Audio silencer for radio and T-V sets
US4303836A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 28, 1980 |
| Grant date | Dec 1, 1981 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 28, 2000 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04R3/00
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A silencer adapted to suppress the audio output of a radio or television set during commercial breaks in a program. The silencer which requires no wiring changes in the set includes a probe insertable in the existing earphone jack. The probe is constituted by a truncated tubular plug whose length falls short of the flexible switch arm of the jack that normally engages a contact arm to connect the audio signal line to the loudspeaker, the plug having a retractable plunger therein. When the plug is advanced by a local actuator, it engages the switch arm of the jack to flex it away from the contact arm to cut off loudspeaker sound, the sound being restored when the plunger is retracted. The local actuator of the plug is coupled to a remote actuator which when manually-activated acts selectively through the local actuator to advance or retract the plunger to cut off sound at the outset of a commercial break and to restore it at the conclusion thereof.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.