US2517368A

US2517368A - Alarm for hearing aid users

Info

Publication number: US2517368A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1950-08-01
Anticipated expiration: 1967-08-01

Description

g 1950 DON CARLOS WISELEY 2,517,368

ALARM FOR HEARING AID USERS Filed Oct. '7, 1949 INVENTOR. DON CARLOS WISE LEY ATTORNEY 33 ll; IO

Patented Aug. 1, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

My invention relates to a simple and effective alarm for persons whose hearing is such that they cannot hear ordinary alarms, such as the alarms of alarm clocks, and relates to an alarm for deaf persons which uses, or may be used in conjunction with, speakers of the character ordinarily provided with electrical hearing aids.

Ordinary alarm means which are found effective for the awakening of persons with normal hearing, I have found inadequate for deaf persons. Therefore, the deaf person who is without someone else to awaken him, is at a real disadvantage with respect to the matter of being awakened from slumber at desired times. It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple alarm which may be used with the speaker of a hearing aid, this speaker being worn by a person during slumber.

It is an object of the invention to provide an alarm having a speaker with a diaphragm element and electrical means to move the diaphragm element, combined with an alarm clock and means controlled by the alarm clock which will produce electrical impulses in the circuit of the speaker.

It is the further object of the invention to provide a simple alarm mechanism for use with a hearing aid speaker, this device comprising means arranged to be employed with an alarm clock having an alarm control or alarm mechanism, the device comprising switch contacts which are intermittently closed by the alarm mechanism so as to produce impulses in a circuit and to produce electrical impulses in the coil or other electro-responsive part of the hearing aid speaker.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification wherein I have described preferred embodiments of the invention in detail for the purpose of presenting a complete disclosure, without limiting the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings which are for illustrative purposes only:

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a preferred form of the invention, and

Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an alternative form in which the principles of the invention may be practiced.

In Fig. 1, I schematically show a hearing aid speaker II This speaker It] has electro-responsive means for producing sound vibrations. As one form of such e1ectro-responsive means I have shown in the speaker I an electro magnetic winding or coil H and a diaphragm !2 which is moved by magnetic flux produced when the coil H is energized. This speaker H] is worn adjacent or in the meatus of the external ear so that any sound produced by movement of the diaphragm I2 is carried directly to the auditory organ.

The invention includes, or is used in conjunction with a clock l3 having a time controlled alarm mechanism I4 comprising an escapement including the toothed wheel I5 and a pivotally supported yoke l6 disposed so as to be reciprocated by the teeth of the wheel l5 when this wheel is rotated. An arm or lever IT projects from the yoke and is reciprocated by the yoke I 6 during the time the alarm mechanism is in operation. That is to say, when the escapement wheel 15 is being rotated. When the alarm is inactive, or in other words when the tooth wheel I 5 is not in rotation, the lever I! is movable back and forth within a limited distance which may be referred to herein as the non-operating range of movement of the lever. However, when the toothed wheel is being driven, so that it will act continuously upon the yoke I6, the lever i! will swing back and forth through a greater are or range, referred to herein as the operating range of movement of the lever H.

A switch I8 is provided consisting of spring contacts [9 and 20 and a supporting member 2| of insulating material for attaching the switch l8 to a portion 22 of the clock, in such position that the lower end of the lever I! will intermittently close the

contacts

19 and 20 when the lever I1 is reciprocated by rotation of the toothed wheel l5 and is therefore being actuated so as to reciprocate in its operating range of movement or outside its non-operating range of movement. The switch 18 is positioned, for example, with its contact 20 adjacent the lower end of the lever 11. When rotation of the toothed Wheel I 5 reciprocates the lever I I the lower end thereof will strike the contact 20 and intermittently move it into engagement with the contact l9.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 1, I employ a transformer 23 having a primary winding 24 and a secondary winding 25. The switch 18, when actuated, opens and closes a circuit which includes the contacts I9 and 20, the winding 24, a battery 26 and a variable impedance 2T disclosed as a rheostat. The circuit is formed by

suitable conductors

28 and 29, and a condenser 30 is bridged across the circuit.

The secondary winding 25 of the transformer 3 23 has the ends thereof connected to connectors 3| and 32 to which the

lead conductors

33 and 34 of the speaker in are detachably connected. Each time engagement of the contacts i9 and produces an electrical flow through the winding 29, a current impulse is induced in the winding and is conducted through the coil H of the speaker i0 producing a sound impulse which, though not harsh, is of distinctive character and readily awakens the wearer of the speaker in. The sound impulses have a frequency corresponding to the rate of oscillation of the lever 11 by the toothed wheel H5. The rheostat 2'! provides a means whereby the intensity of the sound produced in the speaker i0 may be regulated to suit the desires or needs of the user.

In Fig. 2, I show an alarm system, similar in its general character to that which has been shown in Fig. 1, but avoiding the use of the transformer 23. The switch It is disposed so as to be actuated by time controlled means such as the lever II. This switch may be connected directly in series with the coil II of the hearing aid speaker ii I claim as my invention:

1. In an alarm means for a hearing aid speaker, said alarm means being arranged for combination with a clock having an alarm lever and time-controlled escapement operative to reciprocate said lever, said lever having an operating range of movement and a non-operating range of movement: a switch comprising contacts and an insulated support to secure said contacts to a portion of the structure of the clock in said position that said lever, moving outside its nonoperating range of movement, will effect open ing and closing of said contacts; a battery; a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding; a variable impedance; a circuit including said contacts, said battery, said impedance and said primary winding in series; a condenser bridged across said circuit; and means for connecting said secondary winding of said transformer to said hearing aid speaker.

2. In an alarm means for a hearing aid speaker, said alarm means being arranged for combination with a clock having an alarm lever and time-controlled drive means to reciprocate said lever: a switch comprising contacts and an insulated support to secure said contacts to a portion of the structure of the clock in such position that said lever, when reciprocated by said drive means, will effect opening and closing of said contacts; a battery; a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding; a circuit including said contacts, said battery and said primary winding in series; and means for connecting said secondary winding of said transformer to said hearing aid speaker.

3. In an alarm means for a hearing aid speaker, said alarm means being arranged for combination with a clock having an alarm lever and time-controlled escapement operative to reciprocate said lever, said lever having an operating range of movement and a non-operating range of movement: a switch comprising contacts and an insulated support to secure said contacts to a portion of the structure of the clock in such position that said lever, moving outside its nonoperating range of movement, will effect opening and closing of said contacts; means forming a circuit comprising said contacts, a battery and a variable impedance; and means for efiecting electrical energization of said speaker from current flow in said circuit. I

4. In an alarm means for a hearing aid speaker, said alarm means being arranged for combination with a clock having an alarm lever and time-controlled drive means to reciprocate said lever: a switch comprising contacts and an insulated support to secure said contacts to a portion of the structure of the clock in such position that said lever, when reciprocated by said drive means, will eifect opening and closing of saidcontacts; means forminga circuit comprising said contacts, a battery; and means for effecting electrical energization of said speaker from current flow of said circuit.

5. In an alarm means for a hearing aid speaker, said alarm means being arranged for combination with a clock having an alarm lever and time-controlled alarm actuating mechanism: a

switch comprising contacts and an insulated support to secure said contacts to a portion of the structure of the clock in such position that said alarm actuating mechanism, when in operation, will effect opening and closing of said contacts; a battery; a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding; a variable impedance; a circuit including said contacts, said battery, said impedance and said primary winding in series; and means for connecting said secondary winding of said transformer to said hearing aid speaker.

6. In an alarm means for a hearing aid speaker, said alarm means being arranged for combination with a clock having an alarm lever and timecontrolled alarm actuating mechanism: a switch comprising contact and an insulated support to secure said contacts to a, portion of the structure of the clock in such position that said alarm actuating mechanism, when in operation, will effect opening and closing of said contacts; means forming a circuit comprising said contacts, a battery; and means for effecting electrical energization of said speaker from current fiow in said circuit.

'7. In an alarm means for a hearing aid speaker: a clock having an alarm lever and time-controlled escapement operative to reciprocate said lever, said lever having an operating range of movement and a non-operating range of movement; a switch comprising contacts and an insulated support to secure said contacts to a portion of the structure of the clock in such position that said lever, moving outside its non-operating range of movement, will effect opening and closing of said contacts; a battery; a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding; a variable impedance; a circuit including said contacts, said battery, said impedance and said primary winding in series; a condenser bridged across said circuit; and means for connecting said secondary winding of said transformer to said hearing aid speaker.

8.' In an alarm means for a hearing aid speaker: a clock having an alarm lever and timecontrolled alarm actuating mechanism; a switch comprising contacts and an insulated support to secure said contacts to a portion of the structure of the clock in such position that said alarm actuating mechanism, when in operation, will effect opening and closing of said contacts; means forming a circuit comprising said contacts, a battery; and means for effecting electrical energization of said speaker from current flow in said circuit.

9. In an alarm means for a hearing aid speaker: a clock having a time controlled alarm mechanism; conductor means forming a circuit connected to said hearing aid speaker; and means controlled by said alarm mechanism, when in operation, said last named means being adapted to produce electrical impulses in said circuit to in turn produce sound impulses in said speaker. DON CARLOS WISELEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

8 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Moser et a1 May 12, 1885 Colby Oct. 4, 1887 Waller Feb. 1, 1921 Gutteridge Mar. 19, 1946