Storage case and method for a wireless headset with a microphone suspended between earpieces of the headset

• US 6,370,401 B1
• Filed: 11/02/1999
• Issued: 04/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Baranowski, Robert, Berg, Roger William
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunter, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHOW, CHARLES CHIANG
• Application Number:
  US09/431,781
• Time in Patent Office: 889 Days
• Field of Search: 455/569, 455/344, 455/346, 455/348, 455/347, 455/350, 455/575, 455/90, 455/351, 379/430, 379/438
• US Class Current: 455/569.1
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 11/02 using take-up reel or drum
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/05 specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/15 Protecting or guiding telephone cords
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1025 Accumulators or arrangements for charging secondary cells per se H01M10/00; charging in general H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1033 Cables or cables storage, e.g. cable reels cord reels per se H02G11/02; arrangements for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of conductors or cables B65H75/34; extensible conductors or cables, e.g. self-coiling cords H01B7/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/033 Headphones for stereophonic communication details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10

Abstract

A headset case for a wireless headset allows the headset to be coiled for safe storage and convenient transport. A circuitry cabinet of the headset is secured to a rotating spool that is then rotated to wind up wired connections between the cabinet and the headphones of the headset. Finally, the headphones are secured on the case. Preferably, the case is integrated into an audio or telephone unit with which the headset is used.

Claims

1. A protective storage case for storing a headset, said headset having a headset circuitry cabinet, at least one headphone, and at least one headset wire connected to said headset circuitry cabinet and said at least one headphone, said protective storage case comprising:

a rotating spool, the rotation of said rotating spool winding said at least one headset wire onto said rotating spool; and

a circuitry cabinet storage apparatus, said circuitry cabinet storage apparatus storing said headset circuitry cabinet,

wherein said headset circuitry cabinet is releasably removable from said circuitry cabinet storage apparatus.

2. The protective storage case of claim 1, wherein said circuitry cabinet storage apparatus is located within said rotating spool.

3. The protective storage case of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one cabinet-securing member on said rotating spool for securing said headset circuitry cabinet to said rotating spool.

4. The protective storage case of claim 3, wherein said at least one cabinet-securing member releasably secures said headset circuitry cabinet to said rotating spool.

5. The protective storage case of claim 3, wherein a securing member of said at least one cabinet-securing member is one of a clip, a frictional stop member, an arm, a strap, a hook and loop fastener, and a snapping device.

6. The protective storage case of claim 1, wherein said at least one wire is wound on said rotating spool around said headset circuitry cabinet.

7. The protective storage case of claim 1, further comprising:

a headphone-securing member, said headphone-securing member being sized to secure said at least one headphone.

8. The protective storage case of claim 7, wherein said headphone-securing member is sized to frictionally secure said at least one headphone.

9. The protective storage case of claim 1, further comprising a manipulation member, said manipulation member rotating said rotating spool.

10. The protective storage case of claim 9, wherein manipulation member is one of a knob, a protrusion, a recess and an indented portion.

11. The protective storage case of claim 10, wherein said rotating spool further comprises said manipulation member.

12. The protective storage case of claim 1, further comprising:

a charger, said charger charging a battery.

13. The protective storage case of claim 12, wherein said battery is located within said headset circuitry cabinet.

14. The protective storage case of claim 12, wherein said battery is charged by said charger while said headset circuitry cabinet is stored within said circuitry cabinet storage apparatus.

15. The protective storage case of claim 1, wherein said protective storage case is integrally formed as part of an audio signal source, a telephone unit, or a single integrated device comprising both said audio signal source and said telephone unit.

16. The protective storage case of claim 1, wherein said headset circuitry cabinet includes a processor.

17. The protective storage case of claim 1, wherein said headset circuitry cabinet includes a transceiver.

18. A protective storage case for storing a headset, said headset having a headset circuitry cabinet, at least one headphone, and at least one headset wire connected to said headset circuitry cabinet and said at least one headphone, said protective storage case comprising:

a rotating spool, the rotation of said rotating spool winding said at least one headset wire onto said rotating spool;

a circuitry cabinet storage apparatus, said circuitry cabinet storage apparatus storing said headset circuitry cabinet;

at least one cabinet-securing member on said rotating spool for securing said headset circuitry cabinet to said rotating; and

a headphone-securing member, said headphone-securing member being sized to secure said at least one headphone,

wherein said headset circuitry cabinet is releasably removable from said circuitry cabinet storage apparatus. spool.

19. A method for storing a headset, said headset having a headset circuitry cabinet, at least one headphone, and at least one headset wire connected to said headset circuitry cabinet and said at least one headphone, said method comprising:

rotating a rotating spool to wind said at least one headset wire onto said rotating spool; and

storing said headset circuitry cabinet within a circuitry cabinet storage apparatus,

wherein said headset circuitry cabinet is releasably removable from said circuitry cabinet storage apparatus.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said step of rotating said rotating spool is performed manually.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said step of rotating said rotating spool is performed using a manipulation member.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said manipulation member is located on said rotating spool.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein said manipulation member is one of a knob, a protrusion, a recess and an indented portion.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein manipulation of said manipulation member comprises grasping one of a knob and an extension, said one of said knob and said extension being located on said rotating spool.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein manipulation of said manipulation member comprises inserting a finger into one of a rotating spool indented portion and a rotating spool recessed portion.

26. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

charging a battery, said battery being located in said headset circuitry cabinet.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said battery is charged by said charger while said headset circuitry cabinet is stored within said circuitry cabinet storage apparatus.

28. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

releasably securing said headphones of said headset to a protective storage case, said protective storage case including said rotating spool, and said circuitry cabinet storage apparatus.

29. The method of claim 19, wherein said circuitry cabinet storage apparatus is located within said rotating spool.

30. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

securing said headset circuitry cabinet to said rotating spool.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein said step of securing said headset circuitry cabinet is performed using at least one cabinet-securing member, said at least one cabinet-securing member being located on said rotating spool.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein said at least one cabinet-securing member releasably secures said headset circuitry cabinet to said rotating spool.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein a securing member of said at least one cabinet-securing member is one of a clip, a frictional stop member, an arm, a strap, a hook and loop fastener, and a snapping device.

34. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

securing said at least one headphone, said step of securing being performed by a headphone-securing member.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein said headphone-securing member is sized to frictionally secure said at least one headphone.

36. The method of claim 19, wherein said protective storage case is integrally formed as part of an audio signal source, a telephone unit, or a single integrated device comprising both said audio signal source and said telephone unit.

37. The method of claim 19, wherein said headset circuitry cabinet includes a microphone.

38. The method of claim 19, wherein said headset is a wireless headset.