions. The received radiation is converted to an amplified audio signal that is converted to sound emitted at a pair of earphones that are attached to the distal ends of two arms that are attached at their proximal ends to the housing. The earphones are rotatable on their arms for enhanced comfort. A microphone is attached to the housing. It receives sound and amplifies it to enable the wearer to hear a conversation while wearing the device. It may be rotatable to enhance reception. It may be disconnected to eliminate unwanted noise.

Abstract: An assistive listening device has a housing enclosing both infrared radiation and FM radio receivers and audio amplifier for receiving audio information transmitted to the hearing impaired audience in an auditorium by either infrared or radio radiation. The received radiation is converted to an amplified electrical audio signal. The signal is converted to audible sound by two earphones at the distal ends of two extendable arms. The arms are attached at their proximal ends to the housing. The arms may have two configurations, a compact configuration in which the earphones are retracted to a position against the housing for storage or transport and an extended configuration in which the earphones are at a distance from the housing and spaced apart less than the distance between a user's ears. When the earphones are in the ears, the device is held in place by spring bias with the housing hanging below the chin. For folding into compact configuration the arms may be elastic to bend around the edge of the housing.

Abstract: An assistive listening device has a housing enclosing both infrared radiation and FM radio receivers and audio amplifier for receiving audio information transmitted to the hearing impaired audience in an auditorium by either infrared or radio radiation. The received radiation is converted to an amplified electrical audio signal. The signal is converted to audible sound by two earphones at the distal ends of two extendable arms. The arms are attached at their proximal ends to the housing. The arms have two configurations, a compact configuration in which the earphones are retracted to a position against the housing for storage or transport and an extended configuration in which the earphones are at a distance from the housing and spaced apart less than the distance between a user's ears. The arms may have one or more joints for folding compactly around the edge of the housing.

Abstract: A collapsible hearing device comprising a base housing and a pair of jointed elongated extension arms constructed and arranged with pivots so located that when said arms are unfolded outward, a pair of earphones fixed to a distal end of each arm engages the ears of a user, and when said arms are folded inward, they essentially hug at least a portion of the perimeter of the base housing and form a structure with the base housing sufficiently small to fit into a storage case whose size approximates that of an eyeglass case. Switch means is provided to automatically disengage a power source when the device is folded for storage and to cause the device to be energized when the device is unfolded for use. Optionally, the base housing may have lower corner portions recessed in outline to receive said earphones when said arms are folded inward.