Abstract:
A headphone support element for securing a headphone connector to a headphone connector interface, the headphone support element coupled with the headphone connector interface, wherein the headphone support element having a first receptacle for engaging and securing the headphone connector, wherein the headphone connector cannot move or rotate when connected to the headphone connector interface. Each side of the headphone support element extends perpendicular to the first receptacle, thereby preventing the headphone connector from moving within the first receptacle when the headphone connector is connected to the interface. The headphone support element further comprises a second receptacle for engaging and securing a headphone connector wire, the second receptacle having a third side and a fourth side, wherein each side extends substantially perpendicular to the second receptacle. The headphone support element is made of an elastic material.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to an apparatus and method thereof of securing an object to a person, in general, and in particular, to an electronic device having a novel clip and headphone support element and method for providing the same.  
           [0002]    Many portable wireless transceivers are presently used in the telephone industry. Of these transceivers, many are small enough to utilize a clip or similar apparatus that allows the user to attach the electronic device to the user&#39;s belt or other article of clothing. The clips typically found on portable electronic devices pivot about a coil or leaf spring on the back side of the electronic device here have been complaints by consumers concerning difficulty in attaching and detaching the electronic device to and from the person&#39;s article fo clothing or belt. Specifically, the user must reach between the electronic device and their own body to actuate the portion of the clip that allows the clip to pivot.  
           [0003]    In addition, almost every electronic device that utilizes a headphone set or earphone has a headphone jack which connects the headphone to the transceiver. One common problem associated with headphone jacks is that the headphone plug, when connected into the headphone jack, often moves or rotates during use. This often causes the headphone plug to become loose, which in turn deteriorates the connection between the jack and the plug.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    What is needed is a headphone support element for securing a headphone connector to a headphone connector interface. The headphone support element is coupled with the headphone connector interface. The headphone support element has a first receptacle for engaging and securing the headphone connector, wherein the headphone connector cannot move or rotate when connected to the headphone connector interface.  
           [0005]    Each side of the headphone support element extends perpendicular to the first receptacle, thereby preventing the headphone connector from moving within the first receptacle when the headphone connector is connected to the interface. The headphone support element further comprises a second receptacle for engaging and securing a headphone connector wire. The second receptacle has a third side and a fourth side, wherein each side extends substantially perpendicular to the second receptacle. The headphone support element is made of an elastic material. The headphone support element is integrally formed within the electronic device.  
           [0006]    An electronic device having a headphone connector interface for accepting a headphone connector comprising: a headphone support element coupled with the headphone connector interface. The headphone support element has a first receptacle for engaging and securing the headphone connector within. The headphone support element has a first side and a second side, wherein the headphone connector cannot move or rotate when connected to the headphone connector interface.  
           [0007]    Each side of the headphone support element extends perpendicular to the first receptacle, thereby preventing the headphone connector from moving within the first receptacle when the headphone connector is connected to the interface. The headphone support element further comprises a second receptacle for engaging and securing a headphone connector wire. The second receptacle has a third side and a fourth side, wherein each side extends substantially perpendicular to the second receptacle. The headphone support element is made of an elastic material. The headphone support element further comprises a threaded hole portion adapted to fit within the electronic device, the headphone support element coupled to the electronic device by tightening a screw into a threaded hole portion when the threaded hole portion is within the electronic device. However, the headphone support element is coupled to the electronic device by an adhesive.  
           [0008]    A method for securing a headphone connector to a headphone connector interface, comprising the steps of: providing a headphone support element, wherein the headphone support element is coupled with the headphone connector interface. The headphone support element has a first receptacle for engaging and securing the headphone connector, wherein the headphone connector cannot move or rotate when connected to the headphone connector interface; and providing a means for coupling the headphone support element to the headphone connector interface.  
           [0009]    Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after reviewing the detailed description of the preferred embodiments set forth below. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 a  illustrates a perspective view of the electronic device having a modified clip and a headphone plug support element in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 b  illustrates a side view of the electronic device having a modified clip and a headphone plug support element in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 a  illustrates a side view of a modified clip with a rubber insert in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 b  illustrates a cross-segmental view along line b-b of the modified clip with rubber insert in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 a  illustrates a side view of the electronic device having a headphone plug connector connected and secured by a headphone plug support element in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 b  illustrates a back view of the electronic device having the headphone plug support element attached thereto in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3 c  illustrates a perspective view of the headphone plug support element in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 4 a  illustrates a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the headphone plug support element attached to the electronic device in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4 b  illustrates a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the headphone plug support element attached to the electronic device in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0019]    [0019]FIG. 1 illustrates the preferred embodiment of an electronic device  100 , preferably a transceiver, having a clip apparatus  200  and a headphone plug or connector support element  400  attached thereto. The electronic device  100  is shown here as having a substantially rectangular body, however any other shapes may be contemplated. The clip  200  serves to attach the electronic device  100  to an article of clothing worn by a person, such as a belt or pant. The clip  200  is made of any rigid material, and may be used with any object, and thus is not limited to being used with an electronic device. The headphone plug or connector support element  400  serves to prevent a headphone plug or connector, as shown in FIG. 3 a , from rotating or moving when connected to the headphone jack or interface located on the electronic device as shown in FIG. 1 a . The details of each component will now be discussed.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 1 b  illustrates a side view of the electronic body  100  with the clip  200  and the headphone plug support  400  in accordance with the present invention. Preferably, the clip  200  attaches to the electronic device  100  which has an extension  202  that allows the clip  200  to pivot about the extension  202 . The clip  200  is spring urged to a closed position by a coiled or leaf spring (not shown). The clip  200  is formed in two segments or sections, namely a first, lower segment  206  and a second, upper segment  204 . The lower segment  206  is substantially parallel to a first, back surface  104  of the electronic device  100  (FIGS. 1 a  and  1   b ) and attaches the electronic device  100  to an article of clothing worn by a person. Specifically, this is done by clasping the article between the lower segment  206  of the clip  200  and the back surface  104  of the electronic device  100 .  
         [0021]    The second, upper segment  204 , as shown in FIG. 1 b , is rigidly connected to the lower segment  206  and is the part of the clip  200 . The upper segment  204  is angled with respect to the lower segment  206  and is located above the pivot point  202 . The upper segment  204  is positioned adjacent to a second surface  106  of the electronic device  100 , which is substantially perpendicular to the first surface  104 . In the preferred embodiment, the upper segment  204  is at an angle greater than 90 degrees to the lower segment  206 . However, the upper segment  204  can be at other angles with respect to the lower segment  206 . The angled configuration of the upper segment  204  allows the user to directly press down on the upper segment  204  toward the second surface  106 , which actuates the clip  200  and causes the lower segment  206  to move or pivot away from the back surface  104 . This causes the the clip  200  to unclasp and allow the electronic device  100  to be removed from the article. Further, since the clip  200  spring tensioned, releasing the upper segment  204  causes the lower segment  206  to pivot or move toward the back surface  104 . This configuration of the clip  200  allows the user to easily attach or detach the electronic device  100  from the belt, because the user does not have to reach behind the electronic device  100  to actuate the clip  200 . Thus, the user may use her thumb or palm to actuate the clip  200 .  
         [0022]    The lower segment  206  of the clip  200  also has a protrusion or notch  208 . Specifically, the notch  208  is preferably located at or near the portion of the lower segment  206  that is farthest away from the upper segment  204 . In addition, the notch  208  protrudes out a certain distance from the inside surface of the clip&#39;s lower segment  206  and faces toward the back surface  104  of the electronic device  100 . The notch  208  serves to securely hold the electronic device  100  to the article of clothing by clasping the article between the clip  200  and the electronic device  100 .  
         [0023]    In addition, the electronic device  100  may be attached to the article of clothing upside down. The notch  208 , as discussed above, secures the article between the clip  200  and the electronic device  100 . Further, the notch  208  protrudes out far enough from the lower portion  206  of the clip  200  to extend over the top of a belt, thus allowing the electronic device  100  to be positioned upside down onto the belt. Therefore, user can attach or detach the electronic device  100  by pressing the upper segment  204  toward the second surface  106  with her index or middle finger.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 2 a  shows an alternative embodiment of the clip apparatus  300  having an insert adapter element  302  in accordance with the present invention. The structure of the clip  300  shown in FIG. 2 a  is the same as that in FIGS. 1 a  and  1   b . However, the clip  300  in FIG. 2 a  incorporates an adapter  302  which attaches to the clip  300  and serves to eliminate the notch  308  from the clip  300 . The adapter  302  is desirable for users who do not prefer the clip  300  snagging their clothing when the electronic device  100  is attached or detached. It is preferred that the adapter  302  extends out from the inside surface of the clip  300  at a distance greater than that of the notch  208 . The adapter  302  extends out past the notch  308  to provide a smooth surface on the inside of the clip  300 . The adapter  302  may also have a recess which the notch  208  fits into. The adapter  302  is preferably made of a frictional material which secures the article better than a metal or plastic surface. The adapter  302  can be formed of rubber, foam, neoprene, silicone gel, hard rubber, nylon and the like. The adapter  302  is preferably attached to the clip  300  as shown in FIG. 2 b  to allow the user to remove the adapter  302  if desired.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 2 b  illustrates a cross-segmental view along line b-b of the clip  300  with the element  302  accordance with the present invention. The clip  300  has a slot defined as the space between the edges  309   a  and  309   b , in which the adapter  302  frictionally fits within. The slot preferably extends substantially along the length of the lower segment  306  of the clip  300 . However, it is not necessary for the slot to run all the way down the lower segment of the clip  306 .  
         [0026]    [0026]FIGS. 3 a ,  3   b  and  3   c  illustrate the electronic device  100  having a headphone plug or connector support element  400  in accordance with the present invention. The headphone support element  400  can have a variety of configurations and shapes, as will be seen. However, the preferred embodiment of the support element  400  is shown in FIGS. 3 a - 3   c.    
         [0027]    As shown in FIG. 3 c , the support element  400  has a receptacle  402  which houses a headphone jack plug or connector  99  (FIG. 3 a ), an upper segment  404  for securing the wire portion  98  of the headphone connector  99  and a lower segment  406  for securing the larger portion of the headphone connector  99 . The upper segment  404  is shown having a receptacle  403 , a left side and a right side, both sides contour inward toward each other. Similarly, the lower segment  406  has a receptacle  402 , a left side and a right side, each side contours inward toward each other. The upper segment  404  is preferably contoured to have less space between the sides than that of the lower segment  406 . This smaller space is to hold the wire  98  within the receptacle  402 , because the wire  98  has a smaller width than the lower portion of the headphone connector  99 . In contrast, the lower segment  406  preferably is contoured to have more space between the sides to house the lower portion of the headphone connector  99 . The receptacle  402  has an opening to allow the headphone connector  99  to connect with the headphone jack or interface  414  of the electronic device  100 .  
         [0028]    The sides of the lower segment  406  substantially surround the headphone connector  99  in a snug-tight fit, which prevents the connector  99  from rotating or moving when connected to the jack  414 . The support element  400  is preferably made of an elastic material, such as rubber or plastic elastomer. However, any other material can be used in the headphone support element  400  so long as the plug  99  does not rotate or move when housed by the support element  400  and connected to the jack  414  and can be easily inserted or removed from the receptacle  402 .  
         [0029]    In FIGS. 3 b  and  3   c , the headphone support element  400  is shown inserted into the electronic device  100  by way of a tab  410  and screw  412 . However, the support element  400  may be attached to the electronic device by an adhesive, such as glue, by snap fit, or by being integrally manufactured to the body.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIGS. 4 a  and  4   b  illustrate alternative embodiments of the headphone support element  500  and  600  attached to the electronic device  100 ′ in accordance with the present invention. Specifically, FIG. 4 a  shows an support element  500  attached to the electronic device  100 ′. The support element  500  has a receptacle  502 , a left side  503   a  and a right side  503   b . The left side  503   a  and right side  503   b  prevent the headphone connector  99  from moving when connected to the headphone interface  514 . Again, it is preferable that the headphone connector  99  snugly fit within the receptacle  502 , such that the connector  99  does not rotate or move when connected to the interface  514 . The support element  500  is preferably made of an elastic material, such as rubber or plastic elastomer. However, any other material can be used so long as the connector  99  does not move when housed by the support element  500  and connected to the jack  514  and can be easily inserted or removed from the receptacle  502 .  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 4 b  illustrates another alternative embodiment of the headphone support element  600  attached to the electronic device  100 ″ in accordance with the present invention. Specifically, FIG. 4 b  shows a lower support element  600  and an upper support element  610  attached to the electronic device  100 ″. The lower support element  600  has a receptacle  602 , a left side  603   a  and a right side  603   b . The left side  603   a  and right side  603   b  prevent the headphone connector  99  from rotating or moving when connected to the headphone interface or jack  614 . Again, it is preferable that the headphone connector  99  snugly fit within the receptacle  602 , such that the connector  99  does not rotate or move when connected to the jack  614 . In addition, the upper support element  610  is shown to have a ring-like shape which holds the headphone wire  98  within the upper element  610 . The support element  600  is preferably made of an elastic material, such as rubber or plastic elastomer.  
         [0032]    The present invention has been described in terms of specific embodiments incorporating details to facilitate the understanding of the principles of construction and operation of the invention. Such reference herein to specific embodiments and details thereof is not intended to limit the scope of the claims appended hereto. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modification s may be made in the embodiment chosen for illustration without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.