IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ART OF TELEPHONY
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL
SPECIFICATION.
>
I, CHARLES AUBREY DAY, of 321, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature of the
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ART OF TELEPHONY (a communication to
me from abroad by James Lowth, Inventor, of Walnut Street, and William Dana
Ewart, Manufacturer, of South Jefferson Street, both in Chicago, State of Illinois,
in the United States of America) to be as follows:-
The present Invention relates to a new and useful improvement in the art of
working a battery telephone, and is based upon the fact or discovery that the
exterior parts of the human body, in the vicinity of the vocal organs, will act
upon the electrodes of a telephone through the medium of a solid body connected
to said telephone and placed in contact with such portions of the body, in such
manner as to work the telephone the same way as but more advantageously than
do the actions of the vocal organs through the medium of the atmosphere, during
the heretofore customary way of talking into the transmitter.
This fact or discovery is utilized in carrying out the present new mode of
working a battery telephone, by the employment in connection with the electrodes
of the transmitter, of a suitable solid body, arranged in connection with one of the
electrodes and adapted to be held in contact with the throat of the person using
the transmitter; and the present invention may be said to consist in the method
hereinafter described and in equivalent methods of working a battery transmitter
by contact, with the exterior of the throat of the speaker, of a solid body connected
with one of the electrodes, and operating to influence it, apparently in the same
manner that it would be influenced by the sound waves of articulate speech,
induced by the action of the vocal organs, and conveyed to said electrode through
the medium of the atmosphere.
To enable those skilled in the art to understand and practice the present
Invention, I will now proceed to more fully explain an apparatus for carrying out
the said Invention such as has been so far employed in successfully practicing it.

page_text: .Such apparatus is constructed with a small box having a cap or lid applied
thereto, and with an induction coil having primary and secondary helices, the ends
of the wires entering and forming the helices being respectively attached to plates
and binding posts.
From the battery other wires lead to other posts in connection with one of which
is a plate in contact with which is a contact-screw from which a wire extends to a
comparatively stiff metallic spring or yielding tongue on which is a carbon button
or electrode. Against this electrode there lightly rests the point of an electrode
made by preference of a piece of hard pointed steel; this electrode being connected
by a wire to a screw in contact with the said plate to which one end of the wire
from the primary helix is connected.
The primary circuit is through this belix, and the parts located between its ends
and in connection therewith and with each other.
The secondary circuit is through the other helix, its wire and connected posts, a
line wire or metallic circuit leading to and from the receiver, and the receiver, the
latter of which may be any well known or suitable telephonic receiver, or device,
for receiving and delivering the message transmitted.
A tubular handle enters the cap or cover of the transmitter and a rod or other
the
solid vibrator passes freely through the handle without contact therewith;
inner end or point of the rod resting on the said yielding spring preferably in an
indenture therein, and its upper or outer portion passes through a flexible soft
rubber strip and is secured thereto and provided with anjouter button substantially,
in the manner described in the Provisional Specification filed in respect of my
application for Letters Patent in number immediately preceding that of the present
Application.
This rod or other equivalent solid means which may be used, performs the
function of a mechanical vibrator, for the purpose of communicating to the parts
acoustically affected, particularly to the said electrodes, those movements of the
external surface of the throat which are produced by exercising the vocal organs,
and that therefore this rod, in order that the best results may follow, should be
supported yieldingly or in such a manner as to respond truly to the usual external
vibrations and convey them, accurately, to the said carbon button. In the example
now being referred to the said metallic spring or yielding tongue (which is intended
to be in constant contact with the said rod) in conjunction with the said soft
rubber strip, serves principally, as such support, and only incidentally as part of
the primary circuit when the latter is carried to the said spring, instead of directly
to the said button it is immaterial, therefore, where the support of the said
vibratory rod be located, so long as it performs the functions referred to; but when
located away from the said carbon button the latter should be located to respond to
the vibrations of the rod.
The said steel point is in the primary circuit and acts in unison with the
vibrations of the rod and the wire leading therefrom serves as a spring to hold the
said point lightly against the said carbon button for that purpose; but any other
spring will perform the same function; for example, in conjunction with the wire
lastly referred to but only as auxiliary thereto, there may be employed a small wad,
ball, tuft or cushion of unspun cotton or other suitable fibrous material on which
the steel point rests lightly when the cap of the transmitter is closed.
To use this apparatus or device for the purpose of carrying out the present
Invention, the speaker holds it in one hand and places the button or presser lightly
against his throat, and the person to whom the words are spoken holds the ordinary
receiver at the other end of the line to the ear, in the usual manner.
It is to be understood that both a transmitter and a receiver may be employed
at each end of the line.
It will be seen that in practicing the transmitting of articulate speech, with a
battery telephone, according to the present improvement in the art, (with either
the form of apparatus described, or some other form adapted to work on the same

page_text: principle), I am enabled to telephone speech without using the sound waves usually
conveyed in the atmosphere to work the transmitter, and can work the electrodes
by a more positive actuator, in the form of a solid conductor; also that by reason
of working in the vibratary rod (which moves one of the electrodes) by the bodily
movements of those exterior parts of the throat with which the said rod is in
physical contact, I am enabled to produce, with greater certainty and forcibleness
of action, all those variations in the relationship of the electrodes, that are
necessary to effect a perfect transmission by telephone, of articulate speech.
The features of novelty characteristic of the present improvements in the art of
telephony, consist essentially, in operating the electrodes thereof by the actions
upon a solid body connected with said electrodes (and also held in contact with the
body of the speaker) of those exterior parts of the speaker's body which will
vibrate whenever sounds are uttered, by the person using the telephone; And in
producing the electrical changes in the current, necessary to the transmission of
articulate speech, through the medium of a solid body, connected with such
transmitter, and also placed in contact with the body of the speaker, by those
vibrations of exterior portions of the body which accompany the utterance of
sounds.
DL: որ
1004
DAY, DAVIES, & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: I, CHARLES AUBREY DAY, of 321, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature of the
Invention for "
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ART OF TELEPHONY" (a communication to
me from abroad by James Lowth, Inventor, of Walnut Street, and William Dana
Ewart, Manufacturer, of South Jefferson Street, both in Chicago, State of Illinois,
in the United States of America,) and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The present Invention relates to a new and useful improvement in the art of
working a battery telephone, and is based upon the fact or discovery that the
exterior parts of the human body, in the vicinity of the vocal organs, will act upon
the electrodes of a telephone, through the medium of a solid body connected to
said telephone and placed in contact with such portions of the body, in such
manner as to work the telephone the same way as but more advantageously than
do the actions of the vocal organs through the medium of the atmosphere, during
the heretofore customary way of talking into the transmitter.
This fact or discovery is utilized in carrying out the present new mode of
working a battery telephone, by the employment in connection with the electrodes
of the transmitter, of a suitable solid body, arranged in connection with one of the
electrodes and adapted to be held in contact with the throat of the person using the
transmitter; and the present Invention may be said to consist in the method
hereinafter described and in equivalent methods, of working a battery transmitter
by contact with the exterior of the throat of the speaker, of a solid body connected
with one of the electrodes, and operating to influence it, apparently, in the same
manner that it would be influenced by the sound waves of articulate speech,
induced by the action of the vocal organs, and conveyed to said electrode through
the medium of the atmosphere.
To enable those skilled in the art, to understand and practice the present
Invention, I will now proceed to more fully explain it by aid of the accompanying
drawings which illustrate an apparatus for carrying out the said Invention such as
has been so far employed in successfully practicing it.
Fig; 1, of the accompanying drawings represents a side view of a battery
telephonic transmitting apparatus, adapted for carrying the present Invention into
effect. Fig 2, represents a vertical central longitudinal section of the transmitter.
Fig 3, represents a side elevation of the interior sides of the box and its cap or
cover, and Fig; 4 represents a chart showing the circuits and their relation to some
of the principal parts of the transmitter.
Like letters of reference in the different Figures indicate the same or like parts.
Such apparatus is constructed with a small box, A, having a cap or lid, B,
applied thereto, and with an induction coil, C, having primary and secondary
helices, a, a, The ends of the wire, D, entering and forming the helix, a, are
attached to a plate, E, and to a binding post, F, and the ends of the wire, D₁,
entering and forming the helix, a¹, are attached to binding posts, G.
From the battery, H, other wires, I, I', lead respectively to the post, F, and to
a post, F, in connection with which is a plate, J, in contact with which is a
contact-screw, K, from which a wire, M, extends to a comparatively stiff metallic
spring or yielding tongue, N, held at, d, and on which is a carbon button or
electrode, N'.

page_text: Against this electrode their lightly rests the point of an electrode, O, made by
preference, of a piece of hard pointed steel; and this electrode is connected by
a wire, Oi, to a screw, L, in contact with the said plate, E, to which one end of the
wire, D, from the primary helix, a, is connected.
The primary circuit is through the helix, a, and the parts located between its
ends and in connection therewith and with each other as indicated in Fig; 4.
The secondary circuit is through the helix, a¹, its wire, D¹, connected posts G,
a line wire or metallic circuit, D³, leading to and from the receiver, P, and the
receiver, the latter of which may be any well known or suitable telephonic receiver,
or device, for receiving and delivering the message transmitted.
A tubular handle, Q, enters the cap or cover, B, of the transmitter, and a wooden
rod or other suitable solid vibrator, R, passes freely through the handle, Q, without
contact therewith, the inner end or point of the rod resting on the said yielding
spring N, preferably in an indenture therein, and its upper or outer portion passes
through a flexible soft rubber strip, T, and is secured thereto and provided with
a wooden or other suitable outer button, R'.
The rod, R, or other equivalent solid means which may be used performs the
function of a mechanical vibrator, for the purpose of communicating to the parts
accoustically affected, particularly to the said electrodes, N¹, and, Ō, those move-
ments of the external surface of the throat which are produced by exercising the
vocal organs, and therefore this rod, in order that the best results may follow,
should be supported yieldingly or in such a manner as to respond truly to the
usual external vibrations, and convey them, accurately, to the said carbon
button, N. In the example illustrated, the said metallic spring or yielding
tongue, N, (which is intended to be in constant contact with the said rod, R,) in
conjunction with the said soft rubber strip, T, serves principally as such support,
and only incidentally as part of the primary circuit when the latter is carried to
the said spring, instead of directly to the said button it is immaterial therefore,
where the support of the said vibratory rod, R, be located, so long as it performs
the functions referred to, but when located away from the said carbon button, N',
the latter should be located to respond to the vibrations of the rod, R.
The said steel point, O, is in the primary circuit and acts in unison with the
vibrations of the rod, R, and the wire, O¹, serves as a spring to hold the said point
lightly against the said carbon button, for that purpose; but any other spring will
perform the same function; for example, in conjunction with the wire, O¹, but only
as auxiliary thereto, there may be employed a small wad, ball, tuft or cushion, S,
of unspun cotton or other suitable fibrous material on which the steel point, O, rests
lightly when the cap, B, of the transınitter is closed.
To use this apparatus or device for the purpose of carrying out the present
Invention, the speaker holds it in one hand, and places the button or presser, R¹,
lightly against his throat, and the person to whom the words are spoken holds the
ordinary receiver at the other end of the line to the ear, in the usual manner.
It is to be understood that both a transmitter and a receiver may be employed at
each end of the line.
It will be seen that in practicing the transmitting of articulate speech, with
a battery telephone, according to the present improvement in the art, (with either
the form of apparatus shown, or some other form adapted to work on the same
principle), I am enabled to telephone speech without using the sound waves usually
conveyed in the atmosphere to work the transmitter, and can work the electrodes
by a more positive actuator, in the form of a solid conductor; also that by reason
of working in the vibratory rod (which moves one of the electrodes) by the bodily
movements of those exterior parts of the throat with which the said rod is in
physical contact, I am enabled to produce, with greater certainty and forcibleness
of action, all those variations in the relationship of the electrodes, that are necessary
to effect a perfect transmission, by telephone, of articulate, speech.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the sa'd
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
First. As an improvement in the art of telephony. The hereinbefore described
mode or method of working a battery transmitter, which consists essentially, in
operating the electrodes thereof, by the actions, upon a solid body connected with
said electrodes, (and also held in contact with the body of the speaker,) of those
exterior parts of the speaker's body which will vibrate whenever sounds are uttered,
by the person using the telephone:
Second. As an improvement in the art of telephony. The hereinbefore described
mode or method of working a battery transmitter, which consists, essentially, in
producing the electrical changes in the current, necessary to the transmission of
articulate speech, through the medium of a solid body, connected with such
transmitter, and also placed in contact with the body of the speaker, by those
vibrations of exterior portions of the body which accompany the utterance of
sound.
TAL: 10th day of January 1885
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.