Specification of Francis Fearon : softening or deadening sound.

  • Fearon, Francis.
Date:
1865
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Specification of Francis Fearon : softening or deadening sound. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    6/8 (page 4)
    4 A.D. 1864.—N° 2809, Specification.; Fearon s Improved Apparatus for Softening or Deadening Sound. of any particular material, but employ that which I find most conducive to the end required, namely, a gentle but firm pressure of the padded plates on the tragus of each ear; and although I prefer effecting my object by a spring passing from beneath or near the chin up to the ears, the apparatus may be made to fit on from the back of the neck or head, or even from the top of the 5 head, and this may be effected with very slight modification of the spring, for instance, by curving it so as to make it pass under the lobe or over the top of the ear in such manner as to bring the pads on the tragi. The spring may be of one piece, as illustrated on the Drawing, or in two or more parts hinging on one or more pivots at a common centre, and made of thin plates of steel 10 or other metal in lieu of wire. If the spring and the back of the plates be enameled so as to imitate the color of the skin or the hair the apparatus will not readily attract observation, and when worn by men wearing whiskers or beards, or both, or by ladies wearing bonnet strings, will be almost invisible. If desired a spiral or other extraneous spring may be fixed below 15 any pivot when the spring carrying the pads is formed in two or more pieces, and by pressure of the thumb on one side below the pivot and a finger on the other above it on the opposite side, one or other of the plates may be tem¬ porarily pressed outwards from the tragus of the ear, permitting full sound to enter. On removing the hand the pad may be made to resume its place on 20 the tragus, so that the sound may be deadened as before* Having now described the nature of my Invention and shewn a means by which I carry it into practical effect, I would have it distinctly understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details herein given or to the Figure shewn on the Sheet of Drawing, as modifications may be made without 25 departing from my Invention, and I claim the exclusive use of apparatus for stopping or deadening sound by means of pressure on the “ tragus ” of each ear, substantially as herein described and illustrated by the Drawing. In witness whereof, I, the said Francis Fearon, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Tenth day of May, in the year of Our Lord One 30 thousand eight hundred and sixty-five. FRANCIS FEARON. (l.s.) LONDON: Printed by George Edward Eyre and William Spottiswoode, Printers to the Queen's most Excellent Majesty. 1865.