Headset docking device

• US 6,542,757 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2001
• Issued: 04/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Young Engineering Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Young Engineering Incorporated
• Inventors: Bae, Hyon S.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEGREE, TRACY MICHELLE
• Application Number:
  US09/759,118
• Publication Number:
  US 20020090981A1
• Time in Patent Office: 810 Days
• Field of Search: 379/430, 379/431, 379/433.01, 379/433.02, 379/438, 379/428.02, 379/428.04, 379/428.01, 379/420.04, 379/420.02, 379/420.01, 379/433.06, 379/457, 379/455, 379/446, 381/380, 381/384, 381/385, 381/386, 381/387, 381/395, 381/370, 381/374, 381/376, 381/379, 455/90, 455/568, 455/569
• US Class Current: 455/575.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/15 Protecting or guiding telephone cords
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/02 Casings; Cabinets ; Supports therefor; Mountings therein H04R1/28 takes precedence ; attachments for microphones H04R1/08; mounting of transducers in earpieces H04R1/1075
• 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 2499/11 Transducers incorporated or for use in hand-held devices, e.g. mobile phones, PDA's, camera's

Abstract

A headset docking device is connected to an audio device by a cord. When the headset is placed in a headset dock, a reel activation button is depressed which instantaneously retracts the cord. Examples of audio devices include a cradle, a cellular phone and a computer, all using the headset docking device.

Claims

1. A hands-free telephone system, comprising:

a telephone, the telephone having a telephone interface mechanism for transmitting and receiving audio signals;

a headset, the headset enabling hands-free transmission and reception of the audio signals between the telephone and a user;

a cradle for receiving the telephone and connected to the headset by a cord, the cradle being capable of receiving and transmitting audio signals with the telephone through a cradle interface mechanism interfacing with the telephone interface mechanism, the cradle comprising

a headset dock, the headset dock accepting the headset when the headset is not in use by the user, and

a reel activation button, the reel activation button being depressed upon placing the headset in the headset dock to instantaneously retract the cord into the cradle when the headset is placed in the headset dock.

2. The hands-free telephone system of claim 1, further comprising:

a hook switch, the hook switched being coupled to the reel activation button so as to pivot when the headset is placed in the headset dock;

a reel latch, the reel latch being coupled to the hook switch to rotate when the hook switch is pivoted; and

a cord reel, the cord reel having a cord reel latch being coupled to the reel latch so that upon placing the headset in the headset dock, the reel activation button forces the hook switch to pivot to thereby rotate the reel latch that unlatches the cord reel to reel in the cord.

3. The hands-free telephone system of claim 2, wherein the cord reel further comprises:

a spring for providing a spring tension to the cord reel, the spring tension being used to reel in the cord upon unlatching of the cord reel.

4. The hands-free telephone system of claim 1, wherein the telephone is a wireless telephone.

5. The hands-free telephone system of claim 1, wherein the telephone is a cellular telephone.

6. The hands-free telephone system of claim 1, wherein the cradle and telephone are used in an automobile.

7. The hands-free telephone system of claim 1, wherein the cradle is clipped to the user.

8. A cradle for receiving a telephone, the cradle being capable of receiving and transmitting audio signals with the telephone through a cradle interface mechanism interfacing with a telephone interface mechanism, the cradle comprising:

a headset, the headset being connected to the cradle by a cord, the headset enabling hands-free transmission and reception of audio signals between the telephone and a user;

a headset dock, the headset dock accepting the headset when the headset is not in use by the user; and

a reel activation button, the reel activation button being depressed upon placing the headset in the headset dock to instantaneously retract the cord into the cradle when the headset is placed in the headset dock.

9. The cradle of claim 8, further comprising:

a hook switch, the hook switched being coupled to the reel activation button so as to pivot when the headset is placed in the headset dock;

a reel latch, the reel latch being coupled to the hook switch to rotate when the hook switch is pivoted; and

a cord reel, the cord reel having a cord reel latch being coupled to the reel latch so that upon placing the headset in the headset dock, the reel activation button forces the hook switch to pivot to thereby rotate the reel latch that unlatches the cord reel to reel in the cord.

10. The cradle of claim 9, wherein the cord reel further comprises:

a spring for providing a spring tension to the cord reel, the spring tension being used to reel in the cord upon unlatching of the cord reel.

11. The cradle of claim 8, wherein the telephone is a wireless telephone.

12. The cradle of claim 8, wherein the telephone is a cellular telephone.

13. The cradle of claim 8, wherein the cradle and telephone are used in an automobile.

14. The cradle of claim 8, wherein the cradle is clipped to the user.

15. A method of retracting a cord in a cradle, comprising:

providing the cradle for receiving a telephone, the cradle being capable of receiving and transmitting audio signals with the telephone through a cradle interface mechanism interfacing with the telephone interface mechanism, the cradle comprising

a headset, the headset being connected to the cradle by the cord, the headset enabling hands-free transmission and reception of the audio signals between the telephone and a user;

a headset dock, the headset dock accepting the headset when the headset is not in use by the user; and

a reel activation button for retracting the cord; and

depressing the reel activation button by placing the headset in the headset dock to instantaneously retract the cord into the cradle when the headset is placed in the headset dock.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the telephone is a wireless telephone.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the telephone is a cellular telephone.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the cradle and telephone are used in an automobile.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the cradle is clipped to the user.