Patent US4237449A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4237449A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Signalling device for hard of hearing persons
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1978-06-16
•
Granted: 1980-12-02
•
Expires: 1998-06-16
Abstract
Abstract There is disclosed a signalling device for making hard of hearing persons aware of an impending happening in his or her proximity. The device comprises a sound transducer such as a microphone for converting sounds to electrical signals, an amplifier for amplifying the electrical signals and a selective filter connected to the amplifier for selecting amplified signals above a selected amplitude level and within a selected frequency range as may be produced by automobile horns, fire, police and emergency sirens, burglar and smoke alarms, door bells, barking dogs, and the like to produce a continuous, periodically pulsating control signal. These control signals are supplied to an indicator means such as a flashing light-emitting diode connected to a person's spectacles or a tactile alarm secured to the wrist of the person to provide a vibrating or pulsating signal to a sensitive area of the body such as the mastoid bone or the wrist or, alternatively, the device may be connected to a male-female electrical connector with a built-in electronic switch activated by the unit so that a lamp or light bulb plugged therein is turned on and off periodically to awaken the hard of hearing when a smoke alarm or whatever signal is detected.
Inventors
- 👤 J. Scott Zibell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 17:31
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08B; G08B5/00; G08B5/22; G08B5/36
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
A signalling device for making a hard of hearing person aware of an impending happening in his proximity which is foretold by a distinguishable sound, comprising in combination: a sound transducer for converting said distinguishable sound made in advance of the impending happening and associated therewith to an electrical signal, means for receiving and amplifying the electrical signal from said sound transducer, selective filter means connected to said means for receiving and amplifying for selecting amplified signals above a selected amplitude and within a selected frequency range, and an indicator means connected to said selective filter means for providing a non-aural stimulus to said hard of hearing person.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
108 words
A signalling device for making a hard of hearing person aware of an impending happening in his proximity which is foretold by a distinguishable sound, comprising in combination: a sound transducer for converting said distinguishable sound made in advance of the impending happening and associated therewith to an electrical signal, means for receiving and amplifying the electrical signal from said sound transducer, selective filter means connected to said means for receiving and amplifying for selecting amplified signals above a selected amplitude and within a selected frequency range, and an indicator means connected to said selective filter means for providing a non-aural stimulus to said hard of hearing person.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said indicator pulsator means is a lamp, and means driven by said selected amplified signals for providing a continuous sequence of pulsating signals to drive said lamp in flashing fashion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
The invention defined in claim 2 wherein said lamp is an alternating current incandescent lamp, and means connecting said lamp to an alternating current outlet, and pulsatable switch means in said circuit connected to receive said pulsating signals from said pulsator means and thereby flash said incandescent lamp on and off.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said indicator means is a tactile signalling device adapted to sensitize a sensitive area on the body of the user.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The invention defined in claim 4 wherein said sensitized area of the body is the wristbone of the user and including means for securing said unit to the wrist of the user.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said indicator unit is a tactile device, and means for adhering said tactile device to the spectacles of the user so as to contact the mastoid bone of the user and sensitize same upon the occurrence of an impending event in the proximity of the user.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
110 words
A signalling device for a hard of hearing person comprising a sound transducer for converting all sounds in the area of said hard of hearing person, including sounds of impending happenings of which said hard of hearing person desires to be warned, to electrical signals and amplifying same, a plurality of selective filter means, each selecting an amplified signal within a selected frequency range selected from the group comprising automobile horns, fire, police and emergency sirens, burglar and smoke alarms, door bells, and barking dogs, and means responsive to an output signal from any of said plurality of selective filters for providing a non-aural stimulus to said hard of hearing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
110 words
A signalling device for a hard of hearing person comprising a sound transducer for converting all sounds in the area of said hard of hearing person, including sounds of impending happenings of which said hard of hearing person desires to be warned, to electrical signals and amplifying same, a plurality of selective filter means, each selecting an amplified signal within a selected frequency range selected from the group comprising automobile horns, fire, police and emergency sirens, burglar and smoke alarms, door bells, and barking dogs, and means responsive to an output signal from any of said plurality of selective filters for providing a non-aural stimulus to said hard of hearing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
The invention defined in claim 7 wherein each of the outputs of each of said selective filter means is supplied to an OR gate, and the output signal of said OR gate is supplied to said means responsive to an output signal from any of said plurality of selective filters.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
The invention defined in claim 7 wherein said means responsive includes an activator circuit, common to all said selective filter means, and non-aural stimulus means driven by said activator circuit for providing said non-aural stimulus.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
The invention defined in claim 9 wherein said activator circuit terminates in an electrical connector jack, and said non-aural stimulus means includes an input connector terminal adapted to mate with said electrical connector jack and supply a driving signal to said non-aural stimulus means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3536861A
Cited
US3582671A
Cited
US3786628A
Cited
US3798600A
Cited
USB354145I5
Cited
US3818149A
Cited
US3989904A
Cited
US4025732A
Cited
US3993407A
Cited
US3998209A
Cited
US4118604A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-12-02 | 1984-06-02 | 1984-12-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-12-02 | 1988-06-02 | 1988-12-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-12-02 | 1992-06-02 | 1992-12-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |