Year: 1885

page_text: I, FRANK MARCELLUS BLODGETT, of 207 West Thirty Fourth Street, New York,
in the County and State of New York, United States of America, Physician,
and Surgeon, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to a device to be worn in the human ear, to assist hearing,
and consists principally in providing the tube of the device, or the part that enters
the ear orifice, with a membrane, or diaphragm arranged to be vibrated by sound
waves that enter the device to magnify or augment them, and thus render hearing
more distinct. The Invention also consists of the special construction of the
device, all as hereinafter described.
The Micro-Audophone is made of hard rubber, or other suitable material, and is
formed to fit the ear, that is; it is formed with a tubular portion that enters the
ear orifice, a lower main concaved portion that fits the concha of the ear, and an
upper concaved portion that fits over the anthelix, so that the device, when placed
in the ear, will remain securely in place without the use of holding devices, or
attachments. In the tubular portion is placed a thin membrane, or diaphragm, of
very thin rubber, skin, metal, or other material, held by its edges in or over an
orifice, or small chamber in the side of the tube. The diaphragm is, by preference,
guarded by a small metal thimble placed in the tube, and formed with an opening
to expose the membrane, or diaphragm to the action of the sound waves that pass
through the tube. The action of the sound waves on the diaphragm causes it to
vibrate, so that the diaphragm has a sounding board effect, and magnifies or
augments the waves, and renders the same more audible. In some cases, I shall
form the device with a tubular portion to be held to the ear by the hand; and in
others, shall form it with an extending flaring portion to cause the device to collect
the sound-waves similar to an ear-trumpet, and direct them to the tube.
Dated this 14th day of December 1885.

page_text: I, FRANK MARCELLUS BLODGETT, of 207, West Thirty-Fourth Street, in the
City County and State of New York, United States of America, Physician and
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:-
My Invention relates to a device to be worn in the human ear to assist hearing;
and the Invention consists, principally, in providing the tube of the device, or the
part that enters the car orifice, with a membrane, or diaphragm, arranged to be
vibrated by sound-waves that enter the device to magnify or augment them, and
thus render hearing more distinct.
The Invention also consists of the special construction of the device, all as
hereinafter described and claimed.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this
Specification in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in
all the Figures.
Figure 1. shows the device as it appears when placed in the ear.
Figure 2. is a perspective view of the device; and
Figure 3. is a sectional elevation, taken on the line x x of Figure 2.
The micro-audophone A. is made of hard rubber or other suitable material, and is
formed to fit the ear; that is, it is formed with the tubular portion a that enters
the ear-orifice; the lower main concaved portion b that fits the concha of the ear;
and the upper concaved portion c that fits over the anthelix; so that the device,
when placed in the ear, will remain securely in place without the use of holding-
devices or attachments. In the tube a is placed a thin membrane, or diaphragm, ď³
of very thin rubber, skin, metal, or other material, held by its edges in, or over, an
orifice or small chamber d¹ in the side of the tube. The diaphragm d is, by
preference, guarded by a small metal thimble placed in the tube, and formed with
an opening e¹ to expose the membrane, or diaphragm d to the action of the sound
waves that pass through the tube a. The action of the sound waves on the
diaphragm d causes it to vibrate so that the diaphragm has a "sounding board"
effect, and magnifies or augments the waves, and renders the same more audible.
In some cases, I shall form the device with a tubular portion to be held to the
ear by the hand; and in others shall form it with an extending flaring portion
shown in dotted lines in Figure 3. to cause the device to collect the sound waves,
similar to an ear-trumpet, and direct them to the tube a.
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;-
1. In a device for assisting the hearing, the combination with the tube that
enters the ear orifice, of a thin membrane or diaphragm, placed at one side of the
tube, substantially as described.

page_text: 2. As a new article of manufacture, the micro-audophone A formed of thin
material and shaped to fit the human ear, and formed with the tube a to one side
of which is secured the thin diaphragm, or membrane, & substantially as, and for
the purpose, set forth.
3. The micro-audophone A formed with cavities b. c, and tube a, and a chamber d'
in combination with the diaphragm d, and thimble e, formed with orifice e¹ to
expose the diaphragm d, substantially as, and for the purposes, set forth.
Dated this 27th day of January 1986