Signalling device for hard of hearing persons

• US 4,237,449 A
• Filed: 06/16/1978
• Issued: 12/02/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Zibell J. Scott
• Original Assignee: Zibell J. Scott
• Inventors: Zibell, J. Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Pitts, Harold I.
• Application Number:
  US05/916,420
• Time in Patent Office: 900 Days
• Field of Search: 340/407, 340/148, 179/107 FD
• US Class Current: 340/407.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources

Abstract

There is disclosed a signalling device for making hard of hearing persons aware of an impending happening in his or her proximity. The device comprises a sound transducer such as a microphone for converting sounds to electrical signals, an amplifier for amplifying the electrical signals and a selective filter connected to the amplifier for selecting amplified signals above a selected amplitude level and within a selected frequency range as may be produced by automobile horns, fire, police and emergency sirens, burglar and smoke alarms, door bells, barking dogs, and the like to produce a continuous, periodically pulsating control signal. These control signals are supplied to an indicator means such as a flashing light-emitting diode connected to a person'"'"'s spectacles or a tactile alarm secured to the wrist of the person to provide a vibrating or pulsating signal to a sensitive area of the body such as the mastoid bone or the wrist or, alternatively, the device may be connected to a male-female electrical connector with a built-in electronic switch activated by the unit so that a lamp or light bulb plugged therein is turned on and off periodically to awaken the hard of hearing when a smoke alarm or whatever signal is detected.

Claims

1. A signalling device for making a hard of hearing person aware of an impending happening in his proximity which is foretold by a distinguishable sound, comprising in combination:

a sound transducer for converting said distinguishable sound made in advance of the impending happening and associated therewith to an electrical signal,

means for receiving and amplifying the electrical signal from said sound transducer,

selective filter means connected to said means for receiving and amplifying for selecting amplified signals above a selected amplitude and within a selected frequency range, and

an indicator means connected to said selective filter means for providing a non-aural stimulus to said hard of hearing person.

2. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said indicator pulsator means is a lamp, and means driven by said selected amplified signals for providing a continuous sequence of pulsating signals to drive said lamp in flashing fashion.

3. The invention defined in claim 2 wherein said lamp is an alternating current incandescent lamp, and means connecting said lamp to an alternating current outlet, and pulsatable switch means in said circuit connected to receive said pulsating signals from said pulsator means and thereby flash said incandescent lamp on and off.

4. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said indicator means is a tactile signalling device adapted to sensitize a sensitive area on the body of the user.

5. The invention defined in claim 4 wherein said sensitized area of the body is the wristbone of the user and including means for securing said unit to the wrist of the user.

6. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said indicator unit is a tactile device, and means for adhering said tactile device to the spectacles of the user so as to contact the mastoid bone of the user and sensitize same upon the occurrence of an impending event in the proximity of the user.

7. A signalling device for a hard of hearing person comprising

a sound transducer for converting all sounds in the area of said hard of hearing person, including sounds of impending happenings of which said hard of hearing person desires to be warned, to electrical signals and amplifying same,

a plurality of selective filter means, each selecting an amplified signal within a selected frequency range selected from the group comprising automobile horns, fire, police and emergency sirens, burglar and smoke alarms, door bells, and barking dogs,

and means responsive to an output signal from any of said plurality of selective filters for providing a non-aural stimulus to said hard of hearing.

8. The invention defined in claim 7 wherein each of the outputs of each of said selective filter means is supplied to an OR gate, and the output signal of said OR gate is supplied to said means responsive to an output signal from any of said plurality of selective filters.

9. The invention defined in claim 7 wherein said means responsive includes an activator circuit, common to all said selective filter means, and

non-aural stimulus means driven by said activator circuit for providing said non-aural stimulus.

10. The invention defined in claim 9 wherein said activator circuit terminates in an electrical connector jack, and said non-aural stimulus means includes an input connector terminal adapted to mate with said electrical connector jack and supply a driving signal to said non-aural stimulus means.