Telephone headset for the hearing impaired

• US 5,086,464 A
• Filed: 03/05/1990
• Issued: 02/04/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Artic Elements Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Artic Elements Incorporated
• Inventors: Groppe, Alvin F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dwyer, James L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cumming, William
• Application Number:
  US07/487,846
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 379/52, 379/430, 379/441, 379/443, 379/457, 379/428, 379/419, 381/67, 381/68, 381/68.5, 381/69, 381/150, 381/182, 381/183, 381/187, 381/68.1, 2/171
• US Class Current: 381/331
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/05 specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2475 for a hearing impaired user
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/61 Aspects relating to mechanical or electronic switches or control elements, e.g. functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/603 of mechanical or electronic switches or control elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/033 Headphones for stereophonic communication details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10

Abstract

An adjustable telephone headset for the hearing impaired comprising a left and a right ear piece, a speaker within each ear piece, an input device, such as a microphone or magnetic induction pickup within one of the ear pieces, and an amplifier connected between the input device and the speaker. Optionally, a switch may select between either a microphone or a magnetic induction pickup as the choice of input device. A wearer of the headset may place a telephone receiver against the microphone or magnetic induction pickup, allowing an amplified telephone conversation to be heard by both ears. Independent volume controls for each speaker allow individual adjustment to compensate for variations in hearing loss, and optional tone controls for each speaker similarly allow optimum compensation for differences in tonal response in the wearer'"'"'s ears. An optional remote microphone allows use as a conventional hearing aid when not engaged in telephone conversation.

Claims

1. A telephone amplification headset for wearing on the head of a hearing impaired user for use with a telephone receiver, comprising:

(a) a left and a right ear piece, each ear piece including speaker means for transmittal of an amplified telephone conversation to each respective ear of the user;

(b) input means contained in one of the ear pieces for receipt of an unamplified telephone conversation when the telephone receiver is placed adjacent the input means, said input means comprising a microphone;

(c) an amplifier connected between the input means and the speaker means for amplification of a signal from the input means and for excitation of the speaker means;

(d) a left and a right volume control means for independent control of the volume of the amplified conversation to each respective speaker means; and

,

(e) remote microphone means for connection to the amplifier to amplify audio sounds to the user'"'"'s ears.

4. A telephone amplification headset for a hearing impaired user as recited in claim 1, in which the headset includes a left and a right tone control means for independent control of the tonal quality of the conversation to each respective speaker means.

2. A telephone amplification headset for wearing on the head of a hearing impaired user for use with a telephone receiver, comprising:

(a) a left and a right ear piece, each ear piece including speaker means for transmittal of an amplified telephone conversation to each respective ear of the user;

(b) input means contained in one of the ear pieces for receipt of an unamplified telephone conversation when the telephone receiver is placed adjacent the input means, said input means comprising a magnetic induction pickup;

(c) an amplifier connected between the input means and the speaker means for amplification of a signal from the input means and for excitation of the speaker means;

(d) a left and a right volume control means for independent control of the volume of the amplified conversation to each respective speaker means; and

,

(e) remote microphone means for connection to the amplifier to amplify audio sounds to the user'"'"'s ears.

5. A telephone amplification headset for a hearing impaired user as recited in claim 2, in which the headset includes a left and a right tone control means for independent control of the tonal quality of the conversation to each respective speaker means.

3. A telephone amplification headset for wearing on the head of a hearing impaired user for use with a telephone receiver, comprising:

(a) a left and a right ear piece, each ear piece including speaker means for transmittal of an amplified telephone conversation to each respective ear of the user;

(b) input means contained in one of the ear pieces for receipt of an unamplified telephone conversation when the telephone receiver is placed adjacent the input means;

(c) an amplifier connected between the input means and the speaker means for amplification of a signal from the input means and for excitation of the speaker means;

(d) a left and a right volume control means for independent control of the volume of the amplified conversation to each respective speaker means; and

,

(e) remote microphone means for connection to the amplifier to amplify audio sounds to the user'"'"'s ears, said input means comprising;

i. a microphone;

ii. a magnetic induction pickup; and

,

iii. switching means for connecting either the microphone of the input means or the magnetic induction pickup to the amplifier.

6. A telephone amplification headset for a hearing impaired user as recited in claim 3, in which the headset includes a left and a right tone control means for independent control of the tonal quality of the conversation to each respective speaker means.