US3129627A - Voice developing device - Google Patents

Description

April 21, 1964 a. CAMERINO 3,129,627

VOICE DEVELOPING DEVICE Filed Feb. 12, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 t 3 INVENTOR. 'QE" BEYRNEST CAMERfNO mm AW M Atty.

April 21, 1964 E. CAMERINO 3,129,627

VOIICE. DEVELOPING DEVICE Filed Feb. 12. 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 52 I 7 56 57 51 b 48 61 I I 3 62 I I2 13 54 2 4 A I. l l 11 9 1 55 f IN VEN TOR.

E RNE-ST CAMER l NO United States Patent Oflfice 3,129,627 Patented Apr. 21, 1964 3,129,627 VOICE DEVELOPING DEVICE Ernest Camerino, 1144 N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Filed Feb. 12, 1962, Ser. No. 172,5 8 Claims. (Cl. 84466) This invention relates to voice developing devices. The general object of the invention is to provide practical and eflicient means for not only making the individual aware of the quality and pitch of his voice, but also for improving its strength and tonal qualities.

When the voice is caused to flutter so as to produce variations in the pitch thereof, and particularly when this is done while the individual runs through the notes of the scale at ascending and descending pitches, the individual becomes apprised of the sound and strength of his voice. He finds that if it is weak, it can be made louder by increasing the volume; if it is poor in quality, it can be made pleasant by varying the pitch and tone. Thus, he becomes acutely aware of the nature of his voice and of the fact that it can be improved with effort. The individual also discovers this routine of fluttering the voice while running through the notes of the scale to be a pleasant and beneficial exercise for developing the muscles or vocal cords, and the quality and pitch of his voice.

' Accordingly, a further object of this invention is to provide practical means for causing the voice to flutter as the individual speaks, sings, or emits sounds.

The invention is particularly concerned with a motor powered device designed to be used in association with the throat of a person so as to cause the voice to flutter and vary in pitch to provide a tremulous effect.

The device is of special advantage in further developing the voice of speakers and singers, and in making those who thought they had a poor voice, aware of the potential of their voice and of the possibility of improving it.

The invention further lies in the particular construction and general arrangement of its component parts as well as in their cooperative association with one another to produce the results intended herein.

' The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter from a consideration of the detailed description which follows, taken together with the accompanying drawings wherein an embodiment of the invention is illustrated. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for purposes of illustration and description, and are not to be construed as defining the limits of the invention.

a In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a device embodying the invention with the top cover removed;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1, those parts externally of the housing being shown in full;

FIG. 3 is a detail of the association of the cam member with the cam shaft, looking rearwardly in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view of the device associated with the throat of a person for use;

FIG. 5 is a modified form of the means for associating the device with the throat of a person;

FIG. 6 is a section taken on line 66 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional detail of the association of the block with the channel member.

. In the accompanying drawings there is disclosed a neckband 1 upon which a motor powered throat actuating device 2 is mounted. The neckband is detachably engageable about the neck 3 of a person. The neckband is so designed that a broad tab 5 offset from the lower edge of the mid-area of the band extends forwardly at the front of the neck.

. The device 2 is mounted upon this tab. It includes a shell or casing 6. This casing houses electrically powered mechanism adapted to cause an actuator 7 to intermittently move back and forth relative to the throat of the person using the device. The casing is secured, as by a wing screw 8, to the upper end of a depending leg or support 9. The latter is pivoted or hinged at its lower end Ill to a plate It fixed to the surface of the tab 5. This hinged relation of the casing 6 to the tab 5 enables the casing to be selectively tilted rearwardly, as indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 4-, toward the throat, or forwardly away from the throat.

The casing 6 is also adjustably movable up or down relative to the supporting leg 9, so as to obtain a desired elevated position of the actuator member relative to the throat. To this end, a guide block 12 fixed to the central area of the outer face of the rear wall 13 of the casing, has vertical sliding movement in an inner channel 14 of the leg 9. The shank of the screw 8 passes freely through an elongated vertical slot 15 in the leg 9 to threadedly engage the guide block 12. An enlarged head of the screw serves to lock the adjusted position of the casing relative to the leg member when the screw is tightened.

The electrically powered mechanism controlling the action of the actuator member 7 includes a small motor 16 adapted to be powered by any suitable source, such as batteries 16a.

This motor acts through a gear train hereinafter described to rotate a cam shaft 17, so as to cause a cam member 18 carried by the latter to rotate and intermittently exert a rearwardly directed camming action against pivotally supported bar 19 carrying the actuator 7. The actuator bar 19 is pivoted at its bottom end 21 to a swing plate 22. The latter is rotatively supported by means of a pair of offset ears 233 thereon upon the cam shaft 17.

The gear train includes a driving gear 24 carried by the motor drive shaft 25, which gear drives a train of idler gears 26, 27, 28, and 29. Gears 26 and 27 are carried by idler shaft 341; gears 28 and 29 are carried by idler shaft 32. Shafts 3t) and 32 are journalled between a pair of stationary plates 33 of the casing. The idler gear 29 drivingly engages a gear 34- fixed to the cam shaft R7. The latter is rotatively supported between a pair of ears 35 or supports of the casing.

The cam member is is a plate of triangular form (FIGS. 2 and 3) mounted axially on the cam shaft for rotation with the latter. Each corner of the cam member is rounded to define a cam nose 36. Each edge of the cam member extending from one cam nose to the other, defines a fiat or low area 37. The cam noses are engageable with the bar 19 when the actuator 7 is engaged with the throat of a person and is pressed forwardly by the throat so as to position the bar 19 in the position of the broken line P (FIG. 2). When the bar 19 is so held, then as the cam member is rotated by the cam shaft, the cam noses 36 successively pass through a slot 38 in the plate 22 to cam the actuator bar 19 rearwardly to press the actuator 7 against the throat of the person using the device. consequent upon each camrning action, the actuator 7 and its supporting bar 19 is pivoted forwardly by a rebounding or relaxing reaction of the throat to reposition the bar 19 opposite to a low area 37 for a repeated camming action.

The swing plate 22 is biased slightly clockwise from normal (FIG. 2) by means of a spring 39. This spring sleeves a slide rod extension 41 of an arcuate upper end portion 42 of the swing plate. The spring is limited at its ends between a shoulder of the arcuate portion 42 and the wall of a U-support 43 of the casing. The rod 4i is slidable through a hole in the U-support 43 as the swing plate is caused to turn relative to the cam shaft 17. A knob or stop 44 on the end of the rod 41 cooperates with the U-support to limit clockwise movement of the swing plate to the position shown in FIG. 2. The swing plate 22 and the associated spring 39 serve to cushion the actuator 7 against forceful movement in a counterclockwise direction, as might happen should the throat rebound forcefully following a camming action of the cam member 18.

The actuator supporting bar 19 has a normal position when the actuator 7 is away from the throat, as in FIG. 2, against the rear edge of slot 46 in cover 47 of the casing. The actuator bar 19 has a forward position, indicated by the broken line P, wherein it abuts the upper end of the swing plate 22 in close opposed relation to a low area 37 of the cam member. The actuator bar terminates at its upper end in a narrow neck 45 which projects freely through a longitudinal slot 46 in the cover 47 of the casing. A headpiece 48 formed atop this neck has a hole 49 therein in which a rearwardly extending stem portion 51 of the actuator 7 is slidably received. A lockscrew 52 serves to lock the adjusted position of the stem 51 in the headpiece. The actuator 7 is arcuate in form whereby it provides a pair of opposed broad faces 53. The curvature of the actuator conforms substantially to the front area of the throat about the larynx, enabling the actuator to comfortably engage this area.

Releasable means is provided to hold the casing in a rearwardly tilted position wherein the actuator is held pressed against the throat, as in FIG. 4, in which position the actuator bar 19 is substantially in the broken line P position of FIG. 2. This means includes a cord or string 54 anchored at its free ends 55 to opposite areas of the neckband l. The belly of the string is engageable with a hook 56 of a carriage unit 57 mounted upon the cover 47 of the casing. The hook is carried by a nut 58 which is adapted to be adjustably moved along a carriage screw The screw is journalled at its ends in a channel block 61 fixed to the surface of the cover. The screw is manually operable by an external knob 62 whereby the nut 58 is caused to travel in a channel of the block 61 in one direction or the other accordingly as the screw is rotated. The carriage unit enables a comfortable adjustment of the actuator relative to the throat. A forward movement of the hook 56 by the nut toward the throat causes the string to relax, allowing the casing and the actuator to tilt by force of gravity away from the throat. Movement of the nut and hook away from the throat causes the string to tighten and draw the casing and actuator toward the throat. It is also clear that if the belly of the string is slipped free of the hook, the casing and actuator will pivot clear of the throat.

In use the device 2 is engaged by means of the hook 56 with the string 54 after the neckband I has been comfortably secured about the neck. The casing is then virtically adjusted relative to the leg member so as to position the actuator '7 over or near the larynx, commonly called the Adams apple. The casing is then manually tilted toward the throat so as to cause the actuator bar 19 to pivot to its broken line P position. The carriage unit 57 hook is then adjusted as required to tighten the string sufficiently to hold the device 2 in this condition. If too much take-up is required with respect to the string to tighten it, an adjustment may be made by moving the stem 51 of the actuator relative to the headpiece, as needed.

Upon making the foregoing adjustments the apparatus is ready for operation. Operation of the motor 16 causes the cam member 18 to rotate. As it does so, the cam noses 36 successively cam the actuator 7 against the throat of the person, pressing the larynx or Adams apple slightly inward. Following each camming action a fiat area 37 of the cam member is presented opposite the actuator bar 19, whereupon the throat relaxes or rebounds and returns the actuator bar to its broken line position P for a further camming action. As this operation is repeated the larynx is caused to repeatedly move slightly back and forth. This causes fluttering or variations in the pitch of the voice if one sings or speaks while the carnming operation is going on, thus causing a tremulous elfect. Continued exercises of this nature while at the same time varying the pitch and volume of the voice tends to develop the vocal cords, the strength and tonal qualities of the voice. The tremulous effect produced makes the person fully aware of the nature of his voice, its possibilities, and the extent of any improvement taking place.

When it is desired to release the actuator 7 clear of the throat, the operator simply slips the string 54 free of the book 56, whereupon the device 2 under force of gravity pivots away from the throat.

In FIGS. 5 and 6 a modified form of the apparatus is shown with respect to the means for supporting the device 2 relative to the throat. In this form the carriage unit shown at 57 in FIG. 4, as well as the string 54 and the neckband 1 are omitted. In place of the neckband a tab 62 is used having an extension defining a handle 63.

he tab is notched as at 64 in its rear Wall so as to fit about the front area of the throat, and it is adapted to be manually held against the throat by means of the handle. The leg member 65 supporting the casing 6 to the tab 62 is the same as that shown in FIG. 4, except that the lower end is not hinged to the tab 62 but is rigid therewith.

While an embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described in detail, it is to be expressly understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Various changes can be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention; and it is my intent, therefore, to claim the invention not only as shown and described but also in all such forms and modifications as may reasonably be construed to fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A device to be used in association with the throat of a person for imparting to the voice a tremulous effect, comprising a casing, a motor supported therein, a rotatable shaft, a gear train drivingly connecting the shaft with the motor, an upstanding bar member disposed rearwardly of the shaft having a hinged support at its bottom end in the casing, an arcuate member mounted atop the bar externally of the casing positionable about the front area of the throat, a cam carried by the shaft arranged for intermittent camming action against the bar as the shaft rotates, the bar having a rearward cammed position at the high end of the cam and having a returned forward position at the low end of the cam, and means for supporting the device relative to the throat in the vicinity of the larynx in such manner that the arcuate member presses against the larynx in the cammed position of the bar and the bar is held in its returned position in a relaxed condition of the larynx relative to the arcuate member.

2. In a device to be used in association with the throat of a person for effecting a tremulous action of the voice including a casing, a motor mounted in the casing, a cam shaft carrying a cam member, and a gear train drivingly connecting the cam shaft with the motor, an upright bar pivotally supported at its lower end in the casing having a forward position adjacent a low area of the cam from which position it is cammable by a high area of the cam to a rear position, a throat engaging member carried atop the bar externally of the casing, and means for supporting the casing relative to the throat of a person in such manner that the throat engaging member lightly presses against the throat in th vicinity of the larynx, whereby the bar is yieldably pressed by the throat to its forward position. 7

3. In a device according to claim 2, wherein the cam member is of triangular form in which each corner defines a high area and each edge between the corners defines a low area.

4. In a device according to claim 2, wherein a tab is provided upon which the casing is supported, and means is provided for holding the tab about the neck.

5. In a device according to claim 4, wherein a leg depending from the casing supports the latter to the tab so as to provide a predetermined elevation of the throat engaging member relative to the tab.

6. In a device according to claim 5, wherein the leg has a channel longitudinally thereof, and a blocked memher fixed to the casing has adjustable sliding movement in the channel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,953,436 Sauders Apr. 3, 1934

Claims (1)

1. A DEVICE TO BE USED IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE THROAT OF A PERSON FOR IMPARTING TO THE VOICE A TREMULOUS EFFECT, COMPRISING A CASING, A MOTOR SUPPORTED THEREIN, A ROTATABLE SHAFT, A GEAR TRAIN DRIVINGLY CONNECTING THE SHAFT WITH THE MOTOR, AN UPSTANDING BAR MEMBER DISPOSED REARWARDLY OF THE SHAFT HAVING A HINGED SUPPORT AT ITS BOTTOM END IN THE CASING, AN ARCUATE MEMBER MOUNTED ATOP THE BAR EXTERNALLY OF THE CASING POSITIONABLE ABOUT THE FRONT AREA OF THE THROAT, A CAM CARRIED BY THE SHAFT ARRANGED FOR INTERMITTENT CAMMING ACTION AGAINST THE BAR AS THE SHAFT ROTATES, THE BAR HAVING A REARWARD CAMMED POSITION AT THE HIGH END OF THE CAM AND HAVING A RETURNED FORWARD POSITION AT THE LOW END OF THE CAM, AND MEANS FOR SUPPORTING THE DEVICE RELATIVE TO THE THROAT IN THE VICINITY OF THE LARYNX IN SUCH MANNER THAT THE ARCUATE MEMBER PRESSES AGAINST THE LARYNX IN THE CAMMED POSITION OF THE

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