Abstract:
A method and apparatus for mitigating health risk from wireless communication device (WCD) usage wherein a WCD having a source of radiation generating excitatory radiation toward brain tissue and an earphone electrically connected to the WCD via a transceiver and a cord of sufficient length to permit the WCD to be located more than ten inches from brain tissue during operation of the WCD. An automatic shutoff mechanism preventing operation of the WCD unless the cord is extended at least ten inches whereby the excitatory radiation is at a sufficient distance from the brain tissue to prevent brain tissue damage from the excitatory radiation.

Description:
[0001]    This application is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/559,106 filed 26 Jul. 2012. This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/513,198 filed 29 Jul. 2011. The contents of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/513,198 is hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Wireless communication devices, including cell phones, mobile phones and other smart communication devices, operate by inducing movement of various forms of electromagnetic waves that carry packeted information including voice and data. These devices also produce radiation. Medical science accumulated over the past 15 years confirms health risks from the certain combinations of energy waves producing electromagnetic radiation from such device use. For example, brain cancer risk increases, especially after ten years of cell phone use. There is a pronounced five-fold increase in brain cancer when use begins in the teenage years and such use increases risk of benign tumors of the brain, tumors of the acoustic nerve, and tumors of the eyes. 
         [0003]    There are also documented health risks from non-cancer conditions. For example, cell phone use has been reported to increase risk of impairment such as: anxiety disorders, sleep disorders, memory disorders, electro-hypersensitivity, learning disorders, Autism, ADD, ADHD, temper disorders and other behavioural disorders. 
         [0004]    As used in this application, a wireless communication device (WCD) is any device that can make and receive telephone calls, carrying voice, or data or other information, over any system that includes a wireless radio link. As is well known, such devices are useful while moving from place to place. WCDs as used herein also include mobile devices that receive and transmit video and text. A battery that may be rechargeable provides power for the WCD functions. The WCD includes an input mechanism (keypads, touchscreen, etc.) that operates the WCD functions. 
         [0005]    There is also medical evidence that people with other health conditions not necessarily caused by WCD exposures are made worse by the exposures and the efficacy of medicines used to treat medical conditions are sometimes rendered less effective when there is WCD exposure. 
         [0006]    WCD use while driving has been linked to dramatic increase in automobile accidents and fatalities. Twenty-seven states in the U.S. have mandated the use of headsets on WCDs to protect against accident risk. 
         [0007]    During the past five years, both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate have held hearings on WCD health and safety dangers. 
         [0008]    There are at present personal injury and product liability cases moving through the Courts in the United States, Europe and Israel, brought by plaintiffs who suffer from brain tumors whose cause they ascribe to their WCD use. 
         [0009]    In several states in the U.S., legislation has been introduced or otherwise considered that would affix health risk warning labels on WCDs with admonitions to use headsets as one risk mitigation step. 
         [0010]    The equivalent of the Senate in France is considering legislation that would restrict promotion and sale of WCDs and other wireless devices to children and would require headsets to be included in each WCD sold. 
         [0011]    The scientific literature addressing the underlying health risks ascribed to cell phone and other wireless device use numbers more than 18,000 peer-reviewed papers and reports. Included are three books by G. Carlo. One of those, “Cell Phones: Invisible Hazards in the Wireless Age”, a best-selling book published in 2001 and now printed in six languages, was the first to define a summary of the nature of cell phone radiation hazards for the non-scientific public. Among the recommendations made was the use of headsets. 
         [0012]    In the United States and other countries around the world, there are emission standards that are intended to provide a margin of safety for WCD users that are based on the heat-inducing intensity of the electromagnetic fields produced by WCDs. These standards are expressed in Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) units which represents the amount of radiation passing through a gram of tissue per unit of time. The present standard SAR is 1.6 watts per kilogram. 
         [0013]    The nature of WCD emissions, including harmful radiation and wave forms, and the emerging scientific literature makes clear that there are several mechanisms of harm active with respect to WCD dangers. There is universal acceptance in the scientific literature that there are two distinct radiation plumes emitted by WCDs that carry different types of danger, as well as effects generated by electromagnetic radiation produced by the internal circuitry of the WCDs. The most serious is the so-called ‘near-field plume’, which is the result of the power surge necessary to carry WCD signals to transmission base stations. There is also an ambient or ‘far-field’ plume that carries with it unique health risk considerations. The concern about radiation produced by the circuitry is direct-contact exposure that produces allergic reactions in susceptible and sensitive users. 
         [0014]    There is near universal acceptance in the scientific literature that the dual waveform—temporally-coherent carrier wave and spatially-coherent modulated wave—that is necessary for communication of information through wireless signals, is responsible for the biological responses elicited by both plumes. 
         [0015]    The special significance of the near-field plume is that it emanates in all directions from the WCD internal antenna about six to ten inches, depending upon the type of WCD , geographic location of the WCD during a call, position of the WCD during the call, and the characteristics of the user (for example, there is deeper penetration into the heads of children because of the different biological make-up of their growing brain tissues.). 
         [0016]    The penetration of this biologically active near-field plume into the brain is uniquely dangerous to brain tissue because brain tissue is highly vulnerable to environmental stressors. Brain cells, unlike all other cells in the human body, have very limited capacity for adaptation and self-protection. Thus, the human skull has evolved as a protection against trauma and the blood-brain barrier has evolved as a protection against dangerous circulating chemical exposures. Scientific data show that dangers from WCDs include both direct adverse impact on brain cells and tissue and diminution in the effectiveness of protective mechanisms including impact on the integrity of both the skull and the blood-brain barrier. 
         [0017]    The penetrating Information Carrying Radio Waves (ICRW) from wireless communication devices (a dual wave form with a high-frequency carrier signal and a low-frequency secondary wave caused by modulation techniques) represents an evolutionarily new environmental exposure phenomenon so humans have not yet evolved a natural protective system. 
         [0018]    The need, therefore, is to protect sensitive brain tissue from the near-field plume of ICRW by moving the plume away from the brain tissue and other human body tissue. This is called primary prevention in medical and public health jargon—eliminating the dangerous exposure. The present new headset is thus a means of primary prevention in this regard. 
         [0019]    Since the middle 1990s, there have been various varieties of headsets available for wireless devices. However, consumer research indicates that the current wired headsets on the market are considered to be cumbersome—especially the wire which is inconvenient, non-stylist, flimsy and are not therefore used. If they are not used because of these reasons, they offer no public health and safety protection benefit. 
         [0020]    The present invention addresses these practical concerns and seeks to present a new headset platform that is convenient, stylish, strong, durable, of high sound-quality, and transportable from one device type to another. The present invention is designed specifically to protect against near-field plume health and safety dangers, migration of circuitry-induced radiation that harms sensitive and susceptible users, and the effects of excursions of ambient electromagnetic radiation drawn into the bio-field of the WCD user. 
         [0021]    There are two general types of headsets on the market presently: wired headsets and wireless or complete-range headsets. In the preferred embodiment, the present disclosure is an improvement on wired headsets or earphones and an improvement on complete-range wireless headsets which themselves carry broad and penetrative near-field plumes which have the same health risks associated with raw WCD exposures themselves. Both types have their problems which may be improved by this disclosure. 
         [0022]    There are a number of manufacturers, with the largest market shares owned by Jabra and Plantronics. These companies carry both wired and wireless versions that are offered as ‘conveniences’ rather than ‘safety features’. It is noteworthy that some companies in the wireless industry itself openly recognize WCD dangers in their product literature. Some others indirectly infer the presence of WCD dangers in their user manuals. In either case, they do recommend headsets as a ‘convenience’ while still recommending keeping the WCD a safe distance from the head. 
         [0023]    Thus, the invention distinguishes itself in use from the products of these manufacturers in that the platform design is specifically addressing the health and safety concerns while also improving on the convenience and usability aspects. 
         [0024]    Wireless headsets do not address the safety issue because they are in themselves WCDs that change the near-field plume penetration profile but do not eliminate exposure to the near-field plume as does the present disclosure. In addition, the complete-range headsets introduce an additional type of ICRW exposure by virtue of their operating wireless signal which connects to the WCD itself. These devices also draw ambient electromagnetic radiation into the users bio-field from other sources in the environment, including WiFi signals, emergency communications systems and satellite communications. So in effect, they increase the health risks to some, as yet unknown, degree. Of note is that the wireless interface encompassed within the non-direct contact embodiments of this invention emits a plume of energy that does not leave the encapsulation of the WCD case itself, thus rendering no additional exposure to harmful radiation of wave-forms to the use of WCD case described in this disclosure. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0025]    As noted above, there are numerous variations and equivalents of the present invention that should be appreciated by those skilled in the art. The present invention is intended to encompass those equivalents and variations. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0026]      FIG. 1  is a planar view of the front of a case for a WCD in accordance with this invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the WCD case of  FIG. 1  in accordance with this invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the WCD case shown in  FIG. 1  in accordance with this invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the distributor and retractor for WCD case of  FIG. 1  in accordance with this invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the back and side of the WCD case of  FIG. 1  showing the earplugs in their stored position. 
           [0031]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the back an side of the WCD case of  FIG. 1  showing the earplugs in an extended position. 
           [0032]      FIG. 7  is a second exploded view of the WCD case of  FIG. 1  in accordance with this invention. 
           [0033]      FIG. 8  is an exploded view of the distributor and retractor for WCD case of  FIG. 4 , but from the opposite side. 
           [0034]      FIG. 9  is a planar view of back of the WCD case of  FIG. 1  showing the earplugs in their stored position. 
           [0035]      FIG. 10  is a planar view of back of the WCD case of  FIG. 1  showing the earplugs in an extended position. 
           [0036]      FIG. 11  is a planar view of the WCD components inside the WCD case of  FIG. 1  showing a ferrite bead in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0037]      FIG. 12  is a planar view of the WCD components inside the WCD case of  FIG. 1  showing a ferrite core in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0038]      FIG. 13  is a planar view showing the winding of the cord  7  in a WCD case similar to that shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0039]      FIG. 14  is a cross-section taken on line A-A of  FIG. 13 . 
           [0040]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of  FIG. 13 . 
           [0041]      FIGS. 16-18  show the operation of the mechanism for winding and unwinding of the cord  7 . 
           [0042]      FIG. 19  is a plan view of one embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0043]    The present invention improves upon existing headsets in several ways, including the convenience and protection factors identified above. WCD case  1  seen in  FIG. 1  with the compartment or space  2  for the WCD being seen in  FIG. 2  and with other optional features such as camera aperture  3  and optional buttons  4  for operation of the WCD. 
         [0044]      FIG. 3  shows some of the component parts of the WCD cover  1  including the back central portion  5  of the WCD cover with the supportive portions for the earplugs  6 , electrical cord  7  and retractor mechanism  10 . WCD cover  1  includes a transceiver that wirelessly communicates with the transceiver in the WCD. That is, the WCD to be enclosed in cover  1  includes a first transceiver for receiving and sending communications, e.g., to and from a cell tower, etc. The present disclosure provides a case  1  that includes a second transceiver that communicates with the WCD first transceiver. The second transceiver is contained inside the confines of the case, it is not located on the outside of the case  1 . The power requirements for the WCD first transceiver are necessarily higher than the power requirements for the case  1  second transceiver (e.g., the WCD first transceiver communicates over long distances (miles) to a cell tower, etc.) whereas the case  1  second transceiver communicates to the WCD first transceiver located only a short distance, e.g., less than a few centimetres, away. The electromagnetic radiation (plume) emanating from the first WCD transceiver is lessened by the WCD and case  1 . The provision of the case  1  second transceiver enables enhanced protection from electromagnetic radiation (plume) emanating from a transceiver. That is, the first transceiver plume is shielded by virtue of the fact that it is not directly connected to the earplugs  6 , but is indirectly connected via a wireless (universal) connection to the second transceiver in case  1 . Connection of the second transceiver to the earplugs  6  provides a lessened plume exposure to the user because of the lower power requirements of the second transceiver. The arrangement of a case  1  that includes a second wireless transceiver that communicates with the WCD first transceiver (a universal connection) thus affords increased protection over a WCD that has a first transceiver that connects, for example, directly to earplugs  6  by, for example, a plug-in connection. Additionally, by using the second transceiver to communicate with earplugs  6  there is some power savings over direct connection of the first transceiver to the earplugs  6 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 4  shows a retractor mechanism  10  for use to retract the cord  7  and earplugs  6  to a storage position of the WCD case  1 . As seen in  FIG. 5  the cord  7  and earplugs  6  are retracted to the storage position. In  FIG. 5  the earplugs  6  and cord  7  are stored inside the WCD case  1  for advantageous reasons, e.g., when the WCD is being carried by a user but is not in use the earplugs  6  and cord  7  are stored so as to prevent snagging of an earplug extending from the case which snagging could cause a person carrying the WCD to drop the WCD which would damage the WCD. Proper storage of the earplugs  6  and cord  7  in accordance with the present invention also prevents loss of the earplugs  6  and/or cord  7 . Storage of the earplugs  6  and cord  7  inside the WCD case  1  means that no part of the earplugs  6  and/or cord  7  extends outside of the boundary of the WCD case  1  as seen in, for example,  FIG. 5  wherein the outer portion of earplugs  6  conform to the surface of the WCD case  1  and do not extend beyond WCD case  1 . As seen in  FIG. 6  the earplugs  6  are extended away from the WCD (and case  1 ) and in accordance with the present invention the WCD is operable when the earplugs  6  are extended sufficiently so that the WCD is a safe distance from brain tissue of the user. It has been determined that a safe distance is about at least ten inches. That is, when the WCD is at least ten inches from the skull of a person then the exposure to electromagnetic radiation is reduced sufficiently to avoid the presently known effects from such radiation and certain wave-form emissions. That is, a WCD is a safe distance from the user&#39;s ear when it is more than about ten inches from the ear, which provides protection from the hazardous effects of the near-field plume. 
         [0046]      FIG. 7  shows components of the cell phone case  1 . As seen in  FIG. 7 , the back side of the case  1  comprises a generally flat plate section  8  with the case  1  having a second generally flat plate section  9  that is placed between generally flat plate section  8  and the WCD compartment  2 .  FIG. 7  shows an example of a retractor mechanism. Retractor mechanism  10  is a spring biased reel inside the case  1 . The cord  7  may be manually pulled so that the cord  7  is unwound from the reel of the retractor  10 . When it is desired to retract the earplug  6  a button (not shown) on the case is pressed to retract at least a portion of the cord  7  into the WCD case. A ratchet or other type mechanism may be used to hold the cord  7  at the desired unwound position until the rewind button is pressed. 
         [0047]    The WCD has a connector for a plug-in (or similar) connection for an earphone (or earphones) for the WCD. The case is provided with such connector or plug-in whereby the earplugs  6  are electronically connected to the WCD either by direct contact or wireless connection. Accordingly, the WCD is electronically attached to one end of the cord  7  whereby sound from the WCD may be heard by a user when an earplug  6  is in a user&#39;s ear. 
         [0048]      FIG. 8  shows a cord retractor mechanism  10  from the opposite side shown in  FIG. 4 . As seen in  FIG. 8 , the retractor mechanism comprises a plate for mounting the retractor to the case  1  and the retractor. 
         [0049]      FIG. 9  depicts the automatic shutoff mechanism in its operative position preventing operation of the WCD because the cord is not extended at least ten inches. As seen in  FIG. 9  switch  15  is forced into the shut-off position by virtue of the large circumference of the wound cord  7 . By contrast,  FIG. 10  shows the smaller circumference of the wound cord  7  whereby the switch  15  in its turned-on position permitting operation of the WCD. The switch is connected to the enablement system of the WCD so as to be able to permit the WCD to be turned on or otherwise enabled when the earplugs are pulled out and at least ten inches of cord  7  is unwound whereby the switch is in the turned-on position of  FIG. 10 . Conversely, when the cord is retracted by mechanism  10  such that at least ten inches of cord does not extend from case  1  then switch  15  is forced into the shut-off position or otherwise disables the connectivity as shown in  FIG. 9  and the WCD is not operable. That is, the earphone, when not in use, fits into a slot in a WCD cover. As the user removes the earphone from the case the cord  7  begins to unreel from retractor  10 . The retractor  10  being, for example, a spring driven reel that winds the wire  7  to retract the wire  7  and earpiece  6 . The earpiece  6  is activated when the wire  7  is extended at least about ten inches as measured by, for example, the requisite number of revolutions of the reel that enables ten inches to be unwound. The switch is a hinge-like member that is spring loaded to bear against the coiled cord  7  and is thereby forced to its  FIG. 9  position to turn off or otherwise disable the WCD and to its  FIG. 10  position to turn on or otherwise enable the function of the WCD. 
         [0050]    In an alternative embodiment, the wire may include a member (not shown) fixed along the wire at a length whereby the when the wire  7  is being pulled out a sufficient distance (e.g., ten inches) the member passes, for example, the entrance to the case whereby the member trips a switch (not shown) and the WCD and earpiece  6  are activated (or deactivated as the wire is being retracted and less than ten inches of wire  7  extends outside the case  1 ). 
         [0051]    In yet another embodiment the WCD may be placed in speaker mode whereby it is not necessary to hold the WCD to the user&#39;s ear or to use the earplug  6  in order to speak and listen to the voice communication. In speaker mode the automatic shutoff mechanism permits operation of the WCD regardless of whether the earphone is in the storage or use position. 
         [0052]      FIGS. 11 and 12  show another embodiment of the invention wherein the earplug  6  is enabled while harmful electro-magnetic configurations within the WCD are prevented from travelling up the cord or otherwise causing exposure to sensitive brain tissue. Both circuitry-induced and communication function radiation in the WCD embedded in case  1  are dissipated by use of ferritic material. A ferrite bead is a wave dissipation tool. The positive charge on the ferrite bead ‘grabs’ onto the negative trough in a moving electromagnetic wave, provided that the wave has sufficient wavelength to allow for time-phase distinction between the positively and negatively charged aspects. Practically, this means ferrite impacts primarily lower frequency phenomena. For the purposes of the present application, that would include magnetic fields generated by WCD electronics and secondary waves that are the result of modulation. The ferrite is less effective and perhaps ineffectual on high frequency waves which have very short wavelength. Thus, the ferrite does not help with some microwave frequencies or with some carrier wave components of ICRW (Information Carrying Radio Waves). Accordingly, the ferrite is not useful, in and of itself, as a protective tool against WCD dangers. It has a very specific application, which is why it is included as an adjuvant, primarily to dissipate waves and excursion energy migrating up the speaker wire toward the brain from the WCD. Secondarily, by preventing that migration, it effectively ‘deadens’ the wire so that it does not emit high enough energy to attract ambient waves into the bio-fields of the users. 
         [0053]    By attaching to the negative trough, the ferrite bead positive energy, in effect, disrupts the electromagnetic wave by making it a ‘random’ or ‘incoherent’ wave. An incoherent or random wave does not have the ability to resonate with vibrational receptors that are tubulin protrusions from living cell membranes. Thus, the disrupted wave is not ‘seen’ by the cell membrane receptors and thus the biological effects cascade that leads to symptoms is not triggered. 
         [0054]    In a preferred embodiment a solitary ferrite sphere is provided at or near the center of the unit, e.g., at or near the center of the retractor mechanism. This enables an omni-directional effect because the types of electromagnetic wave forms being targeted with the ferrite adjuvant is not from one source. Electromagnetic wave forms can come from many different places in the WCD itself or from ambient sources. An oblong ferrite, or two spheres put side by side, are not as efficient because they are primarily bi-directional emitters requiring prediction of exactly where the waves would be coming from. An oblong or side by side configuration would be similar to a magnet, with the positive charges concentrating on one end or the other of the unit. With a sphere, the positive charges concentrate on the outside of the sphere and it can thus exert its desired, omni-directional effect. 
         [0055]    In the preferred embodiment placement of the ferrite is within the WCD case and preferably on the retractor mechanism  10  itself, or as near to the center of the WCD case as possible. This placement will make it centrally located with regard to the electromagnetic field generator that is targeted—the WCD that is encased by the WCD case. Placement of the ferrite bead on the wire requires consideration of where on the wire  7  the ferrite bead is to be placed. If the ferrite bead is located near the earphone  6  and the wire is extended for use, then one of the important intervention functions of the bead itself may be diminished because there could be migration of energy up the wire as far as the ferrite bead, and therefore there is energy on the wire that could attract ambient EMR. Accordingly, placement of the bead on the wire needs to be at the end of the wire opposite the earphone so that it does not leave the central portion of the WCD case when the wire  7  is extended. 
         [0056]    As seen in  FIG. 11 , a ferrite bead  20  is positioned inside case  1  for dissipation of an electromagnetic field generated by the WCD. Ferrite (a form of iron or iron alloy) is a positive ion material and a spherical ferrite bead ( 20 ) is effective to attract the negative ions of such electromagnetic field and thereby disrupt its configuration and cause dissipation. As seen in  FIG. 12  a ferrite core  30  composed of preferably one ferrite bead  20 , but possibly an arrangement of a plurality of ferrite beads  20  depending on the targeted electromagnetic field, may be used to dissipate the undesired electromagnetic field. It is important that the ferrite in the WCD case  1  be spherical or generally spherical in order that it be operative to reduce the electromagnetic field. The size of the ferrite sphere is not critical since ferrite spheres greater than about 3 mm are not practical as they take up too much room in the case  1  and since ferrite spheres smaller than 3 mm are satisfactory to dissipate electromagnetic radiation. Thus, as discussed above, while the cord  7  attaches the WCD at one end of the cord  7  and earphones  6  (earplugs) are located at the other end of the cord  7  a ferrite member  20  is provided intermediate the ends of the cord  7  for prevention of harmful electromagnetic radiation being transmitted along the cord  7 . 
         [0057]      FIGS. 11 and 12  also show microphone  12  which as depicted is useful to pick up and send voice communications while using the present invention. Obviously the microphone  12  may be placed otherwise with respect to the present WCD case  1 . 
         [0058]    In  FIG. 13  a hub is shown that is rotatable about an axis of rotation. One end of the inner cable is attached to the hub and as the hub rotates about the axis of rotation the cable winds on the hub. The hub has a wall to separate the inner winding from an outer winding. Ear plugs  6  are attached to one end of the outer winding and when the ear plugs  6  are removed from the WCD case  1  for insertion into a person&#39;s ear(s) the outer winding of cord  7  is pulled progressively out of the case. When the inner and outer windings are both fully wound and are inside the WCD case  1  both the outer and inner windings are on the same plane (see  FIG. 14 ). 
         [0059]      FIGS. 14-16  show the operation of the winding and unwinding of cord  7 .  FIG. 16  shows that the hub spring biases the hub to turn in a clockwise direction so as to retract cord  7  into the case  1 . A slider is biased by the slider spring to push the slider into contact with the periphery of the reel. The periphery of the reel has indentations so that the reel will not rotate counter clockwise when the end of the slider is in contact with an indentation. As seen in these  FIG. 17 , when cord  7  is being pulled from case  1  the slider is moved against the slider spring to allow the reel to rotate counter clockwise and to permit the cord  7  to unwind from the case.  FIG. 18  shows a push button extending so that a user can push the button to move the slider against the slider spring so that the slider disengages from the periphery and/or indents on the periphery of the reel whereby the hub spring causes the reel to retract the cable  7  onto the reel and into case  1 . 
         [0060]      FIG. 19  shows an embodiment of the present invention wherein the winding and unwinding mechanism is shown inside WCD case  1  with other elements of WCD case  1  being depicted, e.g., the second transceiver which connects via a universal wireless connection to a first receiver (not shown) of a WCD. 
         [0061]    As noted above, there are numerous variations and equivalents of the present invention that should be appreciated by those skilled in the art. The present invention is intended to encompass those equivalents and variations.