Oral machine controller
OwnerPaul S. Sheriff, Randal J. Yorkinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The oral machine controller is an apparatus for controlling operations of a machine by jaw and tongue movement of an operator. Upper and lower dentition grips include thermoplastic members which are conformed to tooth shape to cling thereto. A lightweight control unit in a housing includes a straight potentiometer which generates a controllably variable voltage signal to control a speed or intensity function of the machine. One dentition grip is attached to the control unit housing by a first control arm and the other to a second control arm which is attached to a moveable contact on the potentiometer for changing its position and controlling the speed or intensity function of the machine. A tongue-actuated microswitch is provided for additional control of machine functions.
Claims19
An oral control device for electrical control of the operations of a machine by a human operator, comprising:
- (a) a housing;
- (b) a variable electrical resistive means carried by said housing and constructed and arranged to be connected to such a machine in voltage-potential controlling relation;
- (c) said means including a movable control member movable relative to the remainder of said means and constructed and arranged to vary the voltage-potential of said means as said member is so moved;
- (d) a first dentition grip constructed and arranged to be removably attached to the teeth of one jaw of such an operator and connected to said housing in supporting relation;
- and
- (e) a second dentition grip constructed and arranged to be romovably attached to the teeth of the other jaw of such operator, and connected to said control member in movement controlling relation relative to the remainder of said means, whereby opening and closing jaw movements of such operator will move said control member relative to the remainder of said means and thereby controllably vary the voltage-potential of said means.
An oral control device for electronically controlling the speed and switching functions of a programmable sewing machine by a human operator, comprising:
- a control unit comprising:
- a housing;
- a potentiometer mounted in said housing and having an electrical resistance member with electrical conductor terminals attached at opposite ends thereof and a movable contract member in contact with said resistance member and movable relative thereto to establish a first electrical circuit therethrough with controllably variable voltage for controlling the speed of said sewing machine;
- a START microswitch mounted in said housing for turning said sewing machine ON and OFF, and actuated in concert with said potentiometer;
- a TRIM microswitch mounted in said housing and having terminals connected in a TRIM circuit for initializing the trimming operation of said sewing machine, said TRIM microswitch being provided with a detent member projecting into the proximity of the tongue of said operator for actuation thereby;
- a first dentition grip for removable attachment to the teeth of one jaw of said operator, said first dentition grip being attached to said control unit in supporting relation;
- a second dentition grip for removable attachment to the teeth of the other jaw of said operator, and attached to said movable contact member in moving relation relative to said resistance member, whereby closing said jaws from an open position actuates said START microswitch to turn on said sewing machine and increases said variable voltage in said first circuit to increase said sewing speed, and whereby opening said jaws from a closed position reduces said variable voltage in said first circuit to reduce said sewing speed and finally deactivate said START microswitch to turn off said sewing machine;
- and conductor means for transferring electrical signals from said potentiometer and said microswitches to said programmable sewing machine for control thereof.
An oral control device for electrical control of the operations of a machine by a human operator, comprising:
- (a) a first dentition grip member constructed and arranged to be removably attached to the teeth of one jaw of such an operator;
- (b) a second dentition grip member constructed and arranged to be removably attached to the teeth of the other jaw of such operator;
- (c) switch means carried solely by one of said dentition members and constructed and arranged to be actuated by movement of the other of said members relative thereto with the jaws of such an operator;
- (d) said switch means being constructed and arranged to be connected in electrically controlling relation to such a machine whereby operation of the machine may be controlled by the operator by movement of one of his jaws.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.