Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
204~241
COMBINATION HEAD PROTECTIVE HELMET WITH LOCAL AND REMOTE
VOICE TRIGGERED COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
A. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the
combination of a head-protective helmet and a relatively
short range voice communications system mounted thereon for
generally hands-free use by personnel in the fields, for
example, of firefighting, police, military, industrial and
hazardous material handling, wherein the environment or
type of work requires enhanced voice communications between
such personnel in the immediate area, and preferably
wireless hands-free voice communications. This invention
also relates to enhanced hands-free relatively long-range
voice communications between, for example, a group leader
of such personnel and a distant communications center such
as, for example, a relatively distant fire engine or
distant fire company base station or repeater.
B. Description of the Prior Art
Short-range communications in the areas noted
above are normally performed without any augmentation;
however, if a facepiece or mask is required for respiratory
protection voice communication is severely hindered by the
mask. Most manufacturers of self-contained breathing
apparatus (SCBA's) provide a speech diaphragm in the
facepiece, which typically is a thin metal foil or plastic
film which mechanically oscillates when acted upon by the
sound waves inside the mask. The effectiveness of such a
speech diaphragm in providing intelligible voice
communication is generally poor.
Some manufacturers of SCBA's supply a voice
amplifier which consists of a microphone inside the
facepiece or mask and an amplifier and speaker normally
worn on the front of the wearer's clothing because their
size and weight hinder mounting on the
``~ - 2 - 204~241
mask; the amplifier and speaker are usually connected to the
facepiece by wires. Although these improve voice communication,
they have not been popular due, apparently, to complexity of use
and cost, and because their effectiveness is reduced in noise
environments such as for example the noise environment present
at a fire.
A two-way portable radio can provide long-range communi-
cation in the described field of use. Drawbacks of the portable
radio for use by all individuals are its cost and the fact that
it requires a free hand for operation. Additionally, if rela-
tively long-range æystems were used for conversations among many
individuals, for example at the scene of a fire, the air waves
would be filled with conflicting conversations. The two-way
portable radio is practical when used by only one member of a
group, typically the group leader, in a situation where many
individuals are involved.
Hands-free operation of a two-way portable radio is made
possible by use of a voice-operated transmitter (VOX), coupled
to a spe~ker and microphone worn on the head, and an adapter
which connects to the input and output plugs of the radio.
Systems of this type are made by the David Clark Company, of 360
Franklin Street, Box 15054, Worcester, Massachusetts 0161S-0054
(a headset and microphone work under the helmet, not for use with
breathing apparatus) and Interspiro of 11 Business Park Drive,
Branford, Connecticut 06405 (a radio interface for use with a
breathing apparatus, but not without it). All known existing
systems of this type are bulky, eY~n~ive, complex and awkward
to use because of the wires which connect the head gear to the
belt-mounted or clothing-mounted radio.
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention
there is provided combination head-protective helmet and voice
communication system for providing generally hands-free voice
communication between a journeyman and a group leader comprising:
(a) a plurality of combination head-protective helmets and voice
communication systems, each combination including: (i) a head-
protective helmet and flexible flame retardant earflap mounted
to the helmet and exten~;ng downwardly from the helmet, the
2045291
earflap for covering and protecting at least thè ears of the
wearer of the helmet from heat and flames, and the earflap
including an extension portion for being fastened under the chin
of the wearer of the helmet; (ii) a transceiver for transmitting
and receiving voice communication, the transceiver including
interconnected transceiver circuitry, a speaker, a throat
microphone and an antenna; (iii) first and second mounting means;
(iv) housing means for receiving the transceiver circuitry and
the ~pe~ker; (v) the first mounting means for mounting the
housing on the earflap to place the speaker adjacent to and in
voice communication with an ear of the wearer of the helmet and
the second mounting means for mounting the throat microphone on
the extension portion of the earflap and upon the extension
portion of the earflap being fastened under the chin of the
wearer of the helmet, the microphone being placed adjacent to and
in voice communication with the throat of the wearer; and (vi)
the antenna residing within the helmet; (b) one of the
combination head-protective helmet and voice communication
systems for being worn by the journeyman and another one of the
combination head-protective helmet and voice communication
systems for being worn by the group leader; (c) the voice com-
munication systems for transmitting and receiving voice communi-
cations between the journeyman and group leader on a first fre-
quency; (d) the voice communication system in combination with
the helmet worn by the group leader including a switch having
first and second positions; (e) a second transceiver for being
mounted on the group leader and for transmitting and receiving
voice communications on a second frequency between the group
leader and a distant voice communication station; (f) conductor
means interconnecting the second transceiver with the voice
communication system in combination with the helmet worn by the
group leader; and (g) upon the switch being in the first position
voice communication is transmitted and received between the group
leader and the journeyman on the first frequency using the voice
communication systems in combination with the head-protective
helmets worn by the journeyman and the group leader and upon the
switch being in the second position voice communication is trans-
.,
20~2~1
t~ - 4 -
mitted and received between the group leader and the distant
voice communication station on the second frequency using the
second transceiver mounted on the group leader.
BRBF DE8CRIPTION OF TH~ DRA~IN68
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatical illustration of the combination
protective helmet and communication system of the present inven-
tion and the function thereof:
FIG. 2 is a side view of a first embodiment of the com-
bination protective helmet and communication system mounted
thereon of the present invention shown worn by a firefighter;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the
line 3-3 in Fig. 2 in the direction of the arrows;
FIG. 4 is a side view of an ear cup showing the mounting of
a sp~Aker and microphone included in the communication system of
the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a partial view illustrating the mounting of the
ear cup shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 and the manner of spring biasing
the ear cup toward a head bone, e.g. jawbone, of the wearer of
the head-protective helmet to place the microphone into communi-
cation with such head bone;
FIG. 6 is a block diagram primarily of a group leader'smodule of the hand-free, or wireless, communication system of the
present invention;
FIGS. 7 and 8 are circuit diagrams of circuitry contained
within a portion of the module shown in FIG. 6;
FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 illustrate an alternate embodiment of the
combination protective helmet and communications system mounted
thereon of the present invention;
FIG. 12 illustrates a still further alternate embodiment of
the combination protective helmet (only the earflap thereof being
shown) and communications system mounted thereon of the present
invention;
FIG 13 is a diagrammatical illustration of an alternate
embodiment of the combination protective helmet and communica-
tions system of the present invention and the function thereof;
FIG. 14 is a view looking inwardly into a combination head-
protective helmet and flame retardant earflap provided with
-
`- ` Z045241
an alternate embodiment of a voice communications system of the
present invention;
FIG. 14A is a partial view taken generally from FIG. 14
showing a portion of the earflap provided with a pocket for
receiving a housing in which is mounted transceiver circuitry, a
speaker, and a battery;
FIG. 15 is a view in perspective of a housing in which
is mounted transceiver circuitry, a speaker, and a battery and
which housing resides in the pocket shown in FIG. 14A;
FIGS. 16 and 17 are top and side views illustrating in
detail the manner of mounting a throat microphone shown in FIG. 14;
FIG. 18 is a circuit diagram of the throat microphone,
speaker and transceiver circuitry of the voice communications
system mounted on the combination head-protective helmet and flame
retardant earflap of the journeymen shown in FIG. 13;
FIG. 19 is a diagram of the microphone, speaker, and
transceiver circuitry of the voice communications system mounted
on the combination head-protective helmet and flame retardant
earflap of the group leader shown in FIG. 13;
FIG. 20 illustrates, diagrammatically, a further
alternate embodiment of the present invention including the
flexible flame retardant hood shown therein and on which is mounted
a microphone, speaker, transceiver circuitry and antenna of a
voice communications system with the hood being in combination
with a head-protective helmet of the type shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 14;
FIGS. 21-25 illustrate,diagrammatically,a still further
embodiment of the present invention including the rigid flame
retardant shroud shown in FIG. 21 on which is mounted a speaker
and transceiver circuitry and which shroud is shown in combination
with a head-protective helmet in FIG. 24; FIG. 22 is a partial
view of the interior of the shroud shown in FIG. 21, taken generally
along the line B-B in FIG. 23, and showing the mounting of the
speaker; FIG. 23 is a partial vertical cross-sectional view taken
generally along the line A-A in FIG. 20; and FIG. 25 iS a view
in perspective showing a cradle of straps whose lower ends are
wrapped around and connected to a generally circular resilient
mounting member, and chin straps.
20~5Z4~
~.
DETATT.~n DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated
diagrammatically a combination head-protective helmet 20 and voice
communications system 22 mounted on the helmet which combination
is the first embodiment of the present invention and which
combination is for providing hands-free relatively short-range
communications (e.g. reliable range of about fifty feet), between
a plurality of journeymen 10, 11 and 12 and a group leader 14;
the journeymen and group leader may be, for example, fighting a
fire inside a building. In general it will be understood that
each journeyman 10, 11 and 12 and group leader 14 is illustrated
diagrammatically wearing the combination head-protective helmet
20 and voice communications system 22 mounted thereon of the
present invention. It will be further understood that each voice
communications system 22 includes, inter alia, a transceiver (not
shown), and that the transceivers mounted on the helmets worn by
the journeymen 10, 11 and 12 receive and transmit voice
communications on a first frequency fA and that the transceiver
(not shown) mounted on the helmet worn by the group leader 14
transmits and receives voice communications on a second frequency
fB for reasons set forth below with regard to further embodiments
of combinations of the present invention.
Referring still to FIG. 1, and to a further embodiment
of the present invention illustrated diagrammatically therein,
thefurther embodiment may include the combination head-protective
helmet 20 and communications system 22 mounted thereon described
generally above and, in further combination, a module indicated
by general numerical designation 26 which module may be worn by
the group leader 14 by being mounted, for example, on a belt 28
worn by the group leader; the group leader 14 is also provided with
a belt antenna 35 which may be mounted on the module 26 and
connected thereto. Generally it will be understood that the
module 26 includes a first module transceiver 31 for receiving
and transmitting voice communications on the first frequency fA,
a second module transceiver 32 for receiving and transmitting
voice communications on the second frequency fB, and switch 33
for automatically transferring voice communications from one of
of the journeyman 10, 11, 12 received on the first module
204524~
transceiver 31 at the first frequency fA to the second module
transceiver 32 for retransmission to the group leader 14 at the
second frequency fg, and the switch 33 is also for transferring
voice communications from the group leader 14 received by the
second module transceiver 32 at the second frequency fB to the
first module transceiver 31 for retransmission simultaneously to
all of the journeymen 10, 11 and 12 at the first frequency fA to
provide or enable relatively short-range, hands-free wireless
voice communications between the journeymen 10, 11 and 12 and the
group leader 14 thereby facilitating their work activities, such
as firefighting, in a wireless hands-free manner. Relatively
short range voice comunications are provided at all times between
the journeymen 10, 11 and 12 by the voice communications systems
22 mounted on their helmets 20 since the transceivers thereof all
transmit and receive on the first frequency fA.
A still further embodiment of the present invention is
illustrated diagramatically in FIG. l,and which further embodiment
includes the above-noted first and second embodiments, and further
includes a relatively long-range transceiver 34 which may be worn
by the group leader 14 by being mounted on his belt 28. It will
be understood that the long range transceiver 34 is for receiving
and transmitting relatively long-range communications at a third
frequency fE to provide relatively long-range communications
between the group leader 14 and one or more distant communications
centers such as, for example, fire engine 16 and/or a distant
fire company base station or repeater 18. It will be generally
understood that the long range transceiver 34 is connected to the
module means 26 to permit, once enabled as taught below, wireless,
hands-free relatively long range communications between the group
leader 14 and the distant communications center. Further
generally, it will be understood that the switch 33 is for
automatically transferring voice communications from the group
leader 14 received by the second module transceiver 32 at the
second frequency fB to the long-range transceiver 34 for
retransmission to the distant communications center at the third
frequency fE and for automatically transferring voice
communications from the distant communications center received
by the long range transceiver 34 at the third frequency fE to the
204~241
~_,
second module transceiver 32 for retransmission to the group
leader at the second frequency fB to enable wireless hands-free
relatively long-range communications between the group leader 14
and the distant communications center.
Referring now to FIGS. 2-5, and particularly to FIGS. 2
and 3, an embodiment of the combination head-protective helmet
20 and communications system 22 referred to above and shown
diagrammatically in FIG. 1, is shown in greater detail with the
protective helmet 20 being indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3 by general
numerical designation 20. The head-protective helmet 20 may be
of the type known to the art and may include a suitable external
shell 41 of the type known to the art, an internal impact cap 42 and
a suspension system indicated by general numerical designation
43 in FIG. 3 and which suspension system 43 is for being engaged
by the head of a wearer, such as for example the firefighter
indicated by general numerical designation 44 in FIG. 2, for
suspending or supporting the helmet 20 on the head of the
firefighter 44. The internal impact cap 42, as may be better
understood from FIG. 5, may include rigid plastic shell 45 filled
with a suitable impact absorbing plastic foam 46. The suspension
system 43, FIGS. 3 and 5, may include a generally circular mounting
member 48 residing in a generally circular groove (not shown)
provided in the outer lower portion of the internal impact cap 42
and a plurality of straps, straps 49 shown in FIG. 3, whose lower
strap ends are wrapped around and suitably connected to the
generally circular mounting member 48 to connect the straps 49
to the generally circular mounting member and thereby to the
internal impact cap 42. It will be noted from FIG. 3 that a space
51 is provided between the inner surface of the internal impact
cap 42 and the straps 49.
It will be understood, generally, that the communications
system 22 referred to above and illustrated diagrammatically in
FIG. 1 may include a transceiver 52, transceiver circuitry, shown
in FIG. 3 residing in the space 51 and suitably fastened to the
inner surface of the internal impact cap 42, a bone conduction
microphone 54 and speaker 55 shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 as being
mounted on an ear cup indicated by general numerical designation
56 and a suitable antenna 53 residing internally of the helmet
2045241.
20 between the external shell 41 and the internal impact cap 42
as may be best understood by referring to FIG. 2.
The ear cup 56, FIGS. 4 and 5, may include a suitable
rigid outer shell 57 and a suitable plastic foam ring 58 residing
interiorly of and suitably secured to the inner surface of the
outer shell 57. It will be understood generally from FIG. 3 that
the ear cup 56, and thereby the microphone 54 and speaker 55, are
mounted to the helmet 20, particularly the internal impact cap
42, and spring biased, as indicated by the arrow 59 in FIG. 3,
towards the side of the face of the firefighter 44 (FIG. 2) to
place the bone conduction microphone 54 in conduction or
communication with the jaw bone of the firefighter and the speaker
55 in voice communication with the ear of the firefighter. Such
mounting and spring biasing of the ear cup 56 may be provided,
as shown in FIG. 5, by the bracket 61, hinge pin 63, and torsion
spring 64. AS may be noted from FIG. 5, the upper portion of the
bracket 61 is mounted to the internal impact cap 42 by having its
upper portion partially encircle the generally circular mounting
member 48. The hinge pin 63, in the manner known to the art, is
encircled by the lower portion of the bracket 61 and the upper
portion of the outer shell 57 of the ear cup 56 encircles the
hinge pin 63. The torsion spring 64 also encircles the hinge pin
and engages both the bracket 61 and outer shell 57 of the ear cup
56 to bias the ear cup toward the side of the face of the firefighter
as described above and indicated by the arrow 59 in FIG. 5. The
plastic foam ring 58, FIG. 4, provides insulation and impact
absorbing mounting for the bone conduction microphone 54 and
speaker 55. The bone conduction microphone 54 and speaker 55,
FIGS. 3 and 4, are suitably connected to the transceiver 52,
transceiver circuitry, (FIG. 3) by suitable leads 66 and 67. As
may be understood from FIG. 3, the communications system 22 may
further include a suitable battery 68 residing in a recess formed
in the outer portion of the impact absorbing plastic foam 46 of
the internal impact cap 42; battery 68 may be suitably connected
to the transceiver 52 by leads, not shown, to provide energy to
the transceiver 52, bone conduction microphone 54 and speaker 55.
Referring now to FIG. 6, in addition to the journeymen
10, 11 and 12 and group leader 14, and their respective combination
` 204524~
head-protective helmets 20 and voice communications systems 22,
there is illustrated diagramatically and shown in block diagram
the module 26 (shown in FIG. 1 as being mounted on the group
leader's belt) and the long range transceiver 34 and the group
leader's belt antenna 35 (both shown in FIG. 1 as being mounted
on the group leader's belt 18). It will be generally understood
that the module 26 includes a first module transceiver 70 for
receiving and transmitting voice communications on the first
frequency fA, a second module transceiver 72 for receiving and
transmitting voice communications on the second frequency fB and
an audio processing switching matrix squelch operated switching
matrix 74. Generally it will be understood that the audio
processing switching matrix squelch operated switching matrix 74
is for receiving voice communications at the first frequency fA
from the journeymen 10, 11 and 12 and transferring such voice
communication to the group leader at the second frequency fB and
for receiving voice communications from the group leader at the
second frequency fB and transferring the same to the journeymen,
all simultaneously, at the second frequency fB.
In operation, FIG. 6, upon a journeyman 10, 11 or 12
speaking into his bone conduction microphone (e.g. microphone 54,
FIGS. 2 and 4), his voice communication will be transmitted by
his transceiver 52 and over his antenna (e.g. antenna 53, FIG. 2)
at the first frequency fA and such voice communication will be
received by the group leaders belt antenna 35 and transmitted
over line 69 to the first module transceiver 70 which will receive
such voice communication at the first frequency fA and produce a
squelch signal (squelch) and transmit the squelch signal over the
line 75 to the audio processing switching matrix squelch operated
switching matrix 74 which will produce a transmit key line signal
(KL) which is transmitted over the line 76 to turn on the second
module transceiver 72. In addition, the first module transceiver
70 will receive the voice communication from the journeyman at
the first frequency fA and produce a received audio signal (RCV
AUD) and transmit such signal over line 77 to the audio processing
switching matrix squelch operated switching matrix 74 which will
transfer such received audio signal as the transmit audio signal
(XMT AUD) which transmit audio signal is transmitted over line 78
--10--
204S241
to the second module transceiver 72 where it is retransmitted at
the second frequency fB over the group leader's belt antenna 35
to his helmet antenna (e.g. antenna 53, FIG. 2) and received by
his transceiver 22 at the second frequency fB which transceiver
22 produces voice communication (i.e. voice communication from
the journeyman) heard by the group leader over his speaker (e.g.
speaker 55, FIGS. 2 and 4).
Upon the group leader 14 speaking into his helmet bone
conduction microphone (e.g. microphone 54, FIGS. 2 and 4) his
voice communication will be received by his transceiver 22 and
transmitted over his helmet antenna (e.g. antenna 53, FIG. 2) and
transmitted at the second frequency fB to the group leader's belt
antenna 35 where it will be received by the second module
transceiver 72 at the second frequency fB which will produce a
squelch signal (squelch) which will be transmitted over line 81
totheaudioprocessingswitchingmatrix squelch operatedswitching
matrix 74 which will produce a transmit key line signal (KL) which
is transmitted over line 82 to turn on the first module transceiver
70. In addition, the second module transceiver 72 will transmit
the voice communication received from the group leader 14 at
second frequency fB and produce therefrom a receive audio signal
(RCV AUD) and transmit the received audio signal over the line 83
totheaudioprocessingswitchingmatrix squelch operatedswitching
matrix 74 which will transfer the same as the transmit audio
signal (XMT AUD) over line 84 to the first module transceiver 70
where it is transmitted therefrom at the first frequency fA over
the group leader's belt antenna 35 at the first frequency fA and
received simultaneously by all journeymen 10, 11 and 12 by their
respective helmet antennae and transmitted therefrom to their
respective transceivers 52 at the first frequency fA and which
transceivers 52 will produce voice communication (i.e. voice
communication from the group leader) heard in the speakers 55
(FIGS. 2 and 4) of all of the journeymen.
Referring again to FIG. 6 there is also illustrated
diagrammatically a further embodiment of the present invention
which includes the above-described combination head-protective
helmet and communications system 22 mounted thereon, and the group
leader module 26 and belt antenna 35 for hands-free, wireless,
204~
~voice ccmmunicati5n b~'~een the ~ournei~-n 10, 11 and 12 ana ~:~e
crou~leaa2r 14~and in addit or. ~ cl ~es tne r~i2tivel;~ lons-
r2ne ~ransceiver 34 which is shcwn i.. rTG. 1 as beir.c ~orn ~v
the --ou? leader 1~ b~ bei..g mcur.~ed cn his belt 28j anc whic:n
was desc~i3ed a~ove as beins r2r relative~y long-r-nce
commu-icarions 3etween the g.cup leader 14 ana a aistan~
commu-.ications center such as for exa.~ole tAe fi~e engine 16 or
distzq. .ire company bzse sta_icn or re~e2ter 18 o. FIG. 1. It
-will ~e understood that in this em~odi~ent the auaio processins
swit-:-ing matrix sauelch opera-ed switching matri~ 44 is provide~
~ith 2 manually 002rated switch 86 described below ana sAown in
FIG. 8 and whi~h switch 86 per~its the grouG le~de_ 14 to switcn
.rom relatively short-range voice c~mmunication ~ith the
journeYmen 10, 11 and 12 or ~IG. 1, to reia_iveiy long-ranse voice
ccmmu-. caticn over the transceiver 34 wi_h, for examole, the rir~
ensin- 16 or distani fir~ company ~ase station or repeater 18 o-
FIG. 1.
- Upon being manually swi_ched, i. will be u~derstood
generaily 'rcm FIG. 6 that the group l~ader lg (FIG. 1) voice
commun_cates cr transmi.s cver nis helmet transceive~ 52 at the
seconâ frequency fB and over his helmet antenna~(e.g. antenna 53,
FIG. 2~ to his beit antenna 35 ana therefrom to the second modul2
t.ansceiver 72 which receives the voice communication f~om the
group leader l~ a' the second frequency 3 and produces thererrom
a squ_lch signai tsquelch) which is transmitted over line 81 to
the mz~rix 74 which matrix 74 produces a transmit key line signal
~RL) t.ansmitted over the line 91 and therefrom over belt cable
~0 ~w;nich cable connects the relatively long-ranse transceiver
34 to .:~e module 26) to tne r~latively long-range transceiver 31
to turn on the transceiver 31. In addi~ion, the second modul2
transceiver 72 ~roduces from the voice communication received
from the group leader 14 at t~.e second .requency ~B a received
audio signal (RCV .~VD) and trans~its the receivead audio signal
over line 83 to the matrix 7d wnic:n trans~_rs sucn received audio
signal (RCV AUD) as the transmi. auaio sisnal (X~T AUD) cver line
g2 ana .he belt cable 90 to the rel2~ively long-range transceiver
34 anc therefrom over the antenna 97 to a distant com~unications
cent r~ for example, ire engine 1~ or distant fire com2any base
- 12 -
v
2045Z4~
station or repeater 18 of FIG. 1. For voice communications from,
for example, fire engine 16 or distant fire company base station
or repeater 18 of FIG. 1 to the group leader 14, FIG. 6, voice
communications are transmitted from the fire engine, or other
distant communications center at the third frequency fE and are
received at the third frequency fE by the relatively long-range
transceiver 34 and transmitted therefrom over the belt cable 90
and line 94 to the audio processing switching matrix squelch
operated switching matrix 74 which produces a transmit key line
signal (KL) transmitted over line 76 to the second module
transceiver 72 to turn on the transceiver 72. The voice
communications from the distant communications centers at the
third frequency fE are received by the relatively long-range
transceiver 34 and transmitted from the transceiver 34 over the
belt 90 and line 94 to the matrix 74 as received audio signals
(RCV AUD); the matrix 74 transfers such received audio signals
to the second module transceiver 72 as transmit audio signals
(XMT AUD) over line 78. The second module transceiver 72 transmits
such transmit audio signals at the second frequency fB over the
group leader's belt antenna 35 to his helmet antenna (e.g. helmet
antenna 53, FIG. 2) to the group leader's transceiver 52 (e.g.
transc~iver 52, FIG. 3) which receives such transmit signals and
produces voice communications (voice communications from the
distant communications center) heard by the group leader 14 in
his helmet speaker (e.g. helmet speaker ~5 of FIGS. 2 and 4).
Referring now more specifically to the audio processing
switching matrix squelch operated switching matrix 74 of FIG. 6,
it will be understood that such matrix 74 may comprise the more
detailed circuits shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. It will be generally
noted from FIGS. 7 and 8 that the line connections shown in FIG. 6
and described above are given the same numerical designations in
FIGS. 7 and 8 for convenience of reference and understanding. It
will be presumed that a journeyman 10, 11 or 12 (FIGS. 1 or 6)
is communicating with the group leader 14 (FIGS. 1 or 6) and such
journeyman is transmitting at the first frequency fA over his
voice communications system 22 mounted on his helmet 20 whereupon
such voice communications or audio signals from the journeyman's
communications system 22 will be transmitted at thefirst frequency
2n45291
- ~ a~c to t..e _irst .T,odul- transce -:^r 70 (~IG. 6) as descrioed
200V2 wnere-l?on, as also desc~i~ed a~ove, the first ~odul~
ransceiver 70 wilL ~r2nsmi~ a s~ue~_:- signai (s~uelch) over the
line 75 as shown in FIG. 6 ar.d a__~ as shown in ~IG. 7, anc
rerer-ing now .o FIG. 7, which squelc^. signal is t~ansmitted over
~he line 7~ to the Com?ara~or U2 and _.~ere r rom to the field e~rect
~ransistor Ql wnich produces the transmit ;key line signal (XL)
.ransm:tted over line 76 to the secon~ ~o~ule transceiver 72 (FIG.
6) to turn on the second module transceiver 72; pa-rallel connected
capacitor C4 and resistor R4 or FIC-. 7 provide a time delayed
network which allows the second mod_:- transceiver 72 (FIG. 6j
~o remain on for approximately 200 ...illiseconds to prevent the
unwanted transmission of noise during z ?ause between, for example,
syLlables of the-~communication being transmitted, and the diode
~3 is used as a unidirectional device to allow fast turn on of
the comparator U2 without affecting t;~e time constant or capacitor
C4 and resistor R4. ~As further taus;-. above with regard to the
description or FIG. 6, the first mcdule transceiver 40 will
.ransmit received audio signals (RC-J AUD) over line 77, and
referring now to line 77 in FIG. 7, such'received audio signals
will-be transmitted through the opera. onal amplifier Ul over the
llne 78 as transmitt audio signals (X'!~ AUD) to the second module
transceiver 72~ (FIG. 2) and transmit.ed therefrom at the second
- requency fB, as also described abov-, to the group leader 14.
It will now be presumed that the group leadèr 14 (FIGS. 1
( , .
or 6) is communicating with a journeym2n 10, 11 or 12 (~IGS. 1 or
o) and is transmitting over~his communications system 22 (FIGS. 1
or 6) at the second frequency fB, ar.a as described above, the
second module transceiver 72 (FIG. 6) will produce the squelch
signal (squelch) transmitted over the iine 81 as described above
with regard to FIG. 6 and 'which line 81 is now referred to and
shown in FIG. 8. The scuelch signal is transmitted over line 81,
~IG. 8, through diode D4, charging c~pacitor C5 and turning
operational amplifier U2 on whereupon ~.e output of the operationa7
amplifier U2 will turn on the field e fect transistor Q2 which
produc~es the transmit key line signal (~L) which is transmitted
over line 82, also line 82 of FIG. 6, -_-ning on the first m~dule
t-anscelver 70 of FIG. 6. The second -_aule tr nscelver 72 (FIG.
,
- 14 -
Z~-5~4~.
6) will also produce the received audio signals (RCV AUD) as
described above and transmit such received audio signals over
line 83 as shown in FIG. 6, and referring now to FIG. 8, over line
83 through operational amplifier U4 and capacitor C6 and out over
line 84 as transmit audio signals (XMT AUD) to the first module
transceiver 70 of FIG. 6, and as also described above, thereafter,
the first module transceiver 70 will transmit such signals at the
first frequency fA to the communications systems 22 of all the
journeymen 10, 11 and 12, FIGS. 1 and 6 whereupon the respective
helmet transceivers 52 will produce voice communications heard
by all journeymen in their respective helmet speakers 55 as voice
communication from the group leader.
It will now be presumed that the group leader 14 (FIG.
1) desires to communicate with, for example, a distant
communications center such as fire engine 16 or distant fire
company base station or repeater 18 of FIG. 1 whereupon the group
leader will operate the manual mode switch 86, FIGS. 6 and 8, to
move the manual mode switch from the position shown in solid line
in FIG. 8, its normal position for enabling voice communications
between the journeymen and group leader, to the position shown
in dashed outline in FIG. 8 whereupon the manual mode switch 86
connects to lines 91 and 92 in FIG. 8. Thereafter, the group
leader 14 (FIGS. 1 or 6) will transmit over communications system
22 at the second frequency fB as described above in connection
with FIG. 6 to the second module transceiver 72 whereupon
transceiver 72 will produce the squelch signal (squelch) which
is transmitted over line 81, and referring now to FIG. 8, over
line 81 shown in FIG. 8. The squelch signal, FIG. 8, will be
transmitted through diode D4, through operational amplifier U5
turning on field effect transistor Q2 which will produce the
transmit key line signal (KL) which is transmitted over line 91
to turn on the long-range transceiver 34 of FIGS. 1 and 6. The
receive audio signal (RCV AUD) from the second module transceiver
72, as described above in connection with FIG. 6, will be
transmitted over line 83 as shown in FIG. 6, and referring now
to FIG. 8 over the line 83 shown in FIG. 8. Referring to FIG. 8,
the received audio signal will be transmitted over line 83 through
operational amplifier U4, capacitor C6, and over line 92, and
., - 2n4s24l
re ---inc now to ~I~. 6, will be trans~ a~ t5 the long-ranse
t_~nS-~ Qr 3r~ er line 9O ~s the t~ns~i- a_cio signal (X.`IT
nc t4er3from at the .hL-d ~eque.~c.- ^- tO a cistan~
cc~mu.-ic~-ions center, for e.Yam~l~e, _--e ir~ -s.c -e 16 or dis.ant
fire c^m?2ny base station or repeater i~ o --G. 1.
Long-range voice ¢ommunications t a..âmit~--d at the third
freauency f~ from a distant communications cer..er, for example,
ei-her the fire engine 16 or distant fire ccm~any base s.aticn
or re^eatQ~ 18 of FIG. 1 are transmitted 'o t.-e group le2der 14,
FIGS. 1 or 6, by Long-range transcei~er 34 fi-s. converting such
voi`-e co~munications, or audio signals, to -he .eceived audio
signa~s (RC'~ AUD) t-ansmitted to the matrix 74 cver line 94 in FIG.
6 as cesc~iDed a~ove. RPferring now .o FIG. 7j and to line 9~
shown therein, such received audio signals wi_l be transmitted
over l:ne 9~ through capacitor Cl, split be_ween ~esistors Rl and
R2 anc diodes Dl and D2, which diodes are used _o iimi. the audio
level, and through operational amplifier 'u3, c_?acitor C3, diode
D3 through operational amplifier U2 turnins on field ef_ect
transistor Ql which produces the transmit ~ey iine signal (KL)
transmitted over l~ine 76 (FIG. 6~ to turn on the second module
transceiver 72 of FIG. 6. Thereafter, tnhe fire e~gine 16 or other
distan_ fire company base station or repeat2~ i3, FIG. 1, can
voice communicate with the group leader 14 (FIG~. 1 or 6), as the
received audio signals (RCV AUD) from the long-~ange transceiver
34 (FIG. 6) which are transmitted over line 94 snown in FIG. 7,
through capacitor Cl, resistor Rl and over lin- 101 and through
operatlonal amplifier Ul and therefrom over line 78 and, referring
again to FIG. 6, over line 78 shown therein as t-ansmitted audio
signals (~MT AUD) to the second module transceiver ~2and thereafter
transmLtted at the second frequency fB to the s-ou~ leader 14 as
descri~ea above in connection with FIG. 6.
Referring now to FIGS. 9, 10 and li, there is shown an
alternate embodim~nt of a combination head-prot-ctive helmet 20
and cc~munications system 22 mounted the_eon o- the present
invention. For convenience of reference and u,cerstanding, the
same numerical designations used above for the t-ansceive_, bone
conduction microphone, speaker, and battery 2~e used in this
embodiment. In this alternate embodiment, i_ will be unae,stood
-16- :
~/, . . i
Z045~
generally that the transceiver 52, speaker 55, and battery 68 are
mounted in a suitable housing identified by general numerical
designation 104. It will be understood that the housing 104 may
be mounted to the flame retardant ear flap 106 of the helmet 20,
FIG. 9, by providing the outer surface of the housing 104 with
suitable hook and eye fastener patch 111, sometimes r2ferred to
in the art as Velcro~ patch, which attaches or connects to
corresponding suitable hookand eyefasteners, or Velcro~, provided
on the inner surface of the ear flap 106; the helmet 20 and flame
retardant ear flap 106 may be one of several such combinations
known to the art. The bone conduction microphone 54 as shown in
FIG. 11 may be suspended in a plastic foam insert 109 located
within a suitable plastic housing 108 to isolate the microphone
54 from outside noise and movement of the helmet 20 relative to
the wearer's head. A thin rubber cover 115 secures the microphone
54 in the housing 108 while allowing movement of the microphone
54 within the housing 108. The housing 108 and hence microphone
54 are spring biased, by leaf spring 110 (FIG. 11) toward the side
of the face of the wearer of the combination helmet 20 and
communications system 22. It will be understood that the leaf
spring 110 is received within a suitable housing 112, FIG. 11,
with the leaf spring 110 and housing 112 being secured to the
helmet 20 (FIG. 9) by suitable screws extending through the holes
shown in the tops of the leaf spring 110 and housing 112 in FIG.
11 and which screws may be screwed into the internal impact cap
42 (FIG. 3). As may be understood from FIG. 9, the bone conduction
microphone 54 is connected to the transceiver 52 (FIG. 10) by the
combination cable and internal helmet antenna 114 with the end
of the combination cable and antenna 114 opposite the bone
conduction microphone 54 connected to the transceiver 52, FIG.
10, by a suitable plug and jack connection as shown.
The alternate embodiment of the combination helmet 20
and communications system 22 mounted thereon of FIGS. 9-11 has
several advantages in that the housing 104 is readily removable
from the ear flap 106 of the helmet 20 to permit rapid changing of
the frequency on which the transceiver 52 receives and transmits,
and this readily permits several different teams of firefighters,
journeymen and individual group leaders to be in close proximity
ZQ45;~
of each other, such as within a large burning building, without
broadcasting on the same frequency. In addition, it permits ready
changing of the battery 68 and repair or replacement of the other
communciations system components. Further, as illustrated in
FIG. 9, this embodiment may include an on/off switch for connecting
and disconnecting the battery 68, an "on" indicator 118 as shown
in FIG. 9, which may be a suitable light emitting diode; such
additional components and the manner in which they may be connected
to the battery 68 and transceiver 52 are well known to those
skilled in the art.
A third embodiment of the combination head-protective
helmet 20 and communications system 22 mounted thereon of the
present invention is shown in FIG. 12 wherein the bone conduction
microphone 54 is located in the housing 104 in addition to the
speaker 55, battery 68 and transceiver 52. In this embodiment
the housing 112 and leaf spring 110 may be suitably secured by
threads, not shown, extending through the holes shown in the upper
portions of the housing 112 and leaf spring 110 to the head-
protective helmet 20 by being screwed into engagement with the
internal end cap of the cap, such as internal impact cap 42 of FIG.
3. The leaf spring 110 will spring bias the housing 104 and hence
the bone conduction microphone 54 into engagement or communication
with a bone, such as the jaw bone, of the wearer of the combination
helmet and communications system. In this embodiment, the helmet
antenna 120 may be suitably connected to the transceiver 52 by
the combination plug 122 and jack 124 with the antenna 120 residing
internally of the helmet as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.
It will be understood that the transceiver 52 referred
to above and shown in the various drawings may be, for example,
the commercially available transceivers of Models Realistic TRC-
500 or Realistic TRC-502 available from Radio Shack Corp. The
bone conduction microphone 54 referred to above and shown in the
various drawings may be, for example, a commercially available
microphone such as the Miniature Inertial Transducer/Receiver
Model 229X available from Stanton Magnetics, Inc., Plainview, New
York. The speaker 55 referred to above and shown in the various
FIGS. may be any one of several suitable commercially available
speakers such as speaker Model No. 25SP222 available from Kobitone
. ~ : 2045241
.-.uaio Ccm~any, ~ans-ield, T-xas. The relatl~eli icng ranse
.-ansceiver 3I reerred 'o above, and shown in ~.e Jarious FIGS.,
mav be any suita~le commercially avai'aDle reiative J 13ng-ranse
.ransceiver sometlmes referred to as a "w21kie-talkle~
commer_iaily available f.om various sources and which will have
a commùnications rangeasmay be~chosen ~or anyspeci ic emDodiment.
The operational amplifièrs Ul,~U3, U4 and U5, FIGS. 7 and-8, may be
a Model MC3303 operational amplifier, the comparato. U2, FIG. 7,
may be a Model LM-239 comparator, an~ the field effect transistors
Ql and Q2 may be a Model BS170 field effect transistor.
Re erring now to FIG. 13, there is iliustrated
diaarammatically a further embodiment ~of comblnation head-
protective helmet 20 and voice communication system 22~A mountea
on the helmets 20 of the ~ourneymen 10, 11 and 12, voice
communication syst_m 22B mounted on the helmet 20 of the group
leader 14 and a transceiver 34A mounted on the belt 28 of the
sroup leader 14 and connectea to the voice communication system
22B by cable 182; it will be understood that this embodiment may
include the combina~ion heaa-prote¢ti~e helmet 20 and flame
retardant earflap 106 of the type described above and shown in
FIG. 9; the helmet 20 protects the wearer's head and the flame;
retardant earflap 106 protects the ears or the wearer of the
helmet 23 from heat and fLame the same a5 earflap 106 o FIG. 9.
Voice communications system 22A mounted on the combina~ion head-
protective heLmet 20 and flame retardan~ earflap ~106 of the
journeymen provides hands-free relatively short-range voice
communications (e.g. reLiable range of about fifty feet) between
the journeymen, and the voice communic~ations system 22A~mounted
on the helmets 20 of the journeymen in combination with tnhe voice
communications system 22B ~ounted on the combination helmet and
rlame retardant earflzp of the group leader 14 provide the
journeymen with generally hands-free short-range voice
communications system with the group l~ader 14 znd~provide the
group leader 14 with generally hands-frea short-rznce voice
communications with ~he ~ourneymen. The transceiver 34A ~rovldes
the group leader 14 with relatively long range (e.g. reliable
range several miles) generally hands-rree voice ccmmunication
with a fire engine 16 or dlstant fire company, base station or ;;
-l9_ ~
1. - : ~ , , .
- Z045Z~l.
repeater 18. Voice communications between the journeymen 10, 11
and 12 and between the journeymen and the group leader 14 are
transmitted and received on frequency fA and voice communications
between group leader 14 and a distant voice communication station
such as the fire engine 16 and distant fire company, base station
or repeater 18, are transmitted and received on frequency fE.
Referring now to FIGS. 14 through 17,it will be understood
that the voice communications system 22A mounted on the combination
helmet 20 and flame retardant earflap 106 of the journeymen 10,
11 and 12 (FIG. 13) includes,note particularly FIG. 15, transceiver
circuitry 52A, speaker 55A and a battery 68 mounted in a housing
104A residing in a pocket 130 (FIGS. 14 and 14A) formed in the
flame retardant earflap 106 (FIGS. 14 and 14A) which may be mounted
to the internal impact cap 42 of the helmet 20 in the manner known
to those skilled in the art, and a throat microphone 54A (FIG.
14) mounted on a strap 132 sewn for example to the inner surface
134 of an extension portion 136 of the flame retardant earflap
106; the throat microphone 54A, FIGS. 16 and 17, may be press-
fittea into a complementarily shaped recess 140 formed in a
silicone rubber seat 141 press-fitted into a recess 142 formed in
a saddle or buckle 143 through which the strap 136 (FIGS. 14 and
17) extends. The throat microphone 54A is connected to the
transceiver circuitry 52A by conductor 138 (FIGS. 14, 15 and 17)
and an antenna 53A resides within, or underneath, the helmet 20
(FIG. 14) similar to the antenna 53 of FIG. 2, and which antenna
53A is shown in dashed outline in FIG. 14. It will be noted from
FIG. 15 that the conductor 138 connecting the throat microphone
54A to the transceiver circuitry 52A and the antenna 53A are
connected to the transceiver circuitry 52A removably, or for ready
connection and disconnection, as indicated by the plug-in
connectors 145 and 146 in FIG. 15. It will be understood that
the speaker 55A iS connected internally of the housing 104A to
the transceiver circuitry 52A as illustrated in FIG. 18 and
described below. Referring again to FIG. 14, it will be understood
that the portion of the earflap 106 generally opposite the extension
portion 136 may be provided with another extension portion 136A,
and it will be further understood that upon the extension portion
136 of the flame retardant earflap 106 being wrapped or placed
-20-
- 20~5Z4~.
.
under the chin of a journeyman (FIG. 13), and the hook and eye
fastener patch 147 (e.g. Velcro~) provided on the extension portion
136 being engaged and connected to the hook and eye fastener patch
148 (e.g. Velcro~) provided on the extension portion 136A, the
extension portion 136 is fastened under the chin of the journeyman,
and the throat microphone 54A is placed adjacent the throat of
the journeyman sufficiently close for the receipt of voice
communication from the journeyman. The helmet 20, FIG. 14, may
be provided with a suitable transparent face shield 149 mounted
pivotally to the external shell 41 of the helmet 20 in the manner
known to the art.
The antenna 53A, throat microphone 54A, speaker 55A and
circuit diagram for the transceiver circuitry 52A of the voice
communications system 22A mounted on the combination head-
protective helmet 20 and flame retardant earflap 106 of the
journeymen 10, 11 and 12 (FIG. 13) are shown in FIG. 18, and the
antenna 53A, throat microphone 54A, speaker 55A and the circuit
diagram for the transceiver circuitry 22B of the voice
communication system 22B mounted on the combination head-
protective helmet 20 and flame retardant earflap 106 of the group
leader 14 (FIG. 13) are shown in FIG. 19; it will be understood
that upon the housing 104A (FIGS. 14 and 15) being mounted on the
flame retardant earflap 106 (FIG. 14) in combination with the
head-protective helmet 20 (FIG. 14) worn by the group leader 14
(FIG. 13) the transceiver circuitry 52B of FIG. 19 will be mounted
in housing 104A.
Referring to FIG. 18, the transceiver circuitry 52A may
include a control channel, or voice operated switch, indicated
by general numerical designation 150, a transmit channel indicated
by general numerical designation 152, a receive channel indicated
by general numerical designation 154 and an FM transmitter 164
having an output 196. The control channel 150 has an input 190 and
an output 191 and includes series connected suitable low Q bandpass
filter 156 having a center frequency of 400 Hz, a suitableamplifier
158, a suitable comparator 160, and a suitable field effect
transistor 162. The transmit channel 152 has an input 192 and
an output 193 and includes series connected suitable low Q bandpass
filter 166 having a center frequency of 1000 Hz and a suitable
-21-
20452:41
2mpli~ er 168. The receive cnannel 15~ has an input 194 and 2n
ou,pu~ 195 and inclldes a sui,able F~ receiver 170, ana a suitabie
amDlifiar 174; 'he receive channel 154 may further include a
comp2rator 172 and variable resistor 176 which provide tne ~.
r~ceiver 170 with suitable s~uelcn control in the manner ~no~n
to the ar.. Th2 input l9QIor the co~troi channel 150 and the
input 192 of _he transmit channel 152 are connected in commcn
with the throat microphone 54A, the output 191 of the control
channel 150 and the output 193 of the transmit channel 152 are
connected to tne transmitter 164, the output 196 of the FM
transmitter 164 and the input 194 of the receive channel 154 are
connected in common with the antenna 53A, and the output 195 or
the receive channeL 154 is connected to the speaker 55A.
Referring now to FIG. 19, it will be understood that the
transceiver circui.ry 52B of the voice communciations system 22B
is the.same as the transceiver 52A shown in FIG. 18 of the voice
communications system 22A except that the transceiver circuitry
52B is~provided with a manually operable switch 180 shown in both
FIGS. 19 and 13; the switch 180 has a first position A including
a terminal 197 connec~ed to the F~ ~ransmitter 16~ and a second
position C including a second terminal 198. Further it will be
generally understood that upon the manually ooerable switch 180
`being moved into position A by the group leader 14 (FIG. 13), the
transceiver circuitry 52B r~eceives and transmits on frequency fA
for voice com~munications between the group leader 14 and tne
~ourneymen I0, 11 and 12 (FIG. 13), and that upon the manually
operable switch 180 being moved into position C ~y the group
leader 14, voice communication is provided between the group
leader 14 and the fire truck 16 and distant fire company, base
station or repeater 18 (FIG. 13) over frequency f~.
As to the operatian of the voice communication system
22A of FIG. 18 and the voice communication system 22B of FIG. lg,
upon a journeyman, e.g. one of the journeymen 10, 11 or 12 of FIG.
13, speaking into~the throàt microphone 54A (~IG. 18), transmit
audio signals are produced which pàss through the control channel
150 where they are filtered by the bandpass filter 156, amplified
by the amplifier 158, transmit,ed to the input of the comparator
160 where, determined by the variable resistor-170, an outout
-g7-
204S241
s1~naL frcm the compar2tor 160 is apoii-d to the gate or the field
e, ec- .-ansistor 162 to short the crain to the source of the
tra~sistor to there~y activate or tur~ on the FM transmi_ter 16
Upon the F~ transmitter 164 being tur~ed on, transmit audio signals
'rcm tAe t;roat mLcroohone 54A OL a journeyman are t_ansmittea
t;~ough t;~e transmit channel 152, .nrough the bandpass filter
~ 166, ampllfier 168, through the now .~lrned on FM transmitter 164
and transmit'ed or broadcast over the antenna 53A at -requency
F~ The transmit audio signals from the antenna ~3A will be
broadcas- and received by the antennas 53A or the otner ~ourneymen
(FIG 13) and the antenna 53A of the group leader 14 (~IG 13);
upon the transmit audio signals from the transmitting jo~lrneyman,
i e the journeyman speaking and t_ansmitting trans~i. audio
signals into his throat microphone 54A, being received onfrequency
fA by the antenna 53A (FIG 18) of t~e other journeymen and the
antenna 53A (FIG l9) of the group l_ader 14, the transmit audio
signals become received audio signais and are transmi.ted over
the respec~ive receive channels 154, through the res~ective FM
receivers i70, respective amplifiers 174 and to the respective
speakers 55A where they are receivea as voice communication by
the other journeyman and group leader Transmit audio signals
from the FM transmitter 164 (FIG 18~ inadditionto being broadcast
over the antenna 53A of the voice communication system 22A
are also transmitted over the receive channel 154 through
the FM receiver 170, the amplifier 174 and to the speaker 55A
to permit the transmitting journeyman to hear his o~n voice
and be assured that he is transmitting It will be understood
that by providing the bandpass filter 156 of the control
chAnn~l 150 with a center frequency of 400 Hz, substantial
assurance~is provided that the FM transmitter 164 will be
turned on upon a journeyman speaking into the throat
microphone 54A because, as is known to those skilled in the
art, whether the journeyman has a voice of high pitch or low
pitch, the voice will include audio signals at the relatively
low 400 Hz range Further, it will be understood that by
providing the hAn~rAsS filter 166 of the transmit channel 152
with a center frequency of lO00 Hz, an audio range is provided
which substantially assures that voice communications being
transmitted are capable of being understood by the other
journeymen and/or the group leader It will he
- 23 -
,
20~S2~1
.u.-her ~ndèrstood (FIGS. 18 and 19) t.iat .he OUtpUt 199 of the
ccmcaratoril72 of the receive channel 1i4 is connec-~d ~oth to the
F.~ receiver 170 and to tne FM transmitter 164 ~y csrcuctor 175
to render the FM transmitter 164 inoperable upcn a voice
c_mmunica.ion transmission being received by the FL~ re-~iver 170.
~ eferrins more particularly to the relatively long range
receiver 34A te.g. a suitable walkie talkie) shown ger.erally ln
FIG. 13, the transceiver 34A is connected to tne voice
communications system 22B provided on the combina_ion head-
protective helmet 20 (FIG. 14) and rlame retardant earflap 106
(FIG. 14) of the group leader 14 by a multi-conductor or cable
L82 including conductors 184, 185, 186 and 187; the t~ansceiver
34A or suitable walkie talkie may be the Midland L~R (land mobile
radio) walkie tal.'~ie model No. 70-132B made bv Midland
International, Kor2a, and available in the United St~tes from
numerous representatives, such as for example CPS Commu,ications,
R.D. 2, Orefield, Pennsylvania. It will be understooa ~hat, and
2S known to those s~illed in the art, the r~latively ong range
transceiver 34A, e.g. a suitable walkie talkie, will include as
known to those skilled in the art a microphone input~(nc~ shown),
a s~eaker input (not shown), an internal grouna connec-ion (not
shown), and an internal press or push to talk connec~ion (not
shown); in normal operation, as~is further ~nown to tAose skilled
in the artr the press to talk switch upon being depressed turns
,
on the transmitter (not shown) of the relatively long range
transceiver 34A. It w~ e further understood, as shown in more
detail in FIG. 19, that the conductor 184 tFIGS. 13 and 19)
connects the press to talk connection in the transceiver 34A to
terminal C, the conductor 185 (FIÇS. 13 and 19) connects the
speaker inpùt of the transceiver 34A to the speaker 55A (FIG.
19), the conductor 186 (FIGS. 13 and 19) connects the microphone
input of the transceiver 34A to the output of the ampli'ier 168
(FIG. 19) in the transmit channel 152, and the conductor 187
(FIGS. 13 and 19) connects the internal ground connection of the
transceiver 34A to the common ground connection 187 of the
transceiver circuitry 52B as shown in th~ lower righthand portion
of FIG. 19.
,
- 24 -
,
2(~5~
Referring still to FIGS. 19 and 13, and in particular
to FIG. 19, it will be understood that upon the manual switch 180
being connected to terminal 197 (position A) by the group leader
14 (FIG. 13) the transceiver circuitry 52B of the voice
communications system 22B mounted in the combination helmet 20
(FIG. 14) and flame retardant earflap 106 (FIG. 14) of group
leader 14 (FIG. 13) transmits and receives on frequency fA in the
same manner as described above with regard to the transceiver
circuitry 52A shown in FIG. 18. It will be further understood
that upon the manual switch 180 being moved into contact with
terminal 198 (position C) by the group leader 14 (FIG. 13), the
FM transmitter 164 and FM receiver 170 are rendered inoperable
precluding the group leader 14 from transmitting to or receiving
voice communication transmissions from the journeymen 10, 11 and
12 (FIG. 13). With the manual switch in engagement with terminal
198, the group leader 14 is in voice communication, for receipt
and transmission, with the fire engine 16, distant fire company,
base station or repeater 188 (FIG. 13) over frequency fE through
the transceiver 34A. Upon the group leader speaking into the
throat microphone 54A, FIG. 19, transmit audio signals are passed
through the bandpass filter 166, amplifier 168, over conductor
186 to the microphone input of the long range transceiver or
walkie talkie 34A, FIG. 13, whereby such voice communication or
transmit audio signals are transmitted at frequency fE over the
antenna 97 of the long range transceiver 34A to the fire engine
16 and distant fire company, etc. 18. Voice communications from
the fire engine 16 and distant fire company, base station or
repeater 18 to the group leader 14, FIG. 13, are received at
frequency fE by the antenna 97 of the long range transceiver or
walkie talkie 34A mounted on the belt 20 of the group leader 24
where they are transmitted from the long range transceiver 34A
over the conductor 185 to the speaker 55A of the group leadér's
transceiver 52B, FIG. 19. It will be further understood that
when the manually operable switch 180 (FIG. 19) is in contact
with terminal 197 (position A) the group leader 14 transmits and
receives on frequen~y ~ with the journeymen 10, 11 and 12, but
at this time the group leader 14 can also hear voice communications
at frequency fE from the fire engine 16 and distant fire company
-25-
;~Q~2~1.
18 through the relatively long range transceiver 34A and over the
conductor 185 to the group leader's speaker 55A.
Referring now to FIG. 20, there is shown a flame retardant
hood 200, E;rotective member, of suitable flexible flame retardant
material which hood may be provided with a pocket 202 ( similar
to pocket 130 of FIGS. 14 and 14A) for receiving the housing 104A
(shown in dashed outline) containing transceiver circuitry 52A
of FIG. 18 if the hood 200 is worn by a journeyman 10, 11 or 12
(FIG. 13) and for containing transceiver circuitry 52B of FIG. 19
if the hood 200 is worn by the group leader 14 (FIG. 13), speaker
55A and battery 68 shown in FIG. 15. A throat microphone, such
as throat microphone 54A shown in FIG. 14, may be connected to
the transceiver circuitry 52A or 52B mounted in the housing 104A by
a suitable conductor such as conductor 138, and an antenna 53A,
such as antenna 53A shown in FIG. 14, may reside under the helmet
20 and may be connected to the transceiver circuitry 52A or 52B;
the throat microphone 54A, conductor 138 and antenna 53A are also
shown in dashed outline in FIG. 20. Thus it will be understood
that in this alternate embodiment of the invention either the
voice communication system 22A of a journeyman 10, 11 or 12 (FIG.
13) or the voice communication system 22B of the group leader 14
(FIG. 13) may be provided in combination with the head-protective
helmet 20 shown in FIG. 20. The throat microphone 54A may be
provided with a hook and eye fastener patch 204 on its outer
surface for engagement and connection with a hook and eye fastener
patch (not shown) provided on the interior of the hood 200 in the
throat area of the wearer 206 to place the throat microphone 54A on
a suitable position on the throat of the wearer 206 to receive
voice communications from the wearer 206 of the helmet 20. It
will be further noted from FIG. 20 that the protective member or
hood 200 protects portions of the head, the ears, the neck and
portions of the shoulders of the wearer 206 of the helmet 20 from
heat and flame and it will be understood that the protective
member or hood 200 is part of a combination including the head-
protective helmet 20. Further, the hood 200 may be mounted
removably to the helmet 20 by providing each with patches of
engageable hook and eye fasteners tnot shown). It will be
--26--
- 204~241
understood that the protectiv2 member or hood 200 is p2rt or 2
combiination inc uc'ns head-protective nelmet 20.
Refer-ing now to FIGS. 21-25,'a furi.her altern2te
embodiment of the ~resent invention is illustrated. T~isalterr~ate
embociment incluc~s ihe combination o~ a fiame -~tardant shroud
300 of suitable r yid flame reta,rdant material, such as a su~table
-flame retardant jpiastic, and a ~eaa-?rotectiYe heimet such as
helmet 20 of FIGS. 2, 3, 9 and 14; the shroud 300 protects at
least the ears of the wearer of the helmet 20 from heat and flame.
The shroua 30U is provided witih an upwardly extending portion or
tab 302 which mounts the shroud 300 re~ovably to the
internal impact cap 42 shown in FIGS. 3:, 14 and 24.
~ore particularly, the-upwardly extending portion.or tab 302 is
wedged underneath the resilient circular mounting mem~er),48 s-~own
in FIGS. 3 and 2i4, to wedge the upwardly extending portion or tab
302, FIG. 24,~between the resilien. circular mounting member 48
and the inner or internal impact cap~ 2 which resides under the
external shell 41 of the helmet 20. Connectors 342 and 344 may
be mounted pivotally to the shroud 300 to permit a'suitable
facepiece (not shown) to be mounted removably to the shroud 300
Referring to FIGS. 21 and 23, it will be understood that
transceiver circuitry 52A or 52B of the respective voice
communication systems 22iA and 22B of the respective journeymen
10, 11 and 12 (PIG. 13) and group leader 14 (FIG. 13~, of the
types illustrated in FIGS. 18 and 19, may be mounted on a printed
circuit board 308 (FIG. 23), and which printed circuit board may
be removably mounted to the inner wail 310 of the shroud 300 by
screws 312 and 314 as illustrated in FIG. 23. A speaXer 55C may
be connected to the transceiver circuitry provided~on the printed~
circuit board 308 by conductor 316 and the speaker 55C may be
removably mounted to the inner wall 310 of the shroud 300' by
suitable screws 320 and 322, FIGS. 23 and 22. As shown in FIGS.
22 and 23, the inner wall 310 of the shrcud 300 may be provided with
a plurality of holes:or openings 324 for communicating voice
communication (sound waves? from the speaker 55C to the ear o a
wearer of the combination head-protec~ive helmet 20 and shroud
300.
i
lr ~ - 27 - ,;
- 2045;243.
As shown in FIGS. 21 and 24, a suitable throat microphone,
such as throat microphone 54A may be connected to the transceiver
circuitry mounted on the printed circuit board 308 by suitable
conductor 138. The throat microphone 54A, in turn, may be suitably
mounted (such as by hook and eye patches not shown) on a chin
strap 334 (FIG. 25) provided on the cradle of straps 49 mounted,
as shown in FIG. 14 and described above, to the inner impact cap 42
by the resilient circular mounting member 48. The throat microphone
54A is mounted on the chin strap 334 in a position, such that upon
the chin strap 334 being fastened underneath the chin of the
wearer of the combination helmet 20 and shroud 300, the throat
microphone 54A is placed at a suitable position on the throat of
the wearer of the combination head-protective helmet 20 and shroud
300 to receive voice communications from the wearer. A suitable
antenna 53A is connected to the transceiver circuitry mounted on
the printed circuit board 308; the throat microphone conductor
138 and antenna 53A may be connected removably to the transceiver
circuitry by suitable connectors such as connectors 145 and 146
of FIG. 15. Accordingly, it will be understood that the alternate
embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIGS. 21-25
includes the head-protective helmet 20 in combination with either
the voice communication system 22A of a journeyman 10, 11 or 12
of FIG. 13 or the voice communication system 22B of the group
leader 14 of FIG. 13 depending upon whether the transceiver
circuitry 52A (FIG. 18) or transceiver circuitry 52B (FIG. 19)
is mounted on the printed circuit board 308.
Referring again to FIGS. 9, 14, 20 and 24, and in brief
summary with regard to the combination head-protective helmet 20
and flame retardant earflap 106 of FIG. 9, the head-protective
helmet 20 and flame retardant earflap 106 of FIG. 14, the head-
protective helmet 20 and flame retardant hood 200 of FIG. 20 and
the head-protective helmet 20 and flame retardant shroud 300 of
FIG. 24, it will be understood that such flame retardant earflap,
hood and shroud extend downwardly from the helmet and cover and
protect at least the ears of the wearer of the helmet from heat
and flame.
-28-
Z045241
It will be understood by those skilled in the art that
many modifications and variations may be made in the present
invention without departing from the spirit and the scope thereof.
-29-
