U.S. patent application number 12/504121 was filed with the patent office on 2010-01-21 for bracket for suspending a cell phone ear piece from a cap.
Invention is credited to GREGORY ANTHONY WAGEMANS.
Application Number | 20100012693 12/504121 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41529404 |
Filed Date | 2010-01-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100012693 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
WAGEMANS; GREGORY ANTHONY |
January 21, 2010 |
BRACKET FOR SUSPENDING A CELL PHONE EAR PIECE FROM A CAP
Abstract
An earpiece bracket that conveniently attaches to a cap worn by
a user with length adjustment such that the distance between the
cap to the earpiece is adjustable in the bracket. The attachment is
pivotable so the bracket may swing the earpiece into and out of its
operational position. In use, the earpiece depends in the bracket
from the cap into an operational position with the speaker portion
of the earpiece urged against the user's ear at the external
auditory meatus. The earpiece swings into place during use and away
from the ear when not use. The earpiece speaker portion is held
against ear at the external auditory meatus under spring bias in
the attachment of the bracket to the cap.
Inventors: |
WAGEMANS; GREGORY ANTHONY;
(Milton, WA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LAW OFFICE OF DAVID L. TINGEY
15 SOUTH GRADY WAY, SUITE 336
RENTON
WA
98057
US
|
Family ID: |
41529404 |
Appl. No.: |
12/504121 |
Filed: |
July 16, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61081101 |
Jul 16, 2008 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
224/181 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A42B 1/245 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
224/181 |
International
Class: |
A42B 1/24 20060101
A42B001/24 |
Claims
1. A bracket for suspending a cell phone ear piece from a user's
headgear, comprising a clip adapted to attach to the headgear; an
elongate member mounted to the clip near an elongate member first
end and adapted to secure an earpiece to an earpiece position in
the elongate member at an elongate member second end; wherein the
elongate member is adjustable such that with the clip attached to
the headgear the earpiece when secured to the elongate member
earpiece position may move between a first position over the user's
external auditory meatus and a second position spaced apart from
the first position away from the user's ear.
2. The bracket of claim 1 wherein the elongate member is mounted
pivotably to the clip such that the elongate member may rotate on
the clip thereby moving the earpiece in the earpiece position
between first and second positions.
3. The bracket of claim 1 wherein the elongate member is curved
inward at least a portion of which is resiliently flexible such
that in use the earpiece when secured in the elongate member
earpiece position is urged under spring bias against the user's
ear.
4. The bracket of claim 1 wherein the elongate member is adjustable
in length such that the position of the earpiece position relative
to the clip is adjustable to facilitate positioning of the earpiece
over the external auditory meatus of the user.
5. The bracket of claim 4 wherein the elongate member is slidably
mounted to the clip therein providing adjustment of distance
between the earpiece and the clip.
6. The bracket of claim 5 wherein the elongate member is mounted to
the clip with a friction interface such that the elongate member
moves relative to the clip under positive action by the user and
otherwise maintains a fixed position during use.
7. The bracket of claim 6 further comprising at least one friction
member on a side of the elongate member.
8. The bracket of claim 6 further comprising a friction member on
each side of the elongate member.
9. The bracket of claim 8 further comprising a shaft extending from
the clip and passing through a slot longitudinal in the elongate
member, the shaft being disposed to bind the at least one friction
member against the elongate member at a preferred pressure by a
securing member on the shaft.
10. The bracket of claim 9 wherein the shaft passes through the at
least one friction member and the slot of the elongate member.
11. The bracket of claim 10 further comprising a coil spring
through which the shaft passes, the securing member compressing the
spring in cooperation with the shaft, the spring maintaining a
preferred pressure against the friction member or members.
12. The bracket of claim 11 wherein the clip comprises two opposing
members mutually bending from each other at a line of flexure
forming a channel, the cap rim being temporarily receivable into
the channel under spring bias from the line of flexure binding the
cap rim between the opposing members.
13. A bracket for suspending a cell phone ear piece from a user's
headgear, comprising a clip adapted to attach to the headgear; an
elongate member mounted to the clip near an elongate member first
end and adapted to secure an earpiece to an earpiece position in
the elongate member at an elongate member second end, wherein the
elongate member is curved inward at least a portion of which is
resiliently flexible such that in use the earpiece when secured in
the elongate member earpiece position is urged under spring bias
against the user's ear; wherein the elongate member is adjustable
such that with the clip attached to the headgear the earpiece when
secured to the elongate member earpiece position may move between a
first position over the user's external auditory meatus and a
second position spaced apart from the first position away from the
user's ear; wherein the clip is mounted pivotably to the clip on a
shaft extending from the clip, such that the elongate member may
rotate on the clip thereby moving the earpiece in the earpiece
position between first and second positions.
14. The bracket of claim 13 wherein the elongate member has a
longitudinal slot with the shaft passing therethrough and movable
through the slot therein providing adjustment of distance between
the clip and the receiver position in the elongate member to
facilitate positioning of the earpiece over the external auditory
meatus of the user.
15. The bracket of claim 13 further comprising at least one
friction member on a side of the elongate member whereby the
elongate member is mounted to the clip with a friction interface
such that the elongate member moves relative to the clip under
positive action by the user and otherwise maintains a fixed
position during use.
16. The bracket of claim 15 further comprising a securing member on
the shaft, the shaft being disposed to pass through the at least
one friction member and the securing member in cooperation with
shaft binding the at least one friction member against the elongate
member at a preferred pressure.
17. The bracket of claim 1 wherein the clip comprises two opposing
members mutually bending from each other at a line of flexure
forming a channel, a rim of a headgear being temporarily receivable
into the channel under spring bias from the line of flexure binding
the cap rim between the opposing members.
18. A bracket for suspending a cell phone ear piece from a user's
cap having a rim to which the clip temporarily attaches, comprising
a clip comprising two opposing members mutually bending from each
other at a line of flexure forming a channel, the cap rim being
temporarily receivable into the channel under spring bias from the
line of flexure binding the cap rim between the opposing members.
an elongate member mounted to the clip near an elongate member
first end and adapted to secure an earpiece to an earpiece position
in the elongate member at an elongate member second end, wherein
the elongate member is curved inward at least a portion of which is
resiliently flexible such that in use the earpiece when secured in
the elongate member earpiece position is urged under spring bias
against the user's ear; wherein the elongate member is adjustable
such that with the clip attached to the rim of the cap the earpiece
when secured to the elongate member earpiece position may move
between a first position over the user's external auditory meatus
and a second position spaced apart from the first position away
from the user's ear; wherein the elongate member is mounted
pivotably to the clip on a shaft extending from the clip, such that
the elongate member may rotate on the clip thereby moving the
earpiece in the earpiece position between first and second
positions.
19. The bracket of claim 1 wherein the elongate member has a
longitudinal slot with the shaft passing therethrough and movable
through the slot therein providing adjustment of distance between
the clip and the receiver position in the elongate member to
facilitate positioning of the earpiece over the external auditory
meatus of the user.
20. The bracket of claim 1 further comprising at least one friction
member on a side of the elongate member whereby the elongate member
is mounted to the clip with a friction interface such that the
elongate member moves relative to the clip under positive action by
the user and otherwise maintains a fixed position during use,
wherein the shaft passes through the at least one friction member
and in cooperation with the securing member binds the at least one
friction member against the elongate member at a preferred
pressure, and a coil spring through which the shaft passes, the
securing member compressing the spring in cooperation with the
shaft, the spring maintaining a preferred pressure against the
friction member or members.
Description
[0001] This application is derived from the provisional application
filed Jul. 16, 2008 under Ser. No. 61081101 and claims the benefit
of that filing date
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention relates generally to cell phone earpieces and
more specifically to a bracket for suspending an earpiece from a
cap instead of from an auricle of an ear.
[0004] 2. Prior Art
[0005] Ear pieces that work in coordination with a cell phone are
now becoming common, allowing hands free cell phone use, both for
convenience and for operation of a vehicle. The operation of the
ear piece depends on maintaining placement of the speaker portion
of the ear piece at the external auditory meatus so very little
volume is required and external noise is minimized. Typically, an
ear piece is sold with a mount that has a C-shaped portion that
wraps around and behind a user's auricle. The ear piece in the
mount is then adjusted with its speaker portion at the acoustic
meatus where it is partially held in place by the tragus in
combination with the C-shaped portion of the mount.
[0006] The ear piece mount is uncomfortable and unsightly. Because
it is sometimes offensive to a user, it is often separated from the
earpiece and the earpiece is used without the mount, in which case
the earpiece is held to the ear only by placing the speaker portion
inside the tragus. This is less than a stable mount but still
sometimes preferable to using the C-shaped portion of the mount. A
mount that is comfortable and still affective is still needed.
[0007] It is then an object of the present invention to provide an
ear piece mounting bracket that is comfortable to use even for
extended periods of time. It is a further object that the bracket
be urged to the user's external auditory meatus. It is another
object that the bracket hold the ear piece to the external auditory
meatus independent of the user's auricle. It is a still further
object that the ear piece be conveniently movable away from the
auricle and external auditory meatus when not in use so it does not
become an irritant to the user and still quickly returned to its
operational position when needed for use.
SUMMARY
[0008] These objects are obtained in an earpiece bracket that
conveniently attaches to a cap worn by a user. The attachment is
pivotable so the bracket may swing the earpiece into and out of its
operational position. In use, the earpiece depends in the bracket
from the cap into an operational position with the speaker portion
of the earpiece urged against the user's ear at the external
auditory meatus. The earpiece swings into place during use and away
from the ear when not use. The earpiece speaker portion is held
against ear at the external auditory meatus under spring bias in
the attachment of the bracket to the cap. With the earpiece swung
temporarily to the external auditory meatus for a brief period of
use and then swung back to the cap until it is needed again, the
earpiece is comfortable when in use and does not become an irritant
to the ear because of its brief periods of contact with the
ear.
[0009] Persons will have a slightly different manner in regard to
where they prefer to wear a cap. Therefore bracket provides a
length adjustment such that the distance between the cap to the
earpiece is adjustable in the bracket.
[0010] The earpiece mounting device can be used with any product
designed to provide sound to the ear by adapting the product for
mounting to the earpiece mounting device of the present invention
as described herein. In referring to an earpiece generally for ease
of description, the earpiece is meant to include a wireless
telephone earpiece used in association with a cellular phone for
hands free operation of the cellular phone, a music player and any
similar sound device mountable to the ear for receiving a wireless
signal and producing sound to the ear. Use of the term "wireless"
is also used for ease and simplicity of description and for all
purposes herein should be deemed to include all methods and
protocols of transmitting and receiving a data signal without
wires. The well-known protocol known as Bluetooth is one such
protocol commonly used presently.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0011] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the bracket of the
present invention.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the assembled bracket of
FIG. 1 with a cap aligned to cover a portion of the assembly.
[0013] FIG. 3 is perspective view of the bracket of FIG. 1
partially assembled showing a clip, a friction member on the clip,
an elongate member with a slot over the friction member with a
spacer within the slot, and a shaft of a bolt extending upward
through the clip and continuing through a hole in the friction
member and a hole in the spacer.
[0014] FIG. 4 is an artistic view of the bracket of FIG. 1 attached
to a cap in its operational first position.
[0015] FIG. 5 is an artistic view of the bracket of FIG. 1 attached
to the cap of FIG. 4, rotated to a non-operational second position
alongside the cap.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0016] The bracket 5 of the present invention for suspending a cell
phone earpiece 100 from a user's headgear 102 primarily comprises a
clip 10 temporarily attachable to the headgear 102 and an elongate
member 12 to which an earpiece 100 may be secured. Typically the
headgear 102 is a cap that has a rim 104 to which the clip 10
temporarily attaches. To attach to the headgear 102 the clip 10
comprises two opposing members 14 mutually bending from each other
at a line of flexure 16 forming a channel 18 therebetween. The cap
rim 104 is then receivable temporarily into the channel 18 under
spring bias from the line of flexure 16 that binds the cap rim 104
between the opposing members 14.
[0017] The elongate member 12 is mounted pivotably to the clip 10
near an elongate member first end 20 on a bolt 21 extending from
the clip 10. The elongate member 12 may thus rotate on the clip 10
thereby moving the earpiece 100 secured in an earpiece position 22
on the elongate member 12 between first and second positions 24,
26. In the first position 24, the earpiece when mounted in the
earpiece position 22 is over the external auditor meatus 106 of the
user. The elongate member 12 comprises first and second sections
23, 25 curved inward at least a portion of which is resiliently
flexible such that the earpiece 100 in the earpiece position 22 is
urged under spring bias against the user's ear 108 in use. Clearly,
the elongate member 12 may instead comprise an actual curve. In the
second position 26, the earpiece 100 is swiveled away from the
user's ear 108, which may be conveniently alongside the headgear
102 so as not to interfere with or distract the user.
[0018] The earpiece 100 is secured to the earpiece position 22 at
an elongate member second end 28. The elongate member second end 28
may comprise a resilient wire form with a pair of legs 30, in which
case the earpiece position 22 may be along the legs 30 but is
preferably at the end of the legs 32 with the legs 30 grasping the
earpiece 100 between them.
[0019] The elongate member 12 is also slidably mounted to the clip
10. The bolt 21 passes through a slot 32 longitudinal in the
elongate member 12 therein providing adjustment of distance between
the clip 10 and the earpiece position 22 in the elongate member 12
to facilitate positioning of the earpiece 100 over the external
auditory meatus 106 of the user.
[0020] At least one friction member 34 is installed over the bolt
21 on a side 36 of the elongate member 12, and typically over and
under the elongate member 12, providing a friction interface
between the elongate member 12 and the clip 10.
[0021] A nut 38 on the bolt end 40 binds the friction member or
members 34 against the elongate member 12 at a preferred pressure
as the nut 38 is tightened on the bolt 21. Under the friction
provided by the friction members, which may be fiber washers, the
elongate member 12 moves relative to the clip 10 under positive
action by the user and otherwise maintains a fixed position during
use.
[0022] A coil spring 42 may be provided through which the bolt 21
passes and which the nut 38 compresses as the nut 38 is tightened
to maintain a preferred pressure against the friction member or
members 34. For ease of description the shaft that extends from the
clip 10 through the spring 42 and the friction member or members 34
is represented by a bolt 21 with the assembly held in place by a
nut 38 in cooperation with the bolt 21. The bolt and nut are common
and well known parts used for this purpose. However, there are also
other parts, such as rivots and pins, etc. that are suitable to
perform the same function. A locking nut or a second nut also can
be used along with the first nut to prevent the nut from
unthreading on a bolt. There are similar other parts that can be
used to prevent the nut from unthreading. All of these parts are
represented by the use of the term `nut` and for all purposes
herein should be deemed included in the use of the term `nut.` For
all purposes herein, use of the terms `bolt` and `nut` are for ease
of description only and should be deemed to represent all other
common and well known parts that perform the same function. For
generality, the bolt and similarly functioning parts may be
described as a shaft herein and the nut and similarly function
parts may be described as a securing member.
* * * * *