Abstract:
A speech aid device having a housing and a solenoid disposed in the housing operatively coupled with a sounding head for movement therewith. A magnet assembly is mounted in the housing adjacent to the solenoid and operatively associated therewith. The magnet assembly has first and second pole pieces with a magnet disposed therebetween. A threaded fastener engages the first and second pole pieces and the magnet.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a speech aid device for persons who have had a laryngectomy, and more particularly to portions of the sound generating mechanism of such a device.  
           [0002]    Conventional speech aid devices are similar in size to that of a small flashlight. The device is cylindrical in shape and is battery operated so that the device is portable. The speech aid device has a sound generating mechanism which includes a circuit board, a solenoid assembly, a magnet assembly, a soft diaphragm, and a sounding head. The solenoid is a vibration producing coil associated with the sounding head to create vibrations in the sounding head. The sound generating mechanism produces a tone which, when the sounding head is applied to the user&#39;s throat, is conducted through the anterior aspect of the neck into the oral-pharyngeal cavity. The tone can be modulated by manipulation of the tongue and pharynx to produce intelligible speech.  
           [0003]    Generally, the speech aid device includes an audio-frequency generator and amplifier which, together with potentiometers, allow for regulation of the pitch and loudness of the tone generated by the device. During use, the operator may alter the pitch and loudness of the speech as desired.  
           [0004]    Several components of the conventional sound generating mechanism including the magnet assembly, soft diaphragm, and solenoid lack durability. These components are vulnerable to damage over time or if the device is subjected to an impact force such as when the device is dropped.  
           [0005]    One problem with current speech aid devices is the construction of the magnet assembly. The magnet assembly includes a cup-shaped pole piece on which the magnet is seated. A second, upper pole piece is positioned on top of the magnet. The pole pieces and the magnet are glued together. A significant impact to the speech aid device such as when the device is dropped may cause the magnet to become dislodged and off-center from the cup-shaped pole piece. If this occurs, the performance of the speech aid device will diminish and complete failure of the device is possible.  
           [0006]    An additional problem with current speech aid devices is the construction of the soft diaphragm. This soft membrane is a planar sheet of rubber latex which is secured to the inside of the device housing. During operation of the device, the diaphragm is repeatedly stretched through vibrational movement of the post of the solenoid which reduces the life of the diaphragm.  
           [0007]    Another problem with the current speech aid device is the construction of the solenoid. The ends of the coil wire are connected by solder to lead wires which electrically join the solenoid and the circuit board. A top is placed adjacent the upper end of the coil to support the post of the solenoid. The wire comes off the coil and over the edge of the top to be electrically connected to the lead wire. The portion of the coil wire located over the edge of the top may be in contact with the inner surface of the solenoid chamber creating friction between the wire and the chamber as the solenoid vibrates. Further, if the speech aid device is dropped, the wire may contact the inside of the solenoid chamber and may break resulting in failure of the device.  
           [0008]    An additional problem exists with the electrical connection between the coil wire and the lead wire. The connection of these wires is glued or melted to the upper surface of the solenoid top by any suitable method. Over time, the coil wire and lead wire connection may come loose from the solenoid top, leaving the electrical connection susceptible to damage during operation of the device. If this electrical connection is broken, the device is inoperable.  
           [0009]    It is desired to provide a speech aid device with improved durability of the components of the sound generating mechanism.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    The present invention provides a speech aid device having a sound generating mechanism including a circuit board, a solenoid, a magnet assembly, a soft diaphragm, and a sounding head. When power is supplied to the solenoid, a magnetic field with the opposite polarity of the magnet assembly is generated causing the solenoid to move away from the magnet assembly. The magnet assembly includes a cup-shaped pole piece which supports a magnet thereon. A second upper pole piece is positioned atop the magnet. An aperture is formed through the pole pieces and the magnet to receive a threaded fastener, removably securing the pole pieces and the magnet. The movement of the solenoid produces vibrations which move a post secured to the solenoid into and out of contact with the sounding head to create vibrations thereof. With the speech aid device placed against the neck of the user, manipulations of the tongue and pharynx create intelligible speech.  
           [0011]    The present invention provides a speech aid device having a housing with two ends. A solenoid is disposed in the housing and a sounding head operatively coupled with the solenoid for movement therewith is secured to one end of the housing. A magnet assembly is mounted in the housing adjacent the solenoid and operatively associated therewith. The magnet assembly includes first and second pole pieces with a magnet disposed therebetween. A threaded fastener engages the first and second pole pieces and the magnet.  
           [0012]    The present invention also provides a speech aid device having a housing with two ends. A solenoid is disposed in the housing and a sounding head operatively coupled with the solenoid for movement therewith is secured to one end of the housing. A magnet assembly is mounted in the housing adjacent the solenoid and operatively associated therewith. The magnet assembly includes first and second pole pieces with a magnet disposed therebetween. The magnet has opposing surfaces each of which are in abutting relationship with one of the first and second pole pieces. An aperture is located in each of the first and second pole pieces and the magnet. The apertures align to receive a screw which threadedly secures the first and second pole pieces and the magnet.  
           [0013]    The present invention further provides a magnet assembly for a speech aid device including a first pole piece having an aperture. A magnet having an aperture and opposing surfaces is positioned on the first pole piece with one of the opposing surfaces in abutting relationship with the pole piece such that the apertures align. A second pole piece having an aperture is positioned atop the magnet with one of the opposing surfaces in contact with the second pole piece such that the apertures align. A threaded fastener is located in the apertures removably securing the first and second pole pieces and the magnet.  
           [0014]    One advantage of the present invention is that by using a threaded fastener to secure the components of the magnet assembly to one another, the chance of the magnet becoming dislodged or offset from the pole pieces is reduced.  
           [0015]    An additional advantage of the present invention is that the pole pieces and magnet are removably secured to one another. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]    The above mentioned and other features and objects of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the speech aid device in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the speech aid device of FIG. 1;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a magnet assembly of the speech aid device of FIG. 1;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 4A is a sectional view of the soft membrane diaphragm of the speech aid device of FIG. 1;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 4B is a top plan view of the soft membrane diaphragm of FIG. 4A along line  4 B- 4 B;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 5 is a side view of a solenoid of the speech aid device of FIG. 1; and  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the solenoid of FIG. 5 along line  6 - 6 .  
         [0024]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Although the drawings represent embodiments of the present invention, the drawings are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be exaggerated in order to better illustrate and explain the present invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0025]    Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, speech aid device or electrolarynx  20  includes housing  22  having ends  24  and  26  to which sounding head  28  and battery compartment cap  30  are respectively attached. Battery operated electrolarynx  20  has lanyard  36  secured to housing  22 , 180° from activation button  38 , allowing electrolarynx  20  to be portable and conveniently carried. Housing  22  includes activation button  38  to operate electrolarynx  20  and volume control dial  40  allowing the operator to control the loudness of the device.  
         [0026]    Referring to FIG. 2, housing  22  includes inner portion  42  and sleeve  44 . With battery compartment cap  30  removed, sleeve  44  may be slid over the length of inner housing portion  42  until contacting shoulder  46 . Battery compartment cap  32  is then replaced to hold sleeve  44  in place. Sleeve  44  conceals the majority of inner housing portion  42 , leaving activation button  38  and volume control dial  40  accessible. Sounding head  28  and battery compartment cap  30  are threaded onto ends  24  and  26  of inner housing portion  42 . Sounding head  28  and battery compartment cap  30  are removably attached to inner housing portion  42  to allow for replacement of battery  54  and easy access to several components of sound generating mechanism  34 .  
         [0027]    Sound generating mechanism  34  includes circuit board  56 , solenoid  64 , magnet assembly  66 , soft diaphragm  68 , and sounding head  28 . With the exception of sounding head  28 , the components of sound generating mechanism  34  are located within circuit board compartment  48  and solenoid/magnet assembly compartment  50  defined in inner housing portion  42 . Also located within inner housing portion  42  is battery compartment  32  having battery contacts  52  located at the end of compartment  32  nearest circuit board compartment  48 . Battery  54  is positioned in compartment  32  and held firmly against contacts  52  by battery compartment cap  30 .  
         [0028]    Battery contacts  52  are electrically connected to circuit board  56  of sound generating mechanism  34  by wires  58  extending through passage  60  in inner housing portion  42 . Circuit board  56  has mounted thereon activation button  38 , volume control dial  40 , pitch control dial  62 , and a generator-amplifier (not shown). Activation button  38  is a push button switch which when depressed operates electrolarynx  20 . Volume control dial  40  and pitch control dial  62  are connected to a pair of potentiometers (not shown) which regulate the pitch and loudness of the tone produced by electrolarynx  20 . Activation button  38  and the pair of potentiometers provide inputs and variables to the generator-amplifier which supplies repetitive current pulses to solenoid  64  located in solenoid/magnet assembly compartment  50 . Solenoid  64  is electrically connected to circuit board  56  via lead wires  70 .  
         [0029]    Solenoid  64  includes top  106  having post  72  secured in the center of upper surface  108  of top  106 , standing approximately perpendicularly thereto. Top  106  and post  72  may be constructed from any suitable nonconductive material including plastic. Solenoid post  72  is integrally formed with top  106  having end  74  which contacts sounding head  28  and annular groove  76  which receives soft diaphragm  68 . Soft diaphragm  68  is provided with hole  78  in the center thereof (FIGS. 4A and 4B). Hole  78  is stretched to have a diameter wide enough to receive post  72 . Post  72  extends through hole  78  until diaphragm  68  is aligned with groove  76 . Hole  78  is allowed to retract to its normal diameter and is captured in groove  76  as shown in FIG. 2. Diaphragm  68  is supported by end  24  of inner housing portion  42 . When sounding head  28  is threaded onto end  24  of inner housing portion  42 , washer  79  is positioned over diaphragm  68  and both washer  79  and diaphragm  68  are clamped between sounding head  28  and inner housing portion  42 . Diaphragm  68  may also be secured to inner housing portion  42  using fasteners which would extend through apertures  81 . Solenoid  64  is supported in its neutral position above magnet assembly  66  by diaphragm  68 . Diaphragm  68  is constructed from any suitable elastomer including silicone, for example, which is stable at elevated operating temperatures and which does not degrade over time. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, diaphragm  68  is provided with annular ridges or undulations  92  which unfold through vibrational movement of post  72  during operation of solenoid  64 . Annular ridges  92  reduce stretching of diaphragm  68  and may be formed in diaphragm  68  by any suitable method including injection molding. As solenoid  64  vibrates, post  72  and diaphragm  68  oscillate therewith. Diaphragm  68  has a spring-like effect acting to control the movement of solenoid  64 , keeping solenoid  64  centered, and returning solenoid  64  to its neutral position upon shut down of electrolarynx  20 .  
         [0030]    Also located in solenoid/magnet assembly compartment  50  is magnet assembly  66 . Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, supported by the bottom wall of solenoid compartment  50  is magnet assembly  66  which includes cup-shaped pole piece  80  having cavity  82  in which magnet  84  is received. Positioned atop magnet  84  is upper pole piece  86 . Aperture  88  is provided through pole pieces  80  and  86 , as well as magnet  84 , to receive threaded fastener  90  which may be any suitable fastener including a screw or the like. By using a threaded fastener and adhesive, pole piece  80 , magnet  84 , and pole piece  86  are secured to one another.  
         [0031]    Sounding head  28  of sound generating mechanism  34  includes hard diaphragm  94 , abutment  96 , and head  98 . Abutment  96  extends downwardly from the center of hard diaphragm  94  with head  98  attached to the free end of abutment  96  approximately perpendicularly thereto. During operation of solenoid  64 , end  74  of post  72  repeatedly contacts abutment  96  causing vibration of hard diaphragm  94 . End  74  has a flat end which mates with the flat surface of head  98 . Alternatively, end  74  may have a convex shape which mates with a concave shape of head  98 . Further, a pad constructed from a resilient material, such as silicone, may be attached to end  74  and abutment  96  to help reduce extraneous noise created during contact thereof. Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, solenoid  64  includes coil  100  wound about cylindrical support  101 . A portion of coil  100  is conventionally covered with paper tape  103 , for example. Coil  100  is constructed to have a cylindrical shape with coil wire  102  wound several times to create a plurality of adjacent layers of wire. End  104  of coil wire  102  comes off coil  100  to be attached to lead wires  70 . Coil wire  102  must come over edge  110  of top  106  to secure to lead wire  70 . In order to protect coil wire  102  from breakage due to contact with inner surface  111  of solenoid compartment  50  (FIG. 2), groove  112  is formed in top  106  by any suitable manner including being molded therein. Groove  112  is constructed to receive coil wire  102  to recess wire  102  inward from edge  110  of top  106 .  
         [0032]    End  104  of coil wire  102  is secured to lead wire  70  in any conventional manner including being soldered or twisted. In order to protect electrical connection  114  from fatigue due to the vibrations created during operation of electrolarynx  20 , connection  114  is potted in silicone  116 . Lead wires  70  are also partially potted in silicone  116  as the movement of solenoid  64  causes wires  70  to bend sharply several time a second which may weaken the wire. By potting lead wires  70  at an acute angle to top  106 , the stress created in wires  70  during operation are more evenly distributed across the wire. Therefore, silicone  116  serves as a strain relief for wire  70  and dampens vibrations to preventing electrical connection  114  from becoming damaged or separated.  
         [0033]    In operation, battery  54  supplies power to circuit board  56 . Volume control dial  40  and pitch control dial  62  are both set to achieve the desired tone. When activation button  38  is depressed, repetitive current pulses are supplied to solenoid  64  by the generator-amplifier on circuit board  56  in accordance with the position of volume control dial  40  and pitch control dial  62 . When power is supplied to solenoid coil  100 , a magnetic field with the opposite polarity of magnet  84  is generated. This causes solenoid  64  to move away from magnet  84  so that end  74  of post  72  strikes abutment  96  of sounding head  28 . The movement of abutment  96  creates movement of hard diaphragm  94 . With activation button  38  depressed, solenoid  64  and thus hard diaphragm  94  continue to vibrate. With electrolarynx  20  placed against the neck of the user, manipulations of the tongue and pharynx create intelligible speech.  
         [0034]    While this invention has been described as having an exemplary design, the present invention may be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains.