IMPROVEMENTS IN TELEPHONES
Year: 1884

page_text: 26
"
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 TELEPHONES (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 is based upon the fact or discovery that the exterior part
of the human body located near or in the vicinity of the vocal organs, such for
example as the exterior surface of the throat, and especially those parts near the
larynx, vibrate in accordance with the vocal organs during the utterance of words
or sounds. These external vibrations are utilized according to the present Invention
and as hereinafter described for the purpose of exciting controlling or varying in a
telephone, the vibrations or undulations upon which depend the reproduction of
words or sounds telephonically, and this result is accomplished or effected through
the medium of a solid body (as distinguished from fluid, such as air) adapted and
arranged to be employed stethoscopically, and the present Invention consists in the
novel combination of devices, which will be hereinafter more fully explained by
which there can be produced for use, a stethoscopical transmitter for telephones
more efficient and convenient in operation than any heretofore made.
The apparatus is made with a comparatively small box or case having a cover or
lid applied thereto, and a magnet located within it, and a helix on the bar or core
of the magnet, and the ends of which helix are carried to binding posts, and a
suitable vibratory disc or diaphragm is also arranged with its central portion a little
way out of contact with the magnet.
An ordinary telephonic receiver is used, the binding posts of which are connected
by wires to the posts of the transmitter at the other end of the line.
A tubular extension enters an opening in the cover of the transmitter, and has a
soft rubber strip extending across the outer or open end of it, and a rod or vibrator

page_text: passes through the said rubber strip, and rests at its inner end in a puncture in the
said disc, and is formed at its outer end with a button or presser.
To use this apparatus for the purpose for which it is intended, the speaker holds
the said tubular extension in such a position that the button of the vibrator will
be pressed lightly against the exterior of his throat, near the larynx or vocal organs,
and the person to whom a message is to be transmitted holds the receiver to his
ear in the usual manner; spoken words or other sounds uttered by the operator
will thus, by the aid of this apparatus, be distinguished or heard by another person
at a great distance.
It is to be understood that both a transmitter and a receiver may be employed at
each end of the circuit, and that the circuit may be either grounded or not, and
connected or not with a battery.
In the form of construction now being described, the tube will serve as a handle,
but a handle may instead extend from the opposite side of the case, and the
latter form of construction permits of the extension of the magnet bar or core,
which extension by being screw-threaded, permits the magnet to be adjusted, with
facility, with relation to the disc or vibratory diaphragm. Also by providing such
a handle the said tubular extension and vibrator may be greatly diminished in
length.
I desire to state, further, that it is immaterial whether the said vibrator enters
the vibratory disc or whether a small stud or pin projects from the latter into the
former. Any suitable contact or connection whereby the said disc will be made to
truly obey the vibrations of the vibrator rod is all that is essential.
Neither need the said vibratory part be disc-shaped or in the form of a circular
diaphragm, as its form and size are immaterial so long as it consists of a body
capable of operating inductively with relation to the magnet, and is under the
control of the said vibrator. As an example, a flexible metallic tongue or arm may
serve as an equivalent for the said disc.
It may be preferable, to prevent a too free movement of the said vibrator to
support it by means of a less flexible material than soft rubber, the vibrator may
be passed through a wooden cap applied to the outer end of the tubular extension
but such a cap should have sufficient flexibility or yield sufficiently, to permit the
vibrator to respond truly to the muscular vibrations accompanying the utterance of
words or other sounds by the operator while he is employing the instrument in the
manner described. The said box especially when the said wooden cap is employed,
so encloses the disc as to prevent it from being disturbed otherwise than by the
vibrations imparted to it through the medium of the vibrator.
The vibrator is adapted, arranged and made capable for use stethoscopically in
connection with such parts of a telephonic apparatus as are old and well-known,
and I have therefore employed the word stethoscopically to distinguish its action
from that of other telephonic vibrators.
I desire to state that I regard it as a mere transposition of parts to mount the
maguet on the vibrator excepting that the said disc need not then be vibratory;
the magnet would then be a part of the vibrator but would still be influenced by
the said disc or equivalent body within the magnetic field of the said magnet, and
the vibration of the vibrator would still be the medium or means through or by
which the transmitter would be effected by the muscular vibrations excited by and
accompanying the utterance of words or sounds by the operator.
It being understood that the following summary is not intended by me as a
statement of claim or as expressly defining or limiting the scope of the claims I
may hereafter make, but merely for the purpose of pointing out the special features
of novelty peculiar to the present Invention, I would mention that such features
of novelty consist. In a telephonic apparatus; In the combination with the case,
magnet, helix, and necessary connections, of a stethoscopical vibrator, the said
vibratory disc, the said tubular extension, and a disc which supports the outer
end of the said vibrator and also covers over the said tubular device ;-In the

page_text: combination with the transmitter case, helix, vibratory disc (or its equivalent) of
the said tubular extension, and stethoscopical vibrator, the said handle-like
extension, and adjustable magnet, with the necessary connections.-In the
combination with a transmitter case, a tubular extension, a vibrator, a magnet,
helix, and necessary connections, of a vibratory armature arranged and operating
in conjunction with the magnet and vibrator.-And in a stethoscopical transmitter-
In the combination with the case containing a magnet, helix, vibrator, and vibratory
disc or its equivalent, of two tubular extensions arranged about in a line, one
containing the vibrator, and the other operating as a handle for the transmitter.
Dated this 26th day of November 1884.
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 TELEPHONES (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 is based upon the fact or discovery that the exterior parts
of the human body located near or in the vicinity of the vocal organs, such for
example as the exterior surface of the throat, and especially those parts near the
larynx, vibrate in accordance with the vocal organs during the utterance of words
or sounds. These external vibrations are utilized according to the present Inven-
tion and as hereinafter described for the purpose of exciting, controlling, or varying
in a telephone, the vibrations or undulations upon which depend the reproduction
of words or sounds telephonically, and this result is accomplished or effected through
the medium of a solid body (as distinguished from fluid, such as air) adapted and
arranged to be employed stethoscopically, and the present Invention consists in the
novel combination of devices, which will be hereinafter more fully explained, by
which there can be produced for use, a stethoscopical transmitter for telephones
more efficient, and convenient in operation than any heretofore made.
The accompanying drawings illustrate telephonic apparatus embodying the
present improvements. Fig; 1, represents a side view. Fig; 2, represents a
longitudinal central section on an enlarged scale through the transmitter; Fig; 3,
is a side view of the transmitter, showing a modification in form; Fig; 4, is a
longitudinal central section of a transmitter having the form shown in Fig; 3, and
also showing some modification in construction; Fig; 5, represents a further modi-
fication, and Fig; 6, is a sectional detail showing with more particularity the
manner indicated in dotted lines at Fig; 4, of effecting a juncture or contact of
the stethoscopical vibrator and the disc or diaphragm for affecting the magnet.
Like letters of reference in the different Figures indicate like or similar parts.
The apparatus is made with a comparatively small box or case, A, having a cover
or lid, B, applied thereto, and a magnet, C, located within it. The ends of the
helix, D, on the bar or core, C, of the magnet, are carried to binding posts, a, a¹,
and a suitable vibratory disc or diaphragm, E, is also arranged with its central
portion a little way out of contact with the magnet.
An ordinary telephonic receiver F, is used, the binding posts of which are
respectively connected by wires b, b1, to the posts a. a', of the transmitter at the
other end of the line.
A tubular extension, G, enters an opening in the cover of the transmitter and
has a soft rubber strip, H, extending across the outer or open end of it, and a rod
or vibrator, I, passes through the rubber strip, H, and rests at its inner end,
in a puncture in the disc, E, and is formed at its outer end with a button or
presser, II.
To use this apparatus for the purpose for which it is intended, the speaker holds
the tubular extension, G, in such a position that the button, 11, of the vibrator will
be pressed lightly against the exterior of his throat, near the larynx or vocal
organs, and the person to whom a message is to be transmitted holds the receiver

page_text: to his ear in the usual manner; spoken words or other sounds uttered by the
operator will thus, by the aid of this apparatus, be distinguished or heard by
another person at a great distance.
It is to be understood that both a transmitter and a receiver may be employed
at each end of the circuit, and that the circuit may be either grounded or not, and
connected or not with a battery.
In the form of construction illustrated in Figs; 1, and, 2, the tube, G, will serve
as a handle, but a handle (c) may instead extend from the opposite side of the
case as illustrated in Figs; 3, and, 4, and the latter form of construction permits
of the extension of the magnet bar or core, as there represented, which extension
by being screw threaded, permits the magnet to be adjusted with facility, with
relation to the disc or vibrating diaphragm, E. Also by providing such a handle
as shown in Figs; 3, and, 4, the said tubular extension, G, and vibrator, I, may bo
greatly diminished in length.
I desire to state further, that it is immaterial whether the said vibrator, I, enters
the vibratory disc, E, or whether a small stud or pin (d, Fig; 6.) projects from the
latter into the former. Any suitable contact or connection whereby the said disc
will be made to truly obey the vibrations of the vibrator rod, I, is all that is
essential.
Neither need the said vibratory part, E, be disc-shaped or in the form of a circular
diaphragm, as its form and size are immaterial so long as it consists of a body
capable of operating inductively with relation to the magnet, and is under the
control of the vibrator, I. As an example, in Fig; 5, I have shown a flexible
metallic tongue or arm (e.) which will serve as an equivalent for the said disc, E.
It may be preferable, to prevent a too free movement of the said vibrator, I, to
support it by means of a less flexible material than soft rubber, and in Fig; 4,
I have shown the vibrator, I, passing through a wooden cap (f) applied to the
outer end of the tubular extension, G, but such a cap should have sufficient flexi-
bility, or yield sufficiently, to permit the vibrator, I, to respond truly to the
muscular vibrations accompanying the utterance of words or other sounds by the
operator while he is employing the instrument in the manner described. It will be
perceived that the box, A, especially when the said wooden cap (f) is employed,
so encloses the disc, E, as to prevent it from being disturbed otherwise than by the
vibrations imparted to it through the medium of the vibrator, I.
The vibrator, I, as will be perceived is adapted arranged and made capable for
use stethoscopically in connection with such parts of a telephonic apparatus as are
old and well-known, and I have therefore employed the word " stethoscopically '
to distinguish its action from that of other telephonic vibrators.
"
I desire to state that I regard it as a mere transposition of parts to mount the
magnet on the vibrator, I, excepting that the disc, E, need not then be vibratory ;
the magnet would then be a part of the vibrator, I, but would still be influenced
by the said disc or equivalent body E, within the magnetic field of the said magnet,
and the vibration of the vibrator, I, would still be the medium or means through
or by which the transmitter would be affected by the muscular vibrations excited
by and accompanying the utterance of words or sounds by the operator.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
In telephonic apparatus
First. The combination, with the case, A, magnet, C, helix, D, and necessary
connections, of a stethoscopical vibrator, I, the disc, E, or its equivalent, the
tubular extension, G, and a disc, f, which supports the outer end of the said
vibrator and also covers over the tubular device, G, substantially as hereinbefore
described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Second. The combination with the transmitter case, A, helix, D, disc, E, (or its
equivalent) of the tubular extension, G, and stethoscopical vibrator, I, a handle

page_text: like extension, c, and adjustable magnet, C, with the necessary connections; all
constructed and operating substantially as and for the purposes herein before
described.
Third. The combination with a transmitter case, a tubular extension, G, a
vibrator, I, a magnet, C, helix, D, and necessary connections, of a vibratory
armature arranged and operating in conjunction with the magnet and vibrator,
substantially as and for the purpose herein before described.
Fourth. In a stethoscopical transmitter. The combination with the case con-
taining a magnet, helix, vibrator, and disc, E, (or its equivalent) of two tubular
extensions, G, and, c, arranged about in a line; one (G) containing the vibrator,
and the other (c,) operating as a handle for the transmitter, substantially as herein-
before described.
1007
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.