Patents by Inventor Vincent Joseph Mako

Vincent Joseph Mako has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9571939
    Abstract: A hearing aid includes a relatively rigid shell which holds hearing aid electronics and one or more flexible, shape-retaining filaments attached to the hearing aid shell. The filament(s) extend(s) out a proximal side of the hearing aid shell having a shape which interacts with the user's ear anatomy such as the conchae bowl. The shape determines an insertion depth of the hearing aid shell into the user's ear canal, and a spring action biases the hearing aid toward the desired insertion depth. The hearing aid supported by the filament(s) provides an open, unoccluding position in the ear canal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: IntriCon Corporation
    Inventors: Robert J. Fretz, Jean Elvira Daavettila, Christopher Drake Conger, Vincent Joseph Mako
  • Publication number: 20140105438
    Abstract: A hearing aid includes a relatively rigid shell which holds hearing aid electronics and one or more flexible, shape-retaining filaments attached to the hearing aid shell. The filament(s) extend(s) out a proximal side of the hearing aid shell having a shape which interacts with the user's ear anatomy such as the conchae bowl. The shape determines an insertion depth of the hearing aid shell into the user's ear canal, and a spring action biases the hearing aid toward the desired insertion depth. The hearing aid supported by the filament(s) provides an open, unoccluding position in the ear canal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: IntriCon Corporation
    Inventors: Robert J. Fretz, Jean Elvira Daavettila, Christopher Drake Conger, Vincent Joseph Mako
  • Patent number: 8605927
    Abstract: A hearing aid includes a relatively rigid shell which holds hearing aid electronics and one or more flexible, shape-retaining filaments attached to the hearing aid shell. The filament(s) extend(s) out a proximal side of the hearing aid shell having a shape which interacts with the user's ear anatomy such as the conchae bowl. The shape determines an insertion depth of the hearing aid shell into the user's ear canal, and a spring action biases the hearing aid toward the desired insertion depth. The hearing aid supported by the filament(s) provides an open, unoccluding position in the ear canal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: IntriCon Corporation
    Inventors: Robert J. Fretz, Jean Elvira Daavettila, Christopher Drake Conger, Vincent Joseph Mako
  • Publication number: 20120237068
    Abstract: A hearing aid has hearing aid electronics including the microphone, battery and amplifier in a behind-the-ear housing, with a flexible tube extending from the behind-the-ear housing to a concha-based suspension structure. The concha-based suspension portion is flexible and bears off a tragus contact area, an antitragus contact area and an antihelix contact area. Based on forces generated from these concha bowl contact areas, the tube is suspended in a centered position within the ear canal in an unoccluded fashion making little or no contact with the wall of the ear canal. An annulus of the suspension portion provides an open concha skin surface, which can naturally reflect sound down the generally open ear canal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: INTRICON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert J. Fretz, Vincent Joseph Mako
  • Publication number: 20120076336
    Abstract: A hearing aid includes a relatively rigid shell which holds hearing aid electronics and one or more flexible, shape-retaining filaments attached to the hearing aid shell. The filament(s) extend(s) out a proximal side of the hearing aid shell having a shape which interacts with the user's ear anatomy such as the conchae bowl. The shape determines an insertion depth of the hearing aid shell into the user's ear canal, and a spring action biases the hearing aid toward the desired insertion depth. The hearing aid supported by the filament(s) provides an open, unoccluding position in the ear canal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: INTRICON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert J. Fretz, Jean Elvira Daavettila, Christopher Drake Conger, Vincent Joseph Mako
  • Patent number: 6790578
    Abstract: A weather resistant sign and a method of printing a sign including the steps of providing a sign component and an image definition, applying dry toner powder to surface portions corresponding to the image definition, and fusing the applied toner. Preferably, the fused toner is protected from weather by a transparent protective layer. A toner composition and a computer program for printing are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: J. Sundar Rajan, Vincent Joseph Mako
  • Patent number: D671218
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: IntriCon Corporation
    Inventors: Jean Elvira Daavettila, Vincent Joseph Mako, Robert J. Fretz