Device for electrically connecting a mobile phone to a keyboard

• US 6,155,841 A
• Filed: 11/23/1999
• Issued: 12/05/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Horst Spanyar
• Original Assignee: Horst Spanyar
• Inventors: Spanyar, Horst
• Primary Examiner(s): Paumen, Gary F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, PHUONGCHI T
• Application Number:
  US09/447,522
• Time in Patent Office: 378 Days
• Field of Search: 439/37, 439/484, 439/483, 439/476.1, 379/446, 379/447, 379/455, 379/454, 379/433, 368/10, 235/462, 235/472, 361/686, 361/680, 455/348, 179/2 DP
• US Class Current: 439/37
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/703 characterised by spacers between contact carrying layers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/84 characterised by ergonomic functions, e.g. for miniature keyboards; characterised by operational sensory functions, e.g. sound feedback legends H01H13/83
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2207/022 Plug
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/03 elastomeric
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/052 elastomeric
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/074 elastomeric
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/026 Hook and loop
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/04 portable; hand held
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/022 Telephone handset
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/23 Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof by improving visibility H04M1/22
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724094 Interfacing with a device worn on the user's body to provide access to telephonic functionalities, e.g. accepting a call, reading or composing a message
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/18 including more than one keyboard unit

Abstract

A film keyboard is sewn into an end of the sleeve of a jacket. A cable leads from it to a first plug-type connector, on whose opposite end a rubber band engages, said rubber band being supported in terms of forces at another point on the end of the sleeve. If the nebber band is located between the thumb and index finger, the first plug-type connector is thus inevitably held in such a position that it can easily be plugged into a second, corresponding plug-type connector of a mobile phone when the latter is held in the hand in the usual way. When not in use, the first plug-type connector is held concealed in the end of the sleeve.

Claims

1. A device for electrically connecting a mobile phone to a keyboard, comprising

a first plug-type connector (19) connected to a keyboard,

a second plug-type connector (29) of a mobile phone, compatible with said first plug-type connector,

a strap device (22) that extends in a position of use on the hand (10) of a person, at least from the back (23) of said hand between the thumb (13) and index finger to the hollow (12) of said hand, said first plug-type connector (19) being attached to said strap device in such a way that said first plug-type connector (19) can be positioned in the vicinity of said thumb where said first plug-type connector (19) can be connected to said second plug-type connector (29) when a mobile phone (11) is held in said hand in a usual way,

wherein said strap device (22) can be attached to one end (15) of a sleeve of an item of clothing for the upper body of said person in such a way that said strap device (22) is held stabilized in the position of use and can be moved into a position of rest in which at least said first plug-type connector (19) is held concealed in or on the end (15) of said sleeve,

further comprising a keyboard (16) that can be applied into or onto said item of clothing, and

a cable device (18) that connects said keyboard (16) to said first plug-type connector (19).

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said strap device (22) comprises a folded-over cuff (34) that is attached to the edge (36) of said sleeve, said cuff (34) having an opening (37) through which a thumb of said hand can be pushed, and parts of said cable device are concealed in the material of said cuff (34).

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said strap device (22) comprises a longitudinally inelastic cable (18) which extends, as part of said cable device (18), from a first edge point (21) of said end (15) of said sleeve to said first plug-in connector (19), and wherein said strap device (22) comprises a longitudinally elastic tensile element (22) which extends from a second edge point (24) of said end (15) of said sleeve to said first plug-type connector (19), which tensile element (22) is tensioned in said position of use, and in a position of rest retracts said first plug-type connector (19), substantially relieved of tension, into said sleeve.

4. The device as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a tubelet-like substantially longitudinally incompressible duct (26) concealed in said sleeve, in which duct (26) a significant part of said tensile element (22) is guided in a longitudinally moveable fashion, it being possible to secure an end of said tensile element (22) which is remote from said first plug-type connector (19) in a first end region of said duct, and to attach a second end region of said duct in the vicinity of said second edge point (24) of said end (15) of said sleeve.