An Improved Ear Appliance for the Deaf.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Nov., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 23rd June, 1896-Accepted, 25th July, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Ear Appliance for the Deaf.
I, ARTHUR BURCHETT, of Willoughby Lodge, 28 Willoughby Road,
Hampstead, London, N.W., Artist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide an appliance which when worn in front
of the ear will direct sounds into the ear in such a way that they can be heard
more distinctly and clearly by those partially deaf.
The appliance is formed of two plates one larger than the other and each arched
or bent to a curved form somewhat like a segment of a cylinder. The upper and
lower edges of the plates are the two edges which are brought somewhat nearer
together by the plate being curved or arched.
The larger plate is held in an inclined position in front of the ear the rear end
of the plate being made to fit to the head just behind and above and below the
ear whilst the front end stands out away from the head in front of the ear-the
front edge of the plate may be rounded off to any desired form.
The rear ends of the upper and lower edges of the plate are secured to the ends
of a curved bar which fits to the side of the head around the front of the ear.
The smaller plate is secured to the central portion of this bar with its concave
face towards the ear, its front end fitting to the head in front of the ear and its
rear end standing out away from the ear and is of such a length as not to meet or
come in contact with the larger plate.
The larger arched plate collects the sound and directs it towards the ear whilst
the smaller arched plate directs it inwards into the ear.
The appliance when worn may be held in place by an elastic band or string
secured to the ends of the curved bar and passed behind the back of the ear.
The plates may be of thin light metal such as aluminium or of other thin light
material of sufficient strength.
Dated this 14th day of November 1895.
An Improved Ear Appliance for the Deaf.
1, ARTHUR BURCHETT, of Willoughby Lodge, 28 Willoughby Road,
Hampstead, London, N.W. Artist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of this invention is to provide an appliance which when worn in front.
of the ear will direct sounds into the ear in such a way that they can be heard
more distinctly and clearly by those partially.deaf.
The appliance is formed of two plates one larger than the other and each arched
or bent to a curved form somewhat like a segment of a cylinder. The upper and
lower edges of the plates are the two edges which are brought somewhat nearer
together by the plate being curved or arched.

page_text: t
The larger plate is held in an inclined position in front of the ear the rear end
of the plate being made to fit to the head just behind and above and below the
ear whilst the front end stands out away from the head in front of the ear-the
front edge of the plate may be rounded off to any desired form.
The rear ends of the upper and lower edges of the plate are secured to the ends
of a curved bar which fits to the side of the bead around the front of the ear.
The smaller plate is scoured to the central portion of this bar with its concave
face toward the ear, its front end fitting to the head in front of the ear and its
rear end standing out away from the ear and is of such a length as not to meet or
come in contact with the larger plate. The smaller plate can be of any desirod
shape but preferably I make it with a straight edge facing the larger plato.
The larger concave plate collects the sound and directs it towards the ear
whilst the smaller concave plate directs it inwards into the ear.
The smaller plate may be curved, or flat.
The appliance when worn may be held in place by an elastic band or string
secured to the ends of the curved bar and passed behind the back of the ear, or by
means of projections on the curved bar.
The plates may be of thin light metal such as aluminium or of other thin light
material of sufficient strength.
Figure 1 is a view of the appliance as it would appear when looking towards
the side of the head of a person wearing it.
Figure 2 is a horizontal section of the appliance when its parts are in position
for being worn.
Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 but is taken when looking directly
towards the front edge of the larger plate and Figure 4 is a plan showing the
appliance when the parts are folded together and out of use.
The larger concave plate is marked u, it is hinged to the ends of the curved
bar b, which is to fit to the side of the head when the ear has been passed through
it. The hinges ere are so made as to stop the plate a from being turned to too
great an angle to the bar b. Usually I so make the hinges as to allow of the
plate being turned into the position shewn by the dotted line in Figure 2 to render
it easier to put the appliance into position over the ear. When the appliance bas
been put on, the plate can be turned on its hinges to make it incline forwards to
the angle desired. is the smaller plate formed in one piece with or secured to
the middle portion of the bar b and at auch an angle to it that when the appliance
is being worn it may stand approximately at right angles to the plate a. d.is the
elastic band to be passed behind the back of the ear for keeping the appliance in
place.
The plate cis shewn as having its edge next to the larger plate a approximately
straight but as before stated the plate inay be of other form. In some cases also
of slight deafness the plate e inclining backwards from the front of the ear may
be used without the plate a the plate being still carried by the bar 6 held and
placed around the ear by the elastic band d.
Figure 5 is a view of a modification corresponding to Figure 3. The elastic
band is dispensed with and the appliance is kept in place by the projections ƒƒon
the bar b.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is 'to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
:
1. An ear appliance formed with two plates of different sizes the larger ono
which is arched or curved to incliue forwards from the side of the head in rear of
the ear the smaller one to incline backwards from the side of the head in front of
'the ear substantially as described.
2. An ear appliance consisting of two arched or curved plates of different sizes,
both secured to a curved 'bar which fits to the side of the head around the ear
substantially as described.

page_text: 3. In an car appliance the combination of the curved plate a, bar b, plate c
band d, and hinges e e substantially as described.
4. An ear appliance consisting of the curved bar b, plate c and elastic band d
substantially as described.
5. An ear appliance substantially as described and shown in the drawings.
Dated this 19th day of June 1896.
ARTHUR BURCHETT.