Retractable microphone/speaker lead for a belt clip attachment device for a mobile phone or the like

• US 6,567,651 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2000
• Issued: 05/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Amtel Technology Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Amtel Technology Pty Limited
• Inventors: Whitley, Kevin James
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunter, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Huy D
• Application Number:
  US09/536,838
• Publication Number:
  US 20030040285A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,149 Days
• Field of Search: 455/90, 455/575, 455/100, 455/347, 455/351, 224/929, 224/930
• US Class Current: 455/90.1
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2200/0508 Portable audio devices, e.g. walkman, discman, radio, MP3 player, headphones
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2200/0516 Portable handheld communication devices, e.g. mobile phone, pager, beeper, PDA, smart phone
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/00 Holders or carriers for hand articles; Holders or carriers for use while travelling or camping
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/02 Fastening articles to the garment
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/021 to the belt
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0241 for telephones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0247 for microphones or earphones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0059 using clips, clamps, straps or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0071 using latches, clips, clamps, straps or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0073 using key-type connections
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0078 Quick-disconnect two-parts mounting means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/08 Mouthpieces; Microphones; Attachments therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• 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 2201/023 Transducers incorporated in garment, rucksacks or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/107 Monophonic and stereophonic headphones with microphone for two-way hands free communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/00 Devices specially adapted for wireless communication networks, e.g. terminals, base stations or access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 224/929 Article carrier for electrical device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 224/93 Attached to animate bearer

Abstract

A retractor belt clip device which includes a retractable lead for a personal hands free kit or other similar device such as speaker leads for personal CD or tape device is disclosed. The device includes a receptacle body and corresponding flanged lug fastener which is attached to the mobile phone or like apparatus. The receptacle is adapted to be attached to a belt or the like by means of a clip means positioned on the receptacle body, wherein the body has an opening located at its top side portion into which the flange of said lug fastener is received with the lug fastener extending through a slot on said receptacle body communicating with the opening such that the mobile phone or like apparatus is positioned outside and adjacent the receptacle body when the lug fastener is received within the receptacle body. The device further includes a compartment in which a microphone and speaker lead on a spool is located, the spool being able to rotate thus releasing or retracting the lead when required.

Claims

1. A device for attachment of a mobile audio device to a belt or other garment of a user, the device including:

a housing means defining a compartment, the housing means including a gendered fastener structure for engaging an oppositely gendered fastener structure attached to the mobile audio device;

a spool located in the compartment and rotatable therewithin,

an audio lead wound on the spool, whereby the audio lead can be retracted into the compartment or extended therefrom,

a connector means connected to the audio lead internally of the housing means for engaging the mobile audio device, and

a clip means attached to the housing for attaching the housing to the belt or other garment of the user.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the spool is spring operated and the device includes a stop/release mechanism for controlling rotation of the spool.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the gendered fastener structure of the housing means is a receptacle portion of the housing means for receiving a fastener attached to and projecting from the mobile audio device, the receptacle portion having a slot-form opening that extends downwards from a top region of the receptacle portion and communicates with an interior space of the receptacle portion, for receiving an enlarged portion of the fastener.

4. A device according to claim 3, including a resilient element for retaining the fastener in the opening.

5. A device according to claim 3, including a latch means for retaining the fastener in the opening.

6. A device according to claim 5, further comprising a release mechanism for selectively disengaging the latch means from the fastener and allowing the fastener to be removed from the opening.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein the latch means includes a resiliently-biased element for engaging the fastener and the release mechanism includes a button that is moveable relative to the housing means for disengaging the resiliently-biased element from the fastener.

8. A device according to claim 7, wherein the button is moveable linearly relative to the housing means between an engaging position and a releasing position and is spring-biased towards its engaging position.

9. A device according to claim 3, further including a locking means within the receptacle portion, the locking means including a carriage moveable between a receiving position and a holding position, the carriage receiving the fastener when the carriage is in the receiving position and including holding means to capture and hold the fastener within the carriage when the carriage is moved to the holding for position preventing the fastener from rotating.

10. A device according to claim 9, wherein the locking means further includes a release means for releasing the moveable carriage from the holding position.

11. A device according to claim 10, wherein the carriage is locked in the holding position by a flange and stop means which engage when the carriage is in the holding position, the carriage being released by the release means which consist of an external button communicating through an opening in the receptacle portion, the release means being manipulated to force the flange and stop means from their engagement.

12. A device according to claim 3, wherein the fastener is a lug fastener having a neck and a flange and the flange is received in the receptacle and the neck of the fastener extends through the opening in the receptacle portion when the mobile audio device is attached to the device.

13. A device according to claim 1, further comprising a brush means attached to the spool and a circuit board located adjacent the spool, and wherein the connector means is connected to the circuit board and the brush means makes electrical contact between the audio lead and the connector means.

14. A device according to claim 1, further comprising a vent attachment device for attachment to an automobile vent structure, the vent attachment device including an adapter and the clip means being receivable within the adapter.

15. A device according to claim 1, wherein the audio lead includes an ear phone.

16. In combination, a mobile audio device provided with a first gendered fastener structure and an attachment device provided with a second gendered fastener structure for engagement with the first fastener structure and attaching the mobile audio device to a belt or other garment of a user, and the attachment device including:

a housing means defining a compartment,

a spool located in the compartment and rotatable therewithin,

an audio lead wound on the spool, whereby the audio lead can be retracted into the compartment or extended therefrom, and

a clip means attached to the housing means for attaching the housing means to the belt or other garment of the user.

17. A combination according to claim 16, wherein the spool is spring operated and the attachment device includes a stop/release mechanism for controlling rotation of the spool.

18. A combination according to claim 16, wherein the gendered fastener structure of the housing means is a receptacle portion of the housing means for receiving a fastener attached to and projecting from the mobile audio device, the receptacle portion having a slot-form opening that extends downwards from a top portion of the receptacle portion and communicates with an interior space of the receptacle portion, for receiving an enlarged portion of the fastener.

19. A combination according to claim 18, including a resilient element for retaining the fastener in the opening.

20. A combination according to claim 18, including a latch means for retaining the fastener in the opening.

21. A combination according to claim 20, further comprising a release mechanism for selectively disengaging the latch means from the fastener and allowing the fastener to be removed from the opening.

22. A combination according to claim 21, wherein the latch means includes a resiliently-biased element for engaging the fastener and the release mechanism includes a button that is moveable relative to the receptacle portion for disengaging the resiliently-biased element from the fastener.

23. A combination according to claim 22, wherein the button is moveable linearly relative to the receptacle portion between an engaging position and a releasing position and is spring-biased towards its engaging position.

24. A combination according to claim 18, further including a locking means within the receptacle portion, the locking means including a carriage moveable between a receiving position and a holding position, the carriage receiving the fastener when the carriage is in the receiving position and including holding means to capture and hold the fastener within the carriage when the carriage is moved to the holding position for preventing the fastener from rotating.

25. A combination according to claim 24, wherein the locking means further includes a release means for releasing the moveable carriage from the holding position.

26. A combination according to claim 25, wherein the carriage is locked in the holding position by a flange and stop means which engage when the carriage is in the holding position, the carriage being released by the release means which consist of an external button communicating through an opening in the receptacle portion, the release means being manipulated to force the flange and stop means from their engagement.

27. A combination according to claim 18, wherein the fastener is a lug fastener having a neck and a flange and the flange is received in the receptacle portion and the neck of the fastener extends through the opening in the receptacle portion when the mobile audio device is attached to the attachment device.

28. A combination according to claim 16, wherein the audio lead includes an ear phone and the attachment device further comprises a connector means connected to the audio lead for engaging the mobile audio device when the fastener is received within the receptacle body.

29. A combination according to claim 28, further comprising a brush means attached to the spool and a circuit board located adjacent the spool, and wherein the connector means is connected to the circuit board and the brush means makes electrical contact between the audio lead and the connector means.

30. A combination according to claim 16, further comprising a vent attachment device for attachment to an automobile vent structure, the vent attachment device including an adapter and the clip means being receivable within the adapter.

31. A combination according to claim 16, wherein the mobile audio device is a mobile phone.

32. A device for attaching a mobile phone provided with a fastener having a neck and an enlarged head to a belt or other garment of a user, the device including:

a housing means defining a compartment, the housing means including a receptacle portion for receiving the fastener, said receptacle portion having a slot-form opening that extends downwards from a top portion of the receptacle portion and communicates with an interior space of the receptacle portion and into which the fastener is received with the enlarged head of the fastener within the receptacle portion and the neck of the fastener extending through the opening in the receptacle portion such that the mobile phone is positioned outside and adjacent the receptacle portion,

a latch means for retaining the fastener in the opening, the latch means including a resiliently-biased element for engaging the enlarged head of the fastener,

a release mechanism for selectively disengaging the latch means from the fastener and allowing the fastener to be removed from the opening, the release mechanism including a button that is moveable linearly relative to the receptacle portion between an engaging position, in which the button allows the resiliently-biased element to engage the enlarged head of the fastener and retain the fastener in the opening, and a releasing position, in which the button disengages the resiliently-biased element from the enlarged head of the fastener, the button being spring-biased towards its engaging position,

a clip means attached to the housing means for attaching the housing means to the belt or other garment of the user,

a spring-operated spool located in the compartment and rotatable therewithin,

a stop/release mechanism for controlling rotation of the spool,

an audio lead wound on the spool, whereby the audio lead can be retracted into the compartment or extended therefrom, the audio lead being provided with an ear phone and a microphone, and

a connector means connected to the audio lead internally of the housing means for engaging the mobile phone when the fastener is received within the receptacle portion.

33. A device for attaching a mobile phone provided with a fastener having a neck and an enlarged head to a belt or other garment of a user, the device including:

a housing means defining a compartment, the housing means including a receptacle portion for receiving the fastener, said receptacle portion having a slot-form opening that extends downwards from a top portion of the receptacle portion and communicates with an interior space of the receptacle portion and into which the fastener is received with the enlarged head of the fastener within the receptacle portion and the neck of the fastener extending through the opening in the receptacle portion such that the mobile phone is positioned outside and adjacent the receptacle portion,

a clip means attached to the housing means for attaching the housing means to the belt or other garment of the user,

a spring-operated spool located in the compartment and rotatable therewithin,

a stop/release mechanism for controlling rotation of the spool,

an audio lead wound on the spool, whereby the audio lead can be retracted into the compartment or extended therefrom, the audio lead being provided with an ear phone and a microphone, and

a connector means connected to the audio lead internally of the housing means for engaging the mobile phone when the fastener is received within the receptacle portion.