GB1581453A - Communication device - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVED COMMUNICATION DEVICE (71) I, STUART RUSSEL MATTHEW, a British Subject, of 14 Lynedoch Place, Edinburgh, Scotland, do hereby declare the invention for which I pray that a Patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a device for permitting communication between two or more persons in visual contact with one another but under circumstances in which sound transmission and/or reception by one or both is not possible. A communication device in accordance with the invention has particular value in aiding "conversation" with a deaf and/or dumb person but is not limited to this application and may also be used for communication in areas of high ambient noise or through a sound-proof but transparent barrier.

According to the invention a communication device comprises a hand garment marked on its outer surface with at least half the letters of an alphabet in a non-lexical arrangement.

Preferably the hand garment is in the form of a five-fingered glove with the letters of an alphabet marked on those portions of the glove covering the palm and fronts of the fingers and thumb. The entire Roman alphabet may be marked on one glove but, in some instances, it may be more convenient to employ both a right-hand and a left-hand glove in combination so that at least half the letters of the alphabet occur on one glove and on the outer surfaces of both gloves, all the letters of the alphabet (and optionally some numerals) occur.

Although a glove is preferred, it will be appreciated that since the garment is merely a carrier for the letters, the garment may be a mitt or some other form of wearable hand covering.

In addition to the letters of the alphabet, some frequently used words or word endings may be marked in full.

Braille symbols can be used to permit a device to be used by a blind person. The braille symbols can be adjacent their Roman letters to enable a blind person to communicate with a sighted person and a blind person wearing the hand garment can be communicated with by another blind person, since the location of various braille symbols on the device can be learned.

The accompanying drawing illustrates, by way of example, one embodiment of communi cation device in accordance with the invention The device shown in the drawing is a lefhand glove marked on its front with some of the letters of the alphabet, the missing letter and some numbers could be marked on the back of the glove or on a right-hand glove.

To use the device, the sender of a message spells out the words of the message letter-byletter, by pointing, in turn, at the letters of the words to be communicated. The receiver of the message can have a similar glove for replying to the sender in an analogous manner.

The position of and choice of the different letters on the glove shown in the drawing are purely exemplary of the idea behind the invention and it is believed that optimum positions for the letters will become apparent when further investigations have been undertaken. The finger-tips could be assigned to the most frequently used letters.

Although the device shown in the drawing has been prepared for letters of the Roman alphabet, it will be appreciated that the principle applies to other alphabets such as Braille.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A communication device comprising a hand garment marked on its outer surface with at least half the letters of an alphabet in a non-lexical arrangement.

2. A device according to Claim I, in which the hand garment is in the form of a fivefingered glove with letters of an alphabet marked on those portions of the glove covering the palm and fronts of the fingers and thumb.

3. A device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the letters of the entire Roman alphabet are marked on one hand garment.

4. A device as claimed in Claim 1, in which the hand garment is in the form of a glove and letters of the Braille alphabet are marked thereon.

5. A device as claimed in any of preceding claims, in which numerals are included with the letters.

6. A communication device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to,

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. (54) IMPROVED COMMUNICATION DEVICE (71) I, STUART RUSSEL MATTHEW, a British Subject, of 14 Lynedoch Place, Edinburgh, Scotland, do hereby declare the invention for which I pray that a Patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a device for permitting communication between two or more persons in visual contact with one another but under circumstances in which sound transmission and/or reception by one or both is not possible. A communication device in accordance with the invention has particular value in aiding "conversation" with a deaf and/or dumb person but is not limited to this application and may also be used for communication in areas of high ambient noise or through a sound-proof but transparent barrier. According to the invention a communication device comprises a hand garment marked on its outer surface with at least half the letters of an alphabet in a non-lexical arrangement. Preferably the hand garment is in the form of a five-fingered glove with the letters of an alphabet marked on those portions of the glove covering the palm and fronts of the fingers and thumb. The entire Roman alphabet may be marked on one glove but, in some instances, it may be more convenient to employ both a right-hand and a left-hand glove in combination so that at least half the letters of the alphabet occur on one glove and on the outer surfaces of both gloves, all the letters of the alphabet (and optionally some numerals) occur. Although a glove is preferred, it will be appreciated that since the garment is merely a carrier for the letters, the garment may be a mitt or some other form of wearable hand covering. In addition to the letters of the alphabet, some frequently used words or word endings may be marked in full. Braille symbols can be used to permit a device to be used by a blind person. The braille symbols can be adjacent their Roman letters to enable a blind person to communicate with a sighted person and a blind person wearing the hand garment can be communicated with by another blind person, since the location of various braille symbols on the device can be learned. The accompanying drawing illustrates, by way of example, one embodiment of communi cation device in accordance with the invention The device shown in the drawing is a lefhand glove marked on its front with some of the letters of the alphabet, the missing letter and some numbers could be marked on the back of the glove or on a right-hand glove. To use the device, the sender of a message spells out the words of the message letter-byletter, by pointing, in turn, at the letters of the words to be communicated. The receiver of the message can have a similar glove for replying to the sender in an analogous manner. The position of and choice of the different letters on the glove shown in the drawing are purely exemplary of the idea behind the invention and it is believed that optimum positions for the letters will become apparent when further investigations have been undertaken. The finger-tips could be assigned to the most frequently used letters. Although the device shown in the drawing has been prepared for letters of the Roman alphabet, it will be appreciated that the principle applies to other alphabets such as Braille. WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A communication device comprising a hand garment marked on its outer surface with at least half the letters of an alphabet in a non-lexical arrangement.

2. A device according to Claim I, in which the hand garment is in the form of a fivefingered glove with letters of an alphabet marked on those portions of the glove covering the palm and fronts of the fingers and thumb.

3. A device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the letters of the entire Roman alphabet are marked on one hand garment.

4. A device as claimed in Claim 1, in which the hand garment is in the form of a glove and letters of the Braille alphabet are marked thereon.

5. A device as claimed in any of preceding claims, in which numerals are included with the letters.

6. A communication device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.