Improvements in Instruments for Concentrating and Conveying Sound to the Ear.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 13th June, 1899-Accepted, 22nd July, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Instruments for Concentrating and Conveying
Sound to the Ear.
I, ROBERT CALDWELL MACKAY BOWLES, of 15, Davis Avenue, Brookline, Massa-
chusetts, United States of America, Real Estate Agent, 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:-
This invention relates to an instrument for assisting the hearing, and is
especially designed and adapted among other uses for increasing the hearing of
people whose hearing is impaired.
The invention has for its object to provide a simple, neat and efficient instru-
ment, for the purpose specified. In accordance with this invention, a sound
amplifying instrument or receiver is connected to a support or handle in such a
manner as will permit the said receiver to occupy different positions with relation
to the handle, and in the present instance this result is effected by a loose or pivotal
connection between the receiver and handle, whereby the receiver may be held
to the ear for a substantially long time without inconvenience to the operator.
The receiver referred to is composed of a hollow body preferably provided at
its front with a diaphragm and having at its back a sound delivering tube, which
is preferably curved and extends from or near the center of the back of the said
body towards its edge. The receiver is pivotally connected to the handle or sup-
port as hereinshown, by means of arms attached to the said support or handle
and the latter is preferably made hollow and joined at one end to the sound
delivering tube of the receiver by a flexible hollow connection. The opposite
end of the handle may have connected to it a rubber or other tube provided at its
free end with a suitable mouthpiece.
These and other features of this invention will be pointed out in the claim at
the end of this specification.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an instrument embodying this invention.
Fig. 2, a rear elevation of the instrument shown in Fig. 1, with part of the
handle broken out.
Fig. 3, a detail in front elevation of the upper portion of the instrument shown
in Fig. 1.
Fig. 4, a side elevation of the instrument illustrating the position of the parts
when in use.
The receiver of the instrument hereinshown is preferably composed of a circular
body a, which may and preferably will be provided with a diaphragm a¹, which
forms with the body a hollow chamber, the said diaphragm being secured to the
front face of the body a as shown, by a detachable ring a. The hollow chamber
of the receiver is provided with a sound inlet tube or pipe b, preferably attached
to the back of the body a near its center and bent or curved toward the edge of
said body. The receiver referred to, as hereinshown, is loosely attached to a
support or handle b', and this loose connection may be effected by means of
arms 6, 3, having inwardly extended ends which engage suitable eyes b', b³,,
Pine 81

page_text: attached to the back of the receiver, the arms be 63 being attached to the handle
as shown by means of a collar or ring 66, which may be secured to the handle as
by screws . The handle 61 may and preferably will be made of wood or other
suitable material and is preferably made hollow and in the present instance has
extended through it a substantially small tube 8, which projects beyond the
ends of the handle for the attachment at one end of a flexible connection d between
the handle and the inlet tube or pipe of the receiver, and for the attachment
at the other end of a flexible tube d¹ provided with a mouth piece d. The flexible
tube may be made of any desired length to suit the desires of the person using
the instrument. The diaphragm a¹ may be provided with small perforations dio,
as shown in Fig. 3.
When it is desired to use the instrument, the operator grasps the handle and
applies the front face of the receiver to the car, and by reason of the flexible con-
nection between the receiver and handle, the receiver may be turned into a position
at an angle to the handle and vice versa, (see Fig. 4) so that the diaphragm of the
receiver may be held close to and in contact with the ear while the hand of the
person or, operator may assume a comfortable and convenient position away from
the face, thereby avoiding a cramped position of the hand and enabling the
instrument to be used with a minimum inconvenience. The mouth piece d
may be made of any desired size, preferably small for ordinary use as for con-
versation between persons, but which may be substantially large and similar to
a small megaphone for use in theatres, concerts and like places. In ordinary
conversation, I prefer to use a small mouth piece d², which is held in the hollow
of the closed hand, thereby avoiding reverberation and consequent indistinct
articulation caused by the usual " bell," without any loss of volume of sound.
I have herein shown the hollow handle as having a metal tube 68 extended
through it, but I do not desire to limit my invention in this respect, as the metal
tube 68 may be omitted and the flexible tube d extended through the hollow
handle and attached to the sound inlet tube b. I have also referred particularly
to the use of the instrument by people with impaired hearing, but it also recom-
mends itself to physicians as especially efficient in respiratory auscultation, as
the slightest breathing is largely amplified.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
_
1. An instrument of the class described, comprising a receiver provided with a
diaphragm adapted to be applied to and make contact with the human ear, and a
rigid handle to which said receiver is connected to permit the said parts to occupy
positions at an angle to each other, for the purpose specified.
2. An instrument of the class described, comprising a receiver provided with
a body portion having a sound inlet tube, a hollow rigid handle connected with
the receiver to permit the latter to occupy different positions with relation to said
handle and with the said inlet tube for the transmission of sound through the
hollow handle and inlet tube into said receiver, substantially as described.
3. An instrument of the class described, comprising a receiver adapted to be
applied to the human ear, and provided with a diaphragm and with a sound inlet
tube, a hollow rigid handle connected to the said receiver to permit the latter to
occupy different positions with relation to it, and a flexible sound conducting tube
connected with said inlet tube, substantially as described.
4. An instrument of the class described, comprising a receiver provided with a
diaphragm adapted to be applied to the human car, and with a sound inlet tube,
a rigid handle, means to connect said receiver to said handle to permit the receiver
to occupy different positions with relation to the handle, and a flexible sound con-
ducting tube connected to the inlet tube of the receiver, substantially as described.
5. An instrument of the class described, comprising a receiver adapted to be
applied to the human ear and provided with a diaphragm and with a sound inlet

page_text: tube, a hollow rigid handle pivotally connected to said receiver, and a flexible
connection between said hollow handle and said inlet tube, substantially as
described.
6. An instrument of the class described, comprising a receiver adapted to be
applied to the human ear and provided with a diaphragm and with a bent sound
inlet tube extended from the back of said instrument toward its outer edge, a rigid
handle loosely connected to said receiver, and a flexible sound conducting tube
attached to said inlet tube, substantially as described.
7. An instrument of the class described, comprising a receiver adapted to be
applied to the human ear and provided with a perforated diaphragm and with a
sound inlet tube, a rigid handle pivotally connected to said receiver, and a flexible
sound conducting tube attached to said inlet tube, substantially as described.
8. An instrument of the class described, comprising a receiver adapted to be
applied to the human car and provided with a sound inlet, a rigid handle to which
said receiver is loosely connected, and a flexible sound conducting tube connected
with said sound inlet, substantially as described.
1 1
1911.
£1900
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 and 12, Southampton Buildings, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 and 12, Southampton Buildings, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.