Abstract:
A cellular telephone housing with a retractable microphone or earpiece component. The cellular telephone housing lends itself to styling in the shape of a guitar body, while the retractable microphone or earpiece is shaped like a guitar neck. The retractable assembly assumes a position coplanar to the functional face of the cellular phone when in use in the fully extended position, and folds away into a channel in the back of the cellular telephone housing body when fully retracted. The combination of features provides the user with a small profile cellular telephone with a distinctive style.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     Not applicable.  
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002]     Not applicable.  
       REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX  
       [0003]     Not applicable.  
       TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0004]     The present invention relates generally to cellular telephone housings, and more specifically to a cellular telephone housing with a novel fold out element that can function as either a speaker for an earpiece or a microphone for a mouthpiece.  
       BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART  
       [0005]     The telephone is now ubiquitous throughout the world. Furtmermore, radio and cellular phone technology is now nearly ubiquitous in the industrialized world. The first radio telephones were large and unwieldy, and used primarily in military communications. As radio telephone technology evolved, the technology became available to the public. However, the phone apparatus was still large and generally required a wired connection to a power source located in, for example, a vehicle. The advancement of cellular network technology and the designation of more frequencies for cellular phone use has made the cellular telephone more accessible to the general public, and with that step came an immediate demand for increased coverage, improved performance in signal reception and transmission, improved portability of the handset, and increased functionality. Industry was not slow to respond. Now cell phones now work as wireless voice communication devices, digital cameras and image viewers, MP3 players, on-line gaming devices, PDAs, GSM/GPRS devices, text messaging devices, and so forth. Industry clearly sees manifold possibilities in the roles that handheld cell phones can play in our lives, and with the inventive energy now being directed at cell phone technology, we shouldn&#39;t be surprised to have the handheld phone soon cooking our dinners.  
         [0006]     In addition to the exotic functions now performed by the handheld, the compactness, styling, and elegance of cellular telephone housing has also become important to the customer, and thus to the manufacturers and the supply chains for portable telephones. Consumers prefer a housing that reflects their personal tastes, style preferences, and possibly even communicates something about their hobbies and interests. Manufacturers desire distinctive styling to provide a functional container for the operative circuitry and a framework for branding. Distributors desire a distinctive styling to distinguish themselves in the marketplace. However, creating a style depends upon, and relates intimately to, the functionality of the cell phone itself, and providing an ergonomically sound and fully functional phone, with style as well, can be challenging.  
         [0007]     Several approaches to addressing the size and appearance of the telephone have been undertaken, ranging from the development of a clamshell “flip phone” by Motorola to telescoping antennas or knuckle swivel antennas. Exemplary prior art includes:  
         [0008]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,218,370, to Blaese, describes a portable telephone comprising a telephone housing, a connection member having a longitudinal axis attached to said housing and communicating outwardly therefrom, an antenna carried on the connection member, and a pivot system associated with the connection member to permit the antenna to swivel in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the outer end of the connection member.  
         [0009]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,717,408, assigned to Centurion Intl., Inc., describes a retractable antenna for use with a cellular telephone wherein the retractable antenna is removably mounted on the upper end of the telephone.  
         [0010]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,075,489, assigned to Centurion Intl, Inc., describes a retractable antenna provided for a wireless communication device such as a wireless modem, two-way radio, cellular telephone, etc., wherein the extended length of the antenna is greater than the height of the telephone housing. The antenna includes components which are slidably mounted with respect to one another so that the antenna may be collapsed and retracted within the telephone housing.  
         [0011]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,151,946, assigned to Technophone Limited, details a compact portable telephone comprising a housing having a main body and an extending sleeve-like portion mounted for longitudinal slidable movement between a retracted position when not in use, and an extended position for use.  
         [0012]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,440,629, to Gray, describes a portable telephone handset construction having a chassis to which is slidably assembled an end closure which is collapsible to a position for protecting a selected portion of said chassis from contact and impact by other objects and to minimize its contamination by dust and other debris.  
         [0013]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,179,591, to Becker, describes a decorative telephone housing in the form of a rectangular, hollow shell having top and side walls and open at the bottom, the shell partially enclosing an elongated bar pivoted at one end within the shell and extending across the interior with its free end protruding through an opening in a side wall of the shell, and a cradle for a handset fixed to the free end of the bar outside of the shell.  
         [0014]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,768,370, to Maata, et al, describes a display system providing a portable telephone with a plurality of distinctive appearances. An overlying cover is removably attachable to a telephone housing which includes operating buttons and an indicia panel.  
         [0015]     The foregoing patents reflect the current state of the art of which the present inventor is aware. Reference to, and discussion of, these patents is intended to aid in discharging Applicant&#39;s acknowledged duty of candor in disclosing information that may be relevant to the examination of claims to the present invention. However, it is respectfully submitted that none of the above-indicated patents disclose, teach, suggest, show, or otherwise render obvious, either singly or when considered in combination, the invention described and claimed herein.  
         [0016]     What is needed is a cellular telephone housing that addresses the customer needs for compactness that also provides a unique ability to make a statement about personal style and interests. The present invention addresses those needs by integrating functional elements with aesthetic and styling elements in a housing configuration made possible by a pivotally retractable mouthpiece or earpiece that also functions as the phone&#39;s antenna. This reduces the overall dimensions of the cellular telephone.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0017]     The present invention is a cellular telephone housing with a retractable microphone or earpiece component combined with the phone antenna. In one particularly style, the cellular telephone housing is shaped like a guitar body, while the retractable microphone or earpiece/antenna is shaped like a guitar neck. The combination of features provides the user with a small profile cellular telephone with a distinctive style.  
         [0018]     According to the invention, the cellular telephone housing has a housing body front panel containing a plurality of apertures that accommodate function buttons commonly found on cellular telephones. In one preferred embodiment, the housing body front panel has parallel rows of small ovoid apertures to accommodate the keypad of a telephone positioned in approximately the lower third of the housing body front panel. Positioned slightly above the parallel rows of apertures is an oblong ovoid aperture, accommodating a larger function button. The upper third of the housing body front panel contains a rectangular window to facilitate the viewing of a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) or similar message/text screen commonly present on modern cellular telephones. The housing body front panel may optionally contain other apertures to accommodate other function buttons for a cellular telephone. A housing body back panel is attached to the housing body front panel by a housing body left panel, and housing body right panel, a housing body top panel and a housing body bottom panel. The housing body bottom panel contains an aperture for the connection of cellular telephone accessories. The housing body back panel mirrors the general shape of the housing body front panel. The housing body back panel contains a longitudinal groove that bisects the housing body back panel, traveling its entire length. The housing body back panel and the housing body top panel combine to form a receptacle that conforms to a shape that is substantially a three quarter disc having a left side and a right side on the housing body top panel, positioned at approximately the mid point of the housing body top panel. The right and left sides of the receptacle have top edges that are essentially perpendicular to the plane of the housing back panel, then slope downward gradually as they meet the intersection of the housing body top panel and the housing body back panel. The receptacle is completed with a planar surface that originates on the housing body front panel and intersects the left and right sides of the receptacle, terminating at the same height as the left and right sides of the receptacle. The receptacle additionally has two mirrored mounting apertures through the left and right sides.  
         [0019]     A retractable microphone or earpiece and antenna combination (termed the “retractable assembly” herein) lends itself to styling in the general shape of a guitar neck having two ends, a front, and a back. The retractable assembly front generally resembles a guitar fret board. When employed as a microphone, a transceiver which is a microphone is inserted into the free end and the rotational end assumes an essentially discoid shape which is machined to fit into the receptacle on the housing body top side panel. The discoid rotational end of the microphone assembly additionally has a hole in the rotational center of the disc, which matches the mounting apertures on the receptacle. The rotational end of the retractable assembly additionally has a notch in the edge of the discoid portion that serves as a stop and a contact activation point for the retractable assembly. When employed as an earpiece, a speaker rather than a microphone is disposed in the free end.  
         [0020]     When pivotally attached to the cellular phone housing body, the retractable assembly swings radially approximately 180°, from a position in which the retractable assembly is inserted into the longitudinal groove in the housing body back panel, assuming an essentially flush fit with the longitudinal groove in the housing, to a fully extended position in which the retractable assembly front assumes a coplanar position with respect to the housing body front panel.  
         [0021]     In another embodiment of the invention herein, a face plate cover is attached to the housing body front panel with a hinge. The face plate may contain a plurality of functional buttons and an LCD screen. The face plate cover lifts to reveal parallel rows of small ovoid apertures to accommodate the keypad of a telephone positioned in approximately the lower third of the housing body front panel.  
         [0022]     It will be obvious to those with skill in the art that the cellular phone housing body of the present invention as depicted in the attached drawings herein need not assume any particular guitar body design. In fact, it can be designed to reflect any of a number of distinctive guitar body styles. Indeed, the cell phone housing of the present invention provides the physical scaffolding for a number of elegant designs, all of which derive from the unique retractable assembly which plays the dual role of a speaker or microphone and an antenna.  
         [0023]     Other novel features which are characteristic of the invention, as to organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof will be better understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. The various features of novelty that characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming part of this disclosure. The invention does not reside in any one of these features taken alone, but rather in the particular combination of all of its structures for the functions specified.  
         [0024]     There has thus been broadly outlined the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form additional subject matter of the claims appended hereto. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based readily may be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0025]     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:  
         [0026]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the cellular phone housing of the present invention, showing the retractable [microphone/speaker] assembly in a retracted position;  
         [0027]      FIG. 2  is a back perspective view thereof;  
         [0028]      FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of the cellular phone housing with the retractable assembly in an extended position;  
         [0029]      FIG. 4  is a is a back perspective view thereof;  
         [0030]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the cellular phone housing showing the full extension arc of the retractable assembly, and with dashed lines showing the semi-retracted position of the retractable assembly;  
         [0031]      FIG. 6  is a partial cross-section view showing details of the rotational end of the microphone/speaker assembly in the receptacle, as taken along Section  6 - 6  of  FIG. 7 ;  
         [0032]      FIG. 7  is a is a front view of the cellular phone housing of  FIGS. 1-6 , showing the microphone/speaker assembly in the extended position.  
         [0033]      FIG. 8  is a front perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of the cellular phone housing of the present invention, showing the microphone/speaker assembly in a retracted position;  
         [0034]      FIG. 9  is a back perspective view thereof;  
         [0035]      FIG. 10  is a front perspective view thereof, showing the microphone/speaker assembly extended.  
         [0036]      FIG. 11  is a back perspective view thereof showing the microphone/speaker assembly extended;  
         [0037]      FIG. 12  is a front perspective view thereof showing the microphone/earipiece assembly extended and the face plate cover in the open position;  
         [0038]      FIG. 13  is a back perspective view thereof;  
         [0039]      FIG. 14  is an exploded perspective view of a third preferred embodiment of the cellular phone housing of the present invention, showing the structural and operational elements comprising the attachment of the microphone/speaker assembly to the housing body;  
         [0040]      FIG. 15  is a partial cross-sectional front view in elevation of the third preferred embodiment;  
         [0041]      FIG. 15A , is a removed sectional front view showing details of the pivotal electrical connection between the retractable assembly and the housing body of the third preferred embodiment, as taken along sectional view line  15 A- 15 A;  
         [0042]      FIG. 16  is a side view in elevation of the third preferred embodiment; and  
         [0043]      FIG. 16A  is a removed sectional side view showing details of the pivotal electrical connection between the retractable assembly and the housing body of the third preferred embodiment, as taken along sectional view line  16 A- 16 A. 
     
    
     DRAWING REFERENCE NUMERALS  
       [0044]      100  cellular phone housing  
         [0045]      102  housing body  
         [0046]      105  housing body front panel  
         [0047]      110  generally ovoid apertures  
         [0048]      115  additional ovoid apertures  
         [0049]      120  oblong ovoid aperture  
         [0050]      125  rectangular window  
         [0051]      130  housing body right panel  
         [0052]      135  first triangular aperture  
         [0053]      140  housing body bottom side panel  
         [0054]      145  accessory aperture  
         [0055]      200  housing body back panel  
         [0056]      205  housing body top side panel  
         [0057]      210  housing body left side panel  
         [0058]      215  second triangular aperture  
         [0059]      220  longitudinal channel  
         [0060]      225  retractable assembly receptacle  
         [0061]      225   a ,  225   b , left and rights sides, respectively [of retractable assembly receptacle  225 ] 
         [0062]      230  mounting apertures  
         [0063]      235  rectractable assembly  
         [0064]      237  front side [of retractable assembly] 
         [0065]      240  transducer (either speaker or microphone)  
         [0066]      245  free end  
         [0067]      250  rotational end  
         [0068]      255  notch  
         [0069]      260  parallel tracking grooves  
         [0070]      600  stop-contact pin  
         [0071]      605  tracking pin  
         [0072]      610  mounting hole  
         [0073]      800  second preferred embodiment  
         [0074]      805  face plate  
         [0075]      810  housing body front panel  
         [0076]      815  hinge assembly  
         [0077]      820  liquid crystal display  
         [0078]      825  exterior function buttons  
         [0079]      830  large exterior function button  
         [0080]      835  retractable assembly  
         [0081]      840  longitudinal channel  
         [0082]      850  housing body back panel  
         [0083]      860  face plate underside  
         [0084]      865  second liquid crystal display  
         [0085]      870  apertures  
         [0086]      875  interior function buttons  
         [0087]      880  large aperture  
         [0088]      885  large interior function button  
         [0089]      900  third preferred embodiment of cellular phone housing  
         [0090]      910  housing body  
         [0091]      915  pivot pin hole  
         [0092]      920  antenna  
         [0093]      925  microphone/speaker  
         [0094]      930  slide block detent  
         [0095]      935  retractable assembly  
         [0096]      940  domed end of slide block detent  
         [0097]      945  notches  
         [0098]      950  slip rings  
         [0099]      950   a / 950   b  outboard slip rings  
         [0100]      950   c  center slip ring  
         [0101]      955  retractable assembly base  
         [0102]      955   a / 955   b  sides of retractable assembly base  
         [0103]      955   c  slip ring slot  
         [0104]      957  slide block pocket  
         [0105]      960  springs  
         [0106]      965  conductors  
         [0107]      970  free end of retractable assembly  
         [0108]      975  slide block contacts  
         [0109]      980  microphone/speaker  
         [0110]      985  housing body front panel  
         [0111]      990  hand strap  
         [0112]      1000  retractable assembly receptacle  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0113]     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 through 7 , wherein like reference numerals refer to like components in the various views,  FIG. 1  is a is a front perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the cellular phone housing  100  of the present invention. The cellular telephone housing  100  generally includes a housing body  102  and a retractable assembly  235 , which includes a transducer and circuitry to support either a speaker or a microphone, according to design and/or user preferences. The housing body includes a housing body front panel  105 , containing a plurality of apertures  110 , preferably in parallel rows and having a generally ovoid shape. These ovoid apertures accommodate the function buttons commonly found on cellular telephones. Additional ovoid apertures  115  appear in the uppermost portion of the housing body front panel  105 . Positioned slightly above the rows of apertures is another aperture  120 , again preferably an oblong ovoid aperture, for accommodating a larger function button. A clear rectangular window  125  is located in the top portion of the housing body front panel  105 , to facilitate the viewing of a liquid crystal display (LCD) or similar message/text screen commonly present on modern cellular telephones. Conjoined to the housing body front panel  105  is a housing body right panel  130 , having a first triangular aperture  135  in the upper portion of the housing body to accommodate a function button. A housing body bottom panel  140  is conjoined to the housing body front panel  105  and the housing body right panel  130 . An accessory aperture  145  is centrally located in the housing body bottom panel.  
         [0114]     In the retracted position, the retractable assembly coplanar with the housing body back panel  200 , and the housing body back panel  200 .  FIG. 2  shows the retractable assembly integral with or conjoined to the housing body top side panel  205  and the housing body left side panel  210 . The housing body left side panel  210  has a second triangular aperture  215  in the upper portion to accommodate a function button. The housing body back panel  200  has a longitudinal channel  220  that generally bisects the housing body back panel  200 . The housing body back panel  200  and the housing body top side panel  205  combine to form a receptacle  225  for pivotal attachment of the retractable assembly. The retractable assembly receptacle  225  conforms to a shape that is substantially a three-quarter disc having a left side  225   a  and a right side  225   b , positioned at approximately the mid point of the housing body top side panel  205 . The right and left sides of the receptacle  225  have top edges that are substantially perpendicular to the plane of the housing back panel  200 , then curve or slope gradually downward as they converge with the intersection of the housing body top panel  205  and the housing body back panel  200 . The receptacle  225  additionally has two mirrored mounting apertures  230  through the left and right sides which match a centrally positioned mounting hole  610  in the rotational end  250  of the retractable assembly  235  for insertion of a pivot pin [not shown] to provide a pivotal connection of the retractable assembly to the housing body.  
         [0115]     The rectractable assembly  235  preferably simulates a guitar neck with a free end, an end connected to the [guitar] housing body, and a front side  237  that resembles a guitar fret board. A transducer  240  which may be either a microphone, or, alternatively, a speaker, is inserted into the free end  245 , and the rotational end  250  assumes an essentially discoid shape which is machined to fit into the receptacle  225  on the housing body top panel  205 . Referring now to  FIG. 6 , the rotational end  250  has a notch  255  in the edge of the discoid rotational end  250  that serves as a stop and a contact activation point for the retractable assembly  235 . The rotational end  250  of the retractable assembly  235  has parallel tracking grooves  260  that allow stable travel while rotation occurs. Notch  255  contacts a stop-contact pin  600  when the retractable assembly is in the fully extended position. A dashed line represents one of the parallel tracking grooves  260  and a tracking pin  605  which allows smooth rotation of the retractable assembly  235 .  
         [0116]     Referring now to  FIGS. 8-13 , these views collectively show a second preferred embodiment  800  of the cellular telephone housing of the present invention.  FIGS. 8 and 9  are front and rear perspective views, respectivelly, showing the apparatus with its retractable assembly  835  in a retracted position. This embodiment includes a face plate  805 , hingeably attached to the housing body front panel  810  with a hinge assembly  815  at approximately the top of the housing body front panel. The face plate  805  has a small liquid crystal display  820  or other similar text display medium inset into the face plate. Additionally there are a plurality of exterior function buttons  825  inset below the liquid crystal display  820 . An exterior large function button  830  is also inset below the liquid crystal display. The housing body front panel  810  recesses to allow the face plate  805  to assume a coplanar position with respect to the approximate the top of the housing body front panel. The structural and operational elements of this embodiment that permit rotational retraction of the retractable assembly  835  are identical to those of the first preferred embodiment.  
         [0117]      FIGS. 10 and 11  are front and rear perspective views, respectively, of the second preferred embodiment showing the retractable assembly  835  in a fully extended position. The longitudinal channel  840  is clearly visible in the housing body back panel  850 .  
         [0118]      FIGS. 12 and 13  are, respectively, front and rear perspective views of the second preferred embodiment of the cellular telephone housing showing the face plate  805  flipped open via the hinge assembly  815 . The face plate underside  860  is exposed to reveal a second liquid crystal display  865 . The housing body front panel  810 , includes rows of apertures  870 , preferably substantially ovoid, to accommodate a plurality of interior function buttons  875  commonly found on cellular telephones. Positioned slightly above the rows of apertures is a large aperture  880 , again preferably ovoid, for accommodating a large interior function button  885 .  
         [0119]      FIGS. 14-16A  show a third preferred embodiment  900  of the cellular phone housing of the present invention. These views also shows details of the pivotal electrical connection between the retractable assembly  935  and the housing body  910 . Specifically, retractable assembly  935  houses the antenna  920  for receiving and transmitting signals, as well as the earpiece speaker or microphone  925  for audio communication.  
         [0120]     The retractable assembly  935  is pivotally attached to the housing body  910  at the retractable assembly receptacle, as in the above-described first and second preferred embodiments, by using a pivot pin (not shown), inserted through a pivot pin hole  915  in both the receptacle  1000  and the retractable assembly base  955 . The retractable assembly is indexed in the retracted and extended, or open and closed, positions via a slide block detent  930  having a domed end  940  for slidable insertion into conforming semi-circular notches  945  in both side-by-side conductive slip rings  950  and in the retractable assembly base  955 . The slide block detent resides in a pocket  957  in the cell phone housing and is urged outwardly and in line with the retractable assembly by one or more springs  960 .  
         [0121]     Signals to and from the antenna, and to the speaker or from the microphone  925 , are carried via conductors  965  extending from the base  955  to the free end  970  of the retractable assembly. The conductors are connected to the slip rings, which are preferably three in number, including two outboard slip rings  950   a ,  950   b , and a middle slip ring  950   c , all of which are preferably molded into the rectractable assembly base. Alternatively, the outboard slip rings may be brought into a slidable surface-to-surface relationship with the sides  955   a ,  955   b , of the base and the middle slip ring may be slidably inserted into a middle slot  955   c  formed in the retractable assembly base.  
         [0122]     The slide block detent has embedded contacts  975  that align with the slip rings in the rectractable assembly base. The slide block contacts are connected to the cell phone via conductors, which run within the cell phone housing (not shown). The slide block conductors flex and allow the slide block to travel within its range of motion to maintain signal contact.  
         [0123]     Depending on the selected configuration, either a microphone or a speaker  980  is disposed on the housing body front panel  985 . A hand strap  990  may be provided to more perfectly replicate the appearance of a guitar, and further to provide means to hold the cellular phone without the need to grip the housing.  
         [0124]     As will be immediately appreciated by those with skill in the art, other structural and functional elements of the third preferred embodiment are substantially similar, if not identical, to those of the first and second preferred embodiments.  
         [0125]     The above disclosure is sufficient to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention, and provides the best mode of practicing the invention presently contemplated by the inventor. While there is provided herein a full and complete disclosure of the preferred embodiments of this invention, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction, dimensional relationships, and operation shown and described. Various modifications, alternative constructions, changes and equivalents will readily occur to those skilled in the art and may be employed, as suitable, without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. Such changes might involve alternative materials, components, structural arrangements, sizes, shapes, forms, functions, operational features or the like.  
         [0126]     Therefore, the above description and illustrations should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims.