Telephonic communications – Terminal – Housing or housing component
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-05
2001-07-03
Chiang, Jack (Department: 2642)
Telephonic communications
Terminal
Housing or housing component
C379S433020
Reexamination Certificate
active
06256386
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of earpieces and more particularly to a pivoting earpiece assembly.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Users frequently listen to portable electronic devices, such as AM/FM radios, portable compact disc players, cellular telephones, and the like, through various small speaker devices collectively called “earpiece assemblies.” A common characteristic of earpiece assemblies is that a portion of the earpiece assembly rests inside the user's ear when in use. That is, a portion of the earpiece assembly rests in, and is supported by, the pinna of the ear and typically abuts the external auditory meatus of the ear. Such earpiece assemblies have traditionally taken the form of small stereo headphone sets, single earbuds, and the like.
The portion of the earpiece assembly designed to rest inside the pinna is called an earbud and typically includes the speaker portion of the earpiece assembly. Typically attached to the earpiece is a downwardly extending stem. Typically, the earbud is integrally formed with the stem. Thus, there is a relatively fixed angle between the earbud and the stem for prior art earpiece assemblies.
Connecting the earpiece assembly with its associated electronic device is a flexible cord. The cord may be hardwired into the electronic device or may have a barrel plug or the like on its far end for plugging into a receptacle in the electronic device. Some electronic devices include an internal cord retractors which help neatly store the cord internal to the electronic device.
It is increasingly common for earpiece assemblies to also include microphones for picking up the voice of the user, typically mounted in the stem. While obviously not necessary for output-only electronic devices, such as AM/FM radios or compact disc players, such earpiece assembly microphones are popular options with other electronic devices such as cellular telephones, personal digital assistants, and the like.
The earbuds of traditional earpiece assemblies may not fit comfortably in many ears, principally because the associated stems prevent insertion of the earbud into a comfortable location. Further, it is common for traditional earpiece assemblies to be pulled out of the user's ear when the cord is inadvertently struck or snagged. Also, for those earpiece assemblies incorporating microphones, the microphones of the earpiece assembly are not available for convenient use when the earpiece assembly is stored.
Accordingly, there remains a need for a compact earpiece assembly which may have its physical configuration modified readily by the user. Further, such a compact earpiece assembly should, but is not required to, include a microphone which can be readily utilized when the earpiece assembly is in a stored condition.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The earpiece assembly of the present invention includes an earbud that is pivotably mounted to a stem. The pivotable connection allows the earpiece assembly to assume a variety of configurations, thereby overcoming some of the limitations of the prior art. In the use position, the earpiece assembly is preferably generally L-shaped with the face of the earbud being generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stem. The earpiece assembly may be pivoted from the use position to a storage position. The amount of pivoting is generally 90° or more, and preferably approximately 180°. In a first storage position, the earbud front face is generally normal to the stem longitudinal axis. Some embodiments may achieve a second storage position where the earbud front face is generally parallel to the stem longitudinal axis. For storage, the earpiece assembly is preferably mated with the associated electronic device such that the stem is at least partially within a suitable recess in the casing of the electronic device.
The ability of the earbud to pivot relative to the stem allows the earbud to assume a variety of configurations, thereby allowing the earbud to fit more comfortably in a variety of ears and the earpiece assembly to be made from more durable materials but still remain flexible enough for convenient use, and allowing greater flexibility in design for the layout of electronics.
In addition, the stem of the earpiece assembly may include a microphone that is optionally operable even when the earpiece assembly is stored. That is, when the stem is mated to the electronic device, the microphone is oriented such that the microphone may still be used. For instance, in some embodiments the casing of the electronic device may include a grill which allows sound to freely travel to the microphone. In other embodiments, the portion of the stem adjacent the microphone is not surrounded by the recess, but instead is exposed, allowing the microphone to be readily used as the microphone for the electronic device. Thus, the earpiece assembly of the present invention may optionally include a microphone that can be readily utilized when the earpiece assembly is stored.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5412736 (1995-05-01), Keliiliki
patent: 5590417 (1996-12-01), Rydbeck
patent: 5724667 (1998-03-01), Furuno
patent: 5761298 (1998-06-01), Davis et al.
patent: 5943627 (1999-08-01), Kim et al.
patent: 19637557A1 (1998-04-01), None
patent: 0 624 021 A2 (1994-11-01), None
patent: 0 637 896 A2 (1995-02-01), None
patent: 2317301A (1998-03-01), None
Chiang Jack
Coats & Bennett PLLC
Ericsson Inc.
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