Abstract:
A sound-muffling remote accessory for communication devices. The accessory comprises a remote mouthpiece and earpiece that is wired to, or transmits wirelessly to, a telephone or two-way radio. The mouthpiece generally conforms to the shape of the user&#39;s face and is designed in such a way that when spoken into, little or no sound escapes to the immediate vicinity.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     The present application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/737,515, filed Nov. 17, 2005, for TELECOMMUNICATION PRIVACY DEVICE, by Daniel J McClory, included by reference herein and for which benefit of the priority date is hereby claimed. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to accessories for telecommunication devices and, more particularly, to accessories that provide the user with enhanced privacy and acoustic performance.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Telephones have been commonly used for many years. Telephones used in public places and other congested areas such as office cubicles have a significant drawback regarding privacy; Conversation can be heard by people in the immediate vicinity. It is not always desirable for a person to reveal the contents of his or her conversations to everyone near them. Conversely, many people in a public environment feel disturbed when a person nearby is carrying on a loud yet private conversation on a telephone.  
         [0004]     The advent of mobile phones has greatly magnified this problem. The use of cellular phones is becoming ubiquitous in public locations such as restaurants, theatres, sporting events and the like. Because of frequent poor reception it is common for a person to talk at a higher than normal volume while on a cell phone. Another contributing problem is the design of cell phones. In recent times the size of these devices has shrunk to the point where a person&#39;s mouth, while using a cell phone, is not always in close proximity to the microphone portion of the cell phone. This causes the user to speak louder than normal during conversations. The nature of many phone calls is private in and not meant to be broadcast to all surrounding people. Many cell phone users feel uncomfortable or embarrassed when speaking in a public environment.  
         [0005]     In addition to lack of privacy, certain environments can cause poor acoustic performance for telephone users. Because of the design of most conventional and mobile phones, a lot of unwanted background noise can be transmitted through the device&#39;s microphone during conversations. Windy days, loud factories, concerts, etc can make it difficult or impossible to converse through a telephone.  
         [0006]     Many attempts at increasing the privacy of telephone users exist in the prior art. An early example of this was U.S. Pat. No. 271,903, which describes a “mouthpiece for telephone transmitters” by A. S. Nichols that afforded the user oral privacy by speaking into an attached mouthpiece housing during telephone conversations. Other iterations of this concept were later patented including; U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,399,083, 1,529,537, 2,020,970, 2,131,820, 2,245,724, and 2,540,873.  
         [0007]     Another avenue taken by those attempting to supply telephone users with increased privacy is the development of what is commonly known as “white noise” generators. These are devices usually intended for office use that produce a background noise making it difficult for people in the immediate vicinity of the telephone conversation to perceive what is being talked about. An example of this includes U.S. Pat. No. 4,010,324, a “background noisemaking system” by Jarvis, et al. which describes a system to be used in an office environment that generates a privacy-increasing noise. Another example of a white noise generator is U.S. Pat. No. 4,052,564 “masking sound generator” by Probst, et al. which portrays a smaller and easy to install sound generator.  
         [0008]     Noise cancellation technology has also been employed to increase telephone users&#39; privacy. Many examples of this exist in the prior art including U.S. Pat. No. 6,690,800, “Method and apparatus for communication operator privacy” by Resnick, which depicts a noise canceling technology that when integrated with a telephone&#39;s mouthpiece uses active acoustic cancellation to silence the voice of the operator and reduce the amount of spoken sound that would normally emit to the surrounding area. Other examples of this type of privacy solution are expressed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,754,353 and 7,088,828.  
         [0009]     The prior art regarding privacy solutions for telephone users have some drawbacks. Mufflers that attach to a mouthpiece can be cumbersome and may interfere with the normal operation of the device. Additionally, the vast number of phone handpiece configurations would make the effective design of such a device for conventional and mobile models extremely difficult.  
         [0010]     White noise generators can afford the user with increased speaking privacy but at the price of greater background noise. Rather than inhibit sound from emitting to the surrounding area, their method of operation requires additional noise to “drown out” telephone conversational sound. Also, because they are not portable, noise generators are limited to home or office use.  
         [0011]     Noise cancellation technology requires extensive redesign of the telephone&#39;s microphone circuitry and would likely add a considerable production expense. The technology is also immature and may not sufficiently cancel all spoken sound.  
         [0012]     It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a better way to speak privately on a telecommunication device while in a populated location.  
         [0013]     It is another object of the invention to provide a device that helps to reduce or eliminate the annoying chatter that bystanders to telephone users are subjected to.  
         [0014]     It is another object of the invention to provide a shield that helps to reduce unwanted background noise from the surrounding area being transmitted through the microphone of a telecommunication device during conversations.  
         [0015]     It is another object of the invention to allow users to speak more softly than would normally be required when using a conventional phone, mobile phone, or two-way radio.  
         [0016]     It is another object of the invention to provide an accessory that can be easily added to and removed from a conventional phone, mobile phone, or two-way radio.  
         [0017]     It is another object of the invention to provide a privacy shield that prohibits people in the vicinity from seeing the mouth movement of the user.  
         [0018]     Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, possible embodiments of the present invention are disclosed.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0019]     In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a remote sound-muffling accessory for communication devices. The accessory comprises a mouthpiece and earpiece that is wired to, or transmits wirelessly to, a remote telephone or two-way radio. The mouthpiece generally conforms to the shape of the user&#39;s face and is designed in such a way that when spoken into, little or no sound escapes to the immediate vicinity. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]     A complete understanding of the present invention may be obtained by reference to the accompanying drawings, when considered in conjunction with the subsequent, detailed description, in which:  
         [0021]      FIG. 1  is an inner perspective view of a possible embodiment of the remote telecommunication privacy device in accordance with the invention;  
         [0022]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a person using a possible embodiment of the remote telecommunication privacy device in accordance with the current invention;  
         [0023]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a person speaking into a conventional mobile phone;  
         [0024]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a desktop embodiment of the invention that is wired to a dedicated telephone;  
         [0025]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a mouthpiece—only embodiment of the present invention that is shown closed, open, and in use by a person who is using a mobile phone for an earpiece;  
         [0026]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a person using an embodiment of the current invention that has a wireless earpiece and a wireless mouthpiece;  
         [0027]      FIG. 7  is a block diagram view of an embodiment of the present invention that is wirelessly coupled to a dedicated telephone and has a wirelessly coupled earpiece;  
         [0028]      FIG. 8  is a block diagram view of an embodiment of the present invention that is wirelessly coupled to a dedicated telephone and has an integrated hard-wired earpiece;  
         [0029]      FIG. 9  is a block diagram view of an embodiment of the present invention that is wired to a dedicated telephone and has an integrated hard-wired earpiece; and  
         [0030]      FIG. 10  is a block diagram view of a mouthpiece—only embodiment of the present invention that is wirelessly coupled to a dedicated telephone. 
     
    
       [0031]     For purposes of clarity and brevity, like elements and components will bear the same designations and numbering throughout the Figures.  
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0032]     In operation, the present invention attenuates spoken noise by mechanically blocking sound. When used in populated locations, this increases the privacy for users of telephones, mobile phones and two-way radios.  
         [0033]     The general function of the invention is illustrated in  FIG. 1  and summarized as follows. A microphone  30  or acoustic sensor housed within a speaking cavity  14  captures the operator&#39;s speech, which it immediately transmits to a dedicated telecommunication device. An earpiece  10  containing a speaker delivers an acoustic signal from the dedicated telecommunication device to the operator&#39;s ear. A positioning arm  12  allows the operator to locate the earpiece  10  adjacent to their ear.  
         [0034]     As shown in  FIG. 1  the main facilitator to dampening sound and increasing user privacy is the mouthpiece  50  and its concave-shaped speaking cavity  14 . This feature is contoured to fit under the nose and around the user&#39;s mouth  42 . The mouthpiece  50  could be fabricated from plastics, metals, composites, or any other suitable material. Multiple layers with either an air space or insulating material between each layer would improve the acoustic dampening effect of the speaking cavity  14 .  
         [0035]     Another essential purpose of the mouthpiece  50  is to house the communication related circuitry, which in the preferred embodiment includes a microphone  30 , speaker, power-supply battery, and means to communicate to a dedicated telephone, mobile phone  24  or two-way radio.  
         [0036]     The microphone  30  housed within the mouthpiece&#39;s speaking cavity  14  is positioned to be directly in front of the operator&#39;s mouth while speaking. This is the optimum position for acoustic transmission of spoken sound to the microphone  30  and allows the operator to speak at a low volume. Microphones of this type are common in the art especially regarding headsets to be used with mobile or conventional phones. Once spoken sound is picked up by the microphone  30  it is immediately transmitted to the dedicated telephone, mobile phone  24 , or two-way radio either through a wire or by utilizing short-range wireless technology such as “Bluetooth”. A good example of this is offered by Plantronics in their “MX250 Mobile Headset” which includes a microphone and earpiece wired to a mobile phone. Another example is the “Explorer 320 Bluetooth Headset” by Plantronics, which wirelessly communicates with a mobile phone. The main benefit supplied by the Plantronics devices and virtually all other commercially available remote headsets it that they allow users to operate telephones while leaving their hands free. Using such headsets in no way increases privacy for the user.  
         [0037]     The earpiece  10  of the present invention delivers acoustic signals from the dedicated telephone, mobile phone  24 , or two-way radio to the operator&#39;s ear. The earpiece  10  can be adjustably attached to the speaking cavity  14  or wirelessly coupled by again using short-range wireless technology such as “Bluetooth”. The speaker within the earpiece  10  would include a volume control in the preferred embodiment, and in the wireless version also contains a separate power-supply battery. Examples of similar earpieces and the means to power earpiece  10  and mouthpiece  50  headsets can be seen in many commercially available headsets such as the Plantronics models referenced earlier.  
         [0038]     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a person  16  is shown privately conversing on a mobile phone  24  using the remote telecommunication privacy device  18 . A wireless link is established that allows instant data transmissions between the devices. The unit&#39;s mouthpiece  50  is positioned to muffle conversational sound and gives the operator increased privacy during mobile phone  24  conversations. The earpiece  10  has been extended and positioned so that the operator can hear voice signals from the mobile phone  24 . The person&#39;s mobile phone  24  does not need to be held and can be kept in a pocket or other nearby place. The lip movements of the user cannot be seen and any background noise that may be in the area of the user is not transmitted through the privacy device&#39;s mouthpiece  50 .  
         [0039]      FIG. 3  shows a person  16  using a mobile telephone. Clearly illustrated is the fact that the operator&#39;s mouth  42  is not in close proximity to the microphone  30  portion of the mobile telephone. Conversational sound can be heard by people in the immediate vicinity to the person  16  and his lip movements can be seen. Additionally, any loud background noise near the person  16  would be transmitted through the mobile telephone&#39;s mouthpiece  50  making conversation difficult. A person  16  using a mobile phone  24  in a populated location may be embarrassed to have the contents of his conversation heard by bystanders. Conversely, people in the immediate vicinity may become annoyed at being forced to hear conversational noise.  
         [0040]     In  FIG. 4 , a desktop embodiment of the invention is shown that is wired to a dedicated conventional desktop telephone  26 . A cable  28  connects the desktop remote telecommunication privacy device  32  to the desktop telephone  26  through its headphone jack and provides a path for data to transfer back and forth between the two units. A base  40  keeps the desktop embodiment of the current invention upright and provides a handle to be used by the operator. This embodiment would increase the privacy of telephone users in home or office settings. A button on the handle or a pressure sensitive switch that activates when the unit is lifted would enable the device.  
         [0041]      FIG. 5  illustrates a collapsible remote mouthpiece  34  embodiment of the current invention that does not include an earpiece  10 . This possible embodiment would be easy to store and transport. Shown closed, open, and in use by a person  16 , this embodiment of the invention is intended to increase the operator&#39;s privacy by muffling spoken sound when used in conjunction with a mobile phone  24  that serves as the earpiece  10 . This embodiment is also ideal for integration with a wristband that would provide the user with an instantly accessible privacy mouthpiece  50 .  
         [0042]     A full wireless remote telecommunication privacy device  18  is shown in  FIG. 6 . Illustrated is a person  16  using a wireless earpiece  44  and wireless mouthpiece  48  that is remotely communicating with a mobile phone  24 . This possible embodiment of the current invention provides the operator with increased privacy when speaking on a mobile phone  24  in a public area and does not require the operator to position an earpiece  10  prior to conversing.  
         [0043]      FIG. 7  shows a block diagram of a full wireless embodiment of the present invention such as the version shown in  FIG. 6 . An earpiece  10  is wirelessly linked to a mouthpiece  50 , both of which are wirelessly linked to a telephone or mobile phone  24 .  
         [0044]      FIG. 8  shows a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention in which the mouthpiece  50  and hard-wired earpiece  10  are wirelessly linked to a telephone or mobile phone  24 . A possible embodiment of this configuration is also shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 .  
         [0045]      FIG. 9  shows a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention in which the mouthpiece  50  and earpiece  10  are wired together, both of which are linked through a wire to a telephone or mobile phone  24 . An embodiment of this configuration is also show in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0046]      FIG. 10  shows a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention that consists of a mouthpiece  50  that is wirelessly linked to a telephone or mobile phone  24 . An embodiment of this mouthpiece  50 —only version of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 5 .  
         [0047]     Since other modifications and changes varied to fit particular operating requirements and environments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention is not considered limited to the example chosen for purposes of disclosure, and covers all changes and modifications which do not constitute departures from the true spirit and scope of this invention.  
         [0048]     Having thus described the invention, what is desired to be protected by Letters Patent is presented in the subsequently appended claims.