Two-way radio garment

June 2, 1942. b. e. cover, sr 2,285,083

TWO-WAY RADIO GARMENT

Filed March 30, 1940' 3 Sheets-Sheet 1

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June 2, 1942.

B. E. COVER, SR

TWO-WAY RADIO GARMENT

2,285,083

Filed March 30, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2

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June 2, 1942. b. e. cover, sr 2,285,083

TWO-WAY RADIO GARMENT Filed March 30, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3

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Patented June 2, 1942

2,285,083

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,285,083

TWO-WAY RADIO GARMENT

Berkey E. Cover, Sr., Chicago, Ill., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Electra-Voice Corporation, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware

Application March 30, 1940, Serial No. 326,830

Claims. (Cl. 250—13)

This invention relates to a two-way radio garment or coat and equipment for transmitting and receiving audible signals for use by firemen, policemen, sailors, miners, or others working m tunnels or underground, or anyone else requir- o ing a portable two-way radio communication. As an example for use by firemen, the device is designed for giving comprehensive orders rapidly during wide spread fires to those working m or around the building on fire and for sending and 10 receiving messages in both directions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a two-way radio outfit which is capable of application to a garment such as an overcoat or other eoat and which can be easily manipulated by equipment carried by the coat for sending and receiving purposes and which will permit practical application in every day requirements for portable means of communication in an eificicnt and a simple manner and which will be of 20 relatively light weight, cbmpact, and which will permit free movements of the person wearing same so as not to interfere with the duties such person may be called upon to perform. .....

Another object of the invention is to provide m a two-way radio signal system in connection with a garment which will have the appearance of an ordinary over dr outer coat, preferably water, weather and fire proof fabric or cloth which may be suitably insulated with asbestos or other non-conductor against heat and in which the batteries and equipment such as the transmitter or receiver are mounted in pockets of the garment so as to be readily accessible or replaced and which includes a sending microphone preferably mounted on the cuff of one sleeve, and earphones, headphones, or receivers associated with the collar of the garment for receiving messages, the whole device being controlled by a switch associated with the transmitter and receiver unit of the radio set mounted in one pocket.

Further objects and advantages will appear and be brought out more fully in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an outside view of a two-way radio garment or coat with transmitting and receiving apparatus in accordance with the invention and with the coat spread out;

Fig. 2 is an inside view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a view of the garment being worn and shown for receiving messages;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but shown for sending messages; ..,,

Fig. 5 is a diagram showing the wiring;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged section taken on the line 6—g Of Fig. 1; ., , _w..

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation showing the electrical connections with the radio sending ahd receiving unit or set; . ,

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view through one of the pockets or compartments of the garment with the transmitter and receiver therein;

Fig. 9 is a view of the outfit for detachable mounting and with certain parts disconnected;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary elevation showing the mounting and antenna socket; and

Fig. 11 is an enlarged section taken on the line il—l i of Fig. 10. ........ .....

Referring to the drawings in detail, designates a garment which may be an Over or outer coat of any suitable material such as waterproofed and fireproofed cloth Or canvas with fire resisting lining such as asbestos or otherwise. This garment has the usual back portion 16, left front flap 17 and right front flap i8 adapted to overlap and be buttoned or otherwise secured in closed position. The collar is designated at 19 and is relatively wide so as to project up over the ears when raised. The left sleeve is designated at 20, the right sleeve at 2i and the garment has pockets including a left hand pocket 22 which is accessible at the top and at the inside as is the right hand pocket 23, both of these pockets being Open at the top and also accessible through openings 24 shown as inclined slitsor openings in the body of the garment. ,Οηδ of the pockets, such as the left hand pocket 22 is designed to accommodate the removable battery pocket 25 and the other or right hand pocket is designed to accommodate a removable unit or equipment pocket 26, both of which may be readily inserted in position from the inside of the garment as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the draw40, ings. The pocket 25 is designed to receive the ' batteries 27 having three or any other suitable number of cells or suitable Units for sending ana receiving service, while the other pocket 25 is designed to accommodate the radio equipment 45 or unit for two-way electrical signal transmission in the form of a transmitter and receiver for two-way service. This may be ahy suitable type having the usual equipment and accessories for tuning and for alternately sending or receiv30 ing electronic energy or messages. The pockets 25 and 26, and thus the equipment mounted therein are adapted to be supported from a belt 29 which may be mounted between the lining and outer material of the garment and sewed at the 55 inside or Otherwise secured in position. This belt is of flat tubular construction and forms a tunnel or conduit which may be lined with metallic fibre with or without some waterproof material such as asbestos and like the coat is water and fire proofed fabric or cloth and the pockets may be lined with metallic cloth as well as the runways, tunnels or conduits of which the belt is made. The belt has a buckle 30 at one end and a strap 31 with holes at the other end to connect the belt around the waist, although any other suitable form of adjustable connection may be provided. This flat tube 32 of canvas suitably lined with metallic cloth or asbestos combined, as indicated at 33 is designed to contain the various insulated wires or conductors of the electrical circuits of the apparatus as will be hereinafter more fully described. It includes a branch or extension tube 34 extending into one sleeve and shown as the left hand sleeve and then through a hole 35 at the cuff of the sleeve for permanent or detachable connection with a transmitter or microphone 36 adapted to be conveniently raised to the mouth in speaking for sending signals or verbal instructions. A branch or extension tube or conduit 37 leads from the tube 34 to the collar in back of the left hand sleeve and branches off at the neck for connection with a cross piece 38 on the collar having upright portions 39 to connect with the ear phones, headphones or receivers 40 which are mounted on the collar and adapted to be brought over the ears when the collar is raised as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings. The microphone 36 on the sleeve may be permanently stitched in position or detachably mounted in an opening in the sleeve with suitable ; means such as a flap 36α for protection thereof or may be mounted in the lining and the ear phones or receivers 40 may be similarly mounted m position with or without detachable plug and socket connections for connection of the conduc- 40 tors thereto. The ear phones or receivers may also be connected by an elastic flexible band 41 which fits over the head to additionally support the parts in position in conjunction with the collar when raised.

The back of the coat in rear of the pocket and under the sleeve is provided with an opening 42 with a mounting flange or bushing 43 of insulation so as to support a spring socket 44 in an upright position. ’____________,_u in the bottom connected to one of l;he conductors and is adapted to detachably support an upright aerial or antenna rod 46. This rod may be of telescopic or extensible type composed of sections telescoping one within the other as shown, and is adapted to project upward at the back of the wearer and at one side of the head, approximately at the shoulder so as not to interfere with the free movements of the person wearing the same. If desired an additional loop or eyelet 47 may receive the antenna rod for securing the latter against the garment.

The stitching of the belt or tubular conduit 29 is connected at 48 and in Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive, the conduit may be so mounted in position or between the linings or otherwise secured permanently or detachably, or of vulcanized rubber composition.

In Figs. 9 to 11 inclusive the device is of the same construction, but the apparatus is shown , detachably mounted in position as by suitable spaced ball and socket fasteners or snaps, the sockets of which are designated at 49 mounted in the cloth or other material of the garment and the ball heads 50 to engage the sockets 75:

S.T. *⁵ » e

2,285,083 are mounted on the conduit, although other suitable means may be provided for detachably securing the conduit and other parts detachably within the coat.

In the wiring diagram shown the battery 27 has one cell provided with a terminal 51 and with other cells having additional terminals 52 and 53, the terminal 51 being part of the receiving circuit and the terminal 52 being a common return while the terminal 53 will be associated with an electrical cell of the battery for sending or transmitting purposes and of the necessary electrical energy for this purpose. Ordinary single plug and socket connections, or other terminals may be provided for making the necessary electrical connections of the conductors 54, 55 and 56 respectively with the terminals 51, 52 and 53. A conductor 57 leads from the contact 45 of the aerial or antenna rod to the 20 aerial connection 58 on the transmitter and receiver 28. Other terminals 59, 60 and 61 have the conductors 54, 55 and 56 connected thereto and conductors 62,63 and 64 lead from the microphone 36 to the terminals 65, 66 and 67. Conduci tors 68 and 69 lead from terminals 70 and 71 to the ear phones or receivers 40. A suitable switch 72 spring actuated by a spring 73 and normally set for receiving purposes is mounted on the transmitting and receiving unit 28 and when actuated or pressed against the action of the spring will be disposed in position for transmitting signals by the use of the microphone 36 as shown in Fig. 4 when the left arm is raised so that the microphone will be placed to the mouth. The ordinary receiving position in the use of the garment is shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. A stop 74 is provided on the unit 28 for the switch 72 or this may be a portion of the switch such as a contact for controlling the sending circuit as distinguished from the ordinary receiving position of the circuit when the switch is in its normal position. Ordinary plug or terminal insulating blocks 75 and 76 may be provided on the battery and on the radio unit for accommodating the sockets of detachable plug and socket connectors 77 at the various points where electrical connection is made with the different parts of the system and these may be employed at the ear phones or receivers, as well in addition to the battery 27 and transmitting and receiving unit or equipment 28.

In the operation of the device the signals may be received by leaving the switch 72 in a normal 55 position when the ear phones or receivers are worn as shown in Fig. 3. In transmitting signals or instructions, one hand is inserted through the pocket opening to set the switch 72 to sendmg position and the microphone 36 is placed to 60 the mouth so that a two-way conversation may be carried on or orders transmitted and the device quickly changed from one position to the other. Owing to the fact that the equipment is relatively small, compact, and of lightweight and is carried in a garment such as an overcoat, it may be easily carried about and in this sense is highly portable. The antenna mounted, as described, will not interfere with free movements of the operator while the runways and pockets for the electrical conductors are lined with metallic fabric which provides a shield, and of course any suitable waterproof and fireproof material may be used so that the use and operation of the device is greatly facilitated and all

2,285,083 parts of the radio equipment can be removed or readily replaced when necessary.

While X have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the . scope of the appended claims.