Local external communication system

• US 4,508,936 A
• Filed: 05/06/1982
• Issued: 04/02/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Ingalls, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): George, Keith E.
• Application Number:
  US06/375,673
• Time in Patent Office: 1,062 Days
• Field of Search: 179/1 C, 179/1 H, 179/1 HF, 179/1 MG, 179/1 MN, 179/1 P, 179/1 SH, 179/1 ST, 179/1 UW, 179/1 VE, 179/2 C, 179/82, 179/121 C, 179/121 T, 179/156 R , 179/156 A, 179/157, 179/183, 179/184, 179/187, 179/188, 179/100 L, 455/41, 128/201.19, 181/158, 381/54, 381/56, 381/67, 381/71, 381/75, 381/86, 381/94, 381/87, 73/652, 73/654
• US Class Current: 381/79
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 18/08 Component parts for gas-masks or gas-helmets, e.g. windows, straps, speech transmitters, signal-devices eye-pieces for protective goggles A61F9/02; composition of materials for the windows or other transparent parts A62D7/00

Abstract

A local external communication system for use by a person wearing a mask covering the nose and mouth and in sealing engagement with the face in which an assembly secured to the outer surface of the mask without in any way affecting the integrity of the mask seal generates an output signal in response to the wearer'"'"'s voice. The output signal is fed to a speaker carried on the wearer'"'"'s body to produce an output which is audible to other persons in the vicinity of the wearer.

Claims

1. A combined mask and local external communication system adapted to be applied to said mask as a retrofit including in combination a mask adapted to enclose the mouth of a wearer and having a wall of generally uniform thickness comprising a portion with continuous inner and outer surfaces, an assembly comprising a first coil and a microphone, means for adhering said assembly to the inner surface of said mask wall portion without piercing said wall, means including said microphone for producing a first electrical signal in response to the wearer'"'"'s voice, means for applying said first electrical signal to said first coil to cause said first coil to produce a magnetic flux passing through said mask, a second coil, means for adhering said second coil to the outer surface of the mask wall portion without piercing said wall and at a location at which it is subjected to the action of said flux to produce a second electrical signal representative of the voice of the wearer without adversely affecting the integrity of the mask, a speaker carried on the person of the wearer, and means for applying said second signal to said speaker.

2. A combined mask and communication system adapted to be applied to said mask as a retrofit including in combination a mask adapted to enclose the mouth of a wearer and having a wall of generally uniform thickness comprising a portion with continuous inner and outer surfaces, an assembly comprising a first coil and a microphone, means for adhering said assembly to the inner surface of said mask wall portion without piercing said wall, means including said microphone for producing a first signal in response to the wearer'"'"'s voice, means for applying said first electrical signal to said first coil to cause said first coil to produce a magnetic flux passing through said mask, a second coil, and means for adhering said second coil to the outer surface of said mask wall portion without piercing said wall and at a location at which it is subjected to the action of said flux to produce a second electrical signal representative of the voice of the wearer without adversely affecting the integrity of the mask.

3. A vibration pick-up for producing an output signal in response to vibration of a body including in combination, a housing adapted to contact said body to receive vibrations therefrom, a slug, first resilient means mounting said slug in said housing for movement relative thereto, the relative masses of said slug and said housing being such that said slug tends to remain stationary when said housing vibrates, a microphone having a diaphragm, means mounting said microphone in said housing, and second resilient means coupling said slug to said diaphragm to cause said microphone to produce an output signal in response to vibration of said housing.

4. A local external communication system for use with a mask adapted to enclose the mouth of a wearer and having an outer surface including in combination, a housing, means mounting said housing on said outer surface to receive vibrations directly therefrom, a slug, first resilient means mounting said slug in said housing for movement relative thereto, the relative masses of said slug and said housing being such that said slug tends to remain stationary when said housing vibrates, a microphone having a diaphragm, second resilient means coupling said slug to said diaphragm to cause said microphone to produce an output signal in response to movement of said slug relative to said housing resulting from vibration of said mask induced by the voice of the wearer, a speaker supported on the person of the wearer, and means conducting said signal to said speaker.

5. A combined mask and local external communication system including in combination a mask adapted to enclose the mouth of a wearer and having a wall of generally uniform thickness comprising a portion with a continuous outer surface, a housing, means mounting said housing on said surface to receive vibrations directly therefrom, a slug, resilient means mounting said slug in said housing for movement relative thereto, the relative masses of said slug and said housing being such that said slug tends to remain stationary when said housing vibrates, means including a microphone responsive to relative movement between said slug and said housing resulting from vibration of said mask induced by the voice of the wearer for producing an electrical signal representative of the voice of the wearer without adversely affecting the integrity of the mask, a speaker supported on the person of the wearer and means for conducting said signal to said speaker.

6. A combined mask and local external communication system including in combination a mask adapted to enclose the mouth of a wearer and having a wall of generally uniform thickness comprising a portion with a continuous outer surface, a housing, means mounting said housing on said outer surface for receiving vibrations directly therefrom, a slug, means mounting said slug in said housing for movement relative thereto, the relative masses of said slug and said housing being such that said slug tends to remain stationary when said housing vibrates, means responsive to relative movement between said slug and said housing resulting form vibration of said mask induced by the voice of the wearer for producing an electrical signal representative of the voice of the wearer without adversely affecting the intregrity of the mask, a speaker supported on the person of the wearer and means for conducting said signal to said speaker.

7. A combined mask and local external communication system adapted to be applied to said mask as a retrofit including in combination a mask having a wall of generally uniform thickness and adapted to enclose the mouth of a wearer and comprising a portion with continuous inner and outer surfaces, means adapted to produce a varying magnetic field in response to acoustical vibrations applied thereto, means adhering said field producing means to the inner surface of said mask wall portion without piercing said wall and at a location at which it is subject to the voice of the wearer, a pick-up adapted to produce an output signal in response to variations in magnetic flux passing therethrough, and means adhering said pick-up to the outer surface of said mask wall portion without piercing said wall and at a location adjacent to the location of said field producing means whereby flux generated by said field producing means causes said pick-up to produce an output signal representative of the voice of the wearer without adversely affecting the integrity of the mask.

8. A combined mask and local external communication system adapted to be applied to said mask as a retrofit including in combination, a mask having a wall of generally uniform thickness adapted to enclose the mouth of the wearer and comprising a portion with continuous inner and outer surfaces, voice responsive means adapted to produce a varying electromagnetic field in response to acoustical vibrations applied thereto, means adhering said voice responsive means to the inner surface of said mask wall portion without piercing said wall and at a location at which it is subject to the voice of the wearer to produce said electromagnetic field extending through said mask to a location outside said mask, a pick-up device adapted to produce an output signal in response to said electromagnetic field and means adhering said pick-up to said outer surface at said location without piercing said wall to cause said pick-up to produce an output signal representative of the voice of the wearer without adversely affecting the integrity of the mask.

9. A combined mask and local external communication system adapted to be applied to said mask as a retrofit including in combination, a mask having a wall of generally uniform thickness adapted to enclose the mouth of the wearer and comprising a portion with continuous inner and outer surfaces, voice responsive means adapted to produce a varying electromagnetic field in response to acoustical vibrations applied thereto, means adhering said voice responsive means to the inner surface of said mask wall portion without piercing said wall and at a location at which it is subject to the voice of the wearer to produce said electromagnetic field extending through said mask to a location outside said mask, a pick-up device adapted to produce an output signal in response to said electromagnetic field, means adhering said pick-up to the outer surface of said mask without piercing said wall and at said location to cause said pick-up to produce an output signal representative of the voice of the wearer without adversely affecting the integrity of the mask, a speaker carried on the wearer'"'"'s body and means for applying said output signal to said speaker.

10. A vibration pick-up for producing an output signal in response to vibration of a body including in combination a housing having a generally cylindrical inner wall and a base, said housing adapted to contact said body to receive vibrations therefrom, a ball having a diameter less than that of said inner wall, a first O-ring between said base and said ball, a second O-ring between said base and said ball, a second O-ring between said wall and said ball, the relative masses of said ball and said housing being such that said ball tends to remain stationary when said housing vibrates, said O-rings resiliently supporting said ball in said housing, a microphone having a diaphragm and means mounting said microphone in said housing with said diaphragm positioned to be acted upon by said ball.