US20150201740A1

US20150201740A1 - System and method for conveniently carrying a wireless headset or similar device

Info

Publication number: US20150201740A1
Application number: US14/159,421
Authority: US
Inventors: Patricia Richardson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-01-20
Filing date: 2014-01-20
Publication date: 2015-07-23

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a system and method for conveniently carrying an electronic device with an earpiece comprising stretching a flexible holding enclosure over the earpiece and then releasing it so that maintains the position of the electronic device and an associated attachment mechanism.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not Applicable

FIELD

The present application relates to electronic and in particular cell phone accessories attachment mechanisms.

BACKGROUND

There are numerous types of wireless headsets that are presently on the market. While these are extremely convenient in that they can easily be placed in one's ear, there are two major problems. The first is that the wireless headsets are constantly being lost. The second is that if you haven't lost it, you have often stuck it in a purse or pocket where it isn't easily accessible, particularly when the user is in a vehicle.
Attempts have been made to overcome these problems, such as pouch type holders that you attach to your dashboard; however, this results in the wireless headset being constantly left in the car. Or, alternatively, no means of storage if you walk away from the car with the wireless headset still in your ear.
Other attempts, such as that specified in U.S. Pat. No. 8,186,022 B2, Michael G. Roser, have attempted to overcome these problems by tightening a loop in space between the earpiece and the base of the headset. In the case of Roser, the loop was connected to an elongated member (a string) that was then attached to a clip that was used to presumably clip the object to the user's clothing. Nectar Accessories (Las Vegas), which appears to no longer be in business, at one time was marketing conceptually similar products to Roser in that they involved tightening a loop in space between the earpiece and the base of the headset but, rather than loop being attached to a string, they had the tightened loop attached to a necklace in one case and in the other, to a retractable cord. While these products overcame many of the problems, since they required the loop to be tightened and locked in place around the wireless device, that meant that either a string, necklace, or retractable cord was always attached and hanging from your ear during use.
A different approach was taken by jewelry designer Andi Monn. Monn created special metal covers for the base of iPhone headsets. The headset base slides into a form-fitting metal sleeve, which has a specially designed magnet that holds the sleeve in place without affecting the electronics of the headset. Each one comes with a leather cord that you can wear around your neck, as well as a key ring. While this design configuration doesn't require anything to be dangling from your ear during use, this is a device specific concept that needs to be adapted for every single product on the market and requires numerous components to implement.
What is still missing is a device independent wireless headset (or similar device) holder that is portable, that is designed to allow the wireless headset to be utilized without being attached to the holder, and is simple and easy to use.

SUMMARY

In order to overcome the deficiencies described in the prior art, methods and systems are described herein.
A system for conveniently carrying an electronic device with an earpiece comprising an attachment mechanism; a holding enclosure, which is capable of being stretched over the earpiece and will then contract and hold the electronic device in position.
Wherein the attachment mechanism either has the ability to open and close, for example a split key ring, or the attachment mechanism is integrated as a single piece into the holding enclosure, for example in a figure-8 configuration.
Wherein when the attachment mechanism and holding enclosure are integrated into a single piece, the system may include a secondary attachment mechanism and/or the orientation of the faces of the attachment mechanism and holding enclosure may be either the same, or angled and in particular perpendicular to one another.
Where in the system may further include a pull-tab as an aid in stretching the holding mechanism over the earpiece.
A method for conveniently carrying an electronic device with an earpiece comprising stretching a holding enclosure over the top of the earpiece and then releasing it, wherein said holding enclosure contracts such that said holding enclosure maintains the electronic device in position.
Wherein the holding enclosure utilized in the method further includes an attachment mechanism.
Wherein the attachment mechanism utilized in the method either has the ability to open and close, for example a split key ring, or the attachment mechanism is integrated as a single piece into the holding enclosure, for example in a figure-8 configuration.
Wherein the case where the attachment mechanism and holding enclosure are integrated into a single piece the method may include a secondary attachment mechanism and/or the orientation of the faces attachment mechanism and holding enclosure may be either the same, or angled and in particular perpendicular to one another.
Wherein said stretching of said holding enclosure is accomplished by grasping and then pulling on a pull-tab

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the first embodiment;

FIG. 2 shows a wireless headset about to be inserted into the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 shows a wireless headset inserted into the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 perspective view of a second embodiment;

FIG. 5 shows the second embodiment with an added pull-tab.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows embodiment 1, which comprises an attachment mechanism 100 and a holding enclosure 110.
Attachment mechanism 100 is shown as a standard split key ring; however, it could be any attachment mechanism such as jewelry clasp or even a necklace, without departing from the broad inventive concepts.
Additionally, attachment mechanism 100 could either be a device that opens and closes and allows objects to be inserted onto it, such as the example of the split key ring shown, or it could be a continuous object such as fixed length chain that goes around someone's neck.
Holding enclosure 110 is shown as being toroid (donut) shaped; however, other shapes such as triangular, rectangular, oblong and custom are also anticipated. Additionally, it is anticipated that various sizes such as small, medium, and large may be needed. Holding enclosure 110 is made of elastic polymer or other material with similar characteristics.
Examples of elastic polymers include but are not limited to: unsaturated rubbers (e.g. natural Polyisoprene, synthetic Polyisoprene, Polybutadiene, Chloroprene rubber, Butyl rubber, Halogenated butyl rubbers, Styrene-butadiene Rubber, Nitrile rubber, Hydrogenated Nitrile Rubbers . . . etc.); saturated rubbers (e.g. Ethylene Propylene rubber, Ethylene Propylene Diene rubber, Epichlorohydrin rubber, Polyacrylic rubber, Silicone rubber, Fluorosilicone Rubber, Fluoroelastomers, Perfluoroelastomers, Polyether block amides, Chlorosulfonated polyethylene, Ethylene-vinyl acetate . . . etc.); and various other types of elastomers (e.g. Thermoplastic elastomers, certain proteins such as resilin and elastin, Polysulfide rubber, Elastolefin, which is used in the production of elastic fabrics . . . etc).
FIG. 2 shows embodiment 1, which comprises an attachment mechanism 100 and a holding enclosure 110′ (which is holding enclosure 110 in a stretched state), and wireless headset 2, which is comprises base 200 and earpiece 210.
Wireless headset 2 is representative of any electronic device that has an earpiece.
Holding Enclosure 110 is designed such that, when it is stretched state 110′, it can be stretched over earpiece 210.
FIG. 3 shows embodiment 1, which comprises an attachment mechanism 100 and a holding enclosure 110″ (which is holding enclosure 110 in a stretched state but contracted when compared to state 110′) and wireless headset 2, which is comprised of base 200 and earpiece 210.
In FIG. 3, wireless headset 2 has been inserted into holding enclosure 110″ and holding enclosure 110″ is positioned between base 200 and earpiece 210. Holding Enclosure 110 is designed such that when it is stretched state 110″ it will hold wireless headset 2 in place.
FIG. 4 shows embodiment 4, which has been attached to key ring 450. Embodiment 4 comprises a holding enclosure 410 and integrated attachment mechanism 400.
Holding enclosure 410 is similar to holding closure 110, except that rather than having an external attachment mechanism 100 running through holding closure 110 and resulting in contact between attachment mechanism 100 and wireless headset 2 during use (see FIG. 3) it has an integrated attachment mechanism 400.
However, unlike attachment mechanism 100, Integrated attachment mechanism 400 in embodiment 4 is shown as a continuous surface and therefore without an intermediate piece of equipment such as key ring 450 it can only attached to objects that have the ability to pass through it.
The combination of embodiment 4 and key ring 450 together make up another embodiment. In this embodiment, key ring 450 is shown as a standard split key ring; however, it could be any attachment mechanism such as jewelry clasp or even a necklace, without departing from the broad inventive concepts.
Additionally, holding enclosure 410 and integrated attachment mechanism 400 are shown as oriented in the same direction. However, it is anticipated that orienting them at an angle, in particular perpendicular to one another, may be desirable.
FIG. 5 shows embodiment 4′, which is similar to embodiment 4 except that it has pull-tab 520 added.
Pull-tab 520, although shown added to embodiment 4 to produce 4′, could be added to any of the embodiments and is representative of the type of a feature that could be utilized to aid in stretching the holding enclosure of a particular embodiment, and not meant to specify a particular geometry.
As such the embodiments are able to overcome the deficiencies. However, it should be recognized by those skilled in the art, that changes or modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the broad inventive concepts of the invention. It should be understood, therefore, that the present invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed herein, but is intended to cover all modifications and changes that are within the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

Claims

We claim:

1. A system for conveniently carrying an electronic device with an earpiece comprising:

an attachment mechanism;

a holding enclosure;

said holding enclosure is stretchable and is designed such that it is capable of being stretched over said earpiece and once stretched over said earpiece said holding enclosure is designed to contract such that said holding enclosure maintains said electronic device in position.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said attachment mechanism has the ability to open and close in order to allow objects to be inserted onto it.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said attachment mechanism is a split key ring.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said attachment mechanism is integrated with said holding enclosure into a single piece.

5. The system of claim 4 further including a secondary attachment mechanism.

7. The system of claim 4 wherein said attachment mechanism and said holding enclosure both have openings and said openings both face in the same direction.

8. The system of claim 4 wherein said opening of said attachment mechanism and said holding enclosure are oriented at angle to one another.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said the angle is perpendicular.

10. The system of claim 1 further including a pull-tab, which is capable of being grasped and designed to be used as an aid in stretching said holding enclosure.

11. A method for conveniently carrying an electronic device with an earpiece comprising stretching a holding enclosure over the top of said earpiece and then releasing it, wherein said holding enclosure contracts such that said holding enclosure maintains said electronic device in position.

12. The method of claim 11 where said holding enclosure includes an attachment mechanism.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said attachment mechanism is open and closed and objects are inserted and removed from it.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said attachment mechanism is a split key ring.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein said attachment mechanism is integrated with said holding enclosure into a single piece.

16. The method of claim 12 further including inserting a secondary attachment mechanism though said attachment mechanism.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein said attachment mechanism and said holding enclosure both have openings and said openings both face in the same direction.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein said opening of said attachment mechanism and said holding enclosure are oriented at angle to one another.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said the angle is perpendicular.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein said stretching of said holding enclosure is accomplished by grasping and then pulling on a pull-tab.