20090001788 | ACTIVE DYNAMIC SEATING DEVICE | January, 2009 | Lenz et al. |
20050242142 | Eyeglass purse | November, 2005 | Stoller |
20050028911 | Rapid access device | February, 2005 | Canavan et al. |
20070107821 | Cookware having a protective cover | May, 2007 | Ness |
20090320979 | Hearing Aid Microphone Cover | December, 2009 | Keleny et al. |
20030164216 | Removable purse organizer | September, 2003 | Starr |
20030010415 | Cover for the diaper genie TM or other lidded pail or container | January, 2003 | Szuszkiewicz |
20080073007 | Verifiable Handbag | March, 2008 | Zuesi-kreuzer |
20020084011 | Removable ceiling fan blade cover | July, 2002 | Rochon |
20090260731 | Dielectric smart card protector sleeve | October, 2009 | Roth et al. |
20100060027 | 2-Sided Golf Cart Enclosure With Magnetic Door | March, 2010 | Marsh et al. |
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/188,753, filed Mar. 7, 2000, entitled Integrated Headset-Case; and Ser. No. 60/206,416, filed May 23, 2000, entitled Integrated Headset-Case.
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The disclosed invention is classified as a means for storing and managing a hands-free adapter that is used with various types of wireless and cordless phones. Specifically, a variety of methods for attaching a spring-retractable headset or wireless headset to a mobile wireless or cordless phone are described.
[0004] 2. Discussion of Prior Art
[0005] Advances in miniaturization and optimization of wireless transceiver semiconductors, as well as innovation in digital signal processing have resulted in the reduction of the cost of wireless phone hardware and service. At the same time, the quality of wireless telephony in terms of both ubiquity of service and sound quality is increasing. This cost reduction and simultaneous increase in quality is driving rapid growth in the use of mobile wireless telephony. Users now commonly access wireless telephony service in a wide variety of settings and environments including use in the car, when walking or exercising, at work, and in the home. While wireless mobile telephony is a great convenience, there is often the need to be able to use the service while engaged in an activity that occupies the user's hands, such as while driving. Hands-free adapters have been created that provide the ability to engage in conversation while using the mobile wireless telephony system when driving. These systems typically involve an external speaker and microphone system. Hands-free headsets have been in use for some time that are comprised of a cable with a connector at one end and an earphone and microphone assembly at the other end. These hands-free headsets are popular because they allow the user to operate the mobile wireless device without using the hands, and also maintain a private conversation. When using the hands-free headset, the phone can be stored in a user's pocket or attached to the belt with a belt-clip accessory. In addition to belt clips, there are other devices and accessories that allow the user to attach the wireless phone to their body while the phone is or is not in use. One popular accessory for wireless phones are fabric or leather soft cases
[0006] Retractable headsets have been invented that allow the user to manually or automatically retract headset cables into housings for the purpose of eliminating the tangling of headset cables. Wireless personal area network (PAN) systems have appeared that incorporate short range wireless communication transceivers such as Bluetooth technology, provided by Ericsson of Stockholm, Sweden. PAN systems allow for a wireless link between a wireless phone and the user's ear. With both the PAN solution and the retractable headset solution, there remains the inconvenience for the user of having to manage another device in addition to the wireless phone. One solution to this problem is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,082,656 to Thornton, showing a retractable headset that is permanently incorporated into the wireless phone housing. However, headset cables often become snagged and are otherwise in harms way and can be damaged to the point of inoperability. If the headset cable were to cease to function, the phone itself would have to be sent for repair which would greatly inconvenience the user. Furthermore, the size of the mobile phone is permanently increased by the integration of the retraction device. U.S. Pat. No. 5,832,089 to Chen shows a retractable that is attachable to a wireless phone with a plastic bracket. This attachment scheme requires a separate piece of hardware to further attach the wireless phone to the user's body. Furthermore, this attachment scheme does not serve to protect the user's phone from damage, and is not operable with a case that substantially covers and protects the user's phone housing. In order to implement this design, there must be sufficient mechanical attachment features on the phone. Since there are a number of phone manufacturers in the market, this solution may not be viable for many or all of the various phone models.
[0007] What is needed is an integrated solution that provides for convenient hands-free capability for mobile wireless phone users that doesn't result in the need to physically keep track of a device in addition to the mobile wireless phone.
[0008] The present invention exemplifies a new and unobvious art of an integrated headset case. Briefly and generally, the integrated headset case provides for the ability to removably couple a hands-free earphone/microphone solution to a mobile wireless phone. A hands-free headset device, such as a retractable headset device is integrated into a protective covering case for a wireless phone.
[0009] Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the present invention are: (a) to provide an attachment of a hands-free solution to a mobile wireless phone that simultaneously provides a protective covering for the phone. (b) to provide an attachment of a hands-free solution to a mobile wireless phone that simultaneously incorporates a means for attaching the phone to the user. (c) To provide a means for attaching a hands-free solution to a mobile wireless phone that does not require specific mechanical attachment features on the phone.
[0010]
[0011]
[0012]
[0013]
[0014]
[0015]
[0016]
[0017]
[0018]
[0019]
[0020]
[0021]
[0022]
[0023]
[0024] 1. Describe Existing Non-retracting Headset Assembly.
[0025]
[0026] 2. Describe Retracting Headset Assembly.
[0027]
[0028] 3. Describe Phone Case Design.
[0029]
[0030]
[0031] Integrated case also includes a belt clip
[0032] Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, but merely providing illustration of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention.
[0033]
[0034]
[0035]
[0036] It should be noted that the disclosed invention of an integrated headset case can be implemented with audio headphones rather than a headset with an earphone and a microphone. An integrated headphone case with a retractable headphone device can be implemented for use with portable audio playback devices such as MP3 players, minidisk players, AM/FM radios, and CD players without departing from the new and unobvious art disclosed above.
[0037] Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.