Headset with retractable battery pack

• US 6,868,284 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2003
• Issued: 03/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Young Engineering Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Young Engineering Incorporated
• Inventors: Bae, Hyon S
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Lee
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Tuan A
• Application Number:
  US10/442,897
• Publication Number:
  US 20040048640A1
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 455 411- 412, 455/66.1, 455/550.1, 455/575.1, 455/2, 455/569.1, 455/344, 455/347, 455/350, 455 901- 903, 37942001-42004, 37942801-42802, 379/430, 37943301-43302, 379/433.08, D14204-206, D14223-224, D14248-249, 381370-381
• US Class Current: 455/575.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/05 specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
• 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 1/1058 Manufacture or assembly

Abstract

A wireless headset is described that communicates with a base and is secured to a user'"'"'s ear. The headset has an elongated casing, a speaker, a microphone and a transceiver. A battery pack extends from the second end of the elongating casing generally parallel to the speaker where the battery pack is designed to be retractably engaged against the user'"'"'s ear to secure the headset.

Claims

1. A wireless headset for communication with a base, the headset to be secured against a user'"'"'s ear, the headset comprising:

an elongated casing having a first and second end;

a speaker extending from the elongated casing;

a microphone positioned at the first end of the elongated casing;

a battery pack extending from the second end of the elongating casing generally parallel to the speaker, the battery pack designed to be retractably engaged against the user'"'"'s ear to secure the headset; and

a transceiver within the elongated casing and electronically connected to the speaker, the microphone and the battery pack for permitting communication between the headset and the base.

2. The wireless headset of claim 1, further comprising:

a retraction mechanism located on the elongated encasing, the retraction mechanism being engaged to retract the battery pack.

3. The wireless headset of claim 2, wherein the retraction mechanism is a button.

4. The wireless headset of claim 1, wherein the battery pack retracts in a direction away from the speaker to engage the user'"'"'s ear.

5. The wireless headset of claim 1, wherein the speaker comprises a flexible material.

6. The wireless headset of claim 5, wherein the flexible material comprises a foam material.

7. The wireless headset of claim 5, wherein the flexible material comprises a gel material.

8. A method of securing a headset on an ear of a user, comprising:

providing the headset, the headset comprising;

an elongated casing having a first and second end;

a speaker extending from the elongated casing;

a microphone positioned at the first end of the elongated casing;

a battery pack extending from the second end of the elongating casing generally parallel to the speaker, the battery pack designed to be retractably engaged against the user'"'"'s ear to secure the headset; and

a transceiver within the elongated casing and electronically connected to the speaker, the microphone and the battery pack for permitting communication between the headset and the base;

placing the speaker into the user'"'"'s ear, the elongated casing being generally parallel to a mouth of the user;

engaging a retraction mechanism located on the elongated casing to retract the battery pack in a direction away from the speaker;

rotating the elongated casing in a direction toward the user'"'"'s ear, wherein the retraction mechanism remains engaged to place a lip of the battery pack behind the user'"'"'s ear; and

disengaging the retraction mechanism to engage the lip behind the user'"'"'s ear to secure the headset.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the retraction mechanism is a button.