TV mute finger ring

• US RE40,956 E1
• Filed: 06/09/2006
• Issued: 11/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: William P. Murray Jr
• Original Assignee: William P. Murray Jr
• Inventors: Murray, William P. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEA EDMONDS, LISA S
• Application Number:
  US11/450,947
• Time in Patent Office: 1,250 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 361/679.01
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2009/0221 the switches being fixed to the operator's hand, e.g. integrated in a glove or fixed to a ring
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/026 Hook and loop
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/04 portable; hand held
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/0235 specially adapted for remote control, e.g. of audio or video apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/422 Input-only peripherals , i.e. input devices connected to specially adapted client devices, e.g. global positioning system [GPS] input devices also receiving signals from specially adapted client devices H04N21/4104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4396 by muting the audio signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44582 the additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/60 for the sound signals

Abstract

TV Mute Finger Ring with a hollow C shaped finger ring housing. The housing contains the standard electronics and IR transmitting LED associated with activating the mute function of a standard TV. The housing also contains a battery type electrical power source. The C shaped ring housing has a loop type fastener strip attached to one end of the C shape and a hook type fastening panel affixed to the opposite end of the C shape so that said loop type fastener can removably attach to said hook fastener thereby forming a full ring that can be worn on the user'"'"'s forefinger. The C shaped housing contains a momentary on-off switch and attached outwardly accessible switch cover located in a position where the user'"'"'s thumb can easily reach said switch cover. The IR transmitter is covered by a transparent plastic lens that is flush with the outer surface of said C shaped housing. The plastic lens is positioned so that said lens and said IR transmitting LED are pointed outwardly in the general direction of said TV.

Claims

1. TV Mute Finger Ring comprising:

a hollow C shaped finger ring housing;

said housing containing the standard electronics and IR-transmitting LED associated with activating the mute function of a standard TV;

said housing also containing a battery type electrical power source;

said C shaped ring housing having a loop type fastener strip attached to one end of said C shaped ring housing and a hook type fastening panel affixed to the opposite end of said C shaped ring housing so that said loop type fastener can removable attach to said hook fastener thereby forming a full ring that can be worn on the user'"'"'s forefinger;

said C shaped ring housing containing a momentary volume on-off switch and attached outwardly accessible switch cover connected to said standard electronics and located in a position where the user'"'"'s thumb can easily reach said switch cover ;

and

said IR transmitter being covered by a transparent plastic lens that is flush with the outer surface of said C shaped ring housing; and

said plastic lens positioned so that said lens and said IR transmitting LED arebeing positioned in the ring housing so as to be pointed outwardly in the general direction of said TV.

2. A TV mute ring as described in claim 1, wherein said volume on-off switch is located on top of said ring housing, housing in such a position that a TV viewer'"'"'s thumb will naturally fall on or near said switch when said viewer is wearing the ring, in a normal position with said IR window transmitting LED facing forward in the general direction of said TV.

3. A TV mute ring as described in claim 1, wherein said volume on-off switch is a push button switch.

4. A TV mute ring as described in claim 1, wherein the IR transmitting LED includes a transparent plastic lens.

5. A TV mute ring as described in claim 1, wherein the finger ring housing is generally C-shaped and including a strip of flexible material connected to the housing to form a full ring to engage on a user'"'"'s finger and to fit different finger sizes.

6. A TV mute ring as described in claim 5, wherein the strip of flexible material extends from one end of the C-shaped housing and engages with an opposite end of the C-shaped housing, one of the strip and the housing having hook type fastening material and the other housing loop type fastening material.