US4901356A — Voice transmission system

Claim 1

Independent Claim 234 words

A voice transmission system for a protective face mask having a voice emitter passage with its inner end positioned proximate a person's mouth wearing the mask, the improvement comprising: (a) a microphone assembly at least partially received in and sealed to the emitter passage, the microphone assembly including (1) a first housing, (2) a microphone mounted on the first housing, (3) outwardly facing contact means carried by the first housing and (4) first electrical leads extending from the contact means to the microphone; and (b) an amplifier assembly secured to an outer end of the microphone assembly, the amplifier assembly including (1) a second housing having a generally open forward end and carrying a portable power source, (2) an amplifier board mounted in the second housing, (3) a speaker mounted in the second housing adjacent its open end, (4) contactor means carried by the second housing to engage the contact means on the first housing to form an electrical connection therebetween, and (5) second electrical leads interconnecting the power source with the contact means, amplifier board and speaker to complete an electrical circuit between the power source, microphone, amplifier board and speaker to transmit and amplify the wearer's voice when the microphone assembly and amplifier assembly are fully installed onto the emitter passage, said contactor means including two spring loaded contactors respectively resiliently engaging two radially spaced, circumferentially continuous contacts on the first housing.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 234 words

A voice transmission system for a protective face mask having a voice emitter passage with its inner end positioned proximate a person's mouth wearing the mask, the improvement comprising: (a) a microphone assembly at least partially received in and sealed to the emitter passage, the microphone assembly including (1) a first housing, (2) a microphone mounted on the first housing, (3) outwardly facing contact means carried by the first housing and (4) first electrical leads extending from the contact means to the microphone; and (b) an amplifier assembly secured to an outer end of the microphone assembly, the amplifier assembly including (1) a second housing having a generally open forward end and carrying a portable power source, (2) an amplifier board mounted in the second housing, (3) a speaker mounted in the second housing adjacent its open end, (4) contactor means carried by the second housing to engage the contact means on the first housing to form an electrical connection therebetween, and (5) second electrical leads interconnecting the power source with the contact means, amplifier board and speaker to complete an electrical circuit between the power source, microphone, amplifier board and speaker to transmit and amplify the wearer's voice when the microphone assembly and amplifier assembly are fully installed onto the emitter passage, said contactor means including two spring loaded contactors respectively resiliently engaging two radially spaced, circumferentially continuous contacts on the first housing.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 48 words

The voice transmission system of claim 1 wherein the amplifier assembly has a male threaded section thereon screwed into mating female threads in the microphone assembly, the amplifier assembly being threadedly advanced until an end of the male threaded section engages a stop provided in the microphone assembly.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 37 words

The voice transmission system of claim 2 wherein the spring loaded contactors are depressed on installation of the amplifier assembly to insure proper electrical contact between the contactors and contacts when the amplifier assembly is fully installed.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 37 words

The voice transmission system of claim 3 further including a diaphragm membrane positioned in the microphone assembly to seal the user from outside air while being capable of transmitting some sound if the amplifier assembly is removed.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 51 words

The voice transmission system of claim 3 wherein the microphone assembly is threadedly connected to the emitter passage, with a shoulder on the microphone assembly engaging a seal carried in the emitter passage properly to position the microphone assembly and to provide a seal between the microphone assembly and emitter passage.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 224 words

A voice transmission system for a protective face mask having a voice emitter passage with its inner end positioned proximate a person's mouth wearing the mask, the improvement comprising: (a) a microphone assembly at least partially received in and sealed to the emitter passage, the microphone assembly including (1) a first housing, (2) a microphone mounted on the first housing, (3) outwardly facing contact means carried by the first housing and (4) first electrical leads extending from the contact means to the microphone; and (b) an amplifier assembly removably secured to an outer end of the microphone assembly, the amplifier assembly including (1) a second housing having a generally open forward end and carrying a portable power source, (2) an amplifier board mounted in the second housing, (3) a speaker mounted in the second housing adjacent its open end, (4) contactor means carried by the second housing to engage the contact means on the first housing to form an electrical connection therebetween upon attachment of the amplifier assembly to the microphone assembly, and (5) second electrical leads interconnecting the power source with the contact means, amplifier board and speaker to complete an electrical circuit between the power source, microphone, amplifier board and speaker to transmit and amplify the wearer's voice when the microphone assembly and amplifier assembly are fully installed onto the emitter passage.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 224 words

A voice transmission system for a protective face mask having a voice emitter passage with its inner end positioned proximate a person's mouth wearing the mask, the improvement comprising: (a) a microphone assembly at least partially received in and sealed to the emitter passage, the microphone assembly including (1) a first housing, (2) a microphone mounted on the first housing, (3) outwardly facing contact means carried by the first housing and (4) first electrical leads extending from the contact means to the microphone; and (b) an amplifier assembly removably secured to an outer end of the microphone assembly, the amplifier assembly including (1) a second housing having a generally open forward end and carrying a portable power source, (2) an amplifier board mounted in the second housing, (3) a speaker mounted in the second housing adjacent its open end, (4) contactor means carried by the second housing to engage the contact means on the first housing to form an electrical connection therebetween upon attachment of the amplifier assembly to the microphone assembly, and (5) second electrical leads interconnecting the power source with the contact means, amplifier board and speaker to complete an electrical circuit between the power source, microphone, amplifier board and speaker to transmit and amplify the wearer's voice when the microphone assembly and amplifier assembly are fully installed onto the emitter passage.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 29 words

The voice transmission system of claim 6 wherein the contactor means includes two spring loaded contactors respectively resiliently engaging two radially spaced, circumferentially continuous contacts on the first housing.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 115 words

A voice transmission system for a face mask comprising a voice emitter passage extending from the face mask, a microphone assembly at least partially mounted in the emitter passage and having a microphone positioned near a user's mouth and an amplifier assembly with a portable power source mounted on the microphone assembly and having contactor means thereon engaging contact means on the microphone assembly to complete an electrical circuit between the microphone and the amplifier assembly on the outside of the mask, said microphone assembly being threaded into the emitter passage, the amplifier assembly being threaded onto the microphone assembly and the contactor means being spring loaded into a positive connection with the contact means.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 115 words

A voice transmission system for a face mask comprising a voice emitter passage extending from the face mask, a microphone assembly at least partially mounted in the emitter passage and having a microphone positioned near a user's mouth and an amplifier assembly with a portable power source mounted on the microphone assembly and having contactor means thereon engaging contact means on the microphone assembly to complete an electrical circuit between the microphone and the amplifier assembly on the outside of the mask, said microphone assembly being threaded into the emitter passage, the amplifier assembly being threaded onto the microphone assembly and the contactor means being spring loaded into a positive connection with the contact means.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1993-02-12	1993-08-14	1994-02-13	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1997-02-12	1997-08-14	1998-02-13	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2001-02-12	2001-08-14	2002-02-13	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Voice transmission system

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