US3890475A

US3890475A - Self-contained voice amplification headgear

Info

Publication number: US3890475A
Application number: US437990A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert R Denhart
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1974-01-30
Filing date: 1974-01-30
Publication date: 1975-06-17
Anticipated expiration: 1992-06-17

Abstract

A self-contained voice amplification headgear is disclosed which includes a housing arranged to be secured around the head, hat or helmet of the user and around and on objects by an adjustable headband, or molded, adhered to or otherwise externally secured to the hat or helmet without their modification, a speaker is carried by the housing and a microphone arm carrying a microphone is pivotally connected to the housing and operable to swing the microphone to a downward position in front of the mouth of the user, and up away from the mouth of the user to an out-of-the-way position. Preferably, the speaker is facing in the same direction as the user is facing. An on-off switch is provided and is operable to connect an electrical power source to an amplifier circuit carried by the housing when the microphone arm is in the downward position and to disconnect them when in the out-of-theway position. An auxiliary on-off switch, volume control and connection for a recharger may be provided and carried by the housing.

Description

United States Patent [191 Denhart 51 June 17, 1975 SELF-CONTAINED VOICE AMPLIFICATION HEADGEAR [22] Filed: Jan. 30, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 437,990

[52] US. Cl 179/156 A; 179/1 MG [51] Int. Cl. H04m l/05 [58] Field of Search 179/156 R, 156 A Primary Examiner-William C. Cooper Attorney, Agent, or FirmJames F. Weiler; William A. Stout; Dudley R. Dobie, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT A self-contained voice amplification headgear is disclosed which includes a housing arranged to be secured around the head, hat or helmet of the user and around and on objects by an adjustable headband, or molded, adhered to or otherwise externally secured to the hat or helmet without their modification, a speaker is carried by the housing and a microphone arm carrying a microphone is pivotally connected to the housing and operable to swing the microphone to' a downward position in front of the mouth of the user, and up away from the mouth of the user to an out-ofthe-way position. Preferably, the speaker is facing in the same direction as the user is facing. An on-off switch is provided and is operable to connect an electrical power source to an amplifier circuit carried by the housing when the microphone arm is in the downward position and to disconnect them when in the outof-the-way position. An auxiliary on-off switch, volume control and connection for a recharger may be provided and carried by the housing.

6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUN 1 7 I975 13; 8 90 475 SHEET 1 SELF-CONTAINED VOICE AMPLIFICATION HEADGEAR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Labor costs are an ever-increasing and major compo nent in every product or service. Accordingly, it is highly desirable, if not necessary, to obtain as much utilization of labor as reasonably possible. Much labor time, and hence money, is lost because of poor communication systems between foremen, group chiefs or leaders, superintendents, engineers, architects, and management prople and laborv This is particularly true in the construction industry, and primarily with safety hard-hat type people in that the directions and instructions are given orally without amplification and in view of the distances or noise or both, it is necessary or desirable for the person or persons giving the directions and instructions to go to the workers or each group of workers to give them such instructions. This requires a considerable amount of time which, in effect, is lost time and creates production stoppages when these persons must move about to convey necessary instructions and communications. Also, much time is lost in workers stopping and getting started again, which is very costly, caused by waiting on instructions and directions.

The magnitude of the cost involved in labor loss of time due to poor communications may be gleaned from the fact that at the present time it is estimated there are approximately 30,000,000 blue-collar workers in the United States of America, of that number about 12,000,000 to perform their job function must by law wear a safety hat, and approximately 6,000,000 are of a supervisory nature.

It has been established that better communications, through the many uses of microwave, telephonic, and acoustical systems, have a direct bearing on productivity of personnel, quality of product in service, and personnel relationships. While a number of speaker systems for headpieces, helmets and hats have been proposed in the past, for example, systems such as disclosed in US. Pat. Nos. 2,497,871; 3,258,534; 3,347,229; 3,422,224; 3,549,831; and 3,629,552, most of these speaker systems require modification to or special headgear or helmets, are bulky and do not permit the user to be unencumbered and do not include an onoff switch which connects the power source to the amplifier circuit when the microphone arm is swung downwardly to position the microphone in front of the mouth of the user, and disconnects the power source from the amplifier circuit when the microphone arm is moved upwardly to position the microphone away from the mouth and face of the user into an oubof-the-way position. In addition, some of these have internal mountings and parts between the crown and head, which is unsafe and do not qualify under present OSHSA laws for safety hats. In any event, none of these amplification systems are presently marketed or in use in the construction of hard-hat industry in the United States of America.

SUMMARY The present invention is directed to self-contained voice amplification headgear which overcomes the disadvantages and obj ctions of prior art hat, helmet or headgear amplification systems, by providing a housing and an adjustable headband by which it can be secured directly around the head of the user or externally to hard hats, helmets and other headgear without modification and to other objects, and which includes an onoff switch incorporated into a microphone arm pivotally carried by the housing and arranged so that when the arm is swung to a downward position to bring the microphone before the mouth of the user, an electrical power source is connected to an amplification system, both carried by the housing, and when the microphone arm is raised to raise the microphone from before the mouth and face of the user to an out-of-the-way position, the electrical power source is disconnected from the amplifier circuit.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a self-contained voice amplification headgear which can be strapped around the head of the user or to the users hard hat, helmet or other headgear or otherwise externally secured to them without any modification in them.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of such a self-contained voice amplification headgear which includes an on-off switch operable by a microphone arm pivotally carried by the housing portion of the adjustable headband, which arm is arranged to swing down to bring the microphone before the mouth of the user and which switch connects the electrical power source with the amplifier circuit, and operable to disconnect them when the microphone arm is raised to raise the microphone from before the mouth and face of the user to an out-of-the-way position.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of such a self-contained voice amplification headgear which may be utilized to provide necessary or desirable instructions where distance'presents a problem to efficient and fast communication, and where noise, machinery or environment, presents an obstacle to efficient and fast communication.

Still a further object of the present invention is the provision of such a self-contained voice amplification system which leaves the user completely unencumbered so as not to interfere with the performance of his job function.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a self-contained voice amplification headgear which is relatively inexpensive, may readily and easily be attached or secured to the head of the user, or to hard hats, helmets and the like without any modification or change to them, and which can be turned on simply by bringing the microphone arm to a downward position to bring the microphone in front of the mouth of the user and turned off by moving the arm and the microphone to an out-of-the-way position.

Other and further objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, the abstract of the disclosure, the background of the invention, this summary, the drawing and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a selfcontained voice amplification headgear according to the invention shown attached to a hard hat worn by the user,

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the same,

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram illustrating the amplifier circuit,

FIG. 4 is a detail view of the pivot, and

FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating a recharger for the electrical power source.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. 1, a self-contained voice amplification headgear is illustrated which includes a body portion generally in the shape ofa headband comprised of an enlarged forward position which serves as the housing for the voice amplification headgear to which is attached the headband straps 12 which are adjustable to fit about the head or hard hat 14 shown here, as well as other typical hats, helmets and objects, not shown. Preferably, the housing 10 is made of a lightweight waterproof material, such a plastic, and the headband straps 12 are preferably made of a lightweight material, such as plastic as used in safety hats in the construction industry. If desired, the housing 10 may be molded, adhered to by an adhesive or otherwise externally secured to the hat without modifying the hat, and without use of the headband straps 12, if desired, so that the housing is carried by the hat.

A speaker 16 is disposed at the enlarged forward portion of the housing 10 which also carries the amplifier 18, the electrical power source, here shown as the batteries 20, to power the system, a battery recharger jack 22, and the combined volume control and secondary on-off switch 24. Preferably, the speaker 16 faces in the direction of the user, as does the microphone 27, to provide best results in communicating instructions, directions, and the like.

A microphone arm 25 is pivotally secured to the housing 10 by the pivot connections 26, which microphone arm 25 adjustably carries at its end the microphone 27. The arm 25 is shown as supporting the microphone 27 from both sides. If desired, the arm 25 may pivotally extend from one side of the housing 10 to the microphone 27 and the other side of the arm and its pivot connection 26 omitted. Advantageously, the pivot connection 26 includes an on-off switch 29 (see FIG. 2) so that when the microphone arm 25 is in an upward and out-of-the-way position, the electrical power source is disconnected from the amplifier 18, and when the microphone arm is swung to a downward position so that the microphone 27 is in front of the mouth of the user, the electrical power source 20 is connected to the amplifier 22. Advantageously, this permits connecting and disconnecting the electrical power source 20 to and from the amplifier 22 automatically by moving the microphone arm 25 to the downward position for use and by moving the microphone arm 25 to the out-of-the-way position for non-use, leaving the user completely unencumbered insofar as the voice amplification headgear is concerned.

The microphone arm 25 is outwardly bowed, as illustrated, so that it clears the brim of the hard hat 14 and can be swung into the downward position for use and into the out-of-the-way position when not in use.

Referring now to FIG. 2, which generally depicts the amplifier l8 and shows its interconnection to the electrical power source 20, it is to be noted that the circuitry includes two on-and-off switches, 24 and 29, in series. The combined volume control potentiometer and on-and-off switch 24 is mounted on the housing 10 in such a manner that it may be readily reached for manipulation by the user. The other on-and-off switch 29 is arranged in the pivot connection 26 such that the switch is on when the microphone arm 25 is pivoted downwardly, as previously noted. If desired, the electrical power source 20 may consist of rechargeable batteries, and if this is done, then a recharger jack 22 is 5 provided, also mounted in the housing 10. The amplifier 18 generally consists of a preamplifier stage 30 whose input comes from the volume control 24 and microphone 27. The output of the preamplifier stage 30 may advantageously be fed to the conventional power amplifier stages in a push-pull arrangement which includes transistors Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q4. The output of a transistor amplifier circuitry is fed to the speaker 16. If desired, a feedback control circuit 32 may be included, as well as

balancing potentiometers

34 and 36. Other conventional amplifier circuitry may be substituted for that shown as the amplifier 18.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the recharger 38 is generally depicted and this includes a power plug 40 along with an output plug 42 which is designed to interconnect with the recharger jack 22. The recharger is conventional and includes elements to convert line current to the required lowered voltage direct current. If desired, and assuming that the user does not require great mobility, for example, when hung or strapped around an object, the recharger may be connected to the amplifier even when the present invention is in use so that the amplifier 18 operates off of the usual line current instead of the batteries.

The self-contained voice amplification headgear can be powered to amplify the voice up to most desired distances, such as 50, 100 or more yards.

Since the self-contained voice amplification headgear is adjustable as to size, it may readily be fitted over any hat, helmet or other headgear, may be worn around the head without a hat, molded to or adhered to a hat by a suitable adhesive or otherwise secured externally to the hat. Also, if desired,.the headgear amplifier may be strapped around or hung on posts and other objects and used in that manner when not being worn by the user when using straps, such as indicated by the reference numeral 12.

Accordingly, the self-contained voice amplification headgear of the present invention is well adapted and suited to attain the objects and ends and has the advantages mentioned as well as others inherent therein.

While a presently-preferred embodiment of the invention has been given for the purpose of disclosure, changes may be made which are within the spirit of the invention as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A self-contained voice amplification headgear comprising,

a housing arranged to be carried externally by the head, hat or helmet of the user,

a speaker carried by the housing,

an amplifier electrically connected to the speaker carried by the housing,

an electrical power source carried by the housing,

a microphone arm pivotally connected to the housing,

a microphone electrically connected to the amplifier and carried by the microphone arm,

the microphone arm operable to swing the microphone to a downward position in front of the mouth of the user and upwardly and away from the mouth and face of the user into an out-of-the-way position, and an on-off switch operable to connect the electrical power source to the amplifier when the microphone arm is in the downward position and operable to disconnect the electrical power source from the amplifier when the microphone arm is in the out-of-the-way position. 2. The self-contained voice amplification headgear of claim 1, including,

an adjustable headband arranged to extend around the head, hat or helmet of the user, the housing forming part of the headband. 3. The self-contained voice amplification headgear of claim 1 where,

the electrical power source is a rechargeable power source. and includes a connection carried by the housing for an electrical recharger.

4. The self-contained voice amplification headgear of claim 3, including,

a volume control carried by the housing operable to control the volume of the speaker. 5. The self-contained voice amplification headgear of claim 1, including,

an auxiliary on-and-off switch carried by the housing operable to connect and to disconnect the electrical power source to and from the amplifier circuit. 6. The self-contained voice amplification headgear of claim 1 where,

the electrical power source is a rechargeable power source, and includes a connection carried by the housing for an electrical recharger of the electrical power source, and an auxiliary on-and-off switch carried by the housing connecting and disconnecting the electrical power source to and from the amplifier circuit.

Claims

1. A self-contained voice amplification headgear comprising, a housing arranged to be carried externally by the head, hat or helmet of the user, a speaker carried by the housing, an amplifier electrically connected to the speaker carried by the housing, an electrical power source carried by the housing, a microphone arm pivotally connected to the housing, a microphone electrically connected to the amplifier and carried by the microphone arm, the microphone arm operable to swing the microphone to a downward position in front of the mouth of the user and upwardly and away from the mouth and face of the user into an out-of-the-way position, and an on-off switch operable to connect the electrical power source to the amplifier when the microphone arm is in the downward position and operable to disconnect the electrical power source from the amplifier when the microphone arm is in the out-ofthe-way position.

2. The self-contained voice amplification headgear of claim 1, including, an adjustable headband arranged to extend around the head, hat or helmet of the user, the housing forming part of the headband.

3. The self-contained voice amplification headgear of claim 1 where, the electrical power source is a rechargeable power source, and includes a connection carried by the housing for an electrical recharger.

4. The self-contained voice amplification headgear of claim 3, including, a volume control carried by the housing operable to control the volume of the speaker.

5. The self-contained voice amplification headgear of claim 1, including, an auxiliary on-and-off switch carried by the housing operable to connect and to disconnect the electrical power source to and from the amplifier circuit.

6. The self-contained voice amplification headgear of claim 1 where, the electrical power source is a rechargeable power source, and includes a connection carried by the housing for an electrical recharger of the electrical power source, and an auxiliary on-and-off switch carried by the housing connecting and disconnecting the electrical power Source to and from the amplifier circuit.