Abstract:
In a folding communication apparatus with a housing rotatably connected by a hinge to a movable form, wherein movement of the hinge alters the speaker volume. A folding portable radio set includes a switch for reducing the speaker volume when the communication apparatus is in the open position.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to radio and wireless telephone communications, particularly in the automatic attenuation of speaker volume when the radio or wireless telephone is opened to the operating position. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In recent years, portable communications devices for use by the general public have been developed and their usage has become widespread. The cellular telephone systems have become a ubiquitous mode of communication in our society, but cellular phones are not the only widely used form of communications. Recently new UHF frequencies, in the 462 to 467 MHZ range, have been opened for the “Family Radio Service”. The Family Radio Service (FRS) is a 14 channel, UHF, low power, two-way radio service designed to allow communications between multiple users, such as family members at an amusement park or groups on outings. Use of cellular telephones has become very common and socially accepted in most public areas such as shopping malls, amusement parks, and athletic events. However, many people feel uncomfortable using a two-way radio, such as FRS, to communicate in such surroundings. A solution is to make the two-way radio appear to be a cellular telephone. Small, inexpensive component parts are available to produce portable radio sets which are the same size as most mobile telephones. 
     One disadvantage of modifying a two-way radio to appear as a wireless telephone is the speaker volume must be sufficient to be heard when the radio is some distance from the ear, such as when the radio is stored or attached to a belt or in a handbag but not too loud when the radio is held to the ear as is done with wireless telephones. If the volume is audible enough to be heard when the person is not actually listening to the radio, it may be too loud when the speaker is placed near the ear. This is also true for cellular telephones, where the “ringing” tone must be loud enough to alert the user that a call is waiting and yet may be too loud if not attenuated once the receiver is placed near the ear. This invention is directed to a low cost, simple solution to this problem. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
     Many people desire their cellular telephones be as small as possible. The smallest designs are usually divided in two, with the housings joined by a hinge whereby the two housings fold parallel to one another, decreasing the length of the unit by one half. The first housing and the second housing are connected rotatably to each other by a hinge. The telephone is unfolded from the stored position to allow access to the keypad and place the microphone and speaker far enough apart to correspond to the distance between the ear and mouth of the user. Other telephones use a cover which rotates open and closed to cover and protect the keypad and microphone when the telephone is not in use. This movement of a hinge can be used to activate a switch to attenuate the volume of the radio. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable communication device which adjusts the volume of the speaker in which a switch is activated by moving an electrical connecting member in the hinge of a folding type communication device. 
     The folding radio of the present invention accomplishes the above recited objects by having an electrical switch that connects a first housing to a second housing. The first and second housings, which are attached at a hinge, each have one end of the electrical switch. The movement of the hinge either opens or closes an electrical switch causing the volume of the speaker to increase or decrease. 
     The wireless telephone has an electrical connecting member which connect related electrical components in the housings. In many cases of folding type telephones, the electrical connecting member is wired through the hinge of the telephone. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the prior art in the open, or in use, configuration. 
     FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the prior art hinge and switch. 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the preferred embodiment in the open, or in use, position. 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the preferred embodiment in the closed, or stored, position. 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view of an alternate preferred embodiment of the present invention in the open configuration. 
     FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the alternate preferred embodiment of FIG. 5 in a closed configuration. 
     FIG. 7 is a sectional view of an alternate preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1 depicts a prior art wireless telephone or two way radio designed to appear to be a wireless telephone. The radio/telephone has a speaker  12  and control keypad  13  provided in the housing  11 . Speaker  12 , display  15  and microphone  16  are electrically connected to the printed circuit board  14 . The printed circuit board  14  contains an amplification circuit which increases the power to speaker  12  when activated. An antenna (not shown) for wireless communications is also provided in housing  11 . A hinge  19  rotatably connects housing  11  with cover  10 . Cover  10  rotates 180 degrees about hinge  19 . In the closed position, cover  10  lays above and protects the control keypad  13  and microphone  16 . In the open position, the cover extends to form a plane with the housing  11 . When cover  10  is in the closed position for storage, projection  21 , integral to cover  10 , moves into slot  22  to activate switch  20 . There are numerous switches well known to those skilled in the art which will perform the desired function. Switch  20 , when activated, allows power to proceed to the amplifier circuit on circuit board  14 . Design and fabrication of a circuit board for radios and the amplifier circuit are well known in the art and will not be discussed in detail. 
     FIG. 2 (Prior Art) shows a detailed view of one embodiment of switch  20  wherein movable arm  24  which is angled to bisect the interior of opening  22 . When projection  21  enters opening  22 , movable arm  24  is forced against a wall of opening  22 , closing electrical contact  23  and allowing current to flow powering the amplification circuit on circuit board  14 . Spring  25  forces movable arm  24  back into the rest position breaking electrical contact when projection  21  is withdrawn from the center slot thereby removing power from the amplification circuit. 
     FIG. 3 depicts the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Hinge  19  rotatably connects first housing  11 , having a speaker  12 , to second housing  30  having a circuit board  14  and keypad  13 . A hollow space in a shaft  37  is in the center of hinge  19  gives the hinge  19  a double cylindrical configuration. A battery for supplying power to the above mentioned electrical/electronic components can be inserted in the above-mentioned hollow space in the shaft  37 . Electrical conducting wire  31  passes through the outer wall  40  of hinge  19  and into the space  41  defined by the inner wall of hinge  19  and the outer wall  42  of shaft  37 . A switch  32  is located on the opposite side of hinge  19  adjacent to second housing  30 . Switch  32  is electrically connected though outer wall  40  to circuit board  14 . Keypad  13  is also electrically connected to circuit board  14 . If the preferred embodiment is a cellular telephone, the keypad buttons will control the dialing function, power on and off and volume. If the preferred embodiment is a radio designed to look like a wireless telephone, the keypad  13  will control frequency selection, power on and off and volume. The keypad may incorporate a key with which the volume attenuation circuit can be deactivated in the closed position, if low volume is desired, such as in a restaurant. In FIG. 4, the telephone/radio of FIG. 3 is closed and conductor  31  is connected to switch  32  enabling the amplification circuit. An alternate embodiment with a switch in the hinge is shown in FIG.  5 . Hinge  19  rotates about pin  50 . Attached to pin  50  is switch  32 , which in turn is connected electrically to circuit board  14 . Conductor  31  is attached to the inner wall of shaft  37 . As hinge  19  is rotated, conductor  31  moves in a circular motion about shaft  37 . When first housing  11  is adjacent to second housing  30 , conductor  31  is in contact with switch  32  (as shown in FIG. 6) completing the circuit and energizing an amplification circuit on circuit board  14 , boosting the power of the speaker output signal. A telephone/radio with a cover  10 , can also incorporate the alternate embodiment hinge/switch combination of FIG. 5, as shown in FIG.  7 . 
     It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise embodiments disclosed above and that alternative embodiments and methods will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.