Improvements in Ear Trumpets.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Nov., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 10th Aug., 1892-Accepted, 17th Sept., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ear Trumpets.
I, ERNEST MUIRHEAD LITTLE, of Park Street, London, in the County of
Middlesex, Surgeon, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows
-
My invention relates to the trumpets ordinarily used by persons afflicted with
deafness, for concentrating and conveying sound to the ear, and it has for its object
novel methods of constructing and applying such car trumpets so that they are
cheap, easily made and applied and are very effective and light whilst if desired
they can be made sufficiently portable to be carried about without inconvenience.
Ear trumpets, as ordinarily used, are generally made of metal, their inner end
being made sufficiently small to be inserted into the ears of the persons using them
and they are heavy cumbrous, and often ineffective.
By my invention I make the ear trumpet of a strong light material such as
paper of suitable kind, leather, stiffened cloth, papier maché, vulcanite, celluloid or
other substance of the like kind, or two or more of such substances. I make the
outer end of the trumpet of large diameter, and the entire trumpet in the form of
a cone tapering uniformly down to the small end which I make sufficiently large
to fit completely over the external ear, and if desired it can be finished with a
beading or edge.
Such a trumpet may be provided with a handle of wood, metal, or other suitable
substance, by which it can be conveniently held, and it forms a very effective and
cheap ear trumpet, sound being concentrated and conveyed to the ear so as to
produce a very satisfactory result.
Where great portability is desired, I make the trumpet of leather cloth, or other
sufficiently flexible material the cone being divided on one side from end to end so
that it can be easily rolled up into a small compass, and provided with fastenings
by which the edges can be readily and quickly attached together when it is unrolled
and is required for use.
Instead of being perfectly conical as described, the cone may have a prolongation
of its smaller or inner end consisting of a tube of small diameter, cylindrical or only
slightly conical, and of any desired length, its end being provided with an expanded
part of sufficient size to fit over the external ear as already described.
Dated this 10th day of November 1891.
EDWARDS & Co.,
35, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ear Trumpets.
I, ERNEST MUIRHEAD LITTLE, of Park Street, London, in the County of
Middlesex, Surgeon, 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 and accompanying drawing, that is to say :-
My invention relates to the trumpets ordinarily used by persons afflicted with
deafness, for concentrating and conveying sound to the ear, and it has for its object
novel methods of constructing and applying such car trumpets so that they are cheap,
easily made and applied and are very effective and light, whilst if desired they can
be made sufficiently portable to be carried about without inconvenience.

page_text: Ear trumpets, as ordinarily used, are generally made of metal, their inner end
being made sufficiently small to be inserted into the ears of the persons using them
and they are heavy, cumbrous, and often ineffective.
By my invention I make the ear trumpet of a strong light material such as
paper of suitable kind, leather, stiffened cloth, papier machê, vulcanite, celluloid
or other substance of the like kind, or two or more of such substances. I make
the outer end of the trumpet of large diameter, and the entire trumpet in the form
of a cone tapering uniformly down to the small end which I make sufficiently large
to fit completely over the external car, and if desired it can be finished with a
beading or edge, at either or both ends.
Such a trumpet may be provided with a handle of wood, metal, or other suitable
substance, by which it can be conveniently held, and it forms a very effective and
cheap ear trumpet, sound being concentrated and conveyed to the ear so as to
produce a very satisfactory result.
In the accompanying drawing which is in illustration of my invention, Figure 1
represents the ear trumpet just described. a is the conical body of the trumpet
made of paper, or other suitable light material of the kind described. bis the small
end of the trumpet, which may be either circular or elliptical, of sufficient size to
fit completely over the ear of the person using it. c is a light handle by which
the trumpet can be held. Figure 4 shews a similar trumpet, having the conical
part bent at right angles so that the larger end, which receives the sound, can be
directed forward.
Where great portability is desired, I make the trumpet of leather cloth, or
other sufficiently flexible material as shewn in Figure 2, the cone being divided
on one side from end to end so that it can be easily rolled up into a small
compass as shewn in Figure 3, and provided with fastenings d, d, d, by which the
edges can be readily and quickly attached together when it is unrolled and is
required for use.
Instead of being perfectly conical as described, the cone may have a pro-
longation of its smaller or inner end consisting of a tube of small diameter,
cylindrical or only slightly conical, and of any desired length, its end being
provided with an expanded part of sufficient size to fit over the external ear
as already described; and do not confine myself to the precise shape and
proportions of the parts, which may be varied more or less, to suit different
cases, but
'
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. The ear trumpet, constructed in the manner and of material such as described,
so that the smaller end can fit completely over the ear, substantially as described.
2. The ear trumpet constructed of flexible material so that it can be opened out
or folded up as desired, substantially as described and illustrated in Figures 2
and 3.
Cen mot
August
1032
EDWARDS & Co.,
35, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.