Systems and methods for a comfortable wireless communication device

• US 7,286,860 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2004
• Issued: 10/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dyna LLC (Best Buy Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dyna LLC (Best Buy Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Harris, Arlene J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gelin; Jean
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KHAI MINH
• Application Number:
  US10/898,419
• Publication Number:
  US 20060019729A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,187 Days
• Field of Search: 455/575.1, 455/575.2, 455/575.3, 455/575.4, 455/575.5, 455/575.6, 455 901- 903, 379/430, 379/431, 379/433.02, 381/430, 381/371, 381/71.6, 381/370
• US Class Current: 455/575.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0235 Slidable or telescopic telephones, i.e. with a relative translation movement of the body parts; Telephones using a combination of translation and other relative motions of the body parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0245 using open/close detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/03 Constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. telephone hand-sets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/271 controlled by voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72478 for hearing-impaired users
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72481 for visually impaired users

Abstract

An improved wireless communication device, method, and system, that is easy to operate for people of all ages, particularly for senior citizens, that is compact, ergonomic, and comfortable, but which also provides simplicity of operation for those users who do not require complex cellular telephone capabilities or features.

Claims

1. A wireless communication device, comprising:

an earpiece, the earpiece comprising a deep ear cavity having a front opening for placement adjacent to an ear of a user;

a speaker positioned inside the deep ear cavity; and

a padded cushion configured to fit around the front opening of the deep ear cavity and to conform comfortably around the ear of the user;

a keypad permanently movably attached to said earpiece, said movably attached keypad being movable from a closed position in which keys on said keypad are covered by said earpiece and inaccessible to the user and an open position in which said keys are accessible; and

wherein said wireless communications device is a handheld unit.

2. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein said earpiece is oval shaped;

and

wherein said earpiece is lager than a keypad mounting portion of said communications device in which the keypad is mounted, said padded cushion extending at least partially beyond the keypad mounting portion when said keypad is in the closed position.

3. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein said earpiece is domed shaped.

4. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein said earpiece is round shaped.

5. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the size of the earpiece is configured such that it will fit comfortable over the ear of most users.

6. The wireless communication device of claim 1, further comprising:

a display, and

wherein said keypad and said display are mounted on a back closed portion of said earpiece.

7. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the padded cushion is interchangeable.

8. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the shape of the earpiece is configured to aid in coupling sound from the speaker to an ear of a user.

9. The wireless communication device of claim 1, further comprising a keypad.

10. The wireless communication device of claim 9, wherein the keypad comprises three large keys including a two aspect key for selecting display items, a power key, and a CSP key.

11. The wireless communication device of claim 9, wherein the keypad is mounted via a hinge to the earpiece in a manner that allows the keypad to flip up and cover the deep ear cavity portion of the earpiece when not in use.

12. The wireless communication device of claim 9, wherein the keypad is mounted on an inside of a movable cover coupled to at least one point of said earpiece, and wherein the movable cover is configured to swivel over said deep ear cavity when not in use.

13. The wireless communication device of claim 9, wherein the keypad comprises a plurality of five aspect buttons.

14. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the keypad is mounted on a keypad cover that is slideably coupled to the earpiece.

15. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the keypad is an interchangeable keypad.

16. The wireless communication device of claim 1, further comprising an antenna configured to send and receive wireless signals.

17. The wireless communication device of claim 16, wherein the antenna is configured to move between a first retracted position and a second extended position.

18. The wireless communication device of claim 17, wherein the antenna operates to establish a call when moved into said second extended position from said first retracted position.

19. The wireless communication device of claim 17, wherein said antenna operates to terminate a call when moved into said first retracted position from said second extended position.

20. The wireless communication device of claim 17, wherein movement of the antenna between a first retracted position and a second extended position requires movement over a holding mechanism so as to prevent accidental extension and subsequent dialing.

21. The wireless communication device of claim 20, wherein the holding mechanism makes a clicking sound when the antenna is moved into the second extended position.

22. The wireless communication device of claim 1, further comprising voice recognition capabilities wherein telephone numbers and corresponding names can be dialed spoken commands.