Shower speaker telephone

• US 5,664,015 A
• Filed: 10/18/1995
• Issued: 09/02/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: JING MEI Industrial Holdings Limited
• Original Assignee: JING MEI Industrial Holdings Limited
• Inventors: Chan, Raymond, Ford, Joseph E., Jursich, Donald N.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHIANG, JACK
• Application Number:
  US08/544,770
• Time in Patent Office: 685 Days
• Field of Search: 379/433, 379/434, 379/428, 379/429, 379/420, 379/436, 379/100, 379/58-63, 379/446, 379/455, 379/454
• US Class Current: 379/433.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/18 Telephone sets specially adapted for use in ships, mines, or other places exposed to adverse environment H04M1/19 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724

Abstract

A safe cordless telephone with a hands-free speakerphone is provided for use in showers or when taking a bath. The user-friendly cordless telephone can be readily attached and removed from any portion of the shower/bath unit, such as: a shower wall, shower door, sliding shower panel, towel rack, bracket, holder, or shower head pipe. The shower speaker telephone can also have a radio, interom, clock, and a display window to display the telephone numbers of outgoing and/or incoming telephone calls. The dependable cordless telephone is made of an impact-resistant plastic capable of withstanding water pressure and is insulated to prevent electrical shock. A water-resistant antenna extends upwardly from the telephone housing. A battery seal is positioned about the battery chamber to prevent water from entering into the battery chamber. An elastomeric gasket is snugly positioned about the front and back of the handset to prevent water from entering into the interior of the handset and shorting the telephone circuitry. The base unit is located away from the shower and has a base antenna and a battery charger, as well as other features.

Claims

1. A telephone system, comprising:

a shower speaker telephone for use in a shower, said telephone comprising

a water-impervious housing with a front section and a back section;

said front section including a speakerphone comprising an amplified speaker for receiving telephone signals and for amplifying an incoming caller'"'"'s voice to a sufficient audible level to be heard by an user in the shower at a distance spaced from the speaker, and an amplified microphone for detecting and receiving the user'"'"'s voice in the shower at a distance spaced from the microphone and from transmitting telephone signals;

said housing comprising an impact-resistant electrically insulating material capable of withstanding water pressure from the shower;

said housing defining a hollow interior compartment for housing receiving circuitry connected to said microphone and transmitting circuitry connected to said speaker;

said housing comprising a shower-impervious assembly providing a water-impervious barrier for preventing water from entering into said compartment and shorting said receiving and transmitting circuitry; and

said shower-impervious assembly including a shampoo-resistant rib and a soap-resistant seal.

2. A telephone system in accordance with claim 1 wherein:

said telephone comprises a portable cordless telephone for resisting water pressures ranging from about 20 pounds per square inch (psi) to about 80 pounds per square inch (psi);

said portable cordless telephone having a water-impervious antenna; and

said housing having a battery chamber for receiving at least one battery for powering said telephone; and

an indicator light for signaling when the power in the battery is low.

3. A telephone system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said telephone includes a display with a clock.

4. A telephone system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said housing has a radio selected from the group consisting of an AM radio, an FM radio, and an AM/FM radio, controls for selecting channels on said radio, and said speaker for broadcasting a radio station to a listener in the shower.

5. A telephone system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said telephone has an emergency button for transmitting a call to an emergency operator.

6. A telephone system in accordance with claim 1 wherein:

said housing includes in intercom; and

said front section has a keypad comprising a set of alpha numeric buttons for transmitting telephone numbers.

7. A telephone system in accordance with claim 2 including a base located away from the shower, said base having a battery charging chamber for charging batteries for use in said portable telephone, a base antenna from communicating with the portable telephone antenna, a telephone cord for connection to a phone line, and an interior chamber for containing telephone transmitting and receiving circuitry;

and said base has a set of keys comprising alpha numeric pushbuttons for dialing telephone numbers.

8. A shower telephone system, comprising:

a shower speaker telephone comprising a portable cordless telephone for use in a shower, comprising

an impact-resistant soap-impervious plastic housing providing a semi-rigid handset body for resisting water pressures from a shower ranging from about 20 pounds per square inch (psi) to about 80 pounds per square inch psi), and housing defining an internal battery chamber for receiving a battery pack comprising a set of batteries to power the handset, said housing defining an interior telephone circuitry-containing chamber for containing telephone circuitry including transmitting circuitry and receiving circuitry, and said housing having a front section and a back section;

an annular peripheral elastomeric shampoo-impervious rib providing a gasket positioned snugly between the front and back sections of the handset, said elastomeric gasket peripherally and longitudinally surrounding the handset, said gasket comprising an elastomer, said elastomer being impervious to water, liquid, and solids to prevent water, soap, shampoo, hair conditioner and dirt from entering into the telephone circuitry-containing chamber of the handset and shorting the telephone circuitry;

an elastomeric battery pack-seal comprising a hair conditioner-impervious elastomer positioned about the battery chamber, said battery pack-seal being impervious to water, liquid, and solids for preventing water, soap, shampoo, hair conditioner and dirt from entering into the battery chamber and shorting the battery pack;

said housing having an activating switch comprising an on-off button connected to said telephone circuitry and having a battery indicating light comprising a light emitting diode, and said soap-impervious housing being impervious to water, liquid, and solids to prevent water, soap, shampoo, hair conditioner and dirt from entering into the telephone circuitry-containing chamber and battery chamber of the telephone and shorting the telephone circuitry and battery pack;

said front section of the telephone comprising a speakerphone with a telephone speaker communicating with said receiving circuitry for broadcasting an incoming caller'"'"'s voice to a sufficient audible level to an heard by an user in the shower at a distance spaced from the speaker, a mouthpiece comprising a microphone communicating with said transmitting circuitry for receiving the user'"'"'s voice in the shower at a distance spaced from the microphone and for transmitting telephone signals; and

a handset antenna extending outwardly from said housing and connected to said telephone circuitry, said antenna having an exterior water-impervious surface.

9. A shower telephone system in accordance with claim 8 wherein:

said front section including a wave-shaped portion with a convex area and a concave area for enhancing accoustical transmission and reception of voice and radio waves;

said housing comprises a plastic selected from the group consisting of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyurethane, polyethylene, polyethylene oxide, polycarbonate, polyethylene, polypropylene, olefins, polyolefins, polyamides, nylon, polyamide-imides, polyimide sulfones, styrenes including styrene/acrylonitrile (SAN), styrene/butadiene (SB), styrene/maleic anyhydryde, vinyls including polyvinyl acetal, polyvinyl acetate (PVAC), polyvinyl alcohol (PVAL), polyvinyl butyryl (PVB), polyvinyl carbazole (PVK), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), polyvinyl chloride acetate (PVCA), polyvinyl fluoride (PVF), polyvinylidene chloride PVDC), polyoxymethylene, ethylene/ethyl acrylate (EEA), acrylonitrile/styrene/acrylate (ASA), acetal, polyformaldehyde, acetate, ethylene/vinyl acetate (EVA), butyrate, acrylic, polymethyl methacrylate, acrylonitrile/methyl/methacrylate (AMMA), cellulosics, cellulose nitrate (CN), cellulose propionate (CP), ethyl cellulose (EC), cellulose acetate (CA), cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB), cellulose acetate propionate (CAP), cellulose formaldehyde (CF), cellulose triacetate (CTA), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), fluropolymers, chlorinated polyethylene (CPE), chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC), ionomers, polyarylate, polyarylterephthalate (PAT), polyarylether (PAE), polyarylamid, polyaramide, polyarylsulfone, polyphthalamide, polyarylsulfone, polybutylene, polyester, ethylene, polyuryletherketone, polymethylpentane, polyphenylene sulfide, polyphtralamide, polysulfone, and combinations thereof;

said elastomer in said gasket is selected from the group consisting of neoprene, silicone, polyurethane, polychlorprene, nitrile rubber, butyl rubber, polysufide, cis-i, 4-polyisoprene, ethylene-propylene terpolymers, and natural rubber;

said battery-pack seal comprising an elastomeric seal selected from the group consisting of neoprene, silicone, polyurethane, polychlorprene, nitrile rubber, butyl rubber, polysufide, cis-i, 4-polyisoprene, ethylene-propylene terpolymers, and natural rubber;

said exterior water-impervious surface of said handset antenna comprises a material selected from the group consisting of neoprene, silicone, polyurethane, polychlorprene, nitrile rubber, butyl rubber, polysufide, cis-i, 4-polyisoprene, ethylene-propylene terpolymers, and natural rubber; and

said handset antenna is selected from the group consisting of an omnidirectional antenna, a foldable antenna, a telescoping antenna, a retractable antenna, a collapsible antenna, a pivotable antenna, and a flexible antenna.

10. A shower telephone system in accordance with claim 8 including a base unit comprising:

a base housing defining a battery-charging chamber for containing a battery charger to recharge batteries from the battery pack in the cordless telephone or to charge an extra set of batteries for the cordless telephone;

a power cord for connecting said battery charger to an electrical outlet;

said base housing having a battery charging indicator;

said base housing defining an interior base telephone circuitry-containing chamber for containing telephone circuitry including a transmitting circuitry and receiving circuitry, said telephone circuitry-containing chamber being spaced from said battery-charging chamber;

a telephone cord for connecting said telephone circuitry in said base unit to a telephone line; and

a base antenna extending upwardly from said base housing and operatively connected to said telephone circuitry in said base housing, said base antenna being selected from the group consisting of an omnidirectional antenna, a foldable antenna, a telescoping antenna, a retractable antenna, a collapsible antenna, a pivotable antenna, and a flexible antenna.

11. A shower telephone system in accordance with claim 8 wherein:

said front section of said telephone includes keys comprising alpha numeric push buttons for initiating an outgoing telephone call and an emergency button for signaling an emergency operator; and

said back section of said portable cordless telephone has a connector for removably attachment to a shower wall, shower panel, shower door, towel rack, bracket, or shower head pipe of a shower stall.

12. A telephone system in accordance with claim 8 wherein:

said housing has a radio selected from the group consisting of an AM radio, an FM radio, and AM/FM radio;

controls for selecting channels on said radio;

the speaker for broadcasting a radio station to a listener in the shower;

a radio station indicator for indicating the selected channel;

a display window for displaying the telephone number of an outgoing call; and

a clock for displaying the time.