Telephonic communications – Terminal – Housing or housing component
Patent
1996-09-06
1999-03-09
Chiang, Jack
Telephonic communications
Terminal
Housing or housing component
379430, 379447, H04M 100
Patent
active
058811494
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a portable communication device, at least part of which can typically be worn on the anatomy of a person such as the ear; and in particular to such a device which includes a detachable part which even when physically detached is still connected to the device but not by any physical connecting means.
2. Description of the Related Art
Devices are known for use by a person to listen to prerecorded or received radio signal information which is relayed to the person by a speaker mounted in the device. The device can be provided with any, or all of, controls for controlling the volume of information sent through the speaker; the playing, stopping, fast forward or rewind of prerecorded information; and the tuning of a receiver to receive information at a certain frequency.
Another well known type of communications device is the portable, or mobile, phone. A common problem with the portability of these devices is that they are required to be provided with integral mouth and ear pieces. Even when the ear piece and mouthpiece are provided at the extreme ends of the device or the mouthpiece is provided as part of a flap which is unfolded for use, the size of the phone is determined by the requirement to have the mouthpiece and ear piece spaced apart in a manner that the device can be comfortably used.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a portable communication device having a detachable part which can be placed against the ear for use but preferably is attached to the ear to be ear held, and a part which provides further utilities. Such a communication device allows communication functions to be provided such as any, or any combination of 1-way or 2-way paging and/or mobile telephone or radio functions, thus providing a device which can be usable to transmit information by the wearer of the device. In a further feature the device can also be held in an unobtrusive stored position and worn by the wearer such as, for example, as part of a wrist watch, until a signal is received. At that point at least part of the device can, if the wearer so wishes, be removed and placed on the ear to receive the message. Thus the device has two parts, a body part which includes the mouthpiece and which can be used separately from the other part which includes the ear piece.
The present invention, in a portable first aspect, provides a communication device including means for receiving a communications signal and a speaker for relaying the communication received to the user said device includes a first part which is detachable and at least a second part, the first part to be retained on, and/or placed to, the ear of the user during use. Thus, in an in use position the first part can be remote from the remainder of the device.
The first (detachable) part is physically remote from the body part of the device in that it is not required to be physically connected to the body part of the device when in use.
In one embodiment the first part is shaped with retaining means as an integral part thereof to allow the first part to be retained on the ear. Preferably the retaining means contact directly with the ear only and require no other retention means to be provided and are not required to be in contact with any other part of the wearer's body.
In one embodiment the retention means are retracted when the device is in a stored position.
In one embodiment the body part is provided with a strap to be worn in a manner similar to a wrist watch. In one embodiment the device is provided as part of a wrist watch, with the part to be worn on the ear located around the face of the same. In an alternative embodiment the device can be stored by being hung as a pendant such as from a chain, cable or wire. In one embodiment the cable, chain or wire can act as an aerial for the device to receive communication signals therefor.
In one embodiment the device is provided with a sound and/ or light emitter to emit an information sound or ligh
REFERENCES:
patent: 5128981 (1992-07-01), Tsukamoto et al.
patent: 5265264 (1993-11-01), Dzung et al.
patent: 5475872 (1995-12-01), Sato
"Recessed Earphone with Automatic Selection For Voice Pager"-- Hedayatnia, Motorola Tech. Developments, vol. 11, Oct., 1990, pp. 13-15.
Biren Steven R.
Chiang Jack
U.S. Philips Corporation
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