Voice amplification adapter assembly for face mask

• US 5,463,693 A
• Filed: 11/10/1993
• Issued: 10/31/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Undersea Sensor Systems, Inc. (Edge Autonomy SLO LLC)
• Original Assignee: Audiopack Sound Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Birli, Joseph A., Becker, Jack J.
• Primary Examiner(s): BRINICH, STEPHEN M
• Application Number:
  US08/150,380
• Time in Patent Office: 720 Days
• Field of Search: 381/75, 381/168-169, 379/175, 367/132
• US Class Current: 381/75
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 27/00 Public address systems circuits for preventing acoustic reaction H04R3/02; circuits for distributing signals to loudspeakers H04R3/12; monitoring or testing arrangements for public address systems H04R29/007; amplifiers H03F
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/02 Spatial or constructional arrangements of loudspeakers

Abstract

A voice transmission system for a protective respirator, having a face mask with an inhalation port and a filter attached to the inhalation port, is provided. The voice transmission system comprises a microphone assembly adapted to be located between the inhalation port and the air filter, the microphone assembly including a spacer for separating the filter from the inhalation port and a microphone extending therefrom and into an interior space of the face mask, and a combined amplifier/loudspeaker assembly remotely connected to the microphone. The spacer of the microphone assembly provides an airtight seal between the filter and the face mask and includes a one-way inhalation valve. The spacer is provided with an outer surface configuration which matches the face mask on one side and the filter on another so that the microphone assembly may be attached intermediate the face mask and the filter without using any additional fasteners.

Claims

1. A protective respirator, comprising:

a face mask having an inhalation port through which a wearer of the mask inhales ambient air;

an air filter for filtering the inhaled ambient air and providing filtered air to said inhalation port;

a microphone assembly which is removably detachable from a location between said inhalation port and said air filter, said microphone assembly including a spacer for separating said filter from said inhalation port, said spacer having a body with a passage extending the entire length thereof through which filtered air may pass from said filter to said inhalation port, said spacer further having a microphone extending therefrom;

an amplifier connected to said microphone for receiving and amplifying sound transmitted by said microphone and outputting an amplified signal; and

a loudspeaker connected to said amplifier for receiving and radiating said amplified signal.

2. The protective respirator of claim 1, wherein said amplifier and said loudspeaker form a combined amplifier/loudspeaker assembly.

3. The protective respirator of claim 2, wherein said combined amplifier/loudspeaker assembly is located remote from said face mask.

4. The protective respirator of claim 3, wherein said combined amplifier/loudspeaker assembly is provided with a clip for attaching said amplifier/loudspeaker assembly to a portion of the wearer'"'"'s clothing.

5. The protective respirator of claim 3, wherein said spacer of said microphone assembly provides an airtight seal between said filter and said face mask.

6. The protective respirator of claim 1, wherein said spacer is provided with an inhale diaphragm, and opposite outer surfaces which lockingly engage, respectively, with said inhalation port and said air filter.

7. The protective respirator of claim 6, wherein said spacer is constructed of a thermoplastic material.

8. The protective respirator of claim 7, wherein said spacer is comprised of two half members sonically welded together.

9. The protective respirator of claim 2, further comprising a wire for connecting said microphone to said combined amplifier/loudspeaker assembly, and wherein said wire includes strain relief means.

10. A voice transmission system for a protective respirator comprising (i) a face mask having an inhalation port through which a wearer of the mask inhales ambient air;

and (ii) an air filter for filtering the inhaled ambient air and providing filtered air to said inhalation port, said voice transmission system comprising;

a microphone assembly which is removably detachable from a location between said inhalation port and said air filter, said microphone assembly including a spacer for separating said filter from said inhalation port, said spacer having a body with a passage extending the entire length thereof through which filtered air may pass from said filter to said inhalation port, said spacer further having a microphone extending therefrom;

an amplifier connected to said microphone for receiving and amplifying sound transmitted by said microphone and outputting an amplified signal; and

a loudspeaker connected to said amplifier for receiving and radiating said amplified signal.

11. The voice transmission system of claim 10, wherein said amplifier and said loudspeaker form a combined amplifier/loudspeaker assembly.

12. The voice transmission system of claim 11, wherein said combined amplifier/loudspeaker assembly is located remote from said face mask.

13. The voice transmission system of claim 12, wherein said combined amplifier/loudspeaker assembly is provided with a clip for attaching said amplifier/loudspeaker assembly to a portion of the wearer'"'"'s clothing

14. The voice transmission system of claim 12, wherein said spacer of said microphone assembly provides an airtight seal between said filter and said face mask.

15. The voice transmission system of claim 14, wherein said spacer is provided with an inhale diaphragm, and opposite outer surfaces which lockingly engage, respectively, with said inhalation port and said air filter.

16. The voice transmission system of claim 15, wherein said spacer is constructed of a thermoplastic material.

17. The voice transmission system of claim 16, wherein said spacer is comprised of two half members sonically welded together.

18. The voice transmission system of claim 10, further comprising a wire for connecting said microphone to said combined amplifier/loudspeaker assembly, and wherein said wire includes strain relief means.

19. A protective respirator, comprising:

a face mask having an inhalation port through which a wearer of the mask inhales ambient air;

an air filter for filtering the inhaled ambient air and providing filtered air to said inhalation port;

a microphone assembly located between said inhalation port and said air filter, said microphone assembly including a spacer for separating said filter from said inhalation port and a microphone extending therefrom and into an interior space of said face mask, said spacer providing an airtight seal between said filter and said face mask, said spacer having (i) a first outer surface facing an outer surface of said face mask, and (ii) a second outer surface facing an outer surface of said filter, and wherein said first outer surface and face mask outer surface, and said second outer surface and said filter outer surface, respectively, are provided with complementary geometrical configurations which mate with each other; and

an amplifier/loudspeaker assembly located remote from said microphone and including (i) an amplifier connected to said microphone for receiving and amplifying sound transmitted by said microphone and outputting an amplified signal, and (ii) a loudspeaker connected to said amplifier for receiving and radiating said amplified signal.

20. A voice transmission system for a protective respirator including (i) a face mask having an inhalation port through which a wearer of the mask inhales ambient air;

and (ii) an air filter for filtering the inhaled ambient air and providing filtered air to said inhalation port, said voice transmission system comprising;

a microphone assembly adapted to be located between said inhalation port and said air filter, said microphone assembly including a spacer for separating said filter from said inhalation port and a microphone extending therefrom and into an interior space of said face mask, said spacer providing an airtight seal between said filter and said face mask, said spacer having (i) a first outer surface facing an outer surface of the face mask, and (ii) a second outer surface facing an outer surface of the filter, and wherein said first outer surface and face mask outer surface, and said second outer surface and said filter outer surface, respectively, are provided with complementary geometrical configurations which mate with each other; and

an amplifier/loudspeaker assembly located remote from said face mask and comprising (i) an amplifier connected to said microphone for receiving and amplifying sound transmitted by said microphone and outputting an amplified signal, and (ii) a loudspeaker connected to said amplifier for receiving and radiating said amplified signal.