Abstract:
The present invention relates generally to an FM transmitter and, more specifically, to an FM transmitter comprised in the headphone or the ear bud accessories to portable audio players. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   Not applicable. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates generally to an FM transmitter and, more specifically, to an FM transmitter comprised in the headphone or the ear bud accessories to portable audio players. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Although advancements in technology have improved the capabilities of, the styles of and the popularity of portable audio players over the years, the basic purpose has remained the same, that is, to provide persons with a means to listen to music while moving. These means have included the portable transistor radio, the tape cassette player, the compact disc player and, most recently, the digital audio player. Digital audio players enable users to download audio material from an Internet site or a computer hard drive. 
   The material is stored on a medium in a number of formats until it is repeatedly listened to later. Digital audio players that utilize stored audio sounds (hereinafter “MP3”) are extremely popular and the market is thriving for the portable versions of these devices. Similar to other portable devices, a headphone or a pair of ear buds is the means to listen to the stored music on MP3s; however, there are some disadvantages to the portable MP3. Portable MP3s cannot be utilized in automobiles because of the risks it presents to the driver&#39;s safety. The small size and the lightweight characteristics of MP3s, although most advantageous for the purposes of portability and ease, makes it difficult to engineer the device with a speaker powerful enough to broadcast the audio at a volume sufficient for a group of persons. 
   There is presently known a separate unit that connects to the MP3 so that it can transmit the audio to another FM receiver. A search of the prior art did not disclose any patents that read directly on the claims of the present invention; however, the following references were considered related. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,591,085 and U.S. Pub. No. 2004/0,058,649, both to Grady, teaches an FM transmitter having a means in the docking cavity to couple it to an MP3 player. U.S. Pat. No. 7,082,203 to Drakoulis et al. teaches an apparatus for coupling audio players to audio receivers. A disadvantage to these patents is that the transmitter is a separate unit to the audio player. 
   There is a need for a united means to transmit the audio to an FM receiver and, more specifically, to a means comprised on the MP3. This means is accomplished in the present invention, wherein an FM transmission is comprised in the headset or in the ear bud accessory that plugs into the MP3. The present invention overcomes the disadvantage of attaching a separate unit to an MP3 to transmit the audio to a receiver. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved means to transmit the audio stored on a portable digital player to an FM receiver. It is an object of the present invention to comprise the means on the MP3 so that a separate unit is not carried with and attached to the MP3. It is a further object of the present invention to comprise the means on a standard accessory and, more specifically, on the headphones or the pair of ear buds that plug into the MP3. The present object is accomplished by attaching the FM transmitter to a conventional headphone jack. 
   It is an object of the present invention to design the transmitter to include a means to power the device, a means to tune the device and a means to control the power consumption of the device. 
   It is an object of the present invention to teach a lightweight and an unobtrusive transmitter. It is a further object of the present invention to teach an FM transmitter that does not hinder the MP3&#39;s portable capabilities or the MP3&#39;s ability to function in the standard and the typical manner. It is an object of the present invention to provide a means to broadcast the audio stored on the MP3 either to more than one person or in the spaces where wearing a headset is dangerous to the user. 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide an FM transmitter that transmits at a range of at least 25 feet. 
   It is a final object of the present invention to provide all of the advantages that the foregoing objects entail. An FM transmitter achieves this object and, more specifically, an FM transmitter comprised in the headphone or the ear bud accessories to a portable, digital audio player. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The advantages and the features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and the claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
       FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a pair of ear buds comprising the FM transmitter according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within the Figures. 
   1. Detailed Description of the Figures 
   The FM transmitter  10  according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 1 . The FM transmitter  10  is comprised on a headphone accessory; however, the accessory is not limited to the pair of ear buds  15  shown in  FIG. 1 . Conventional ear buds  15  are shown, but the present invention could be utilized with equal effectiveness over wireless or non wireless headphones. The ear buds  15  comprise a conventional jack plug  20  positioned at the distal end of a cord  25 , the jack plug  20  is received by the corresponding jack (not shown) comprised on the MP3 (not shown). The ear buds  15  comprise internal antennae  55  similar to the antennae known in the art. The internal antennae provide a clearer and crisper sound when the FM transmitter  10  is transmitting the audio. In an alternate embodiment to the present invention, a retractable antenna may be comprised on or built into the FM transmitter pack  30 . 
   An FM transmitter pack  30  is attached to the cord  25 . The transmitter pack  30  comprises a power button  35  that is utilized as a means to selectively turn the FM transmitter  10  on or off at the times when the user desires to transmit the audio stored on the MP3 to an FM receiver (not shown). The power button  35  turns the transmitter pack  30  off when the user desires to utilize the MP3 in a conventional manner. The means to selectively turn the power on and off is not limited to the power button  35  shown. It is envisioned that a switch and any other means may be utilized to achieve the same purpose. Tuning buttons  40 ,  45  are also comprised on the transmitter pack  30 . The tuning buttons  40 ,  45  are provided as a means to increase and to decrease the frequency of the FM band to one that is best for the purposes of utilizing the present invention. The means to select a frequency is not limited to the upward and the downward tuner buttons  40 ,  45  shown in  FIG. 1 , but may comprise a knob, a pad or any other means that performs the same function. 
   The transmitter pack  30  further comprises an LCD screen  50  that provides the user with a visual display of his or her selection. It is envisioned that the LCD screen may further display to the user the amount of battery available to power the FM transmitter  10 . The FM transmitter  10  may be powered by battery or it may receive its power from the portable audio device. The LCD  50  may further display the songs, the titles and the music transmitted from the MP3. 
   The transmitter pack  30  may additionally comprise an ear bud power button  60 , which provides the user with a means to turn off the ear buds  15  when the audio is transmitted to an FM receiver because the audio will be broadcast through the speakers comprised on the FM receiver. Otherwise, it is envisioned that the power button  35  that turns the transmitter pack  30  on will deactivate the speakers on the ear buds  15 . 
   2. Operation of the Preferred Embodiment 
   The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized in a simple and an effortless manner. To operate the present invention, the jack plug is plugged into the corresponding jack comprised on the portable audio device. To transmit the audio stored on the MP3 to an FM receiver, the power button is pressed to actuate the transmitter pack. An FM band is selected on the FM receiver that is not one broadcasted from a station. The FM tuning buttons are pressed to change the FM band shown on the visual display to the same frequency selected on the FM receiver. Once the LCD display on the transmitter pack shows that the FM transmitter and the FM receiver are set at the same band, the audio stored on the portable audio device will play on the speakers connected to the FM receiver. The volume, the bass, the treble and the other listener modes may be controlled from the FM receiver. In an alternate embodiment to the present invention, the functions may be controlled from the transmitter pack. 
   The foregoing descriptions of the specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for the purposes of illustration and description only. They are not intended to be exhaustive nor are they intended to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed and, obviously, many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and its various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto and their equivalents. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be limited only by the following claims.