Patent Publication Number: US-2003224838-A1

Title: Mask communication system

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] The present invention relates to communication systems for gas masks or face masks.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] Protective gas masks or face masks are well known in the art. These masks provide breathing capabilities while protecting the mask user from noxious gases, smoke, paint fumes, etc. People wearing the masks often have a need to communicate with one another, particularly during emergency situations, and particularly by radio. Accordingly, several voice transmission systems or communication systems have been developed for this purpose.  
       [0003] It is known in the art to provide radio communication equipment on the interior of a protective mask. Such systems, however, can have certain disadvantages. Connectivity between interior communication components and exterior radio components may breach the integrity of the mask or, if integral to the mask, require mask customization. Such customization generally increases the cost of the communication system and often precludes applicability to common masks, such as a firefighter&#39;s mask. Many interior components do not fit within many masks. Additionally, many interior components do not function well inside many masks and often inhibit certain functionalities of the mask.  
       [0004] It is also known in the art to provide microphonic equipment on the exterior of a mask. Such exterior equipment can receive a mask wearer&#39;s voice without breaching the integrity of the mask. However, such exterior microphones do not transmit auditory signals back to the mask wearer. Under such known systems, a mask wearer must either have an interior speaker connected to the exterior microphone and/or a radio, or rely on the mask wearer&#39;s natural hearing for receiving sounds. Such interior speakers suffer from the disadvantages discussed above. The effectiveness of natural hearing is often significantly decreased by the muffling effect of the mask, and further decreased in emergency situations wherein ambient external sounds further muffle desired auditory sounds, such as communication from a fellow mask-wearer.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a communication system for a protective head gear device having an externally mounted microphone and ear speaker assembly adapted for electrical interconnection with a radio is provided. According to another embodiment of the present invention, a communication system for a protective head gear device having an externally mounted microphone, an externally mounted ear speaker and a transmission activation device is provided.  
       [0006] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a protective head gear device having an externally mounted microphone and ear speaker assembly adapted for electrical interconnection with a radio is provided. According to another embodiment of the present invention, a modular communication system for a protective head gear device having an externally mounted microphone and ear speaker assembly, a lapel microphone assembly and an interconnect cable is provided.  
       [0007] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a communication system for a protective head gear device having an externally mounted microphone and a battery-powered amplifier is provided.  
       [0008] An advantage of the present invention is that a wearer of a mask may communicate with others using a communication system which does not physically penetrate the mask. Still further advantages of the current invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading and understanding the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0009] In the accompanying drawings which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, embodiments of the invention are illustrated, which, together with a general description of the invention given above, and the detailed description given below, serve to example the principles of this invention.  
     [0010]FIG. 1 is an exemplary system diagram of a communication system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0011]FIG. 2 is an exemplary top view of an assembly of a communication system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0012]FIG. 3 is an exemplary top view of a lapel microphone assembly of a communication system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0013]FIG. 4 is an exemplary top view of an amplifier of a communication system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0014] The following includes definitions of exemplary terms used throughout the disclosure. Both singular and plural forms of all terms fall within each meaning. Except where noted otherwise, capitalized and non-capitalized forms of all terms fall within each meaning:  
     [0015] As used herein, a “protective head gear device” is a mask or a mask in combination with a protective hood, a helmet, any other protective device adapted to be worn over a person&#39;s head, or any combination thereof.  
     [0016] As used herein, “mask” is used generically and includes but is not limited to gas masks or protective face masks used by firefighters or other personnel to provide breathing capabilities to the wearer while protecting the wearer from undesirable airborne elements such as noxious gases, smoke, paint fumes or the like.  
     [0017] As used herein, “sound signal” is used generically and includes any electronic representation of a sound, including voice, which is suitable for facilitating communication between communication system components including, but not limited to, a microphone, a speaker, a radio, an amplifier and a transmission activation device.  
     [0018] As used herein, a “transmission activation device” is a push-to-talk device, a voice activation device, or any suitable device for activating at least one sound input device, such as a microphone, and a transmission component of a radio whereby the sound received by the input device may be transmitted by the radio.  
     [0019] As used herein, “push-to-talk device” is used generically and includes but is not limited to any switch which, when pushed or otherwise actuated, facilitates the activation of at least one sound input device and transmission of sound received by such device by a radio.  
     [0020] As used herein, “voice activation device,” is used generically and includes but is not limited to any device which, upon detection of a sound, facilitates the activation of at least one sound input device and transmission of sound received by such device by a radio.  
     [0021] Illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is an exemplary diagram including a mask communication system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Microphone and ear speaker assembly  10  mounts to the exterior of mask  15  to facilitate voice reception from and sound transmission to the wearer of mask  15 . While elements of embodiments of the present invention will be described in relation to mounts on the exterior of a mask, it will be understood that such elements may be mounted on the exterior of the mask itself or on the exterior of a protective head gear device of which a mask is a component. Mask  15  is any suitable mask. In an embodiment, mask  15  is one of the exemplary masks as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,138,666, 5,371,804 and 5,428,688, incorporated herein by reference. Mask  15  may have a voice emitter passage, an exemplary embodiment of which is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,428,688.  
     [0022] Microphone and ear speaker assembly  10  comprises microphone  20  and ear speaker  25 . Microphone  20  is adapted for mounting on the exterior of mask  15  without physically penetrating the mask. Microphone  20  is adapted for such mounting in any suitable way, including being shaped so as to fit in a receptacle of the mask, having a clamp capable of physical bonding coupled to the microphone and having adhesive on a side of the microphone facing the mask. Microphone  20  is any suitable microphone capable of receiving spoken words and other noises emitted by the wearer of mask  15  while being mounted externally on mask  15 . Exemplary microphones capable of such reception are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,138,666, 5,371,804 and 5,428,688. In an embodiment, microphone  20  is mounted over a voice emitter passage (not shown) of mask  15 .  
     [0023] Ear speaker  25  is adapted for mounting on the exterior of mask  15  without physically penetrating the mask. Ear speaker  25  is adapted for such mounting in any suitable way. In embodiments of the present invention wherein components of a protective head gear device which do not comprise the mask cover the wearer&#39;s ears, ear speaker  25  is mounted on the exterior of a component of the protective head gear device which covers an ear. Ear speaker  25  includes any suitable speaker capable of ambient transmission of a sound signal communicated to the ear speaker. In an embodiment of the present invention, ear speaker  25  includes volume control  30  for controlling the volume of the speaker&#39;s transmission.  
     [0024] In an embodiment of the present invention, microphone and ear speaker assembly  10  includes a microphone body  35  substantially enclosing microphone  20  and adapted for mounting on the exterior of mask  15  without physically penetrating the mask. Microphone body  35  is adapted for such mounting in any suitable way. Microphone body  35  is made of any suitable material, including plastic or metal. In an embodiment of the present invention, microphone body  35  includes interface adaptor  40 . Interface adaptor  40  includes electrical connection mechanisms for facilitating electrical interconnection between components of a communication system of the present invention. Interface adaptor  40  includes any suitable electric connection mechanism, including electrically-conductive wire and a printed circuit board. In an embodiment, interface adaptor  40  electrically interconnects microphone  20  with other components of a communication system of the present invention, as described below.  
     [0025] In an embodiment of the present invention, ear speaker  25  is coupled to microphone  20  and microphone body  35  by ear speaker connection cable  45 . Connection cable  45  is any suitable connection cable for maintaining a physical connection between ear speaker  25  and microphone body  35 . In an embodiment, connection cable  45  is a rigid or semi-rigid and adjustable boom capable of maintaining ear speaker  25  in relative proximity to microphone body  35  and mask  15 . In this embodiment, microphone body  35  is physically mounted to the exterior of mask  15  while ear speaker  35  is not physically mounted to the exterior of mask  15 , but is instead adapted for mounting on the exterior of mask  15  by virtue of the rigid or semi-rigid nature of connection cable  45 . Ear speaker  35  is held in position proximate to the wearer&#39;s ear by manipulating the boom so that ear speaker  35  is over the wearer&#39;s ear. In another embodiment, connection cable  45  includes an electrical connection, such as an electrically conductive wire, for facilitating electrical interconnection between ear speaker  25  and interface adapter  40 .  
     [0026] Referring again to FIG. 1, microphone and ear assembly  10  is adapted for electrical interconnection with radio  50 . Radio  50  is any suitable radio capable of sending and receiving radio transmissions translatable into sound signals which are convertible to auditory sounds. Radio  50  is powered by any suitable power source. In an embodiment, radio  50  is battery powered. Sounds received by microphone  20  are electrically communicated by sound signal to radio  50 . When received by radio  50 , the sound signal is transmitted by radio  50 . Sound signals received by radio  50  are electrically communicated to ear speaker  25 . When received by ear speaker  25 , these sounds are converted to an auditory ambient transmission by ear speaker  25  for reception by an ear of the wearer.  
     [0027] Microphone and ear speaker assembly  10  is electrically interconnected with radio  50  in any suitable way. In one embodiment of the present invention (not shown in FIG. 1), microphone  20  and ear speaker  25  are directly connected to radio  50  by any suitable means, including at least one electrically conductive wire. In another embodiment, microphone  20  and ear speaker  25  are electrically interconnected with interface adapter  40  by any suitable means, and interface adaptor  40  is directly connected to radio  50  by any suitable means, including at least one electrically conductive wire.  
     [0028] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, in another embodiment of the present invention, microphone and ear speaker assembly  10  is electrically interconnected with radio  50  via lapel microphone assembly  60 , radio cable  65  and interconnect cable  70 . Lapel microphone assembly  60  comprises any suitable electrical connectivity mechanism for facilitating electrical interconnectivity between microphone and ear speaker assembly  10  and radio  50 , including electrically conductive wire and a printed circuit board. In an embodiment, lapel microphone  60  is adapted for mounting on the torso or a limb of a mask wearer. In another embodiment, lapel microphone  60  is adapted for mounting on one of the shoulders or the front chest of a mask wearer. Lapel microphone  60  is adapted for such mounting in any suitable way, including having an integral clip for clipping onto the clothing of the wearer.  
     [0029] In an embodiment, lapel microphone assembly  60  includes a microphone  75 . Lapel microphone  75  is any suitable microphone capable of receiving spoken words and other noises emitted by or near the wearer of mask  15 . Lapel microphone  75  is integral with or electrically interconnected to the electrical connectivity mechanism of lapel microphone assembly  60 . In an embodiment, lapel microphone  75  is electrically interconnected with radio  50  whereby sounds received by lapel microphone  75  are communicated to radio  50  for radio transmission by radio  50 .  
     [0030] In an embodiment, lapel microphone assembly  60  includes a speaker  80  and optionally an amplifier (not shown). Speaker  80  is any suitable speaker capable of ambient transmission of a sound signal communicated to speaker  80 . Speaker  80  is integral with or electrically interconnected to the electrical connectivity mechanism of lapel microphone assembly  60 . Optional lapel amplifier is any suitable amplifier capable of amplifying a sound signal for amplified auditory transmission by speaker  80 . Lapel amplifier is integral with or electrically interconnected to the electrical connectivity mechanism of lapel microphone assembly  60 . Lapel amplifier may be embodied in an amplifier circuit board enclosed in lapel microphone assembly  60 . Lapel amplifier may be powered by any suitable power source, including at least one battery.  
     [0031] In an embodiment, speaker  80  is electrically connected to microphone and ear speaker assembly  10  for reception and auditory transmission of sound signals received by microphone  20  and communicated to speaker  80 . In an embodiment of the present invention wherein neither the microphone and ear speaker assembly  10  or the lapel microphone assembly  60  is connected to radio  50  or any other power source, optional lapel amplifier may be used to amplify signals received from microphone  20 . In this manner, a wearer of mask  15  may have his or her voice communication received by microphone  20  and ambiently transmitted by speaker  80  to those within hearing range of the amplified auditory transmission.  
     [0032] In another embodiment, speaker  80  is electrically interconnected with radio  50  whereby sound signals communicated from radio  50  to speaker  80  are ambiently transmitted. In another embodiment, speaker  80  is electrically interconnected with both microphone and ear speaker assembly  10  and radio  50 . In this embodiment, speaker  80  may ambiently transmit sound signals received from both microphone  20  and radio  50 .  
     [0033] In an embodiment, lapel microphone assembly  60  includes a transmission activation device  85 . In an embodiment wherein the transmission activation device  85  is a push-to-talk device, push-to-talk device  85  is any suitable speaker push-to-talk device capable activating at least one microphone of a communication system of the present invention and further capable of actuating transmission capabilities of radio  50  for radio transmission of any sound received by any activated microphone. In an embodiment, push-to-talk device  85  is electrically interconnected to the electrical connectivity mechanism of lapel microphone assembly  60  and located on an exterior face of lapel microphone assembly  60 , whereby the activating device of the push-to-talk device, including a button, may be easily pressed or otherwise actuated by wearer of mask  15 . While this embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to a push-to-talk device integral with lapel microphone assembly  60 , it will be understood that a push-to-talk device of a communication system of the present invention may be located in any suitable place and electrically interconnected with the communication system in any suitable manner. For example, a finger push-to-talk device may be coupled to the lapel microphone assembly  60  with a wire and actuated by engaging a pressure device located proximate to a wearer&#39;s finger. While these embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to a transmission activation device which is a push-to-talk device, it will be understood that a transmission activation device of a communication system of the present invention may be any suitable transmission activation device electrically interconnected with the communication system in any suitable manner. For example, a voice activated actuator may be used to activate receipt of sound and transmission thereof by the radio  50 . Such a voice activated actuator may be placed in any suitable location for voice activation, including integral with, coupled with or connected to microphone and ear speaker assembly  10 . While the remainder of the embodiments described herein will be described in reference to a push-to-talk device integral with lapel microphone assembly  60 , it will be appreciated that any suitable transmission activation device may be used.  
     [0034] In an embodiment of the present invention wherein the lapel microphone assembly includes a push-to-talk device and a microphone, both electrically interconnected with microphone and ear speaker assembly  10 , the communication system may be configured whereby activation of the push-to-talk device  85  activates either of the lapel microphone  75  and microphone  20 . A radio  50  electrically interconnected to such a communication system thus transmits sounds received from which ever microphone is active while the push-to-talk device  85  is activated. Alternatively, activation of the lapel microphone  75  can be configured to depend upon the nature of the electrical interconnection between the lapel microphone assembly  60  and the microphone and ear speaker assembly  10 .  
     [0035] For example, if no electrical connection exists between the lapel microphone assembly  60  and the microphone and ear speaker assembly  10 , then the communication system may be configured so that the lapel microphone is activated to receive auditory sounds. Under this configuration, since microphone  20  is not electrically connected to the communication system, only auditory sounds received by lapel microphone  75  may be communicated to radio  50  for radio transmission. Such a configuration allows a user to remove mask  15 , electrically disconnect the microphone and ear speaker assembly  10  from the communication system, and use the lapel microphone assembly as a remote radio microphone and push-to-talk device. Under another example, if an electrical connection exists between the lapel microphone assembly  60  and the microphone and ear speaker assembly  10 , then the communication system may be configured so that the lapel microphone  75  is deactivated and microphone  20  is activated and receiving auditory signals. Such a configuration allows a wearer of the mask  15  to only have his or her voice, as received by microphone  20 , communicated to radio  50  for radio transmission, rather than his or her voice as received by microphone  20  and other ambient sounds as received by lapel microphone  75  were lapel microphone  75  to be activated.  
     [0036] In an embodiment, a communication system of the present invention is configured so that when an electrical connection exists between the lapel microphone assembly  60  and the microphone and ear speaker assembly  10 , the lapel microphone  75  is deactivated and microphone  20  is activated whenever the push-to-talk device  85  is activated. This exemplary system is further configured so that when an electrical connection does not exist between the two assemblies, no sound signals are received from microphone  20  and lapel microphone  75  is activated whenever the push-to-talk device  85  is activated. Under this exemplary system, a user wearing the mask may communicate via radio  50  via microphone and ear speaker assembly  10  without interference from auditory reception from the lapel microphone system  60 , while such a user after taking off the mask may communicate via radio  50  via the lapel microphone system  60  without needing to retain the mask in close proximity to the wearer&#39;s head.  
     [0037] Radio cable  65  is any suitable cable capable of electrically connecting radio  50  to lapel microphone assembly  60 . In embodiments of the present invention wherein lapel microphone assembly  60  includes a push-to-talk device  85  and optionally a microphone  75  and a speaker  80 , radio cable  65  is a suitable cable capable of electrically connecting radio  50  to a push-to-talk device with or without a microphone or speaker. Radio cable  65  may include circuitry  90  for facilitating electronic interconnectivity between lapel microphone assembly  60  and radio  50 .  
     [0038] Interconnect cable  70  is any suitable cable capable of electrically connecting lapel microphone assembly  60  to microphone and ear speaker assembly  10 . In an embodiment of the present invention, interconnect cable  70  includes a first connector  95  removably connectable to microphone and ear speaker assembly  10  and a second connector  100  removably connectable to lapel microphone assembly  60 . Optionally, first connector  95  is removably connectable to interface adaptor  40 . The first and second connectors  95  and  100  are any suitable electrical connector capable of being removably connected to a receptacle in the component with which such connectors connect. In an embodiment, such connectors are “quick connect/disconnect” connectors which facilitate quick coupling and uncoupling of interconnect cable  70  with microphone and ear speaker assembly  10  and lapel microphone assembly  60 . In such an embodiment, such connectors allow a mask wearer to conveniently disconnect and reconnect the mask  15  to the communication system to facilitate taking the mask  15  on and off.  
     [0039] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, in another embodiment of the present invention, amplifier  110  having a speaker  115  is electronically connected to microphone  20  for amplified and auditory transmission of sounds received by microphone  20 . Amplifier  110  is any suitable amplifier capable of amplifying a sound signal for amplified auditory transmission by speaker  115 . Amplifier  110  may be powered by any suitable power source, including at least one battery. Amplifier  110  may be electrically interconnected with microphone  20  in any suitable manner, including physical connection by an electrically-conductive wire. Amplifier  110  may be located in any suitable position on or around wearer of mask  15 . In an embodiment, amplifier  110  is mounted on microphone body  35 . In another embodiment (not shown), amplifier  110  is integral with microphone  20 , microphone body  35 , speaker  115  and interface adaptor  40 .  
     [0040] While the present invention has been illustrated by the description of embodiments thereof, and while the embodiments have been described in considerable detail, the scope of the appended claims should not be restricted or in any way limited to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention, in its broader aspects, is not limited to the specific details, the representative systems, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention disclosed herein.