Abstract:
An accessory for a mobile communication device such as a cellular telephone having a mouthpiece and speaker, to enable hands-free operation. The accessory comprises a bracket configured to receive and retain a mobile communication device, and an ear loop mounted to the bracket, such that when a mobile communication device is retained in the bracket, the mobile communication device may be held in operating proximity of a user&#39;s ear and mouth by placing the ear loop over the user&#39;s ear. The ear loop may be rotatable between a deployed and retracted position. In use, the ear loop is hooked over the user&#39;s ear, holding the communication device within operating proximity of the user such that the user can carry on a conversation using the communication device without using his or her hands to hold the device in place.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates generally to mobile communication devices, and more particularly to devices for hands-free operation of a mobile communication device.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Many people carry about mobile communication devices, such as cellular telephones, as they engage in other activities. Mobile communication devices typically require the use of the user&#39;s hands, not only to operate the device, but also to hold the device in position against the user&#39;s ear. Often when engaged in conversation with another party using the mobile device, the user wishes to have both hands available for other activities. However, this is typically not possible because one hand is needed to hold the mobile device near the user&#39;s ear. Furthermore, a growing number of jurisdictions have enacted law prohibiting the use of handheld cellular telephones and communication devices while driving a motor vehicle.  
         [0003]     It is possible to convert a mobile communication device to a hands-free unit by attaching specialized headphones or earphones to the device. An example of a specialized earphone is the ear bud, which is sized to fit in the outer canal of the user&#39;s ear without the need for a headband. When a telephone call is received on the mobile communication device, the user can insert the ear buds or put on the headphones, then answer the call. If a telephone call is made, the user first inserts the ear buds or puts on the headphones, then makes the call. Headphones and earphones are undesirable or uncomfortable to some users. When a call is received on a cell phone, for example, the user must either allow the cell phone to keep ringing while the earphones are engaged, or interrupt the phone conversation to insert the earphones; alternatively, the user must wear the headphones or earphones even when no call is in progress.  
         [0004]     It is therefore desirable to provide an accessory for holding a mobile communication device near the user&#39;s ear, in the appropriate position for carrying on a conversation via the device, while freeing the user&#39;s hands but without the use of headphones or earphones.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, an accessory for a mobile communication device having a mouthpiece and speaker is provided. The accessory comprises a bracket configured to receive and retain a mobile communication device and an ear loop mounted to the bracket, such that when a mobile communication device is retained in the bracket, the mobile communication device may be held in operating proximity of a user&#39;s ear and mouth by placing the ear loop over the user&#39;s ear.  
         [0006]     A further aspect of the invention is that the ear loop is rotatably mounted to the bracket such that it can be moved between a retracted and a deployed position. The ear loop may furthermore be doglegged to fit around the user&#39;s ear.  
         [0007]     Yet another aspect of the invention is that the bracket comprises a crosspiece and flanges disposed at either end of the crosspiece, such that the mobile communication device may be snap-fit into and retained by the bracket. In a further aspect, at least one interior surface of the bracket is lined with a rubber or texturized material. In an alternate aspect, the bracket comprises two cooperating members in sliding engagement to each other so as to be adjustable to fit the width of a mobile communication device, and a first of the cooperating members is provided with serrations, and a second of the cooperating members is provided with a pawl, the serrations and the pawl cooperating to positively retain a mobile communication device within the bracket.  
         [0008]     In a further aspect, the bracket comprises a cage for retaining the mobile communication device, the cage comprising at least four walls for retaining a mobile communication device within the bracket. In another embodiment, at least one of the four walls comprises a flange for retaining a mobile communication device in the bracket, and optionally at least one of the four walls comprises a flexible, transparent layer through which the keypad of a mobile communication device is accessible when the mobile communication device is disposed within the cage. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     In drawings which illustrate by way of example only a preferred embodiment of the invention,  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an accessory for hands-free use of a mobile communication device mounted on a cellular telephone with the loop in a deployed position;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the accessory of  FIG. 1 , with the loop in a retracted position;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a further perspective view of the accessory of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a side elevation of the bracket of the accessory of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a plan view of the bracket of the accessory of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the bracket;  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  is a further embodiment of the accessory. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0017]     The preferred embodiment of the mobile device attachment is shown and described in relation to a cellular telephone, the shape and configuration of which is known in the prior art. A cellular telephone  100 , such as that shown in  FIG. 1 , is provided with a front face  110  which typically presents a display  120  and keypad  130  to the user. A speaker  140  and microphone or mouthpiece  150  are provided at or near opposing ends of the cell phone  100 , frequently on the front face  110  as shown, although the speaker  140  and microphone  150  need not be provided in the exact locations depicted in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0018]     In the preferred embodiment, the mobile device accessory comprises two principal components, an ear loop  10  and a bracket  20 . The bracket  20  is provided with two flanges  24 ,  26  disposed at either end of the bracket  20 . The length of the flanges  24 ,  26  is generally sized to fit around the sides of a typical cell phone; preferably, the flanges  24 ,  26  are curved, thus providing a rim  25 ,  27  that rests on the face  110  of the cell phone  100 , thus retaining the cell phone  100  within the bracket  20 . The rims  25 ,  27  may also be disposed at an angle to the flanges  24 ,  26 . Preferably, the rims  25 ,  27  and flanges  24 ,  26  are integrally formed of the same material.  
         [0019]     On the outside faces of the flanges  24  and  26 , respectively, are connectors  28  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) and  30  (not shown). An ear loop  10  is attached to the bracket  20  at connectors  28 ,  30 ; preferably, the connectors  28 ,  30  allow the ear loop  10  to swivel around an almost 180-degree arc between a retracted position, shown in  FIG. 2 , and the deployed position shown in  FIG. 1 . Preferably, the ear loop  10  is formed of thin plastic, leather-like synthetic or similar material. The loop  10  has a generally U-shape with a bend or dogleg  12  formed in the legs of the loop  10 , and is of sufficient length to hook over the user&#39;s ear when in the deployed position. Also preferably, the ear loop is sufficiently thin so as to fit comfortably behind the user&#39;s ear when deployed and in use.  
         [0020]     If the loop  10  is intended to be swivelled between the deployed and retracted position, then the end pieces of the loop  10  are mounted to the connectors  28 ,  30  using jointed means, such as a hinge, ball and socket joint, a screw-type joint, or other pivot joint. The joint then preferably provides sufficient friction between the cooperating portions of the connectors  28 ,  30  and the loop  10  so that while the joint can be manipulated by the user through the application of force, it withstands the effect of the weight of the cell phone  100  when the cell phone  100  is mounted in the bracket  20  and suspended by the loop  10 . In a further embodiment, the loop  10  and the bracket  20  are joined in fixed relation to each other, such that the loop  10  is always in the deployed position.  
         [0021]     The bracket  20  may be formed of a sufficiently resilient material, such as plastic, to allow a cell phone  100  to be snap-fit between the flanges  24 ,  26 , provided the material has sufficient rigidity to support the cell phone  100  as described below. If the cell phone  100  is not snap-fit between the flanges  24 ,  26 , but the bracket  20  is rather provided with resizing means to accommodate variations in cell phone dimension, then the bracket  20  may be formed of more rigid material that is not as resilient, including plastics and metals.  
         [0022]     In one embodiment of a resizable bracket  20 , the bracket  20  is provided in two portions with cooperating attachment means, as shown in  FIGS. 3, 4  and  5 . A serrated member  40  is edged with integrally formed serrations  44  along its side edges. The serrations  44  extend from the distal end  46  from the flange  24 , to a point between the flange  24  and the distal end  46 . The pawled member  50  is provided with a lip  52  provided along either edge of the member  50 , extending between the distal end  56  and the flange  26 . Pawls  58 , shown in phantom in  FIG. 5 , are disposed within the pawled member  50 . The pawls  58  are fixed to the pawled member  50  at a first end  61 , and the second end  62  of the pawls  58  protrudes through an aperture  64  in the sides of the pawled member  50 .  
         [0023]     The pawls  58  are preferably spring-biased such that when the serrated member  40  is inserted into the pawled member  50 , the pawls  58  can be engaged between adjacent teeth on the serrations  44 , and secure the pawled member  50  and the serrated member  40  in relation to each other by biasing the pawls  58  against the serrated edges  44 . Thus, when the serrated member  40  is inserted into the pawled member  50 , the pawls  58  bias against the serrated edge, preventing the serrated member  40  from being retracted from the pawled member  50 . The serrated member  40 , however, may be deliberately removed from engagement with the pawls  58  by retracting the pawls  58  by pulling the second ends  62  outwards and away from the serrated edges  44 , thus releasing the serrations  44  and allowing the serrated member  40  to be withdrawn.  
         [0024]     In a preferred embodiment, the inner surfaces  29 ,  31  of the flanges  24 ,  26  and optionally the inner surface  51  of the pawled member  50  may be lined with a rubber or texturized material to securely grip the cell phone  100  when it is in place within the accessory.  
         [0025]     In a further embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the bracket  20  may be comprised of a male portion  40  and a female portion  50 ; the female portion  50  is provided with flanges  52  which receive the male portion  40  in slot described by the flanges  52  and the inner surface  51  of the female portion  50 . Apertures  53  provided in the sides of the female portion  50  receive the ends of a clasp  70 , which is spring-biased against the inner surface  51  of the female portion  50 . When the male portion  40  is inserted in the female portion  50 , the tang  72  of the clasp  70  retains the male and female portions in fixed relation to each other. Preferably, the interior surface of the female portion  50  and optionally the surface of the male portion  40  in contact with the female portion  50  is roughened or crenulated to provide additional friction to retain the portions in position in relation to each other.  
         [0026]     In an alternate embodiment (not shown), the serrated member  40  may be provided without serrations  44 , and the pawled member  50  without pawls  58 ; in other words, the member  40  may simply slide into the member  50 , and be held in place using a hook-and-loop fastener (such as Velcro™) disposed on the outer surfaces  42 ,  32  of the members  40 ,  50 .  
         [0027]     Referring to  FIG. 7 , an alternate embodiment of the invention consists of a basket or cage  60  for holding the cell phone  100  and mounted to an ear loop  10 , as described earlier. The basket preferably is provided with one or more cutouts  65  in the front surface  66  so that the display  120 , number pad  130 , and microphone  150  are accessible to the user; the cage  60  may be provided with a transparent, flexible layer, for example formed of PVC (not shown) that extends across the cutout  66  to protect the display  120  and/or the number pad  130  from damage. In the embodiment with a removed front surface, elastic straps  67  stretched across the surface of the cell phone can be used to maintain the cell phone in the basket. The basket is preferable made of plastic, leather or other similar material.  
         [0028]     In use, the accessory is removably attached to the body of the cell phone  100 . In the case of a bracket  20  that is not adjustable, the body of the cell phone  100  is simply snap-fit into the bracket  20 ; if the bracket  20  is adjustable, then the cell phone  100  is placed against the inner surface  51  of the bracket  20 , and the serrated and pawled portions of the bracket  40 ,  50  are engaged until the flanges  24 ,  26  contact the sides of the cell phone  100 . Alternatively, in the embodiment of a cage or basket  60 , the cell phone is inserted into the cage or basket and the elastic  67  maintains the cage or basket in position. The cell phone  100  is thus secured by the bracket  20 . Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a flip-style cell phone  100  may be used in conjunction with the bracket embodiment of the accessory device; the bracket  20  may be positioned on the body of the phone  100  so that it does not obstruct the operation of a flip-down panel.  
         [0029]     When the user wishes to make or receive a call, once a connection has been made and the user is ready for conversation, the loop  10  is rotated to the deployed position (if necessary) so that it extends generally in the direction of the end of the phone  100  with the speaker  140 . It can be seen, with reference to  FIG. 1 , that the dogleg  12  in the loop  10  spaces the loop  10  from the front face  110  of the cell phone  100 ; this provides sufficient space between the loop  10  and the front face  110  to allow the user to hook the loop  10  over the ear. The loop  10 , being mounted to the bracket  20  by the connectors  28 ,  30 , thus holds the cell phone  100  generally in the appropriate position for carrying on a telephone conversation, while freeing the user&#39;s hands for other activities. The precise angle of the loop  10  with respect to the bracket  20  and cell phone  100  may be adjusted by the user as necessary to maintain an adequate distance between the user&#39;s mouth and the microphone  150 . When not in use, the ear loop  10  may be rotated to the retracted state, as shown in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0030]     When the cell phone  100  is not in use, or if the cell phone  100  has speakerphone capabilities, it may be suspended using the ear loop  10  from any suitable hook or protuberance for use in an automobile or for storage purposes.  
         [0031]     Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the mobile device accessory may be adapted to fit other configurations of mobile devices that are used for telephonic communication. Various embodiments of the present invention having been thus described in detail by way of example, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variations and modifications may be made without departing from the invention. The invention includes all such variations and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.