US1766146A

US1766146A - Sound reproducer for the deaf

Info

Publication number: US1766146A
Application number: US325264A
Authority: US
Inventors: Rath Carl Albert
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1928-12-11
Filing date: 1928-12-11
Publication date: 1930-06-24
Anticipated expiration: 1947-06-24

Description

SOUND REPRODUCER FOR THE DEAF Filed Dec. 11, 1928 IN VEN TOR Patented June 24-, 193

CARL ALBERT BATH, F ESTACADA, OREGON SOUITD BEPRODUCER FOR THE DEAF Application filed December 11, 1928. serial No. 325,264.

The primary purpose and object of my device is to aid the deaf to hear and is more especially intended to aid those whose ears render little or no assistance to hearing.

A further object of my device consists in providing simple and efficient means adapted to be worn fixedly by the userand to preferably transmit the sound through an amplifier to the mastoid'portion of the tem- .10 poral bone. I have long been a sufferer wlth impaired hearing and I have found satisfactory results may be obtained where the sound has been transferred to the mastoid portion of the temporal bone from an amplifier through a suitable sound carrying agent as hard wood.

My invention consists primarily of a sound amplifier, of which there are many on the market, a carrying jacket for the amplifier head or breast, or at any other suitable point of support. -A bifurcated member, being formed, preferably from seasoned hard wood, issecured to the sound amplifier and is tensioned over the outlet point of the amplifier to increase the reverberatory power of the bifurcated member. The amplifier sound is transmitted to the mastoid portion of the temporal bone by pads formed at the free 3 end of each of the bifurcated elements.

The device may also be made in a single outlet and be worn in the form of a crown with but a single discharge terminal. The discharge terminal also transmitting the sound to the mastoidportion of the temporal bone.

A further object of my device resides in a rugged device that may be Worn while the user is at work without fear of destruction or 49 damage to the device.

A further object of my device is to prevent the wearer of the device developing head aches as is many times the result where the amplifier sound is delivereddirectly into the ear of the user of such device.

With these and incidental objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel fea tures of construction and combination of parts, the essential elements of which are set forth in the appended claims, and a preadapted to be worn by the user either on the ferred form of embodiment of which is hereinafter shown with reference to the draw-- ingswhich accompany and form a part of this specification.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a side view of a wearer of one of my devices in preferred embodiment showini the device being worn upon the breast.

ig. 2 is a front view of the'assembled de vice shown removed from the wearer.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the amplifier of the device illustrating the supporting jacket for the amplifier and also illustrating the means for tensioning the attaching end of the bifurcated sound carrying member.

Fig. 4 illustrates one of my devices being. worn upon the head of the user. i

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

1 is an audible vibration producer having. upturned ears 2* through which passes the sound carrying agent 2. The sound carrying, or transmit-ting member 2, has a pin 3, passing therethrough and supported within the ears 2". Disposed upon the oppositely disposed side of the body of the amplifier 1 is an adjusting port 4. An opening 5 is 'disposed within the post 4, through which one end of the sound transmitter 2 passes. The free end of the transmitter 2 rests upon a. resilient element 6. The resilient member 6 may be made of any suitable material as a coil spring. The resilient element being maintained Within a well 7, disposed in the post 4. An adjusting screw 8, rests upon the free end of the sound carrying agent. In order to facilitate the tensioning of the sound carrying member, the same passes over a support 9, upwardly extending from the case of the amplifier 1. The exerting of pressure, 0 upon the free end of the sound carrying membar 2, stresses the sound carrying member. To increase the vibratory power of the sound carrying member 2, the same is cut away between the support 9 and the adjusting screw 8, to thin the same and increase its capacity for vibration. A metallic button 10 is disposed upon the under side of the tensioned member to act as a wearing plate. The. button 10 being placed in registerable alignment with. 9

CT) I the outlet point 11 ofthe audible vibration I producer 1. The sound carrying member, in preferred embodiment is made bifurcated at 12 and 13 to permit of a terminal 14 and 15 being placed over each of the mastoid portions of each of the temperal bones, thereby delivering sound to each side of the head. A supporting case is made for the audible vibration producer illustrated in Fig. 2 and in Fig. 3, consisting of a body element 17, having upturned engaging fingers 18 between which the body of the audible vibration producer is made to engage. Supporting straps 19 and 20 are secured to the body element and are made of material suitable to engage the shoulders of the wearer, and to be sufficiently strong, when hooks 21 and 22 are formed. at the upper end of the same, to engage the shoulders of the wearer and support the device in place. i

The device maybe arranged to fit a crown 23 as illustrated in Fig. 4, wherein the audible vibration producer is fitted to the crown 23 and the sound carrying member 2 leads to the mastoid portion of the'temporal bone as heretofore described.

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirably adapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that it is not intended to confine the invention to the one form of embodiment herein shown and described, as it is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, all coming within the scope of the claims which fol- What I claim is:

1. In a device of the class described, in combination with an audible vibration producer of a bifurcated seasoned hard wood carr ing element, secured to the vibration pro ucer, means associated with the vibration producer for stressing the free end of the sound carrying member and terminal ,ends of the sound carrying member adapted for engagement with and resting upon the mastoid portion of the temporal bone.-

2. In a device of the class described, in combination with an audible vibration producer, of a sound carrying member made of seasoned hard wood secured to the vibration producer, the inner end of the sound carrying member engaging upon a support, means for stressing the inner end of the sound carrying member as the same rests upon the point of outlet of the vibration producer and bifurcated-ends terminating the sound carrying member, the free endof each adapted for engagement with the mastoid portion of the temporal bone of the cranium.

3. In a device of the class described, in combination with an audible vibration producer of a hard wood carrying member, means for securing the hard wood carrying member to an audible vibration producer, means for stressing the hard wood carrying member as the same passes over the outlet point of the vibration producer and means for maintaining the free end of the sound carrying member in contact withthe mastoid portion of the temporal bone of the user of the device.

4. In a device for transmitting audible vibrations to the mastoid portion of the eranium, a vibration producer having upwardly extending ears disposed on its outer wall, an adjusting post having an opening disposed therein disposed on the oppositely disposed side in direct alignment with the ears, and a forked vibration transmitting member movably journaled within the ears, the free end of said'memberdisposed within the adjusting post under tension adapted to adjustment.

' Q CARL ALBERT RATH.