Portable radiotelephone apparatus

• US 7,257,422 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2001
• Issued: 08/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joseph A. Loprete
• Original Assignee: Joseph A. Loprete
• Inventors: Loprete, Joseph A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah; Melur
• Application Number:
  US09/961,768
• Publication Number:
  US 20030060241A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,150 Days
• Field of Search: 37942001-42004, 37942801-42802, 37943301-43303, 379/433.1, 455/403, 455/550.1, 4555691-5692, 4555751-5759, 455/90.3, 455/100
• US Class Current: 455/550.1
• 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

Abstract

A portable radiotelephone apparatus having a microphone and an earpiece electrically connected individually to respective wires of a two-wire electrical line, and a retraction mechanism with a one-way lock device for the line.

Claims

1. A portable radiotelephone apparatus comprising:

a portable housing;

a line retraction mechanism in said housing;

a two-wire electrical line operatively coupled to said line retraction mechanism inside said housing and presenting respective outer ends of said two wires outside said housing, said line being extensible from said housing;

an earpiece shaped and dimensioned to be retained hands-free in a user'"'"'s ear and containing a speaker on the outer end of one wire of said line, said one wire of said line providing a direct connection of said earpiece to said line retraction mechanism and being obstruction-free between said retraction mechanism and said earpiece to enable the positioning of said earpiece in immediate proximity to said housing when said line is retracted into said housing;

a small microphone on the outer end of the other wire of said line, said other wire of said line providing a direct connection of said microphone to said line retraction mechanism and being obstruction-free between said retraction mechanism and said microphone to enable the positioning of said microphone in immediate proximity to said housing when said line is retracted into said housing, and said microphone being physically disconnected from said earpiece except by said line when the line is extended from said housing;

and attachment means coupled rigidly to said microphone for physically attaching the microphone to the user'"'"'s clothing so that the position of the microphone is determined by the position of said attachment means independent of the position of said earpiece;

said line when extended from said housing enabling the positioning of said microphone by said attachment means on the user'"'"'s clothing to receive the user'"'"'s voice during use of the radiotelephone and the separate positioning of said earpiece hands-free in the user'"'"'s ear;

and said retraction mechanism being selectively operable to retract said line into said housing and position said earpiece and said microphone in immediate proximity to said housing when the radiotelephone is not in use.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 and further comprising;

a one-way lock device for said line retraction mechanism operable automatically to lock said retraction mechanism against retracting said line from the position to which it has been extended, said lock device being operable in response to a pull on the extended line to unlock said retraction mechanism for automatic retraction of the line into said housing.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein:

said line retraction mechanism comprises a rotatable takeup reel on which said line is wound, and spring means biasing said takeup reel in the rotational direction to retract the line;

and said lock device comprises a ratchet wheel coupled to said takeup reel to rotate in unison therewith, a pawl, a pawl spring biasing said pawl against said ratchet wheel to normally prevent rotation of the ratchet wheel and takeup reel in said one directions and means positioning said pawl to disengage from the ratchet wheel and permit rotation of the ratchet wheel and the takeup reel in said one direction in response to an outward pull on the line.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said housing has a top opening therein which passes said line and an open-topped recess around said opening for seating said microphone and said earpiece when said line is fully retracted.

5. An apparatus according to claim 3 and further comprising:

an antenna projecting up from said housing;

and means for releasably attaching said microphone and said earpiece together on said antenna when said line is fully retracted.

6. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said housing has a top opening therein which passes said lime and an open-topped recess around said opening for seating said microphone and said earpiece when said line is fully retracted.

7. An apparatus according to claim 2 and further comprising:

an antenna projecting up from said housing;

and means for releasably attaching said microphone and said earpiece together on said antenna when said line is fully retracted.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein:

said line retraction mechanism comprises a rotatable takeup reel on which said line is wound, and spring means biasing said takeup reel in the rotational direction to retract the line;

and said lock device comprises a ratchet wheel coupled to said takeup reel to rotate in unison therewith, a pawl, a pawl spring biasing said pawl against said ratchet wheel to normally prevent rotation of the ratchet wheel and take up reel in said one direction, and means positioning said pawl to disengage from the ratchet wheel and permit rotation of the ratchet wheel and the takeup reel in said one direction in response to an outward pull on the line.

9. A portable radiotelephone apparatus comprising:

a housing having an opening formed therein;

a line retraction mechanism disposed in said housing;

an electrical line having one end operatively coupled to said line retraction mechanism and an opposite end extensible outside said housing from said line retraction mechanism through said opening, and said electrical line having two wires;

an earpiece containing a speaker connected at said opposite end by one of said two wires;

a microphone connected at said opposite end by the other of said two wires;

a recess formed in said housing at said opening, said recess configured for retaining said microphone and said earpiece therein in a retracted state of said electrical line.

10. The portable radiotelephone apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:

an electrical switch for turning the apparatus on, said switch being disposed at said recess, said switch having a plunger projecting into said recess for switching said switch, one of said microphone and said earpiece being configured for engaging said plunger in said retracted state of said electrical line.

11. The portable radiotelephone apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said electrical line has a point thereon spaced from said opposite end at which the two wires can diverge from one another, said point being disposed in said housing in said retracted state of said electrical line.

12. The portable radiotelephone apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said microphone has a clip for attaching said earpiece thereto.

13. The portable radiotelephone apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said earpiece has a clip for attaching said microphone thereto.

14. A portable radiotelephone apparatus comprising:

a housing having an opening formed therein;

an antenna disposed externally on said housing;

a line retraction mechanism disposed in said housing;

an electrical line having one end operatively coupled to said line retraction mechanism and an opposite end extensible outside said housing from said line retraction mechanism through said opening, and said electrical line having two wires;

an earpiece containing a speaker connected at said opposite end by one of said two wires;

a microphone connected at said opposite end by the other of said two wires;

a clip connecting said earpiece and said microphone to said antenna, said clip configured to release said microphone and said earpiece for allowing said electrical line to be extended away from said housing.

15. The portable radiotelephone apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said electrical line has a point thereon spaced from said opposite end at which the two wires can diverge from one another.

16. The portable radiotelephone apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said point is disposed in said housing in said retracted state of said electrical line.