US5138666A — Voice transmission system

Claim 1

Independent Claim 161 words

A voice transmission system for a protective face mask having a voice emitter passage forming an extension of the face mask with its inner proximate a person's mouth wearing the mask and its outer end having a voice diaphragm, said voice transmission system comprising: a body mounting and substantially enclosing an amplifier assembly and a speaker within an open-ended main compartment and at least partially enclosing a microphone within a microphone cavity which serves to receive and amplify the person's voice, and a battery compartment adapted to contain a battery, said battery compartment including a selectively removable cover to allow access to said battery; said amplifier assembly, speaker, battery and microphone being interconnected by an electrical circuit; and a mounting bracket connected to said body, said mounting bracket having mounting means for removably coupling the voice transmission system to the outer end of the voice emitter passage to receive, amplify and transmit the person's voice received through the voice emitter diaphragm.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 161 words

A voice transmission system for a protective face mask having a voice emitter passage forming an extension of the face mask with its inner proximate a person's mouth wearing the mask and its outer end having a voice diaphragm, said voice transmission system comprising: a body mounting and substantially enclosing an amplifier assembly and a speaker within an open-ended main compartment and at least partially enclosing a microphone within a microphone cavity which serves to receive and amplify the person's voice, and a battery compartment adapted to contain a battery, said battery compartment including a selectively removable cover to allow access to said battery; said amplifier assembly, speaker, battery and microphone being interconnected by an electrical circuit; and a mounting bracket connected to said body, said mounting bracket having mounting means for removably coupling the voice transmission system to the outer end of the voice emitter passage to receive, amplify and transmit the person's voice received through the voice emitter diaphragm.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 113 words

A voice transmission system for use with a protective face mask having a voice emitter passage with its inner end proximate a person's mouth wearing the mask and its outer end having a voice diaphragm, said voice transmission system comprising: a body mounting and substantially enclosing an amplifier assembly and a speaker within a main compartment and least partially enclosing a microphone within a microphone cavity; an electrical circuit interconnecting said amplifier assembly and microphone with at least one battery, and a mounting bracket attached to said body having mounting means for removably coupling said voice transmission system to the mask proximate to the person's mouth without penetrating or structurally modifying the mask.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 113 words

A voice transmission system for use with a protective face mask having a voice emitter passage with its inner end proximate a person's mouth wearing the mask and its outer end having a voice diaphragm, said voice transmission system comprising: a body mounting and substantially enclosing an amplifier assembly and a speaker within a main compartment and least partially enclosing a microphone within a microphone cavity; an electrical circuit interconnecting said amplifier assembly and microphone with at least one battery, and a mounting bracket attached to said body having mounting means for removably coupling said voice transmission system to the mask proximate to the person's mouth without penetrating or structurally modifying the mask.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 35 words

A combined microphone and amplifier assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said body includes a battery compartment for housing said battery, said battery compartment including a removable cover providing access to said battery.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 177 words

A combined microphone and amplifier assembly for use with a protective face mask having a voice emitter passage, said combined microphone and amplifier assembly comprising: a microphone, an amplifier board, a speaker, at least one battery and an electrical circuit interconnecting said microphone, amplifier board, speaker and battery; a body mounting an substantially enclosing said microphone, amplifier board and said speaker within a main compartment; a mounting bracket attached to said body having connecting means for removably securing said combined microphone and amplifier assembly to the mask in juxta position on and in alignment with the voice emitter passage without penetrating the mask or structurally modifying the mask, said connecting means comprising a round stationary rod and a substantially round rotatable locking pin, said stationary pin being adapted to engage the voice emitter passage of the mask, said rotatable locking pin being capable of rotating in and out of locking engagement with the voice emitter passage of the mask so as to allow said combined microphone and amplifier assembly to be attached and detached from the mask.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 177 words

A combined microphone and amplifier assembly for use with a protective face mask having a voice emitter passage, said combined microphone and amplifier assembly comprising: a microphone, an amplifier board, a speaker, at least one battery and an electrical circuit interconnecting said microphone, amplifier board, speaker and battery; a body mounting an substantially enclosing said microphone, amplifier board and said speaker within a main compartment; a mounting bracket attached to said body having connecting means for removably securing said combined microphone and amplifier assembly to the mask in juxta position on and in alignment with the voice emitter passage without penetrating the mask or structurally modifying the mask, said connecting means comprising a round stationary rod and a substantially round rotatable locking pin, said stationary pin being adapted to engage the voice emitter passage of the mask, said rotatable locking pin being capable of rotating in and out of locking engagement with the voice emitter passage of the mask so as to allow said combined microphone and amplifier assembly to be attached and detached from the mask.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 32 words

A combined microphone and amplifier assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said mounting bracket includes a circular flange and the ends of said stationary pin are supported in said flange.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 41 words

A combined microphone and amplifier assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein the ends of said locking pin extend through said flange, said ends of said locking pin being supported by pillow blocks located along the outside of said flange.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 29 words

A combined microphone and amplifier assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein the major axes of said stationary pin and said locking pin extend parallel to one another.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 42 words

A combined microphone and amplifier assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said locking pin includes a reduced diameter semicircular portion that is capable of being rotated in and out of engagement with the voice emitter passage of the face mask.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 24 words

A combined microphone and amplifier assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said mounting bracket includes a microphone cavity for housing said microphone.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 89 words

A combined microphone and amplifier assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said mounting bracket includes a rim and a gasket located alongside said rim, such that when said combined microphone and amplifier assembly is mounted upon the mask said gasket is located between the mask and said rim, said gasket being slightly compressed so as to provide an airtight and watertight seal between said mounting bracket and said mask when said locking pin is in engagement with the sleeve of the voice emitter passage of the mask.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 180 words

A combined microphone and amplifier assembly for use with a protective face mask having a voice emitter passage, said combined microphone and amplifier assembly comprising: a microphone, an amplifier board, a speaker, at least one battery and an electrical circuit interconnecting said microphone, amplifier board, speaker and battery; a body mounting and substantially enclosing said microphone, amplifier board and said speaker within a main compartment; a mounting bracket attached to said body having connecting means for removably securing said combined microphone and amplifier assembly to the mask in juxta position on and in alignment with the voice emitter passage without penetrating or structurally modifying the mask, said connection means comprising a mounting rod having a pair of posts that extend beyond said body and a pair of elastic straps that connect said posts to the manifolds of the mask, said straps including an inner loop and an outer loop, said outer loop serving to allow a user to grasp said straps and stretch said inner loop around said posts to mount said combined microphone and amplifier assembly to the mask.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 180 words

A combined microphone and amplifier assembly for use with a protective face mask having a voice emitter passage, said combined microphone and amplifier assembly comprising: a microphone, an amplifier board, a speaker, at least one battery and an electrical circuit interconnecting said microphone, amplifier board, speaker and battery; a body mounting and substantially enclosing said microphone, amplifier board and said speaker within a main compartment; a mounting bracket attached to said body having connecting means for removably securing said combined microphone and amplifier assembly to the mask in juxta position on and in alignment with the voice emitter passage without penetrating or structurally modifying the mask, said connection means comprising a mounting rod having a pair of posts that extend beyond said body and a pair of elastic straps that connect said posts to the manifolds of the mask, said straps including an inner loop and an outer loop, said outer loop serving to allow a user to grasp said straps and stretch said inner loop around said posts to mount said combined microphone and amplifier assembly to the mask.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 20 words

A combined microphone and amplifier assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein said straps comprise constant elasticity rubber straps.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 26 words

A combined microphone and amplifier assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein said posts include grooves adapted to receive said inner loops of said straps.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 27 words

A combined microphone and amplifier assembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein said inner loops of said straps are circular and said outer loops are semicircular.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 21 words

A combined microphone and amplifier assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein said posts are diametrically opposed to one another.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 26 words

A combined microphone and amplifier assembly as set forth in claim 15 wherein said mounting rod is partially located between said body and said mounting bracket.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 93 words

A combined microphone and amplifier assembly as set forth in claim 16 wherein said mounting bracket includes a rim and a gasket adjacent said rim such that when said combined microphone and amplifier assembly is mounted upon the mask the gasket is located between said rim and the mask, said straps provide sufficient elastic tension so as to partially compress said gasket and provide an airtight and watertight seal between said mounting bracket and the mask once said inner loops of said straps have been stretched around said posts of said mounting rod.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 22 words

A combined microphone and amplifier assembly as set forth in claim 17 wherein said straps include circular cross-sections substantially throughout said straps.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 149 words

A combined microphone and amplifier assembly for use with a protective face mask having a voice emitter passage forming an extension of the face mask, said combined microphone and amplifier assembly comprising: a microphone, an amplifier board, a speaker, at least one battery and an electrical circuit interconnecting said microphone, amplifier board, speaker and battery; a body mounting and substantially enclosing said amplifier board and said speaker within a main compartment; a mounting bracket attached to said body having connection means for removably securing said combined microphone and amplifier assembly to the mask proximate to the person's mouth without penetrating or structurally modifying the mask, said connection means including a mounting rod having a pair of posts that extend beyond said body and a pair of elastic straps which connect said posts to the manifolds of the mask thereby mounting said combined microphone and amplifier assembly to the mask.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 149 words

A combined microphone and amplifier assembly for use with a protective face mask having a voice emitter passage forming an extension of the face mask, said combined microphone and amplifier assembly comprising: a microphone, an amplifier board, a speaker, at least one battery and an electrical circuit interconnecting said microphone, amplifier board, speaker and battery; a body mounting and substantially enclosing said amplifier board and said speaker within a main compartment; a mounting bracket attached to said body having connection means for removably securing said combined microphone and amplifier assembly to the mask proximate to the person's mouth without penetrating or structurally modifying the mask, said connection means including a mounting rod having a pair of posts that extend beyond said body and a pair of elastic straps which connect said posts to the manifolds of the mask thereby mounting said combined microphone and amplifier assembly to the mask.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1995-08-11	1996-02-10	1996-08-11	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1999-08-11	2000-02-10	2000-08-11	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2003-08-11	2004-02-10	2004-08-11	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Voice transmission system

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