US2059588A - Acoustic device - Google Patents

Description

J. J. KUHN ACOUSTIC DEVICE Nov. 3, 1936.

Filed Oct. 12, 1935 FIG.

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IN VE N TOR Q Qdd d J. .1. KUHN BY .ammauwa A T TOR/V5 Y Patented Nov. 3, 1936 I v UNITED STATES PAT E\NT OFFICE.

ACOUSTIC DEVICE John J. Kuhn, Elizabeth, H. J., assignor to Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application Qctober 12, 1933, Serial No. 693,260 v 6 Claims. (Cl. 179-182) This invention relates to acoustic devices. embodying this invention, partly insection and More particularly, .it relates to acoustic devices partly broken away to show details of construcof the sound reproducing type which enable one tion; person to listen to a radio or other program with- Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of a modification out disturbing others in the same vicinity. of the acoustic device of Fig. 1; 5

An object of the invention is to enable a person Fig. 3 is a plan view of the device of Fig. 2 who wishes to listen to a radio or other program with the covering and telephone unit removed, .to do so withut disturbing or annoying others various layers being partly broken away; and

in the same vicinity. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a fragment of a A further object is to enable a person to use a modification of the multi-layer cushioning mem- 1o pillow type telephone receiver for long or for her for the pillow type telephones of Figs. 1 and 2. short periods with a maximum of comfort. The acoustic device of Fig. 1 comprises a sound A feature of this invention comprises an acouswave reproducer or telephone receiver lo, a soft tic device having a cushioning member containresilient member or cushion H in which the reing air passages extending therethrough. ceiver is embedded, and a pillow slip, cover, or 15 A further feature comprises an acoustic device envelope l2, preferably of fabric and enclosing having such a cushioning member and containthe receiver and resilient member. The member ing, also, air passages extending at an angle to the I l comprises a plurality of layers, sheets, or strips first mentioned passages, the air passages provid- I3, l4, l5, l6, I1 and I8, which, preferably, are of ing ventilation. sponge rubber. Each layer contains a plurality Another feature of this invention comprises of openings, passages, or perforations IS, the

- an acoustic device having a cushioning member openings being so spaced that, when the layers adapted to havethe users head rest thereagainst are superposed to form the member ll, air pasand comprising superposed layers of cushioning sages continuous between the outer surfaces of material. the outer layers l3 and I8 are provided. The ad- 25 Still another feature comprises an acoustic jacent surfaces of the resilient layers are sepadevice having such a cushioning member in which rated bystrips 20 of coarsely woven fabric. The each layer contains a plurality of air passages receiver is embedded in the lowermost layer l8, extending from one surface to another. its sound wave passage 2| being substantially in A further feature comprises an acoustic device alignment with one of the airpassages l9 inlayer 30 having Such cushioning member in which air IT. Theconductor cord 22 for the receiver passes I [P8 8 extending ngitudinally between the through openings IS in the layers l6 and I1 layers are provided. A and extends between layers l5, It to terminate This invention is embodied, preferably, in an in a jack orplug receptacle 23 on the'outside of u i ev comprising an envelope or cover the cover to permit the receiver to be connected of a soft, pliable material, for instance, of fabric, in an electrical communications circuit. The in.-

, containing a plurality of superposed layers of a terior of the cover I2 not occupied by the cushion i soft, yielding, resilient material, such as sponge member may be filled with kapok or the likerubber, and a telephone receiver embedded in the Although the cover would be sufficient to mainresilient material. Each layer contains a p1u 'tain the sponge rubber layers in proper position, 40 rality 0f p orations, and the various layers are to avoid any possibility of their shifting, the layarranged so that all the perforations are not covers may be secured together at their edge portions ered, continuous airpassages between the outer by a suitable adhesive or cement.

\ most surfaces of the outermost layers being pro- The device of Fig. 1 is adapted to be used as vided. One or each of the adjacent surfaces of a pillow, the head of the user resting against the layerslmey b o provided th raised the surface ,24 remote from 'the receiver. It is orridglidbort ons, Coarsely Woven fabric may apparent that ventilation both transverse or be inserted betwe n t e l y to provide airpasvertical and longitudinal or lateral results from sages extending at' an angle to the first mentioned the provision of the air passage l9 and fabric passages.spacers 20, respectively, adding greatly to the 50 A more complete understandingof this invencomfort of the user, any movement of the user's tion will be obtained from the detailed description head on the pillow facilitating air flow through which follows read with reference to the accomthe pillow. panying drawing, wherein: Referring to Figs 2 and 3, there is shown a Fig. lisaperspective view of an acoustic device modification of the acoustic device of Fig. 1. 55

The superposed layers 2!, 26, 21, 28, 20, 30 of resilient material, such as a sponge rubber, comprising the cushion member 3i each contains a plurality of air passages of perforations ll, one or each adjacent surface containing a pluralityof shallow grooves 83 connecting the air passages, which air passages are arranged as in the case of the device of Fig. 1 to air passage continuous between the outer surfaces of the outer layers 26, iii. The provision of thegrooves 33 allows longitudinal or lateral air movement between the layers of the cushion member and obviates the need for the fabric spacers of the structure of Fig. 1. The sound wave reproducer or receiver I0 is embedded in the uppermost ortop layer 25 such that sound waves reproduced act directly through the cover l2.

Fig. 4 shows a modification of the cushioning layers or strips of Figs. 2 and 3, integral raised portions or ridges ll maintaining the strips spaced apart. Although adjacent surfaces of the layers are provided with ridges, it is apparent one only thereof need be so formed.

Although this invention has been disclosed with reference to certain specific embodiments, it will be understood that it is not restricted thereto, but is limited in scope by the appended claims only.

What is claimed is:

1. An acoustic device comprising a telephone receiver. an envelope for said receiver, and means within said envelope constituting a yielding, cushioning member, so that a user may comfortably rest his head on said envelope, said means having a plurality of air passages extending through the member from one surface to another, and a plurality of other air passages extending at an angle to said first mentioned passages.

2. An acousticdevice comprising a telephone receiver, and a cushion-like member associated with said receiver, said member adapted to have provide aosasss her, said receiver being embedded therein and said cushioning member comprising a plurality of strips of a resilient material containing a plurality of air passages extending therethrough and spaced apart to provide air passages extending at an angle to said first mentioned air passages.

4. An acoustic device comprising a telephone receiver, a pillow-shaped cushioning member and an envelope for said receiver and cushioning member, said cushioning member comprising superposed layers of resilient material containing a plurality of air passages extending therethrough, one or each of the adjacent surfaces of said layers containing grooves providing air passages extending at an angle to the first mentioned air passages.

5. An acoustic device comprising a telephone receiver, a pillow-shaped cushioning member, and an envelope for said receiver and cushioning member, said cushioning member comprising superposed layers of resilient material containing air passages extending between opposite surfaces thereof and raised portions on one or each adjacent surface of the layers to provide air passages extending at an angle to the first mentioned air passages.

6. An acoustic device comprising a sound wave reproducer, and a head-cushioning member comprising superposed layers of resilient material having perforations therein to provide continuous air passages between the outer surfaces of the outer layers and fabric spacers between adjacent layers.

' JOHN J. KUHN.

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