U.S. patent application number 13/896695 was filed with the patent office on 2014-11-20 for decorative wireless earphone communication device.
The applicant listed for this patent is Hugo J. Andreini, III, Barakat Ayman. Invention is credited to Hugo J. Andreini, III, Barakat Ayman.
Application Number | 20140338397 13/896695 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51894690 |
Filed Date | 2014-11-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140338397 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Andreini, III; Hugo J. ; et
al. |
November 20, 2014 |
Decorative Wireless Earphone Communication Device
Abstract
A decorative wireless earphone communication device is
described. The decorative wireless earphone communication device
may include a pendant housing the electronics for the device, a
necklace which supports the pendant around the neck of the user, an
earphone connected to the pendant, and a decorative faceplate
removably attached to the front of the pendant such that when the
device is in use by the wearer, the pendant and decorative
faceplate hangs naturally around the neck of the user.
Inventors: |
Andreini, III; Hugo J.;
(Wheeling, WV) ; Ayman; Barakat; (Philadelphia,
PA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Andreini, III; Hugo J.
Ayman; Barakat |
Wheeling
Philadelphia |
WV
PA |
US
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
51894690 |
Appl. No.: |
13/896695 |
Filed: |
May 17, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
63/1.14 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A44C 15/005 20130101;
H04R 2420/07 20130101; H04R 2225/31 20130101; A44C 15/0015
20130101; A44C 25/002 20130101; H04R 1/1033 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
63/1.14 |
International
Class: |
A44C 15/00 20060101
A44C015/00; A44C 25/00 20060101 A44C025/00 |
Claims
1. A wireless communication device comprising: a necklace; a
pendant connected to the necklace, wherein the pendant houses
electronics for receiving and transmitting wireless signals, and
wherein the pendant has a front surface; an earphone connected to
an earphone cord, wherein the earphone cord is electrically
connected to the pendant; and a decorative faceplate removably
attached to the front surface of the pendant.
2. The wireless communication device of claim 1, further comprising
a call indicator positioned about the earphone cord.
3. The wireless communication device of claim 2 wherein the call
indicator is a vibratory indicator.
4. The wireless communication device of claim 2 wherein the call
indicator is a audible indicator.
5. The wireless communication device of claim 2 wherein the call
indicator is a visual indicator.
6. The wireless communication device of claim 1 wherein the
necklace is removable.
7. The wireless communication device of claim 1, further comprising
a microphone, a power switch, a rechargeable battery, and a
charging jack.
8. The wireless communication device of claim 1 wherein the pendant
is adapted to receive the earphone in the back of the pendant.
9. The wireless communication device of claim 1, further comprising
call control switches positioned about the earphone cord.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent
Application No. 61/648,530 filed May 17, 2012, which is herein
incorporated by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] There are a variety of different types of Bluetooth
earphones available on the market. For example, some Bluetooth
earphones are designed to hang from the ear, and others are
designed as earplugs. The user typically selects a style based on
their personal need. Many of these designs are not particularly
decorative.
[0003] Some decorative designs for Bluetooth earphones have been
created such as in U.S. Pat. No. 7,715,888 to Ko. This patent
describes a Bluetooth earphone device that is in the form of a
decorative necklace in which the earpiece is the decorative
ornament of the necklace. While this device is not in use it
appears as a decorative necklace. However, to use the device the
user must effectively rotate the necklace and move the decorative
ornament to their ear for insertion into the ear. While the device
is in use, the decorative ornament is effectively on the side of
the face of the user and thus destroys the appearance of a
decorative necklace while the device is in use.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention is directed to a decorative wireless
earphone communication device that may include a pendant housing
the electronics for the device, a necklace which supports the
pendant around the neck of the user, an earphone connected to the
pendant, and a decorative faceplate removably attached to the front
of the pendant such that when the device is in use by the wearer,
the pendant and decorative faceplate hang naturally around the neck
of the user.
[0005] Some embodiments of the invention may include a wireless
communication device comprising a necklace, a pendant connected to
the necklace, where the pendant houses electronics for receiving
and transmitting wireless signals, and wherein the pendant has a
front surface, an earphone connected to an earphone cord, wherein
the earphone cord is electrically connected to the pendant and a
decorative faceplate removably attached to the front surface of the
pendant.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a back view of an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0008] FIG. 3 is a partial back perspective view of a pendant.
[0009] FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of a faceplate detached from a
pendant.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The present invention is directed to a decorative wireless
earphone communication device that is adapted to communicate sound
with another device such as by Bluetooth communication. With
reference now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a decorative
wireless earphone communication device in accordance with an
embodiment of the invention and designated generally by the
reference numeral 10. The decorative wireless earphone
communication device generally includes a pendant 12 which contains
the electronics for the device, a necklace 14 which supports the
pendant around the neck of the user, an earphone cord 16 connected
to an earphone 20, and a decorative faceplate 18 removably attached
to the front of the pendant 12.
[0011] The pendant 12 contains the electronics necessary to send
and receive wireless signals, such as Bluetooth wireless signals.
In certain embodiments, the pendant may pair with one or more
Bluetooth compatible devices. The pendant 12 includes a microphone
22 adapted to receive sounds such as the voice of the user, a power
on/off switch 24, a earphone jack 26, and a charging jack for
charging the rechargeable battery (not shown) preferably housed
within the pendant 12. In the embodiment illustration in FIG. 2,
the earphone jack 26 may also function as a charging jack.
Optionally, the rechargeable batter may be removable from the
pendant such that it is easily replaced by the user. The location
of the microphone 22, the power on/off switch 24, and the earphone
jack 26 are not particularly limited and can be placed around the
pendent in virtually any location that does not substantially
interfere with the use of the decorative wireless earphone
communication device. Further, the pendant 12 may also include one
or more buttons for wireless communication functionality.
[0012] The necklace 14 forms a loop, sized to fit about the neck of
the user. The pendant 12 is attached to or hangs from the necklace
14. In some embodiments, the necklace 14 may be connected to the
pendant 12 in one or more locations and supports the weight of the
pendant around the neck of the user. The embodiment illustrated in
FIGS. 1 and 2 provides two locations. The necklace may be
constructed from any variety of materials used for forming
necklaces, including but no limited to, chain, wire, leather,
string, rope, and other similar materials. Optionally the necklace
14 may include a detachable clasp 28. Further, the necklace 14 may
be interchangeably connected to the pendant such that different
styles of necklaces may be used and interchanged depending upon on
the personal preferences of the user. Connections that provide
interchangeability are well known in the art and any of such
connections may be utilized with the pendent and necklace. This
adds additional design creativity to the decorative wireless
earphone communication device.
[0013] The earphone 20 is effectively a small speaker adapted to
transmit sound to the ear of the user. The particular size or
configuration of the earphone 20 is not particularly limited and
may include, but is not limited to, earbuds, earplugs or other
similar earphones. The earphone 20 is connected to the pendant 12
by the earphone cord 16. This connection to the pendant 12 may be
permanent, or may optionally be detachable for example by using
standard 2.5 mm audio jacks or other similar detachable
connections. The earphone cord 16 may be of a variety of colors and
styles to coordinate, match, or go with the necklace 14, thus
giving the user more design flexibility for the decorative wireless
earphone communication device. In additional embodiments, control
switches or buttons, including but not limited to, volume control,
mute control, call control, or other multipurpose functions, may be
placed on or about the earphone cord 16. In further embodiments,
the earphone may optionally contain a microphone.
[0014] Optionally, the earphone cord 16 may include at least one
call indicator 29. The call indicator 29 alerts the user of an
incoming call. The call indicator is in communication with the
pendent such that when an incoming call is received by the pendent,
electronic signals are transmitted to the call indicator 29 either
wirelessly or by a physical electrical connection between the call
indicator 29 and the pendent. The position of the call indicator 29
on the earphone cord is not particularly limited but should be
located in a position that allows for the call indicator to
effectively signal the user of an incoming call. The call indicator
29 may use one or more of audible, visual, or vibratory signals to
alert the user of an incoming call. Audible signals may include any
on of user selectable tones or melodies. Visual indicators may
include, but are not limited to, one or more led lights utilizing
one or more colors.
[0015] With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, in some embodiments, the
back of the pendant 12 may be adapted to hold the earphone 20 when
the earphone is not in use. In some embodiments, the earphone 20
will fit within an earphone mating portion 30 on the back of the
pendant 12 which is adapted to receive the earphone 20. In some
embodiments, a pair of weak magnets (not shown) may be located
within the earphone 20 and the earphone mating portion 30 to
further secure the earphone 20 to the pendant 12 when not in use.
In some embodiments, the earphone mating portion 30 may be recessed
into the back of the pendant 12 such that when the earphone 20 is
located in the earphone mating portion 30, the earphone is flush
with or nearly flush with the back of the pendant 12. The earphone
20 may also include a multipurpose button for wireless
communication functionality. The earphone mating portion 30 may
include a call answering/termination switch such that when the
earphone is removed from the earphone mating portion, an incoming
call is answered and when the earphone is reseated in the earphone
mating portion, the call is terminated.
[0016] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 4, the decorative wireless
earphone communication device 10 includes an interchangeable
decorative faceplate 18. The decorative faceplate 18 is a faceplate
providing ornamental functionality to the pendant 12. The design of
the faceplate is not at all limited and may be made of virtually
any material that will not substantially interfere with the
electronics housed in the pendant 12. The decorative faceplate 18
may be held to the front surface of the pendant 12 by any number of
methods, including but not limited to clasps around the edges of
the pendant and decorative faceplate, mating magnets, non-permanent
adhesives, hook and loop fasteners, and other similar attachment
mechanisms. To aid in the maintaining the location of the
decorative faceplate relative to the pendant, in some embodiments,
the front surface of pendant 12 may include one or more indexing
protrusions to match with corresponding features or indents in the
decorative faceplate 18. A faceplate removal tool may be used to
assist in removing the faceplate 18 from the pendent 12.
[0017] While the pendant 12 and decorative faceplate 18 have been
shown as being circular, the size and shape of the pendant 12 and
decorative faceplate 18 is not particularly limited. The pendant 12
and the decorative faceplate 18 may be of the same shape or
different shapes, thus orienting the faceplate 18 with the pendant
12.
[0018] In use, the decorative wireless earphone communication
device 10 is positioned around the neck of the user. The earphone
20 may be removed from the back of the pendant 12 and inserted in
the ear of the wearer, the pendant 12 supported by the necklace 14,
hangs naturally around the neck of the wearer and appears as a
normal decorative necklace.
[0019] Having described certain embodiments of the invention in
detail above, it is to be understood that modification or
variations may be easily made without departing from the spirit of
the invention.
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