PATENT ABSTRACT
A protective phone cover for mounting on a phone includes a generally hemispherical cover sheet having a top panel and side walls and a securement device such as an elastic band mounted on the generally hemispherical cover sheet for releasably securing the cover sheet to a phone. The top panel of the cover sheet being spaced from the surface of the phone whereby the top panel is movable relative to the phone to permit sound conduction thereby.

PATENT DESCRIPTION
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application claims priority to the filing date of related patent application Ser. No. 60/342,025 filed Dec. 19, 2001. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Technical Field  
           [0003]    The present invention relates to sanitary covers for phone handsets and, more particularly, to a protective cover for a telephone handset and a method of using the same which includes a paper or fabric generally hemispherical cover having an elastic ring mounted on the lower open end thereof for releasably securing the cover on either end of the telephone handset, the method including the steps of stretching the elastic ring thus dilating the lower open end of the cover, placing the cover over the end of the telephone to be covered, releasing the elastic ring such that the cover is releasably secured on the phone and removing and discarding the cover after the phone has been used.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0005]    There are an almost uncountable number of telephones in use today throughout the world, and these are in use in almost every conceivable location and situation. Many of the telephones in use are either public phones, such as pay phones or other such public accessible phones, or are used by several different people within a relatively short period of time. In both of these situations, and in numerous others, subsequent users of the telephone are potentially being exposed to whatever germs the previous user or users left on the handset, both on the receiving end and the transmitting end. Obviously, these uses are potentially unsanitary and can result in the spread of infection. There is therefore a need for a device which is capable of reducing the risk of infection yet is disposable for ease of use.  
           [0006]    There are several prior art devices which disclose devices which at first glance appear similar to the present invention, yet with review reveal that they include significant distinguishing characteristics. For example, Harrison, U.S. Pat. No. 5,930,356, discloses a telephone handset cover, as do Lo et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,054,063 and Lashley, U.S. Pat. No. 6,314,185. Each of these devices, when used as intended, however, results in the muffling of sound due to the relative immobility of the protective cover. Either that, or in the case of Lashley, the cover includes a perforation to permit the sound waves to pass through. There is therefore a need for a protective cover which not only serves the purposes stated above, but generally acts to prevent muffling or distortion of the sound passing therethrough.  
           [0007]    Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved protective phone cover.  
           [0008]    Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved protective phone cover which includes a generally hemispherical cover sheet, a securement device such as an elastic band or the like and an impregnation substance which will increase the antibacterial nature of the invention.  
           [0009]    Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved protective phone cover which includes an air gap between the phone surface and the cover sheet in order to permit the cover sheet to vibrate in conjunction with the motion of the phone diaphragm.  
           [0010]    Finally, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved protective phone cover which is cost-effective and durable in manufacture and is simple and efficient in use.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0011]    The present invention provides a protective phone cover for mounting on a phone includes a generally hemispherical cover sheet having a top panel and side walls and a securement device such as an elastic band mounted on the generally hemispherical cover sheet for releasably securing the cover sheet to a phone. The top panel of the cover sheet being spaced from the surface of the phone whereby the top panel is movable relative to the phone to permit sound conduction thereby.  
           [0012]    It is thus seen that the present invention provides a substantial improvement over those inventions found in the prior art. For example, many of the devices found in the prior art address only the issue of disease prevention, but do not address the issue of sound conduction. Furthermore, as the present invention is relatively simple and inexpensive in manufacture and is durable in use, the user may quickly apply and remove the cover of the present invention as opposed to the methods of application required by many of the devices found in the prior art. The present invention thus provides a substantial improvement over the prior art.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the protective cover of the present invention mounted on a telephone;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the protective cover of the present invention;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate the method of using the protective cover of the present invention with a telephone handset; and  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 5 shows how the cover sheet, due to its spacing from the phone, moves with the sound emanations coming from the phone unit.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0017]    The protective phone cover  10  of the present invention is best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 as consisting of a flexible paper or fabric generally hemispherical cover sheet  12  which is approximately two to two and a half inches (2″ to 2½″) in diameter and has a depth of approximately one to two inches (1″to 2″). In the preferred embodiment, the cover sheet  12  would be constructed having a thickness between 0.1 and 3 millimeters which permits the cover sheet  12  to pass sound therethrough yet helps to filter and prevent the transmission of bacteria, viruses and other contaminants through the cover sheet  12 . Of course, it is to be understood that the cover sheet  12  may be constructed of many different materials so long as the sound permeation feature of the cover sheet  12  is maintained, any of which are known in the prior art and would be usable by one skilled in the art.  
         [0018]    In the preferred embodiment, the lower edge  14  of the cover sheet  12  is generally circular and mounted thereon is an elastic ring  16  which extends circumferentially around the lower edge  14  of the cover  10  and constricts the lower opening  18  of cover  10 . It is preferred that the elastic ring  16  be constructed as a thin band or cord of elastic material which can be stretched to increase the diameter of the lower opening  18  to fit over and onto an end  102  of a telephone handset  100 , the elastic ring  16  then constricting the lower opening  18  after release thereof to releasably secure the cover  10  on the telephone handset  100 .  
         [0019]    An important feature of the present invention is that due to the fabric or paper nature of the cover sheet  12 , it is relatively simple to impregnate the cover sheet  12  with an antibacterial solution which will act as a disinfectant when the cover  10  is being used on the telephone handset. The strength and nature of the disinfectant is variable, depending on the intended use of the cover  10  and the sensitivity level of the individual using the device, although it is preferred that the cover sheet  12  include some form of disinfectant regardless of the above factors. In this manner, any germs remaining on the handset from the previous user of the telephone will be prevented from entering the present user&#39;s system, thus decreasing the likelihood of infection and promoting use of public telephones, particularly pay phones.  
         [0020]    Regarding the method of use of the present invention, the user would take the cover  10  and dilate the lower opening  18  thus tensioning the elastic ring  16 . The cover  10  would then be fitted onto either the receiving end  102  or the transmitting end  104  of the handset  100  with the chosen end sliding into the lower opening  18 . The user would then release the elastic ring  16 , thus permitting the ring  16  to retract and constrict the lower opening  18  until the body of the handset  100  adjacent the chosen end is contacted. The frictional contact between the handset  100  and the cover  10  releasably secures the cover  10  thereon, and after the telephone call has been made, the user simply removes and discards the cover  10  thus preparing the telephone for the next user.  
         [0021]    An important feature of the present invention is that the cover sheet  12  is spaced from the top surface of the phone to permit the cover sheet  12  to move in response to sound waves emanating from the phone itself. In this manner, the sound waves are not muffled due to the immobility of the phone cover as is seen in the devices of the prior art. In fact, it is  
         [0022]    It should be noted that as there are various sizes and shapes of telephone handsets, the exact dimensions of cover  10  may be modified to accommodate these types of handsets, but the variations will be small in nature and the modifications will not be difficult to incorporate. It is further noted that the size and shape of the cover  10  is not critical so long as the intended function of securing the cover  10  on the handset is maintained. Of course, modifications to the size, shape and design of the cover  10  are well within the broad scope of the present disclosure. It should be further noted that numerous modifications, additions and substitutions to the protective cover for telephone handsets and method of applying the same of the present invention may be made which likewise fall within the intended broad scope of the present disclosure. For example, the construction material used for the cover  10  may be modified so long as the functional characteristics of the devices are not greatly modified. Finally, the method of applying cover  10  to the telephone handset  100  may be modified and changed so long as the intended result of protecting the user of the telephone is generally maintained.  
         [0023]    There has therefore been shown and described a protective cover for telephone handsets and method of using the same which accomplishes at least all of its intended objectives.