Communication apparatus and helmet

• US 8,194,875 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2003
• Issued: 06/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Innotech Group Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Innotech Group Incorporated
• Inventors: Miranda, Stephen Alfred
• Primary Examiner(s): FAULK, DEVONA E
• Application Number:
  US10/527,300
• Publication Number:
  US 20060227982A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,196 Days
• Field of Search: 381/74, 381/151, 381/381, 381/384, 381/376, 381/72, 381/370
• US Class Current: 381/74
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/14 Suspension devices
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/30 Mounting radio sets or communication systems
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/3866 carried on the head
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/05 specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/083 Special constructions of mouthpieces

Abstract

A communication apparatus includes a support structure (41) that is fastenable to a safety helmet (58). A vibration conduction microphone (54) is carried by the support structure. The vibration conduction microphone and the speaker enclosure (43) are positioned so that, when the support structure is fastened to the safety helmet, the vibration conduction microphone and the speaker enclosure come into contact with a rear of the wearer'"'"'s head.

Claims

1. A communication apparatus comprising:

a vibration conduction microphone including a housing, a transducer that is positioned in the housing and art acoustic isolator that is also positioned in the housing and disposed about the transducer;

said acoustic isolator including a holder holding a visco-elastic material, said transducer comprising an accelerometer, said housing comprising a flexible body configured to receive the accelerometer, the acoustic isolator and holder;

a speaker enclosure including a speaker and arranged to couple vibrations from the speaker to bone of a wearer; and

attachment means coupled to each of said microphone and said speaker enclosure to facilitate attachment to an item of headgear for placement of said microphone and speaker enclosure against a rearward portion of the wearer'"'"'s head in use.

11. A communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the speaker enclosure includes:

a first region to couple vibrations from the speaker to bones of the wearer'"'"'s head; and

a second region to couple vibrations from said speaker element to air for conventional hearing by the wearer.

12. A communication apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said speaker enclosure includes:

a housing about a speaker; and

a resilient diaphragm attached to the housing, said diaphragm comprising the first region to couple vibrations from the speaker to bones of the wearer'"'"'s head;

the housing defining at least one opening comprising the second region to couple vibrations from said speaker to air for conventional hearing by the wearer.

13. A communication apparatus according to claim 12, including a membrane arranged on the housing to seal the at least one opening thereby shielding the speaker from water.

14. A communication apparatus according to claim 13, including an acoustically transparent cover for the first opening.

15. A communication apparatus according to claim 12, including an electrical cable connected to the speaker to transmit electrical signals to the speaker, the housing defining an aperture accommodating the electrical cable and a sealant interposed between the cable and the housing, the sealant being selected to provide strain relief to the electrical cable.

16. A communication apparatus according to claim 12, in which a transducer is arranged in the housing adjacent the resilient diaphragm so that the speaker enclosure can be used to pick up vibrations from the wearer as well as to transfer vibrations to the wearer.

17. A communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the attachment means comprises:

a first headgear strap engagement means fast with the vibration conduction microphone to receive a strap of the headgear; and

a second headgear strap engagement means fast with the vibration conduction speaker enclosure to receive said, or an additional, strap of the headgear.

18. A communication apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the first and second headgear strap engagement means include recesses formed into respective bodies of the vibration conduction microphone and the vibration conduction speaker enclosure to receive the headgear straps.

19. A communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the attachment means comprises a support structure to which the vibration conduction microphone and the vibration conduction speaker enclosure are mounted.

20. A communication apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the headgear comprises a helmet and wherein the attachment means is adapted to be mounted to an internal support of the helmet.

21. A communication apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the headgear comprises a helmet and wherein the attachment means is adapted to be connected to a nape adjustment strap of the helmet.

2. A helmet mountable communication apparatus, including transducing means consisting of a vibration conduction microphone and a speaker enclosure;

whereto, the transducing means is mounted at the rear of the helmet so that in use the transducing means contacts the rear of a wearer'"'"'s head;

and wherein the vibration conduction microphone comprises a housing and an acoustic isolator that is also positioned in the housing, the acoustic isolator being disposed about the transducing means, said acoustic isolator including a visco-elastic material;

said acoustic isolator further including a holder holding the visco-elastic material, said transducing means comprising an accelerometer, said housing comprising a flexible body configured to receive the accelerometer, acoustic isolator and holder.

3. The helmet mountable communications apparatus of claim 2, wherein the speaker enclosure comprises

a housing for a speaker, the housing defining at least one opening:

a resilient diaphragm that is attached to the housing and that is configured to make contact with the head of a person, in use; and

a membrane that is arranged on the housing to seal the at least one opening so that the speaker is shielded from water.

4. A speaker enclosure as claimed in claim 3, in which the housing defines first and second openings.

5. A speaker enclosure as claimed in claim 4, in which the resilient diaphragm is arranged on the housing to seal the first opening and the membrane is arranged on the housing to seal the second opening.

6. A speaker enclosure as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, in which an acoustically transparent cover is positioned on the housing to protect the second opening.

7. A speaker enclosure as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 6, in which a speaker is mounted in the housing and an electrical cable is connected to the speaker to transmit electrical signals to the speaker, the housing defining an aperture for accommodating the electrical cable and a sealant being interposed between the cable and the housing, the sealant being selected to provide strain relief to the electrical cable.

8. A speaker enclosure as claimed in claim 7, in which a mounting means is arranged on the housing, the mounting means being configured to receive a strap, belt or the like.

9. A speaker enclosure as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8, in which a transducer is arranged in the housing adjacent the resilient diaphragm so that the speaker enclosure can be used to pick up vibrations from a wearer as well as to transfer vibrations to the wearer.

10. A helmet mountable communications apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the transducing means is mounted to an internal support of the helmet.

22. A vibration conduction microphone that includes:

a housing;

a transducer that is positioned in the housing; and

an acoustic isolator that is also positioned in the housing, the acoustic isolator being disposed about the transducer, said acoustic isolator including a vico-elastic material, said acoustic isolator further including a holder holding the visco-elastic material, said transducer comprising an accelerometer, said housing comprising a flexible body configured to receive the accelerometer, acoustic isolator and holder.