Communications apparatus for non-verbal handicapped persons

Claim 2

Apparatus for facilitating communication by non-verbal handicapped persons comprising: a plurality of electrically energizable indicators, a first manually operable switch having means for actuation by muscular movement of said handicapped person, a second manually operable switch having means for actuation by a muscular movement of said person, circuit means connected between said manually operable switches and said plurality of indicators for energizing successive ones of said indicators in response to repeated actuations of said manually operable switches, wherein said circuit means has means for energizing successive ones of a first group of said indicators in response to repeated actuations of said first switch and means for energizing successive ones of a second group of said indicators in response to repeated actuations of said second switch, and support means having said first and second switches secured thereto in spaced apart relation whereby said first and second switches may be selectively actuated by said person by opposite movements of the same portion of said person''s anatomy and having clamp means for attachment to stationary structure adjacent said person.

Claim 3

The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said switch counting means includes means for situating said first and second switches in spaced apart relationship on opposite sides of said person''s head whereby said first and second switches may be selectively actuated by opposite movements of said person''s head. 3. Apparatus for facilitating commUnication by nonverbal handicapped persons comprising: a cabinet having first and second compartments therein and having first and second exterior wall surfaces, an electrical connector mounted on said cabinet, a plurality of electrically energizable indicator lamps disposed in spaced apart relationship on said wall surfaces of said cabinet wherein a first group of said lamps are disposed on a first of said wall surfaces of said cabinet in a plurality of rows thereof and a second group of said indicator lamps are disposed on said second surface of said cabinet in at least two rows thereof, first and second manually operable switches, switch mounting means for supporting said first and second switches in spaced apart relationship for actuation by movement of a portion of said person''s body, conductor means for selectively connecting said first and second switches to said electrical connector of said cabinet, said conductor means and said first and second switches and mounting means being storable in said second compartment of said cabinet when said conductor means is disengaged from said connector, circuit means situated in said first compartment of said cabinet and connected between said electrical connector and said indicator lamps and having means for energizing predetermined successive ones of said lamps in response to repeated actuations of said first switch and for energizing other predetermined successive ones of said lamps in response to repeated actuations of said second switch, wherein said circuit means comprises: a mode switch movable to a first mode position and movable to a second mode position, means for causing repeated actuations of said first switch to partially complete an energizing circuit to successive ones of said rows of lamps of said first group thereof in response to repeated actuations of said first switch when said mode switch is in said first mode position, means for completing the energizing circuit to an individual one of said lamps in the partially energized row of said first group thereof in response to repeated actuations of said second switch when said mode switch is in said first mode position thereof, and means for completing an energizing circuit to successive individual ones of said first row of lamps of said second group thereof in response to repeated actuations of said first switch when said mode switch is in said second mode position thereof and for completing an energizing circuit to successive individual ones of said lamps of the second row of said second group in response to repeated actuations of said second switch when said mode switch is in said second mode position thereof.

Claim 4

The combination defined in claim 3 wherein said circuit means further comprising: an electrical power source having first and second terminals, each of said indicator lamps of said first group having first terminals connectable to a first of said conductors by operation of said mode switch to said first mode position thereof and each of said lamps of said second group have first terminals connectable to said first conductor by operation of said mode switch to said second mode position thereof, first stepping relay means having a plurality of bank levels wherein predetermined successive sets of contacts of each bank level are connected to individual ones of said lamps of individual rows of said first group thereof and wherein one of said bank levels has successive sets of contacts connected to second terminals of individual lamps of a first row of said second group thereof and wherein said first stepping relay has a movable contact connectable with successive ones of said output contacts in response to successive steppings of said stepping relay, means for stepping said first stepping relay means in response to successive actuations of said first manually operable switch, a second stepping relay means having at least a pair of bank levels of output contacts, a first of said bank Levels of said second stepping relay means having successive sets of contacts connected to second terminals of successive individual ones of said lamps of said second row of said second group thereof, and a second of said bank levels of said second stepping relay means having successive sets of output contacts connected to individual ones of said movable contacts of said bank levels of said first stepping relay means, each of said bank levels of said second stepping relay means having movable contacts connected to the second of said power source terminals, and means for stepping said second stepping relay means to successive positions thereof in response to successive actuations of said second manually operable switch.

Claim 5

The combination defined in claim 4 wherein each of said sets of output contacts of each of said bank levels of each of said stepping relay means comprise a plurality of adjacent output contacts whereby a plurality of actuations of one of said first and second switches are required to effect a change in the energization of said lamps.