Article of manufacture integrated with music and telephonic communication devices

• US 8,014,824 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2008
• Issued: 09/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Skullcandy, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Skullcandy, Inc.
• Inventors: Alden, Richard P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson; Blane J
• Application Number:
  US12/138,331
• Publication Number:
  US 20080267440A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,181 Days
• Field of Search: 455/557, 455/569.1, 455/575.1, 455/575.2, 455/90.3, 455/426.1, 455/344, 381/74, 381/79, 381/123
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3805 with built-in auxiliary receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/05 specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6058 involving the use of a headset accessory device connected to the portable telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface

Abstract

An article of manufacture, such as a jacket or backpack, integrates the services of an audio delivery device, such as an MP3 player, with the services of a two-way communication device, such as a mobile phone, or a two-way radio such as a walkie talkie, citizen band radio, HAM radio, marine or aviation radio, and the like. The article integrates the reception and provision of input and output signals from both the audio devices within the article, thereby enabling a user to listen to music or to receive and place phone calls while engaged in activity. In one implementation, the article provides these functions by holding one or more devices for communicably connecting and switching the audio and communication devices, mixing signals received therefrom, and optionally enabling a user to reduce the volume or mute the signals as desired.

Claims

1. An article of manufacture configured to receive a portable apparatus therein for integrating a two-way communication device and an audio delivery device, the article comprising:

an article having a primarily inside portion and a primarily outside portion, the inside portion including;

one or more receptacles configured to receive an audio delivery device, a two-way audio communication device, and a coupling device; and

one or more wires embedded in the article of manufacture for communicating an audio signal from a first point to a second point;

the outside portion including;

one or more control interfaces for receiving user input to control at least one of audio device selection, volume control, and music selection, the one or more control interfaces being physically separate from the coupling device;

wherein the one or more control interfaces communicate user input wirelessly to the coupling device.

2. The article as recited in claim 1, wherein the inside portion further includes one or more receptacles configured to receive a first transceiver and a second transceiver, the first and second transceivers being configured to communicate wireless audio signals from the audio delivery device and the two-way audio communication device to the coupling device.

3. The article as recited in claim 1, further comprising one or more speakers inserted into any of the inside portion or the outside portion, the one or more speakers configured to produce an audible sound in response to an audible signal received from any one or more of the audio delivery device or the two-way audio communication device.

4. The article as recited in claim 1, wherein the article is one of a jacket, a backpack, or a belt pack.

5. The article of manufacture as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more control interfaces include a first switch for selectively switching between a first and a second audio signal to provide a third audio signal.

6. The article of manufacture as recited in claim 1, further comprising a mixer for mixing a first and a second audio signal to create a third audio signal.

7. The article of manufacture as recited in claim 1, further comprising a microphone for transmitting a voice signal to the two-way audio communication device.

8. The article as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the coupling device is physically separate from the one or more control interfaces; and

the coupling device contains at least one of a microphone, a switch, a mixer, and a volume controller.

9. An article of manufacture configured for portable personal use to facilitate integrated communication using a two-way communication device and an audio delivery device, the article comprising:

one of a jacket, a personal carrier, or a headgear including;

a first pocket having an audio delivery device inserted therein, the audio delivery device being adapted to wirelessly transmit a first audio signal;

a second pocket having a two-way communication device inserted therein, the two-way communication device being adapted to wirelessly transmit a second audio signal;

a third pocket for receiving an audio communication hub, the audio communication hub having an interface to communicate with the audio delivery device including to wirelessly receive the first audio signal, and an interface to communicate with the two-way communication device including to wirelessly receive the second audio signal;

an exterior surface comprising one or more control interfaces for receiving user input to control at least one of the audio delivery device, the two-way communication device, or the audio communication hub; and

one or more channels formed in the article of manufacture for receiving at least one communication wire.

10. The article as recited in claim 9, further comprising one or more acoustic devices attached thereto, the one or more acoustic devices configured to produce an audible sound in response to an audio signal passed from the audio communication hub.

11. The article as recited in claim 10, wherein the at least one communication wire connects the audio communication hub to the one or more acoustic devices, and the article contains no other communication wires other than the at least one communication wire connecting the audio communication hub to the one or more acoustic devices.

12. The article as recited in claim 9, wherein the one or more control interfaces wirelessly communicate with the audio communication hub.

13. The article as recited in claim 9, wherein:

the audio communication hub comprises at least two physically separate devices; and

the at least two physically separate devices comprise means for enabling wireless communication between the at least two physically separate devices.

14. The article as recited in claim 13, wherein at least one of the audio delivery device and two-way communication device is electrically connected via one or more electrical wires to one of the two physically separate devices, such that the at least one electrically connected device is thereby adapted to wireless transmit an audio signal.

15. The article as recited in claim 14, wherein the one or more control interfaces are connected to the audio communication hub via one or more wires.

16. An integrated article of manufacture comprising:

any of an article of clothing or a backpack having a portable and wireless apparatus embedded therein for wirelessly integrating a portable two-way communication device and a portable audio delivery device, wherein the portable and wireless apparatus is configured in size and shape to be portably carried in either a hand of a user or an article of clothing during use of the portable and wireless apparatus, the portable and wireless apparatus comprising;

means for wirelessly receiving a first audio signal from a substantially arbitrarily selectable and portable audio delivery device, wherein the audio delivery device is configured in size and shape to be portably carried in either a hand of a user or an article of clothing;

means for wirelessly receiving a second audio signal from a substantially arbitrarily selectable and portable two-way communication device, wherein the portable two-way communication device is configured in size and shape to be portably carried in either a hand of a user or an article of clothing; and

a coupling device independent from the audio and two-way communication devices but portable with the audio and two-way communication devices by the same user during use of the coupling device, wherein the second audio signal is characterized by a threshold value, the second audio signal is accorded priority relative to the first audio signal, and the second audio signal interrupts the first audio signal upon reaching the threshold value, the coupling device comprising said means for receiving said first and second audio signals, said coupling means further comprising;

means for transmitting a third audio signal comprising at least one of the first or second audio signals to an acoustic device adapted to convert the third acoustic wave to an audio range corresponding to a hearing range of a user.

17. The article as recited in claim 16, wherein:

the coupling device further comprises a mixer to mix the first and second audio signals; and

the mixer is configured to enable the first and second audio signals to be heard simultaneously as the third audio signal until either the first or second audio signal is selected by the user.

18. The article as recited claim 16, wherein:

the means for wirelessly receiving any of the first audio signal or the second audio signal comprises one or more wireless transceivers electrically connected to the corresponding audio delivery device or two-way communication device; and

the coupling device is adapted to receive the corresponding first audio signal or second audio signal wireless through the one or more wireless transceivers.

19. The article as recited in claim 16, further comprising a control interface communicably coupled to the coupling device.

20. The article as recited in claim 19, wherein the control interface is configured to enable a user to toggle between the first and second audio signals, and to control volume of the third audio signal.