Simplified alphabetic communicator for handicapped or infirmed persons

• US 5,841,373 A
• Filed: 07/05/1994
• Issued: 11/24/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donny L. Mason
• Original Assignee: Donny L. Mason
• Inventors: Mason, Donny L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng, John K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Application Number:
  US08/270,693
• Time in Patent Office: 1,603 Days
• Field of Search: 341/21, 341/20, 341/22, 340/825.19, 340/286.07, 345/156, 345/157, 345/169, 345/172, 345/160, 345/184, 248/447, 248/445, 248/442.2, 601/23, 601/24
• US Class Current: 341/21
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/28 Undercarriages for supports with one single telescoping pillar
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/022 repositionable
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/028 by positive interaction, e.g. male-female connections
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/00 Teaching, or communicating with, the blind, deaf or mute audible presentation of material to be studied G09B5/04; devices or methods for replacing direct visual or auditory perception by another kind of perception A61F9/08, A61F11/04; audible indication of meter readings or of colour G01D7/12; watches for blind persons G04B25/02; speech analysis, speech recognition G10L; sound-recording or reproducing, per se G11B

Abstract

A silent communicator for persons who are incapable of communicating their needs. The communicator is comprised of a display panel mounted on an arm which is in turn mounted on a bed rail or other surface accessible to the patient, and a control pad which fits in the patient'"'"'s hand . The control pad has a rocker switch and two button switches for the patient to manipulate to display a message on the display panel.

Claims

1. A simplified alphabetic message communicator for handicapped or infirmed persons comprising:

an enclosure housing having a substantially rectangular shape;

a liquid crystal display screen forming at least part of one wall of said enclosure;

a programmable computer means, comprising an E-prom chip, mounted within the enclosure for controlling the display means;

means remote form the enclosure, connected to the computer means for providing and controlling input by said handicapped or infirmed persons, comprises;

a user held control pad;

a plurality of switches;

one of said switches controls a display cursor;

another one of said switches controls the selection of a display letter; and

another one of said switches cancels a display letter;

arm means, for supporting the enclosure housing, comprising a ball joint allowing for adjustment in three dimensions of the display means; and

a clamp means forming one end of the arm means for securing the arm to a selected base structure.

2. A simplified alphabetic message communicator for handicapped or infirmed persons comprising:

an enclosure housing having a substantially rectangular shape;

a liquid crystal display screen forming at least part of one wall of said enclosure;

a programmable computer means, comprising an E-prom chip, mounted within the enclosure for controlling the display means;

means remote from the enclosure, connected to the computer means for providing and controlling input by said handicapped or infirmed persons, comprises;

a user held control pad;

a plurality of switches;

one of said switches controls a display cursor;

another one of said switches controls the selection of a display letter; and

another one of said switches cancels a display letter;

arm means, for supporting the enclosure housing, comprising a ball joint allowing for adjustment in three dimensions of the display means;

a clamp means forming one end of the arm means for securing the arm to a selected base structure; and

means for adjusting the height of the display panel comprising a spring biased ball engaging one of a plurality of apertures on the arm.