Patent Publication Number: US-2012024725-A1

Title: Detachable Container System

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present disclosure claims priority under 35 United States Code, Section 119 on the U.S. Provisional Patent Application numbered 61/368,309 filed on Jul. 28, 2010, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure generally relates to accessories for mobile telephones, and more particularly, to a container for a removable earpiece of a mobile telephone. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Legislation of mobile phone usage while driving has restricted and even prohibited a user from holding and talking on a phone while driving. These restrictions and prohibitions have given rise to the widespread development of hands-free implements that allow a user to talk on his or her phone without having to hold onto the phone. One popular implement is an earpiece that connects to a phone, wirelessly, or by way of a cable. 
     While these earpieces solve the problem of being able to use one&#39;s phone without involving his or her hands, such earpieces often require their own power source, which power source necessarily requires replenishing after a period of use. 
     Further, such earpieces are often small in dimensions, in order to fit securely within a user&#39;s ear and to lightweight. While this small dimensioning has its advantages, these small items are also very delicate and easily misplaced. 
     When one is not driving a vehicle, he or she will not necessarily need to keep the earpiece on his or her person, but may prefer to store the earpiece in a secure place, as opposed to carrying it with him or her outside of the vehicle. This would be, for example, to avoid losing or damaging the earpiece. However, due to the small sizes of these earpieces, they can still be misplaced if they are left on a car&#39;s seat, cupholder, or glove compartment. 
     Accordingly, a need exists for a container system that overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art, while maintaining the benefits of the prior art. A further need exists for a container in which a user may easily place an earpiece, and which may securely hold the earpiece when it is not in use. Moreover, a need exists for a container system that may be quickly and easily secured to another item, so that the container system may be used in a variety of environments. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the prior art, the general purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a detachable container system for an earpiece configured to include all the advantages of the prior art, and to overcome the drawbacks inherent therein. 
     Accordingly, an object of the present disclosure is to provide detachable container system for an earpiece that is capable of holding an earpiece while the earpiece is not in use. 
     Another object of the present disclosure is to provide for a detachable container system that may allow an earpiece to connect to a charging mechanism while the earpiece is stored in the detachable container system disclosed herein. 
     Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide for a portable container that may be attached and detached to a variety of locations depending on a user&#39;s preference and/or the degree of accessibility desired by a user. 
     To achieve the above objects, the present disclosure provides a detachable container system for holding an earpiece, for example, a Bluetooth®-enabled earpiece for a mobile device, therein. The system includes a container for receiving and securely, but removably retaining the earpiece therein and a fastener for removable attachment to a fixed-position item, such as an item in the interior cabin of a vehicle. In a preferred embodiment, the container system may attach to an item in the cabin that is within arms-reach of the driver or passenger of the vehicle. Examples of such an item include, but are not necessarily limited to, a dashboard, a knob or button of the vehicle&#39;s audio system, or the louver of a vent of the vehicle&#39;s air-conditioning system. 
     These together with other aspects of the present disclosure, along with the various features of novelty that characterize the present disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and form a part of this present disclosure. For a better understanding of the present disclosure, its operating advantages, and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawing and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present disclosure will become better understood with reference to the following detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a detachable container system, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  shows a detachable container system in an attached position and retaining an earpiece, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 3  shows a fastener arrangement of a detachable container system, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the description of several views of the drawings. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The exemplary embodiments described herein detail for illustrative purposes are subject to many variations in composition, structure, and design. It should be emphasized, however, that the present disclosure is not limited to a particular a foldable tray attachment for a chair and a foldable tray attachment package, as shown and described. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but these are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present disclosure. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. 
     Unless limited otherwise, the terms “disposed,” “coupled,” “attached,” and variations thereof herein are used broadly and encompass direct and indirect arrangements. The term “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “back,” “first,” “second,” and the like, herein do not denote any order, elevation or importance, but rather are used to distinguish placement of one element over another. The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
     The present disclosure comprises a detachable container system for holding an earpiece, for example, a Bluetooth®-enabled earpiece for a mobile device, therein. The system includes a container body for receiving the earpiece therein and a fastener arrangement for removable attachment to a fixed-position item, such as an item in the interior cabin of a vehicle. In a preferred embodiment, the container body may attach via a fastener arrangement to an object in the cabin that is within arms-reach of the driver or passenger of the vehicle. Examples of such an item include, but are not necessarily limited to, a dashboard, a knob or button of the vehicle&#39;s audio system, or the louver of a vent of the vehicle&#39;s air-conditioning system. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a detachable container system  100  comprises a container body  10  with at least one aperture  12  disposed on or near a top side of the body  10  for receiving and allowing removal of an object such as earpiece therein. The body  10  may comprise a second aperture  14  for allowing attachment of a power source such as a charging cable (shown as element  40  in  FIG. 1 ) or other accessory of the earpiece to the earpiece. In a preferred embodiment, the body  10  is in the shape of a cone with a larger diameter end  16 , with the smaller diameter end  18  thereof being truncated such that the cone shape terminates without a tip being formed. In this embodiment, body  10  is open (at apertures  12  and  14 ) at two ends. In such an embodiment, a user may easily insert the earpiece into the (upward-facing) aperture  12  of the body  10 . It will be apparent that the smaller diameter end  18  (comprising aperture  14 ) will be of a sufficiently small diameter to prevent an earpiece from falling through the aperture  14  and out of the container body  10 . The diameter of end  18 , however will be large enough to permit passage of earpiece accessories, such as a charging cable  40 , therethrough. 
     The container body  10  may also have an openable lid  20  disposed in proximity to an open side of the container body  10 , which lid  20  may selectively close an open side of the container  10 . The lid may attach to and close an open side of the container by way of a snap fit arrangement, in which embodiment the lid will be removably attached to the container. The lid may also attach to and close an open side of the container by way of a hinge mechanism, in which embodiment the lid will be permanently attached to the container. In the embodiment where the container system  100  includes a lid  20 , a user may secure an earpiece within the container body  10 . This embodiment is particularly advantageous in protecting and transporting an earpiece when a user has removed the container system  100  from a vehicle, for instance, for purposes of carrying it on his or her person. The lid  20  prevents the earpiece from falling out of the container body  10  particularly when the container body  10  is carried in a user&#39;s pocket, for example, thus allowing safe transport of the earpiece. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a detachable container system  100  is depicted as being attached to an object (here, the item being a louver of a vent of the air conditioning system of a vehicle.) The system  100  further comprises a fastener arrangement  50  for attaching the container body  10  to the louver. In an embodiment, the fastener arrangement comprises a clip  52  that attaches to an object, on which clip  52  the container body  10  may be disposed. (The attachment of the clip  52  to the container body  10  will be described in further detail in connection with  FIG. 3 ). In a preferred embodiment the fastener arrangement  50  of the present disclosure preferably comprises a clip  52  but may be any other suitable fastener known in the art, including, but not necessarily limited to, a region of tacky material that may adhere to the vehicle item upon application of pressure on the container body and fastener arrangement  50 . Another exemplary fastener arrangement may be a closeable loop, which a user may open and close to attach and remove the container to an item. In an embodiment, the clip  52  is rotatably attached to the container body  10  such that the user can adjust the vertical orientation of the container body  10  after it is attached to an object. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , the fastener arrangement  50  further comprises an attachment mechanism, which attachment mechanism is removably or permanently attached to the container body  10 . In exemplary embodiment, attachment mechanism is shown as a bracket  54 , which bracket may receive the clip  52  of the fastener arrangement  50 . The bracket  54  is attached to container body  10 , and the flange is removably attached to an object within the vehicle (here, shown by way of example, the louver of a vent of the vehicle&#39;s air conditioning system) by way of the clip  52 . In this embodiment, the container may be hung upon the clip  52  when the bracket  54  is placed onto a flange or knob that is disposed at an end of the clip  52  that is distal to the vehicle object on which the clip is fastened. 
     The container system  100  may have a light source  70  incorporated on the container body  10  to assist the user in storing and retrieving an earpiece in the container and in attaching and removing the container from a vehicle item in dark conditions. In a preferred embodiment, the light source  70  is an LED light coupled to a photovoltaic power source  80 . The LED light  70  source and power source  80  may be sufficiently thin that they may be molded into and made integral to a side of the container body  10 . 
     The container system  100  may also comprise other components that are operatively coupled to the photovoltaic power source  80 , such as a USB port (shown in  FIG. 3  as element  90 ) or other port to which a user may attach another electrical or battery-powered device (such as a mobile telephone) for recharging or providing power to such device. It will be apparent that the configuration of the USB port will be such that an earpiece may still fit inside the container body  10  and that a charging cable of an earpiece may pass through an aperture  12  or  14  of the container body  10 . 
     The container body  10  is preferably formed from lightweight but resilient materials, such as plastic. The bracket  54  of fastener arrangement  50  is preferably attached permanently to the container. The bracket  54  of the fastener arrangement  50  may be glued, bolted, or screwed to the container, for example, or the bracket  54  of fastener arrangement be molded to the container body  10 . The light source  70  and fastener arrangement  50  should be disposed opposite one another on the container, so that the light source  70  projects outwardly away from the object to which the fastener arrangement  50  attaches the container body  10 , and so that, for example, the light source  70  may illuminate a vehicle&#39;s cabin when the container is fastened to an object in the cabin. 
     In use, a user may carry the detachable container system  100  on his or her person, with an earpiece stored therein, to safely and securely transport an earpiece while the earpiece is not in use. Upon entering a vehicle or other environment where the earpiece may be used, the user may attach the container body  10  via the fastener arrangement  50  to an object in the vehicle. While the earpiece is in use (for instance, while the user is operating a vehicle and wishes to talk on his or her mobile telephone at the same time), the container body  10  remains readily accessible as it fastened to an object (such as the louver of a vent of the vehicles air conditioning system). When the earpiece is no longer needed, for instance, because the user has reached a destination and has parked the vehicle, the user may then safely store the earpiece in the container body  10  of the container system  100  for later use. Should the earpiece require charging, the user can connect the charging cable of the earpiece (which is usually coupled to the cigarette lighter or other power outlet of a vehicle) to the earpiece itself, all the while retaining the earpiece in a safe location (in the container body  10 .) In dark conditions, such as in a parking garage or in the nighttime, the light source of the container system  100  will allow the user to quickly and easily locate the container body  10  and earpiece. 
     The detachable container system  1000  as described herein has the advantages of providing a lightweight and secure system for protecting and storing an earpiece, and for transporting an earpiece when not in use. The system  100  reduces the loss of and damage to such earpieces, and allows safe charging of such earpieces when the earpieces are not in use. The fastener arrangement  50  of the container system  100  allows removable installation of the container system  100  in a variety of environments, so that the container system  100  may provide storage and protection in various surroundings. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present disclosure have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present disclosure to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The exemplary embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present disclosure and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the disclosure and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.