Tubular, flexible wireless communication device

• US 20060177086A1
• Filed: 02/08/2005
• Published: 08/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Larmour, David W., Rye, Ryan P., Stanford, Robert N.
• Application Number:
  US11/053,690
• Publication Number:
  US 20060177086A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/370
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1066 Constructional aspects of the interconnection between earpiece and earpiece support earpiece support for monophonic headphones H04R1/105; earpiece support for stereophonic headphones H04R5/0335
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/345 for loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/107 Monophonic and stereophonic headphones with microphone for two-way hands free communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/0335 Earpiece support, e.g. headbands or neckrests for monophonic headphones H04R1/105

Abstract

This invention is a wireless communication device, for example a hands-free speakerphone accessory for a mobile telephone, that includes a pair of flexible elongated tubular members capable of attaching to the stems of eyeglasses. When the apertures or lumens in the flexible elongated tubes are attached to the stems of eyewear, the wireless communication device acts both as a wireless communication device and as an eyewear retainer. An adjustable clasp member and second clasp member mounted on the flexible tubular members allow the wireless communication device to form a closed loop, so as to be mounted on a user'"'"'s neck, or other object, like a sun visor or steering wheel of an automobile. In one embodiment, at least one loudspeaker is coupled to one of the tubular members, while a low-profile microphone is coupled to the other tubular member.

Claims

1. An aural excitation device, comprising:

a. a pair of flexible hollow, elongated tubes, each tube having first end and a second, distal end, the first end having a central bore sufficiently large to slide over an end of an eyewear stem;

b. an electronic device coupled serially between each of the pair of flexible hollow, elongated tubes such that the electronic device is coupled to the second, distal ends of each of the pair of flexible hollow, elongated tubes;

c. at least one earpiece speaker, the at least one earpiece speaker being mechanically coupled to the first end of at least one of the flexible hollow, elongated tubes, the at least one earpiece speaker being electrically coupled to the electronic device by an electrical conductor passing through at least one of the flexible hollow, elongated tubes;

d. a low-profile microphone, the low-profile microphone being mechanically coupled to the first end of at least one of the flexible hollow, elongated tubes, the low-profile microphone being electrically coupled to the electronic device by an electrical conductor passing through at least one of the flexible hollow, elongated tubes; and

e. an adjustable clasp member coupled to at least one of the flexible hollow, elongated tubes, the adjustable clasp member being moveable along the at least one flexible hollow, elongated tubes.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein a second clasp member is coupled to the at least one of the flexible hollow, elongated tubes, the second clasp member being coupled to the flexible hollow, elongated tube to which the adjustable clasp member is not coupled.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the electronic device is selected from the group consisting of radios, MP3 players, mobile telephones, mobile telephone headsets, wireless mobile telephone headsets.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the earpiece speaker is retractable.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the electronic device comprises an embedded loudspeaker.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the electronic device comprises an embedded microphone.

7. The device of claim 3, wherein the electronic device comprises a rechargeable battery.

8. The device of claim 2, wherein when the adjustable clasp member is coupled to the second clasp member, the pair of flexible hollow, elongated tubes, the electronic device, the adjustable clasp member and the second clasp member forms a closed loop.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein both the adjustable clasp member and the second clasp member comprise half-snaps.

10. A flexible wireless communication device, comprising:

a. a flexible member having a central portion and a pair of flexible tubular members extending therefrom, the pair of flexible tubular members comprising a first and a second flexible tubular member, the first tubular member having a first hollow end, the second tubular member having a second hollow end;

b. an electronic device coupled to the central portion;

c. at least one loudspeaker mechanically coupled to a tubular member selected from the group consisting of the first flexible tubular member and the second flexible tubular member, wherein the at least one loudspeaker is electrically coupled to the electronic device;

d. at least one low-profile microphone mechanically coupled to a tubular member selected from the group consisting of the first flexible tubular member and the second flexible tubular member, wherein the at least one low-profile microphone is electrically coupled to the electronic device;

e. an moveable clasp coupled to a flexible tubular member selected from the group consisting of the first flexible tubular member and the second flexible tubular member; and

f. a clasp connector coupled to a flexible tubular member to which the moveable clasp is not coupled.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the first hollow end and the second hollow end each comprises a lumen capable of receiving the stem portion of eyewear.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the at least one loudspeaker is retractable.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein both the electrical coupling between the at least one loudspeaker and the electronic device and the electrical coupling between the at least one low-profile microphone comprise electrical conductors running through the first flexible tubular member and the second flexible tubular member.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the electronic device is selected from the group consisting of radios, MP3 players, mobile telephones, mobile telephone headsets, wireless mobile telephone headsets.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the electronic device comprises a wireless mobile telephone headset.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the electronic device comprises an embedded loudspeaker and an embedded microphone.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the electronic device comprises a five-button user interface.

18. The device of claim 15, wherein the electronic device further comprises a rechargeable battery.

19. The device of claim 14, wherein the moveable clasp comprises a female snap, further wherein the clasp connector comprises a male snap.

20. The device of claim 14, wherein when the moveable clasp is coupled to the clasp connector, the flexible member, the moveable clasp and the clasp connector form a closed loop.