US2439766A - Audible and visual electrical signaling device - Google Patents

Description

AP145 3, 1948. E. WEISSMAN 2,439,766

AUDIBLE AND VISUAL ELECTRICAL SIGNALING DEVICE Filed May 29, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1 I l I 4/ l H||I I 4 3.5 I 6 I 1 j J INVI ZN TOR. 4 [aye/2e lfzmwz p ifi m, 1948. E'WEISSMAN 2439 766 AUDIBLE AND VISUAL ELECTRICAL SIGNALING DEVICE Filed May 29, 1.945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 13, 1948 AUDIBLE AND VISUAL ELECTRICAL SIGNALING DEVICE Eugene Weissman, Baltimore, Md.

Application May 29, 1945, Serial No. 596,471 Claims. (01. 177-424) This invention relates to a signaling device.

More specifically, the invention relates to a combined audible and visible signaling device and is characterized generally in the provision of a transformer having associated therewith sound and light producing means in circuit with the transformer and operative upon closing a switch as by means of a push button.

The improved device is specially adapted for use in place of the usual door bell and which, while functioning similarly to the usual door bells in providing an audible signal, also functions in the provision of a light, thereby providing a desirable signal for one who is wholly or partially deaf.

A primary object of the invention is the provision of a signaling device including a novel form of transformer having operatively associated therewith audible and visible signaling means.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a signaling device including a transformer having a primary coil and axially alined spaced secondary coils, the secondary coils being in a circuit controlled by a push button switch, and a vibratory sound producing member interposed between the secondary coils and cooperating with opposed contacts in the circuit for alternate energization of the coils with a resultant vibration of the vibratory member.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a signaling device of the above noted character wherein the sound volume is regulatable for a constant amplitude of vibration of the vibratory member.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a signaling device of the above noted character which is relatively simple in construction, compact, neat in appearance, efficient in operation, and which is capable of being installed with a minimum of effort and skill.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein-- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view in the plane of line l-|, Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view in the plane of line 2-2, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view in the plane of line 3-3, Fig. 1, with certain parts omitted for clarity of disclosure. Fig. 4 is a wiring diagram.

Referring now in detail to the drawings by use of reference characters, [0 designates a casing or housing for the various cooperating elements entering into the improved signaling device. The casing preferably includes a base H in the form of a rectangular panel adapted for suitable support or connection to a wall, and a cover [2.

The cover i2 is constructed of a transparent material which may be glass or a plastic, and, in fact, the entire casing is preferably constructed of a plastic material, and the edge of the cover I2 is preferably undercut as at l3 for snugly receiving the margin of the base.

As will hereinafter appear, the mechanism Within the casing is wholly supported by the base H, and after assembly thereof, the cover I?! may be secured to the base in any desired or appropriate manner.

The cover I2 is provided with a socket member I 4 for suitable connection to a house current, and such socket member may have binding posts 25 for connection of the terminals of a primar coil IS on a core member ll which may be suitably supported from the base II, as by brackets 58. Also supported by the core member I! is a pair of axially alined secondary coils [9. The core member as shown in Fig. 1 is of generally U-form having inward extensions parallel with the base and upon which the secondary coils are wound, such extensions preferably terminating in opposed stops or poles 20, for a purpose later to appear.

Vertically disposed between the coils i9 and stops 20 is a yieldable vibratory strip member 2! whose lower end is rigidly supported as by means of brackets 22 projecting forwardly from the base II and which is provided with malleable iron armatures 2|. The upper end of member 2| is provided with a head 23 which is triangular in end view and which is disposed between opposed flanges 24 of resonance members. The resonance members are generally in the form of the well known tuning forks, and each includes opposed vertical tines 25, 26 connected through an arcuate bight portion 21.

The upper ends of the outer tines 25 are free while the corresponding ends of the inner tines 26 merge into horizontal plate portions 28 whose free and adjacent edges terminate in the flanges 24 above referred to.

As indicated in Fig. 1, the flanges 24 are angularly disposed and are substantially parallel with the adjacent faces of the head 23 for alternate impact by the head upon vibration of the member 21. The member 21 has a constant amplitude of vibration as governed by the fixed stops 2s and armatures 2| and the extent of lateral vibration of the resonance members will be in accordance with the normal spacing of the flanges 24 from the adjacent faces of the head 23.

Means are provided for ready adjustment of this spacing for a corresponding change in the volume of sound produced by the resonance members. Such means preferably embodies ,a threaded stud 29 rigid with and projecting downwardly from each bight portion 21 and which projects loosely through an aperture in a bracket 39 projecting forwardly from the base II. n coil spring 3| is disposed betweenth'e'biglitpor} tion 2? and bracket 30 in surrounding relation the stud 29 beneath the bracket v 3 .ll.

Thus it will be seen thatli'poh turning up the nuts 32 the resonance members with flanges 25 will be lowered with a corresponding decrease o spaci between th fianeesand the head and h acqr espa dins incre e in th ration m u e of the res nance m mb r On the o h ha d. .uponl nn in th 'nu a d the r e ends q zth? stud the s r n s W111 r th t s nanpe mem er .tq e h t n e .Ztupwanilv with a qe re eendi g 1 s f spaci g b w e t these a hea 23 w ereby he vibmib x mrl iue 9f h resqnanee m mbe .W ll h zd n ini edh b pe edsepqndery laqils l arle a te at l energized for imparting yibration to member 2| and such alternate energizaft ion is contrlolled'by a a dab s eniepi t??? 1 which mien r n" ra et ie s wi h i e H and which'braclgts" are provided with circuit wire binding sciew'sst. v

A pair of lamps 3? is supported brackets "es ont ie base" Wa -q n: suitable n brackets are preferamy prt'videdwithcircuit ireerainp The device is adapted for connection with wires leading from as table 1 L 4Q"' ('Fig'; 4 ont db pilshbnfie t t a d een W re may "es; 1 in a meste m t? th i h w re iiie ed i i easte n 6 an i wane ebin in flews' w e tacts 33 and respectively. *Thec oilslgare connected withoppose cts through wires 18' and @9 2lnfi the I jointly 'connected to member er-throng As before stated; the cov r is transparent and preferably censtieetea glass which "is' of such thickness as "to have a v'ib'rfatiiz nfiequ'ei'icy equal to that of thereso'nancemembers whereby the casing" will in effect act as aseco'n'd resonance member in providing the soundsigfi'al.

Itisto be notedth'at while'the' yieldable vibra tcry member-"2| in""its inoperativevertical position engages contactfiii, "the' vibratory member Will have'equal ampiitiiaeson ei -th efsid or its vertical rest position, since the contacts fiand i lare yieldable even though the "opposingcoil iii'is' energized upon contact 33' engaging the vibratory member before suchmember completes its'a'm'plitu'de of vibration.

4 In operation, the improved signalingdevice is suitably connected with the current throughthe socket memberld and the: primary coil lfithrough the "core it induces a lo'wvoltage 'cu'rrentirr the secondary coils |.9' which through "the' circuit. connections" illustrated? Fig! 4 are alternately 1 5 to the stud 29 and a nut 32 is engagedwith 4 energized with a resultant vibration of the meniber 2| upon pressing button 4|.

The member 2| will have a constant amplitude of vibration as governed by the stops 20, and the head 23 will impart vibration to the resonance members of an amplitude dependent upon the spacing between the head and the flanges 24 which spacing is readily adjustable to provide anyfvoiemeprsound desired.

The lamps 37 will also belig'hted upon closing the switch 40 through the push button 4| which,

hue to the rapid rate of vibration of member y it will be seen that the improved signaling-*device' will provide both an audible and a visible signal thereby suiting its use to persons whethefblindor"deaf.

ltwill'further be seen that the cooperating elements are all supported by the base of a neat sing h ying t ans arent eye whim 1 1m he remev 29 i see tiq .Qiith e emen o fa receiver eph me a-them eve also il a tiq i h r-man n ht e. ame member i ne Eurthermone, the

What I head for engagi Wai eresbeaeee mber n i ith 99.nroll d lee iea man e d ee ieeet es 9; e fecting vibration of the vibratory member.

a 2. An ele ctrical' signali'ng devicje cg iipfism a transparent casi'ngfa transformer havinga prim y d pb sed se a dery 's' ii the easing;aneMngateklyieIdabIe vibratory member ex: tending between the seoondarycoils f opposed yieldable contacts intermediate the *pnmaey' and secondary coils enea 'eane with the "vibratory member, "electrical connections tacts and tne'ie's'peetive oppiisite. a push button" 'controlledbircuit the contacts, an electrical connect secondary coils' and the vi ra r mane ma s W th' C p imity tQ-i 'e ri ia o v mem r io f e m at he eby in the brate-1' h r efere e eration ofthe push button.

An e ctr e l; i a in et eea sq dia to cla qae he iw th l mpnane eai e nd i irs i c nection with s seeqeder An el e iaei si na in dei ies eceqrdiaete cla m-' W reimsa d refin nce ansmp. see a vibratory resonance member on each sideot said first bra o y m mber each res nance memb including a pair of free-ended tines,

5; An elect cal si nalin device ac o d n t claim 2, wherein said casing comprises a; glass. cover; having a vibration frequency. common" with said-vibratory;resonance.means.

6. An electrical signalingidevicie. comprising a casing including a verticallyzdis'posed base? a transparent. cover:remmtablyjattached t oithe base,

a transformer within the casing and including a primary coil and spaced axially alined secondary coils, a vertically disposed yieldable strip member extending between the secondary coils and having a head on the upper end thereof, push button controlled electric circuit connections for alternate energization of the secondary coils for imparting vibration to the strip member, and a vibratory resonance member including a, pair of spaced free-ended tines disposed on each side of the strip member and engageable by said head for vibration of the resonance members.

7. The structure according to claim 6, together with stop means providing a constant amplitude of vibration of the strip member, and adjustable supporting means for said resonance members for varying the vibration of the resonance members with a consequent variation in range of tone.

8. The structure according to claim 6, together with a pair of lamps in electrical circuit with said secondary coils for providing a visible signal upon energization of the coils.

9. The structure according to claim 6, wherein said cover is formed of glass of such thickness that the cover has a vibration frequency equal to that of the resonance members.

10. An electrical signaling device according to claim 2, wherein said vibratory member is provided with a triangular shaped head, and wherein said vibratory resonance means includes flanges parallel with and engageable by opposed faces of said head, and means supporting said resonance means from the casing for adjustment of the flanges relative to said opposed faces.

EUGENE WEISSMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 210,886 Watson Dec. 17, 1878 288,202 Bowen Nov. 13, 1883 329,782 Steiner Nov. 3, 1885 954,167 Burns Apr. 5, 1910 1,896,195 Green et al. Feb. 7, 1933 1,958,028 Aymar May 8, 1934 2,227,277 Mason Dec. 31, 1940 2,240,378 Rittenhouse Apr. 29, 1941 2,350,413 Ordman June 6, 1944

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