Abstract: A telephone sanitation device is formed from a soft foam pad treated with a disinfectant. The foam pad is secured to a support ring provided with an adhesive backing. In use, the adhesive backing is applied to the base of a telephone, in a position such that the telephone mouthpiece rests against the disinfectant treated foam when the telephone is not in use. The foam and foam support plate may be provided in circular, oval and rectangular configurations, for use with a variety of telephone styles. The disinfectant treated foam may be backed by an absorbent material which continuously supplied disinfectant to the foam by a wicking action. The foam support base may be formed as a cartridge type holder which houses replaceable disinfectant foam pads.

Abstract: A telephone apparatus composed of a telephone set and a device for changing its angle of inclination relative to its support surface is provided. To this end, a wire shackle is pivotably seated in the floor trough of the telephone set, whereby two different positions of the telephone set relative to its supporting surface are selectable on the basis of the shaping of the wire shackle. Portions of the shackle engagable with the support surface are provided with an elastic, riffled cladding to prevent slipping of the shackle on the support surface.

Abstract: A telephone handset cover that is disposable and impregnated throughout with a germicidal composition. The handset cover has a top center slit in its back portion which permits a handset to be inserted therein. After the handset is contained within the cover, a tab that extends across the top center slit will close the slit. On the inside of the cover next to the inside adhesive surface of the tab is a second adhesive surface. This second adhesive surface connects and fixes the cover to the handset.

Abstract: The telephone comprises a handset (8) having a receiver and a microphone, and a base (2) on which the handset may be placed. According to the invention, the casing (28) of the base is fitted with another receiver and another microphone and has a shape such that the base may be used as a second handset, thereby enabling two people to converse at the same time with one outside person if the phone is connected to one line or with different outside people if the phone is connected to two lines.

Abstract: An in-the-ear hearing aid with an inner casing section adapted to be inserted into the auditory canal and including at least the speaker and being joined to an outer casing section having at least a microphone, potentiometer, at least part of the electronics and a battery. The outer casing section is pivotable as a unit out of the inner casing section about a pivot point with parts of the pivot point between the outer and the inner casing sections being made of electrically conducting material to form an electrical connector between individual components of the hearing aid and the electrical terminals thereof in the inner and outer casing sections.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing distortion of an acoustical waveform by locating a plurality of microspheres to interact with interfering acoustical waveforms.

Abstract: A compound speaker system comprising a woofer, a squawker, a tweeter, and a super tweeter. The squawker, the tweeter, and the super tweeter are attached to a plate and the assembly is rotatably positioned within the cone of the woofer. Since the squawker, the tweeter, and the super tweeter are positioned at different distances from the axis of the assembly rotation, it is possible to design the system such that the speaker which reproduces relatively directional sound, such the tweeter or the super tweeter takes an elevated position as compared to the squawker when the assembly is rotated within the woofer cone.

Abstract: An installation of sound converters (e.g., speakers) in an enclosure having mechanical fasteners such that the transmission of solid-borne sound from the speakers to the enclosure is prevented.

Abstract: An amplification circuit for hearing aids performs independent amplification of different frequency bands of the signal generated by a microphone of the hearing aid, to match the loss of hearing of a user of the hearing aid. Prior to this multi-band amplification, however, the microphone output signal is passed through an optional filter having a characteristic which is the inverse of the spectrum of long term speech, and through a signal compressor. The signals from the multi-band amplification are combined using an adder and the combined signal is modified by a control signal derived from the envelope of the signal generated by the microphone. The result of this processing is to cause the range of spectral shapes present in received signals to be enlarged or exaggerated in the output signal, but to cause the range of overall levels present in the received signal to be decreased in the output signal.

Abstract: A loudspeaker diaphragm mounting system where there is a perimeter frame to which is mounted a planar flexible diaphragm having electrically conductive elements thereon. The frame has two perimeter sections which have matching perimeter grooves to receive an elongate tensioning member which presses the edge portion of the diaphragm into at least one of the grooves. By controlling the force with which the two frame sections are pushed together, tension on the diaphragm can be controlled.

Abstract: A portable, self contained, lightweight cordless phone holder is provided for the user to permit the free use of both hands and have virtual freedom of movement within the range of the unit while at the same time having ready access and use of the cordless phone. The mechanism is a device made of lightweight malleable metal which permits it to be bent or adjusted to rest on the shoulders of the principle user just below the juncture of the neck and shoulders. The malleable metal permits the principle user to adjust the device for his individual body contours for the most comfortable position while being used. It is basically of a rectangular plan shape comprised of two L-shaped components, an obliquely vertical phone support or cradle extended from one end of the one of the L-shaped members and adjusting straps under the arms so that they hold the mechanism in place while the holder is being used.

Abstract: A speaker headrest is composed of a frame and a concave front surface to support the user's head through a cushion and members flanking the frame and rotatably attached thereto. Speakers contained in these flanking members are pressed against the user's ears when the user's head is moved backward to rest against the frame, thereby pushing lever plates attached to the flanking members backwards and causing the flanking members to rotate around their supporting axes of rotation.

Abstract: A telephone handset mounting cradle includes a housing provided along its lower edge with opposed oppositely opening grooves. The bottom of the housing includes a relief. A bracket includes opposed, facing slides for engaging the grooves and a spring clip for engaging the relief to lock the cradle to the bracket. A screw pivotally couples the bracket to a first plate about a first axis. Additional screws pivotally couple the first plate to a second plate about a second axis perpendicular to the first. The second plate includes provisions for fixed mounting to a surface.

Abstract: A hearing aid that is compact and efficient and that provides a high degree of control over its frequency response and also over its output level versus input level characteristic. The frequency response control includes an adjustable four pole high pass filter and an adjustable four pole low pass filter, to define the pass band, and an adjustable slope filter, to define the slope within the pass band. The control over the output level versus input level characteristic includes an input AGC system with well defined, independent control of compression threshold and compression ratio, an adjustable peak clipper, and a selectable output AGC system that tracks the peak clipper setting.

Abstract: A hearing aid to be worn by an individual of impaired hearing ability producing analog output signals of improved intelligibility. The hearing aid includes a wearable, programmable digital signal processor for processing digital samples of the analog signals coupled thereto in real time and providing analog output signals having the processed characteristics. The hearing aid program stored in the signal processor is continuously executed and modifies the analog signals coupled thereto by digital filtering in real time in accordance with the varying noise levels contained in the received audible signals. The modification of the signals includes noise supression.

Abstract: A bone conduction personal audio listening device and method is worn behind one or both ears in substantially close contact with the mastoid bone of the listener. The device is maintained on the listener's ear by hooking over the top of the ear, by hooking under the bottom of the ear, and by the contact with the mastoid bone. Due to placement of the device behind the listener's ear(s) ambient sounds of the local environment can be heard. Provision is also made for the listener through ear plug means to block out ambient sounds if so desired. The listener can remove and replace the waterproof audio speaker assembly of the device for cleaning purposes, or to change the color or reflectivity of the device for safety and/or cosmetic reasons.

Abstract: A hearing aid comprises a microphone, a battery-operated earphone, and amplifying circuit connected to the microphone output, the amplifying circuit including a frequency-selective circuit component and a sound level adjustment circuit component connected to the frequency-selective circuit component, and a remote sound wave control signal emitter circuit separate from the microphone, earphone and amplifying circuit and emitting sound wave control signals within the range of the microphone input.

Abstract: A signal processing circuit for hearing aids includes a broadband peak detector for generating a control voltage based upon the sound pressure level of an incoming acoustical signal over its entire frequency spectrum. The control signal is used to determine the cut-off frequency of a voltage controlled adaptive high-pass filter. An amplified electrical signal, corresponding to the acoustical signal, also is provided to the high-pass filter. In setting the cut-off frequency, the control voltage causes the high-pass filter to selectively suppress the low frequency portion of the signal, generating a modified signal in which the noise component is reduced.

Abstract: A miniature diaphragm pressure transducer. A thin diaphragm of silicon nitride has an upper face covered by a zinc-oxide piezoelectric film encapsulated in chemical vapor deposited silicon dioxide. A series of annular, basically concentric, polysilicon electrodes are provided in the silicon dioxide between the piezoelectric film and the diaphragm and in contact with the piezoelectric film. A series of annular, basically concentric, aluminum electrodes are on the opposite side of the piezoelectric film from the polysilicon electrodes and are aligned with the polysilicon electrodes; they lie over the silicon dioxide, and are in contact with the piezoelectric film.

Abstract: An audio-frequency electromechanical vibrator having a flat hollow case with a thin cover plate, a flat ring-shaped permanent magnet axially magnetized and a flat annular drive coil unit. The magnet and the coil unit are disposed in the case coaxial with one another and with an axial space therebetween. The magnet is fixedly mounted on the bottom of the case and the coil unit is elastically supported to the case by a spring plate so that the vibrator can generate strong vibrations without noise generation corresponding to a comparatively higher frequency component in an audio signal applied to the coil unit.