Transceiver device and fastener

• US 7,565,187 B1
• Filed: 04/11/2003
• Issued: 07/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Freelinc Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Radeum, Inc.
• Inventors: Palermo, Vincent, White, Timothy E., Marshall, Charles M., Dynok, Michael R.
• Primary Examiner(s): SING, SIMON P
• Application Number:
  US10/413,434
• Time in Patent Office: 2,293 Days
• Field of Search: 455/557, 455/575.1, 455/575.2, 455/575.6
• US Class Current: 455/575.6
• 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 2200/0525 Personal portable computing devices, e.g. laptop, tablet, netbook, game boy, navigation system, calculator
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/02 Fastening articles to the garment
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/021 to the belt
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3877 Arrangements for enabling portable transceivers to be used in a fixed position, e.g. cradles or boosters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/05 specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface

Abstract

An apparatus for portable communications including a wireless headset, attachment that mechanically and electrically connects to a cellular phone or other electronic device, and a base unit that includes an attachment interface to connect mechanically and electrically with the attachment to allow the base unit to receive electrical signals from the cellular phone. The base unit wirelessly transmits a representation of an electrical signals received from the cellular phone to the wireless headset. The apparatus may also include a clip to attach the integrated base unit to an article of clothing, such as a belt, worn by a person.

Claims

1. An apparatus for portable communications, the apparatus comprising:

a first portable electronic device including a first wireless transceiver;

an attachment comprising a rigid coupling adapted to fixedly attach to a second portable electronic device and an electrical coupling adapted to electrically couple to the second portable electronic device; and

a base unit including;

an attachment interface adapted to mechanically retain the rigid coupling of the attachment and electrically couple to the attachment to receive electrical signals of the second portable device when the electrical coupling of the attachment is electrically coupled to the second portable electronic device and the rigid coupling of the attachment is mechanically retained by the attachment interface; and

a second wireless transceiver to transmit a representation of the electrical signals to the first portable electronic device.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the second portable electronic device comprises at least one of a mobile phone, an MP3 Player, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portable computer, a printer, a point-of-sale terminal, a CD player, and a personal audio device.

3. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the first portable electronic device comprises at least one of a headset and audio headphones.

4. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the electrical signals are digital representations of audible sounds.

5. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the wireless transceivers communicate through magnetic induction.

6. An apparatus as in claim 1 further including a wire adapted to interconnect the attachment to at least one of a voice and audio jack on the second portable electronic device.

7. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the interface forms a U-shaped notch and includes a release mechanism.

8. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein at least one of the attachment and attachment interface include an electrical connector to enable at least one of pivoting and rotating of the second portable electronic device relative to the base unit and maintain electrical communication between the second portable electronic device and the base unit.

9. An apparatus as in claim 1 further including a second attachment to at least one of pivot and rotate the second portable electronic device, the second attachment including an electrical connector to enable the second portable electronic device to at least one of pivot and rotate relative to the base unit and maintain electrical connection.

10. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the base unit further includes a docking interface to couple mechanically and electrically the first portable electronic device to the base unit.

11. An apparatus as in claim 10 wherein the base unit further includes a battery charger to charge a battery associated with the first portable electronic device.

12. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the base unit receives power from the second portable electronic device.

13. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the base unit includes a clip to attach the base unit to an article of clothing.

14. An apparatus as in claim 13 wherein the clip comprises a belt clip.

15. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the base unit comprises a holster design for docking both the first and second portable electronic devices.

16. An apparatus for portable communications, the apparatus comprising:

a first portable electronic device including a first wireless transceiver;

a second portable electronic device including an attachment, the attachment comprising a rigid coupling integral to the second portable electronic device and an electrical coupling adapted to electrically couple to the second portable electronic device; and

a base unit including;

an attachment interface adapted to mechanically retain the rigid coupling of the attachment and electrically couple to the attachment to receive electrical signals of the second portable electronic device when the electrical coupling of the attachment is electrically coupled to the second portable electronic device and the rigid coupling of the attachment is mechanically retained by the attachment interface; and

a second wireless transceiver to transmit a representation of the electrical signals to the first portable electronic device.

17. An apparatus as in claim 16 wherein the base unit further includes another interface to dock the first portable electronic device.

18. An apparatus as in claim 17 wherein the base unit further includes a battery charger to charge a battery associated with the first portable electronic device.

19. An apparatus as in claim 16 further including a wire adapted to interconnect the base unit to a voice or audio jack on the second portable electronic device.

20. An apparatus as in claim 16 wherein the attachment interface automatically makes an electrical connection between the base unit and the second wireless electronic device.

21. An apparatus as in claim 16 wherein the base unit further includes a pivot to enable the second portable electronic device to at least one of pivot and rotate relative to the base unit and maintain electrical connection.

22. An apparatus for portable communications, the apparatus comprising:

a first portable electronic device including a wireless transceiver;

attachment means comprising a rigid coupling means for fixedly attaching to a second portable electronic device and an electrical coupling means for electrically coupling to the second portable electronic device; and

a base unit including;

an attachment interface means for mechanically retaining the rigid coupling means of the attachment means and for electrically coupling to the attachment means for receiving electrical signals of the second portable device when the electrical coupling means of the attachment means is electrically coupled to the second portable electronic device and the rigid coupling means of the attachment means is mechanically retained by the attachment interface means; and

means for wirelessly transmitting a representation of the electrical signals to the first portable electronic device.

23. An apparatus as in claim 22 further including means for attaching the base unit to an article of clothing worn by a person.