GB2388787A

GB2388787A - Microphone mounting arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2388787A
Application number: GB0211520A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Joseph Anthony Griffiths; Alan Williams
Original assignee: Cam Lock UK Ltd
Current assignee: Cam Lock UK Ltd
Priority date: 2002-05-20
Filing date: 2002-05-20
Publication date: 2003-11-26
Also published as: GB0211520D0

Abstract

An assembly for mounting a microphone (6) in an oxygen mask (1, Fig 1) or respirator comprising an annular frame (8) in which a microphone (6) is supported on flexible means such as suspension arms or spokes (7) connected thereto. The frame 8 can be rigid or semi-rigid. The whole can be moulded as one, or separately. The spokes can be of different lengths. Alternatively, the microphone can be mounted on a diaphragm.

Description

f 1 2388787 Improved Microphone Mounting Means for Oxygen Mask/Respirators

This invention relates to improved means for mounting a microphone in an oxygen mask or respirator.

Oxygen masks or respirators generally include a microphone mounted in an oro nasal mask inside them to enable the wearer to make radio contact with other people. The flexible moulded oro-nasal mask has an inwardly directed flexible lip which surrounds the wearer's nose and mouth and makes a seal with the wearer's 70 face. The oro-nasal mask includes a valving arrangement allowing breathable gas to be drawn into the mask by the wearer and exhalate to be expelled from it. The microphone is normally mounted in the front of the oro-nasal mask directly opposite the wearer's mouth and adjacent the inlet for the breathable gas fed thereto through a flexible hose.

Because of its construction and particularly the fact that the microphone is mounted directly in the moulded oro-nasal mask, "noise" is picked up by the microphone as vibrations generated during breathing are amplified in the breathing hose and transmitted to the oro-nasal mask in which the microphone is mounted. This 20 "noise" can interfere with the ability of the wearer to communicate with other people and is therefore undesirable.

Another problem with prior art microphones is that their mass can be a serious

problem when they are used, for instance, in fighter aircraft when very high G 25 forces are generated during high speed tight turns as the weight of the microphone is increased 4-5 times during the turn. This is undesirable because it means that the equipment worn by the pilot becomes much heavier during a turn and therefore uncomfortable to wear. The increased mass can also reduce the effectiveness of the edge seal with the wearer's face.

It is an object of the present invention therefore to provide means for mounting a microphone in an oxygen mask or respirator which overcomes or substantially reduces these problems.

( - 2 According to the invention, there is provided an assembly for mounting a microphone in an oxygen mask or respirator comprising a carrier adapted to be mounted in the mask or respirator and microphone mounting means supported 5 therein by flexible suspension means.

Preferably the carrier is an annular member and the suspension means comprises a plurality of flexible spokes or arms connecting the microphone mounting means to the annular support member. The microphone could however be supported at the 10 centre of a flexible diaphragm whose peripheral edge is attached to the carrier.

In the preferred embodiment, the carrier, microphone mounting means and spokes are all moulded in one-piece from a flexible resilient material.

15 Preferably the carrier is mounted in a separate mounting frame adapted to be attached to the oxygen mask or respirator. In the preferred embodiment, the mounting frame is moulded from a semi-rigid material. The flexible carrier can either be mounted directly in the semi-rigid frame or bonded thereto.

20 In the preferred embodiment, the mounting frame is annular and has mounting means extending therefrom so that said frame can be attached to the mask or respirator. Conveniently the mounting means comprise a plurality of mounting tabs extending radially outwardly from the frame.

25 The mounting frame is preferably moulded from a semi-rigid plastics material. The carrier and suspension means is preferably made from a flexible material such as a natural or synthetic rubber.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example 30 only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows an oro-nasal mask fitted lo a wearer's face and having an assembly for mounting a microphone therein in accordance with the present invention;

- 3 ( Figure 2 is a perspective view of the microphone mounting assembly of the present invention; and Figure 3 is a scrap view of the part of the assembly encircled in Figure 1.

5 Referring to the drawings, there is shown in Figure 1 an oro-nasal mask 1 moulded from a flexible material such as natural or synthetic rubber. The mask 1 has an inverted lip 2 extending inwardly from its periphery which is adapted to make a seal with the wearer's face to enclose the wearer's nose 3 and mouth 4 in known manner.

The edge seal 2 contacts the wearer's face on either side of nose 3, around mouth 4 and on chin 5. T he oro-nasal mask I is of known type so no further description will

be given here.

A microphone is mounted in the mask I by means of flexible carrier 7 and rigid frame shown in more detail in Figure 2. The annular rigid frame 8 has tabs 9 15 extending outwardly therefrom each of which has a hole 10 therethrough. As can be seen from Figure 1, a screw 14 extends through each hole 10 into mounting bosses 11 to secure the frame 8 in the oronasal mask 1.

Referring now to Figures 2 and 3, the microphone mounting carrier 7 is illustrated 20 in more detail and it can be seen that it comprises annular frame 8 moulded from a semi-rigid plastics material such as nylon, polypropylene or a hard grade silicone rubber with microphone holder 7A supported centrally therein on flexible suspension arms or spokes 7B. It should be noted that the two spokes 7B' are of equal length to each other but of a different length to the three spokes 7B. This 25 helps in cancelling any "noise" and standing vibration. An aperture 7C is formed in the microphone holder 7A to provide access to microphone 6 mounted therein.

The base of the microphone holder 7A has an inwardly directed annular lip 7D which seats in an annular groove (not shown) in microphone 6 to retain the microphone in the holder 7A (see Figure 1).

The flexible carrier 7 comprises an annular rim 7E with suspension arms or spokes 7B extending radially inwardly therefrom and connected to hub or microphone holder 7A. The carrier 7 is preferably moulded from an elastomeric or resilient

( - 4 flexible material. A flexible thermoplastic material such as natural or synthetic rubber is preferred. As can be seen more clearly in Figure 3, the flexible carrier 7 is mounted in semi-rigid frame 8 which has an inwardly directed annular lip 8A thereon to support the annular rim 7E of the flexible carrier 7. The flexible carrier 7 s can either be directly moulded in the semi-rigid frame 8 or bonded thereto using an adhesive. It will be seen from the foregoing description that because the microphone 6 is

mounted in the mask I in a flexible suspension system, it is isolated from any 10 vibrations transmitted to the mask I in which it is mounted. As a result, performance of the microphone G is substantially improved.

Claims

1. An assembly for mounting a microphone in an oxygen mask or respirator comprising a carrier adapted to be mounted in the mask or respirator and 5 microphone mounting means supported therein by flexible suspension means.

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the carrier is an annular member.

3. An assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein the suspension means comprises lo a plurality of flexible spokes connecting the mounting means to the annular support member.

4. An assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein the carrier, microphone mounting means and spokes are moulded in one piece.

5. An assembly as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the carrier, microphone mounting means and spokes are moulded from a flexible resilient material. 20

6. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the carrier is mounted in a separate frame.

7. An assembly as claimed in claim G wherein the frame is moulded from a semi-rigid material.

Sac

8. An assembly as claimed in claim 7 wherein the flexible carrier is moulded into the semi-rigid frame.

9. An assembly as claimed in claim 7 wherein the flexible carrier is bonded onto 30 the frame.

10. An assembly as claimed in any of claims 6-9 wherein the frame is annular.

- 6 -

11. An assembly as claimed in any of claims 6-10 wherein the frame has a plurality of mounting means extending therefrom so that said frame can be mounted in the mask or respirator.

s

12. An assembly as claimed in claim 11 wherein the mounting means comprise a plurality of tabs extending radially outwardly from the frame.