Patent Publication Number: US-2021174776-A1

Title: Attachment for mouth actuated touch screens

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This patent application claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/880,510 filed on May 21, 2020, which in turn claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/852,392 filed on May 24, 2019, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a touch screen device attachment, and more particularly, to a mouth actuated touch-screen device attachment that may function similarly to a harmonica or similar musical instruments. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     As a type of musical instrument, the harmonica is one of the oldest forms of musical expression in the world. Musical tones are produced through the utilization of a harmonica by a user either blowing or drawing air into the harmonica. 
     A once novel method of human interaction with technology, a touch screen is now one of the most common attributes technological devices possess. The touch screen is commonly found as a feature with cellular mobile devices, primarily within what is referred to as a smart phone or smart device. Considering that  36 % of the entire world population owns a smart phone, the demand for attachments to enhance smart phones have become increasingly popular. 
     The operation of the smart phone is constantly evolving, where a popularly developed capability is the utilization of software applications configured for completing specialized tasks. With this in mind, a mouth actuated attachment for a touch screen device is within the range of possibility. Thus, a mouth actuated attachment for a touch screen has been invented allowing the user to combine musical interests adaptively rendered to befit the advantages touch screen devices may offer. Particularly, one advantage would be the pairing of the mouth actuated attachment with a mobile application providing more functionality to the attachment than it would have while being traditionally operated. 
     One obstacle in playing the harmonica is that it can be considered distracting to others who are disinterested in hearing the audible tune it produces. Thus, it is highly desirable to provide a mouth actuated attachment for touch screens that allows for the user to operate the harmonica in a manner where the tune would be only audible to the user. The ability to play the harmonica in a manner which is only audible to the user is provided by pairing a mouth actuated attachment with a touch screen, wherein headphones may be utilized so the tune may be heard only by the user. In addition, specialized software adapted for use with the mouth actuated attachment can provide unique musical features by access to MIDI sound font libraries, synthesizer features, and correspondence to smart device movement tracking devices such as accelerometers. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In concordance and agreement with the present invention, a new mouth actuated touch screen attachment has surprisingly been discovered. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, an attachment for a smart device having a touch screen displaying at least one interactive area thereon includes at least one port defining an air passageway therethrough and at least one actuator element disposed at least partially within the air passageway of each of the at least one ports. Each of the at least one actuator elements is configured to actuate upon a flow of air passing through the corresponding air passageway. Actuation of each of the at least one actuator elements causes an electrical interaction with one of the interactive areas of the touch screen. The attachment may also include one or more feature buttons configured for hand actuation by the operator of the attachment, thereby allowing for a secondary input method for interacting with the attachment. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above-mentioned, and other features and objects of the inventions, and the manner of attaining them will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a mouth activated attachment according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional bottom view of the attachment of  FIG. 1  as taken from the perspective of section lines  2 - 2  in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an elevational front view of a smart device having a touch screen configured for use with the attachment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional elevational view through one of the ports of the attachment of  FIG. 1  as taken from the perspective of section lines  4 - 4  in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional elevational view through the port of the attachment as shown in  FIG. 4  during interaction with an interactive area of a corresponding touch screen as caused by a blow action of an operator; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional elevational view through the port of the attachment as shown in  FIG. 4  during interaction with an interactive area of the touch screen as caused by a draw action of the operator; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional elevational view through a port of an attachment according to another embodiment of the invention, wherein the attachment includes a modified actuator configuration; 
         FIG. 8  is a bottom plan view of a port of an attachment according to another embodiment of the invention, wherein the port includes a pair of engaging components extending through a sidewall of the port; 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional elevational view of the attachment of  FIG. 8  as taken through one of the ports of the attachment having the pair of the engaging components; 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional elevational view through the port of the attachment as shown in  FIG. 9  during interaction with an interactive area of a corresponding touch screen as caused by a blow action of an operator; 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional elevational view through the port of the attachment as shown in  FIG. 9  during interaction with an interactive area of the touch screen as caused by a draw action of the operator; 
         FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional elevational view taken through a port of an attachment according to another embodiment of the present invention, wherein the port includes an actuator formed as a stretchable diaphragm; 
         FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional elevational view through the port of the attachment as shown in  FIG. 12  during interaction with an interactive area of a corresponding touch screen as caused by a blow action of an operator; and 
         FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional elevational view through the port of the attachment as shown in  FIG. 12  during interaction with an interactive area of the touch screen as caused by a draw action of the operator. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following detailed description and appended drawings describe and illustrate various exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description and drawings serve to enable one skilled in the art to make, and use the invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any manner. With respect to the methods disclosed, the steps presented are exemplary in nature, and thus, the order of the steps is not necessary or critical. 
     The present invention relates to an attachment for use with touch screen devices such as for mobile phones and tablets, for example. However, the present disclosure can apply to other types of touch screens for use in other applications, as desired. The attachment for touch screens according to the disclosure is mouth actuated and designed to be utilized harmonically within the construct of a harmonica specifically. However, it is understood that the disclosed attachment for touch screens may be utilized in any manner while being constructed to conform to any shape. 
       FIGS. 1, 2, and 4-6  illustrate an attachment  10  according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The attachment  10  as shown and described is configured for use with an exemplary smart device  1  generally having a touch screen  2 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , as well as a processor, a memory, a speaker, and any necessary communication ports or communication mechanisms. The communication ports or communication mechanisms may be configured for direct connection to external devices (such as headphones, external speakers, routers, or other smart devices) or may be configured for wireless communication with externally provided smart devices, routers, speakers, or the like. The memory may be used to store any instruction sets for processing by the processor as well as any data collected during the use of the attachment  10 . The memory may be further configured for storing any applications that are compatible with the associated smart device  1  and configured for use with the attachment  10 . Such applications may, for example, be available via download from other smart devices or from the internet and may be configured for storage to the memory of the smart device  1 . Such applications may be configured for use with a variety of different configurations and dimensions of the associated touch screen  2  depending on the brand, dimensions, and type of touch screen utilized. 
     The touch screen  2  of the smart device  1  forms a user interface thereof for viewing content associated with the application instantaneously being run by the smart device  1  as well as allowing for user interaction with the smart device  1 . In the present examples, the touch screen  2  may utilize capacitive touch interaction methods for forming interactions between the attachment  10  and the touch screen  2 , as desired. However, with respect to certain embodiments resulting in direct contact with the touch screen  2 , it may also be possible to utilize a resistive touch interaction method for forming interactions between the attachment  10  and the touch screen  2 . 
       FIG. 3  shows the touch screen  2  as having an array of interactive areas  3  formed thereon with each of the interactive areas  3  corresponding to a portion of the touch screen  2  preselected to cause the smart device  1  to react in a preselected manner upon an interaction therewith. The interactive areas  3  may be associated with the instantaneous application being run by the smart device  1  with the interactive areas  3  clearly marked and segregated from each other with respect to the touch screen  2 . In the provided example, the touch screen  2  includes a numbered set of the interactive areas  3  having two columns and twelve rows as well as a lettered row of three of the interactive areas  3  disposed adjacent the highest numbered ones of the numbered set of the interactive areas  3 . The numbered set is labeled as areas  1 - 24  (one even number and one odd number per row) while the lettered set is labeled as areas A-C (in a single horizontal row). As will become apparent upon further review of the present patent application, each of the interactive areas  3  as shown and described is positioned to correspond to a user actuated component of the attachment  10  to allow for the user to selectively interact with the different interactive areas  3  via use of the attachment  10 . The illustrated array of the combination of the numbered and lettered interaction areas  3  is merely exemplary in nature for illustrating the method of use of the present invention and should not be considered limiting. 
     The smart device  1  may further include components suitable for determining a position, an orientation, or a relative motion of the smart device  1  during use of the attachment  10 . For example, such components may include accelerometers, gyroscopes, or the like, as are known to be present in such smart devices  1 . These components may be configured to determine aspects of the smart device  1  such as in inclination of the smart device  1  relative to the horizon, a degree of translation of the smart device  1 , an instantaneous translational velocity of the smart device  1 , an instantaneous angular velocity of the smart device  1 , a degree or rotational motion of the smart device  1 , or the like. For example, the smart device  1  may be configured to determine a degree at which the smart device  1  has been tilted relative to an original orientation thereof along any of three different axes or a degree at which the smart device  1  has been translated relative to an original position thereof along any of three different axes, wherein each of the aforementioned axes may be reference axes measured relative to the horizon or relative to an initial position/orientation of the smart device  1 . 
     The attachment  10  is comprised of a port assembly  12  including a plurality of ports  20  arranged in a rectilinear side-by-side array. Each of the ports  20  includes an air passageway  40  formed therethrough with each of the air passageways  40  extending from an open first end  21  to an open second end  22  of each of the ports  20 . The ports  20  and the corresponding air passageways  40  are all shown as including a substantially rectangular, square, or rounded-rectangular cross-sectional shape, but one skilled in the art should understood that the present invention may be adapted to port configurations including alternative cross-sectional shapes without necessarily departing from the scope of the present invention, including circular, semi-circular, triangular, elliptical, or semi-elliptical cross-sectional shapes, as desired. In the illustrated embodiment, each of the air passageways  40  is defined by four sidewalls arranged into the square, rectangular, or rounded-rectangular shape, wherein the four sidewalls include a first sidewall  31 , a second sidewall  32  disposed opposite the first sidewall  31  and arranged parallel thereto, a third sidewall  33  connecting the first sidewall  31  to the second sidewall  32 , and a fourth sidewall  34  also connecting the first sidewall  31  to the second sidewall  32  opposite the third sidewall  33 . As used hereinafter, the first sidewall  31  refers to the sidewall disposed adjacent the touch screen  2  of the corresponding smart device  1  while the second sidewall  32  refers to the sidewall spaced from the touch screen  2  of the smart device  1  opposite the associated first sidewall  31 . Regardless of the shape or configuration of each of the ports  20 , the ports  20  necessarily must include the first sidewall  31  having an outwardly facing surface adjacent and generally facing towards the touch screen  2  of the smart device  1  when the smart device  1  is positioned relative to the attachment  10  as described hereinafter. 
     The rectilinear array of the ports  20  as illustrated includes all of the first sidewalls  31  of the ports  20  disposed in a co-planar arrangement and all of the second sidewalls  32  of the ports  20  similarly disposed in a co-planar arrangement. Additionally, all of the first ends  21  are arranged in axial alignment with each other in a co-planar arrangement while all of the second ends  22  are similarly arranged in axial alignment with each other in a co-planar arrangement. The attachment  10  may accordingly include a substantially rectangular cuboid shape with each of the ports  20  individually including an elongated rectangular cuboid shape. The shape of the attachment  10  and the configuration of the ports  20  may be provided to emulate a musical instrument such as a harmonica, as desired. 
     The four different sidewalls  31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  34  may be assembled using any combination of elements, as desired. For example, the third and fourth sidewalls  33 ,  34  may each extend from the second sidewall  32  in a substantially comb-like structure with the first sidewall  31  forming a cap element received at the free ends of the third and fourth sidewalls  33 ,  34  spaced apart from the common second sidewall  32 , or the third and fourth sidewalls  33 ,  34  may each extend from the first sidewall  31  in a substantially comb-like structure with the second sidewall  32  forming a cap element received at the free ends of the third and fourth sidewalls  33 ,  34  spaced apart from the common first sidewall  31 . In such a configuration, the third sidewall  33  of each of the ports  20  may also form the fourth sidewall  34  of a correspondingly adjacent one of the ports  20  throughout the array of the ports  20 , as desired. 
     Alternatively, each of the ports  20  may be provided as including the square or rectangular cross-section shape with the ports  20  arranged side-by-side and coupled to each other at the adjoining third and fourth sidewalls  33 ,  34  to form the rectilinear array of the ports  20 . The ports  20  of such an assembly may be formed by extruding the desired cross-sectional shape in the longitudinal direction of each of the ports  20  before subsequently coupling the ports  20  in the manner described. 
     Furthermore, in other embodiments, the entirety of the port assembly  12  may be molded or otherwise formed in a common manufacturing process. Such a molding process may include each of the air passageways  40  provided as a projection within a corresponding mold with the projection extending between surrounding voids forming the cooperating sidewalls  31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  34 . 
     However, any manufacturing method may be utilized to form the ports  20  into any the configurations disclosed hereinafter without necessarily departing from the scope of the present invention. One skilled in the art will also appreciate that any combination of structural elements may be used for forming the port assembly  12  without necessarily departing from the scope of the present invention so long as each of the ports  20  includes the relevant relationships disclosed hereinafter for allowing the attachment  10  to interact with the corresponding touch screen  2  via the passage of air through the air passageways  40  in either of two opposing longitudinal directions of each of the ports  20 . The sidewalls  31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  34  defining each of the air passageways  40  may be formed from substantially any rigid material, as desired, such as a moldable plastic material. 
     The port assembly  12  is shown as including twelve of the ports  20  arranged in the rectilinear array, but any number of the ports  20  may be provided in the illustrated side-by-side configuration without departing from the scope of the present invention. The number of the ports  20  provided in any given port assembly  12  may correspond to the number of different inputs capable of being actuated using the port assembly  12 . For example, if the port assembly  12  is utilized for a harmonica type application as described in greater detail hereinafter, the number of the ports  20  may correspond to a desired number of different notes playable using the port assembly  12 , wherein each of the ports  20  corresponds to two of the different notes (one note corresponding to a blow action and the other of the notes corresponding to a draw action with respect to each of the air passageways  40 ). As another non-limiting example, the port assembly  12  may include a desired number of ports  20  for corresponding to a desired communication protocol or language, such as each of the ports  20  corresponding to two different letters of a given alphabet or the like in order to utilize the port assembly  12  as a mouth actuated keyboard. One skilled in the art should appreciate that the attachment  10  and the associated smart device  1  may be utilized for a variety of different applications in addition to those mentioned herein following a more thorough description of the method of use thereof hereinafter. 
     As seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the attachment  10  includes a locating feature  6  depending from the port assembly  12  for locating the smart device  1  at a desired position and orientation relative to the port assembly  12 . In the provided embodiment, the locating feature  6  is provided as a sleeve-like structure configured to hold the associated smart device  1  with the touch screen  2  thereof facing in a direction towards the first sidewall  31  of each of the ports  20  forming the port assembly  12 . The locating feature  6  is shown as including as a U-shaped wall extending from an open end of the locating feature  6  to a closed end thereof as formed by an end wall of the locating feature  6  disposed adjacent the second end  22  of each of the ports  20 . The U-shaped wall and the end wall may cooperate to define an opening  7  configured for reception of the smart device  1  therein. A side surface of the smart device  1  may be initially received into the opening  7  through the open end of the locating feature  6  with the smart device  1  slid into the opening  7  until the corresponding side surface if placed in abutment with the closed end of the locating feature  6  as formed by the end wall. In other embodiments, the locating feature  6  may be hinged along the end wall at a position adjacent the second end  22  of each of the ports  20  to allow for the locating feature  6  to pivot to a position wherein the open end of U-shaped wall is spaced apart from the underside of the port assembly  12 . The smart device  1  is then able to be easily positioned within the opening  7  before then pivoting the locating feature  6  back to the position illustrated in  FIG. 1  with the touch screen  2  facing towards the underside of the port assembly  12 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the locating feature  6  is shown as having a preselected shape and size that is complimentary to the smart device  1  to position the touch screen  2  at a desired position relative to the port assembly  12  wherein each of the interactive areas  3  provided on the touch screen  2  is provided at a preselected and desired position relative to the port assembly  12  to allow for the attachment  10  to interact with the touch screen  2  in a predictable and desired manner. However, the locating feature  6  may alternatively be provided to be adjustable to accommodate various different sizes and shapes of smart devices to render the attachment  10  as being adaptable for use with a variety of different smart devices. For example, the different sidewalls forming the U-shape or the end wall may each be adjustable to change the cross-sectional shape of the opening  7  along various axes to properly place the touch screen  2  relative to the port assembly  12  regardless of the type of smart device  1  used. The locating feature  6  is shown as extending across about half a width of the corresponding smart device  1 , but the locating feature  6  may have any width relative to the smart device  1  necessary for affixing a position of the smart device  1  relative to the port assembly  12 . 
     Although not pictured, the opening  7  may include one or more resilient pads or the like disposed therein for biasing the smart device  1  in desired directions in order to secure the smart device  1  within the opening  7  during use of the attachment  10 . For example, such a resilient pad may be disposed on the centrally disposed sidewall of the U-shaped wall for biasing the smart device  1  in a direction towards the port assembly  12  via compression of the resilient pad following insertion of the smart device  1  into the opening  7 . The locating feature  6  may further include any desired locking features or the like for maintaining the position of the smart device  1  within the locating feature  6 . For example, the locating feature  6  may include mechanisms for adjusting any of the walls forming the locating feature  6  in the same manner described above for adjusting the size and shape of the opening  7  to accommodate different smart devices, wherein the adjusting of the walls is used to compress the smart device  1  to prevent undesired removal of the smart device  1  from the locating feature  6 . If the aforementioned hinged locating feature  6  configuration is utilized, the locking feature may be a swing gate or the like disposed on the end wall of the locating feature  6  with the swing gate configured to selectively engage the second end  22  of at least one of the ports  20  in a manner preventing an undesired pivoting of the locating feature  6  to the open position normally utilized for receiving the smart device  1  therein. 
     The locating feature  6  may be any type of locating feature  6  configured for affixing the position of the smart device  1  relative to the port assembly  12  without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the locating feature may be provided as any number of straps, elastic bands, sleeves, or the like suitable for reception of the smart device  1  therein, as desired. Additionally, the operator of the attachment  10  may also hand position the attachment relative to the touch screen  2  in the absence of a locating feature, as desired, while still maintaining the desired methods of operation of the attachment  10  as described hereinafter. 
     The embodiment of the attachment  10  shown in  FIGS. 1-6  includes a pair of actuators  50 ,  60  associated with each of the ports  20  of the port assembly  12 . Each of the pair of the actuators  50 ,  60  of one of the ports  20  is configured to electrically interact with one of the two interactive areas  3  associated with each of the rows of the numbered interactive areas  3  as shown in  FIG. 3 . As such, the twelve different ports  20  of the port assembly  12  are able to electrically interact with all  24  of the numbered interactive areas  3  of the illustrated embodiment of the application running on the smart device  1  via selective interaction of the operator of the attachment  10  with one or more of the ports  20 . 
     One of the ports  20  is shown throughout  FIGS. 4-6  for disclosing a method of operation of the attachment  10 . The smart device  1  is shown as being received within the opening  7  of the locating feature  6  in each of the  FIGS. 5 and 6  to illustrate how each of the different actuators  50 ,  60  electrically interacts with one of the specified interactive areas  3  of the touch screen  2  via direct engagement therewith. Each of the actuators  50 ,  60  is formed from an electrically conductive material capable of conducting an electrical charge associated with the operator of the attachment  10  to the preselected one of the interactive areas  3  for causing a localized disturbance in the capacitance of the touch screen  2 . As is common in smart devices  1  such as those configured for use with the attachment  10 , the localized disturbance in the capacitance of the touch screen  2  at each of the preselected locations is interpreted by the smart device  1  as a user initiated selection in similar fashion to the touching of the touch screen  2  by a finger of the operator (or a touch screen compatible stylus or the like). Each of the actuators  50 ,  60  is also formed from a flexible material having a resiliency suitable for each of the actuators  50 ,  60  to spring back to an original configuration thereof following an elastic deformation of the each of the actuators  50 ,  60  during use of the attachment  10 . Each of the actuators  50 ,  60  may accordingly be formed from an electrically conductive and resilient metallic material such as brass or carbon steel, but other materials having the above described characteristics may also be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention, including suitable non-metallic materials. 
     The actuator  50  is configured to actuate when the operator of the attachment  10  causes air to pass through the air passageway  40  in a direction from the first end  21  toward the second end  22  of the corresponding port  20  (left-to-right from the perspective of  FIGS. 4-6 ). Such an air movement is typically caused by the operator placing his or her mouth in abutment with the first end  21  of the desired port  20  and blowing through the air passageway  40 . The actuator  50  may accordingly be referred to as the blow actuator  50  hereinafter. In contrast, the actuator  60  is configured to actuate when the operator of the attachment  10  causes air to pass through the air passageway  40  in a direction from the second end  22  toward the first end  21  of the corresponding port  20  (right-to-left from the perspective of  FIGS. 4-6 ). Such an air movement is typically caused by the operator placing his or her mouth in abutment with the first end  21  of the desired port  20  and suctioning or otherwise drawing air through the air passageway  40 . The actuator  60  may accordingly be referred to as the draw actuator  60  hereinafter. 
     In the present embodiment, each of the actuators  50 ,  60  is provided as a strip of material originally including a substantially rectangular perimeter shape defining each of a longitudinal dimension and a width dimension of the strip of material. Each of the strips of material further includes a thickness dimension that is significantly smaller than the width dimension thereof or the longitudinal dimension thereof. As a result of the general shape and configuration of each of the actuators  50 ,  60 , each of the actuators  50 ,  60  may alternatively be referred to as flex reeds, as desired. 
     The blow actuator  50  is formed into a substantially L-shaped configuration as the blow actuator  50  extends from a first end  51  to an opposing second end  52  thereof. The L-shaped configuration divides the blow actuator  50  into a first segment  53  including the first end  51  thereof and a second segment  54  including the second end  54  thereof. The first segment  53  and the second segment  54  are bent relative to each other to cause the second segment  54  to be arranged transverse to the first segment  53 . In the illustrated embodiment, the second segment  54  is arranged perpendicular to the first segment  53 , but alternative transverse arrangements may be utilized without necessarily departing from the scope of the present invention. An outside corner of the blow actuator  50  formed at the bend present between the two segments  53 ,  54  forms a contact surface  55  of the blow actuator  50 , wherein the contact surface  55  refers to a portion of the blow actuator  50  configured to directly engage the corresponding interaction area  3  provided on the touch screen  2  and in facing relationship with the blow actuator  50  when the smart device  1  is properly installed into the locating feature  6  of the attachment  10 . 
     The first segment  53  of the blow actuator  50  includes an affixed portion  56  and a free portion  57  that are separated from each other by a pivot axis  58 . The affixed portion  56  is affixed to the port  20  and remains stationary during actuation of the blow actuator  50 . In contrast, the free portion  57  is configured to flex relative to the port  20  with the flexing of the free portion  57  beginning at the pivot axis  58 . Depending on the flexibility of the material provided for forming the blow actuator  50 , the pivot axis  58  may correspond to a point at which the free portion  57  pivots about the pivot axis  58  while maintaining a substantially constant rectilinear shape or the pivot axis  58  may correspond to a point at which the free portion  57  begin to flex arcuately towards the touch screen  2  during actuation of the blow actuator  50 . The free portion  57  is illustrated as having a substantially constant rectilinear shape in  FIG. 5  during the flexing thereof relative to the pivot axis  58 , but either form of the flexing of the free portion  57  may be present in the blow actuator  50  while remaining within the scope of the present invention. 
     The affixed portion  56  of the blow actuator  50  is placed into direct contact with a conductive element  70  associated with the port assembly  12 . The conductive element  70  is configured to electrically conductively connect the blow actuator  50  to the hands and/or mouth of the operator of the attachment  10  to aid in disturbing the capacitance of the touch screen  2  when the blow actuator  50  is placed in contact therewith. In the illustrated embodiment, the conductive element  70  is shown as a strip of electrically conductive material that extends around the port assembly  12 . An inner disposed portion of the conductive element  70  is placed into contact with the affixed portion  56  of each of the spaced apart blow actuators  50  of the port assembly  12  while an outer disposed portion of the conductive element  70  is exposed for contact with the user on an exposed surface of the second sidewall  32 . The embodiment of the attachment  10  illustrated in  FIG. 1  may be suitable for the hands of the operator to make the direct contact with the conductive element  70  to allow for the electric charge of the operator to be conducted to each of the blow actuators  50  of the port assembly  12  simultaneously. In other embodiments, the conductive element  70  may further wrap around the first end  21  of each of the ports  20  to allow for the mouth of the operator to make the direct contact therewith, thereby eliminating the need for the hands of the operator to conduct the electric charge to the blow actuator  50 . One skilled in the art should appreciate that any configuration of the conductive element  70  through or around the port assembly  12  for providing the electrically conductive contact with the operator as well as each of the blow actuators  50  may be utilized without necessarily departing from the scope of the present invention, so long as the electric charge normally present within the operator is able to be electrically communicated to each of the blow actuators  50  during normal use of the attachment  10 . The conductive element  70  may be formed from an electrically conductive metallic material such as brass or carbon steel, as non-limiting examples. 
     The conductive element  70  may be provided as an electrically conductive and flexible tape adhered to the corresponding portions of the attachment  10  or the conductive element  70  may be formed from a rigid structure bent to the desired configuration for engaging the corresponding electrically conductive components of the attachment  10 . The conductive element  70  may also be formed from a plurality of different components all placed into electrically conductive contact with each other while forming the electrically conductive path between the operator and each of the blow actuators  50 . 
     The draw actuator  60  includes substantially the same configuration as the blow actuator  50  and extends from a first end  61  to a second end  62  thereof while also divided into a first segment  63  and a transversely arranged second segment  64  bent to form a contact surface  65  at an exterior corner thereof. The draw actuator  60  further includes an affixed portion  66  and a free portion  67  that are separated from each other by a pivot axis  68 . 
     The affixed portion  66  of the draw actuator  60  is also placed into contact with a conductive element  72  in similar fashion to the blow actuator  50 , wherein the conductive element  72  is similarly wrapped around the port assembly  12  for being placed in electrically conductive contact with each of the draw actuators  60  adjacent the second end  22  of each of the ports  20  while also exposed for contact with the hand or hands of the operator. In the present embodiment, the conductive element  72  is shown as being separated from the conductive element  70  in a manner requiring independent contact of the operator with each of the conductive elements  70 ,  72  to ensure that the electrical current of the operator is carried to each of the separated actuators  50 ,  60 . However, in other embodiments, the conductive elements  70 ,  72  may instead be connected to each other or formed from one continuous conductive element that is placed into electrically conductive contact with each of the affixed portions  56 ,  66  of all of the actuators  50 ,  60  simultaneously. For example, the common conductive element may be disposed along an entirety of the outer surface of the second sidewall  32  to ensure that adequate electrically conductive contact is established between the operator and each of the actuators  50 ,  60  regardless of the position of the hands of the operator around the port assembly  12 . The conductive element  72  may be formed from the same materials and may take on the same configurations as those described with reference to the conductive element  70  if the conductive elements  70 ,  72  are provided independently and separated from each other as illustrated. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the attachment  10  further includes a cap plate  15  that engages an outwardly facing surface of the first sidewall  31  in order to form an outermost portion of the attachment  10  facing directly towards the touch screen  2  of the smart device  1 . The cap plate  15  includes a centrally located indented portion  16  having a smaller thickness than the outwardly disposed end portions of the cap plate  15 . The cap plate  15  includes a plurality of apertures  17  formed within the indented portion  16  thereof with each of the apertures  17  corresponding to one of the air passageways  40  formed through one of the ports  20 , as best shown in  FIG. 2 . Each of the apertures  17  extends longitudinally in the longitudinal direction of the corresponding port  20  and forms a space through which each of the actuators  50 ,  60  can flex when being actuated to a position for contacting the desired interaction areas  3  of the touch screen  2 . 
     The first sidewall  31  of each of the ports  20  further includes an opening  37  formed therethrough and configured for alignment with one of the apertures  17  formed through the cap plate  15 . Each of the openings  37  may have the same width as each of the corresponding and aligned apertures  17  and may be centrally located relative to each of the corresponding and aligned apertures  17 . The formation of the indented portion  16  into the cap plate  15  results in a space being present between each of the apertures  17  and each of the corresponding and aligned openings  37  with respect to the height direction of each of the ports  20  as measured in a direction between the first and second sidewalls  31 ,  32  thereof. 
     The affixed portions  56 ,  66  of the actuators  50 ,  60  may be affixed into place via a sandwiching of each the affixed portions  56 ,  66  between an inwardly facing surface of each of the end portions of the cap plate  15  straddling the indented portion  16  and the outwardly facing surface of the first sidewall  31 , wherein each of the pivot axes  58 ,  68  are formed by opposing shoulders of the cap plate  15  formed at the ends of the indented portion  16  with respect to the longitudinal direction of each of the ports  20 . The affixed portion  56  of the blow actuator  50  is accordingly positioned adjacent the first end  21  of the corresponding port  20  while the affixed portion  66  of the draw actuator  60  is disposed adjacent the second end  22  of the corresponding port  20 . Each of the conductive elements  70 ,  72  may similarly be sandwiched between the end portions of the cap plate  15  and the outwardly facing surface of the first sidewall  31  to maintain the conductive contact between the conductive elements  70 ,  72  and the corresponding actuators  50 ,  60 . The inwardly facing surface of each of the end portions of the cap plate  15  may include a shape corresponding to the stacked configuration of the adjoining conductive elements  70 ,  72  and actuators  50 ,  60 , as desired, to more easily locate each of the features relative to each other. An opposing outwardly facing surface of the cap plate  15  may be provided as substantially planar in configuration to allow for the outwardly facing surface to abut the touch screen  2  without risking scratching or other damage thereto. The cap plate  15  is further formed from an electrically non-conductive material to prevent an undesired electrical interaction with the touch screen  2  during use of the attachment  10 . The cap plate  15  may be formed from a rigid material such as plastic. 
     The blow actuator  50  is arranged within the attachment  10  with the first segment  53  thereof extending parallel to the longitudinal direction of the corresponding port  20  while disposed between the outwardly facing surface of the first sidewall  31  and the inwardly facing surface of the cap plate  15 . The second segment  54  extends transversely from the first segment  54  to extend through the corresponding opening  37  formed through the first sidewall  31  of the respective port  20 . The opening  37  includes a smaller length in the longitudinal direction of the corresponding port  20  than does the adjacent aperture  17  formed through the cap plate  15  to prevent undesired air leakage outside of the corresponding air passageway  40 . Each of the apertures  17  and each of the openings  37  include a width slightly greater than that of each of the actuators  50 ,  60  to allow for passage of the actuators  50 ,  60  therethrough when flexed to the positions shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6  without allowing undesired air leakage from the corresponding air passageway  40 . 
     The second segment  54  extends through the opening  37  to be arranged transverse to the direction of air flow through the corresponding air passageway  40  with the second end  52  of the blow actuator arranged  50  arranged adjacent the second sidewall  32 . The second segment  54  may include a length dimension measured from the bend formed in the blow actuator  50  and a width measured perpendicular to the length dimension that occupies a majority of the cross-sectional flow area of the corresponding air passageway  40 . The contact surface  55  is arranged immediately adjacent the underlying one of the interaction areas  3  to which the blow actuator  50  is intended to interact with during actuation of the blow actuator  50 . 
     The draw actuator  60  includes substantially an identical configuration as the blow actuator  50  while arranged symmetrically thereto with respect to a plane arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the corresponding port  20 . The aforementioned plane of symmetry is also arranged to coincide with the division of each of the rows of the interactive areas  3  into the two adjacent ones of the interactive areas  3  (division between the odd and even numbered interactive areas  3  in the example of  FIG. 3 ). The first segment  63  of the draw actuator  60  accordingly extends in parallel between the first sidewall  31  and the cap element  15  while the second segment  64  extends transversely therefrom through the corresponding one of the openings  37  formed in the first sidewall  31  with the contact surface  65  arranged immediately adjacent the desired one of the interaction areas  3  to which the draw actuator  60  is intended to interact with during actuation of the draw actuator  60 . The second segment  64  also occupies a majority of the cross-sectional flow area through the corresponding air passageway  40  opposite the second segment  54  of the blow actuator  50 . 
     Referring back to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the attachment  10  may also include a feature housing  80  disposed adjacent one of the outermost ports  20  forming the port assembly  12 . The feature housing  80  of the illustrated embodiment of the attachment  10  includes three feature buttons  81  spaced apart from each other with respect to the longitudinal direction of each of the ports  20 . As can be seen by comparison of  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a flipping of the smart device  1  about a horizontal axis extending through a center of the smart device  1  from the perspective of  FIG. 3  results in the three lettered interaction areas  3  disposed at the end of the numbered array being placed in alignment with the three feature buttons  81  when the smart device  1  is received within the locating feature  6  at an orientation with the touch screen  2  facing towards the underside of each of the port assembly  12  and the feature housing  80  as shown from the perspective of  FIG. 2 . The illustrated embodiment of the attachment  10  includes the feature housing  80  and the corresponding feature buttons  81  as being disposed to a right-hand side of the port assembly  12  when the attachment  10  is held in the hands of the operator from the perspective of  FIG. 1 , thereby requiring the actuation of the feature buttons  81  to be accomplished using the fingers or thumb of the right hand of the operator. However, it will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art that the feature housing  80  may be flipped to alternatively be arranged on the left-hand side of the port assembly  12  to allow for actuation of the corresponding feature buttons  81  with the fingers or thumb of the left hand of the operator, as desired. Additionally, it should also be clear that the feature housings  80  and the corresponding feature buttons  81  may be included on both the left-hand side and the right-hand side of the port assembly  12  to allow for both of the hands of the operator to actuate the opposing feature buttons  81 . Furthermore, the use of three of the feature buttons  81  aligned in a rectilinear array as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  is merely exemplary, as any number of the feature buttons  81  in any desired configuration of the feature buttons  81  may be utilized while remaining within the scope of the present invention. It should be understood that any of the above described variations of the feature housings  80  and corresponding feature buttons  81  from those illustrated requires a corresponding modification of the layout of the interactive areas  3  displayed on the touch screen  2  in comparison to that shown in  FIG. 3 . For example, the configuration of the touch screen  2  as shown in  FIG. 3  may include an additional row of the interactive areas  3  above the “1” and “2” numbered interactive areas  3  to accommodate a left-handed set of the feature buttons  81  in addition to the currently disclosed right-handed set of the feature buttons  81 . 
     The feature buttons  81  may have a variety of different structural configurations while remaining within the scope of the present invention, so long as the feature buttons  81  are able to selectively interact with the underlying interactive areas  3  of the touch screen  2  via a localized disturbance of the capacitance of the touch screen  2 . In one embodiment, each of the feature buttons  81  is spring loaded to normally project outwardly from a plane defined by an upper surface of the feature housing  80  from the perspective of  FIG. 1 , wherein the fingers of the operator selectively push each of the feature buttons  81  against the urging of the spring to cause a shaft or rod-like structure forming each of the feature buttons  81  to move downwardly towards the touch screen  2  through a corresponding opening formed through the feature housing  80 . Each of the shaft or rod-like structures may be provided to be electrically conductive to allow for the electric charge originating from the operator to be transferred to the touch screen  2  through the corresponding one of the shaft or rod-like structures to electrically interact with the underlying one of the interactive areas  3 . 
     In other embodiments, each of the feature buttons  81  may include an electrically conductive engaging portion that is configured to continuously engage the touch screen  2  at all times when the smart device  1  is received within the locating feature  6  of the attachment  10 . Each of the engaging portions may be formed from an electrically conductive elastomeric material such as those utilized within the tips of commercially available styluses normally configured for use with capacitive touch screens. Each of the engaging portions may be spaced apart from a corresponding spring-loaded button portion of each of the feature buttons  81  with respect to an axial direction thereof, wherein each of the spring-loaded button portions projects outwardly from the feature housing  80  in the same fashion as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Accordingly, a depression of one of the spring-loaded button portions may result in contact with the corresponding engaging portion to complete an electrically conductive path between the finger or thumb of the operator and the underlying interactive area  3 . 
     Lastly, the above described configuration may further be modified in the absence of the spring-load button portion to instead utilize a single electrically conductive element extending through the feature housing  80  to make the continuous contact with the touch screen  2  during installation of the smart device  1  into the locating feature  6 . Each of the feature buttons  81  may accordingly be utilized as a form of touch feature wherein merely touching an exposed portion of each of the feature buttons  81  carries an electric charge through the axially extending portion of each of the feature buttons  81  to cause the localized disturbance of the capacitance of the touch screen  2  with respect to the underlying one of the interactive areas  3 . 
     The feature buttons  81  are configured to provide the attachment  10  with additional inputs independent of the blow or draw actuation of the actuators  50 ,  60  associated with each of the ports  20 , thereby allowing for the attachment  10  to be controlled by both the mouth and the hands of the operator. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, each of the feature buttons  81  is associated with altering the reaction of the smart device  1  to the actuation of the blow and draw actuators  50 ,  60  based on whatever application is running on the smart device  1  for generating the array of the interaction areas  3  such as are displayed in  FIG. 3 . Specifically, the attachment  10  has a shape and configuration suitable for emulating a harmonica or other mouth actuated musical instrument, hence the actuation of one or more of the feature buttons  81  may allow for the attachment  10  to alter the manner in which the smart device  1  generates sound based on the programming of the application being run during use of the attachment  10 . For example, each of the ports  20  may be associated with two different notes or sounds (one blow note/sound and one draw note/sound), whereas the simultaneous or prior actuation of one of the feature buttons  81  alters the simultaneous or subsequent note/sound played by the smart device  1  upon actuation of one of the actuators  50 ,  60 . Such a configuration may include one of the feature buttons  81  associated with generating a sharp note, one of the feature buttons  82  associated with generating a flat note, and another of the feature buttons  81  associated with toggling the types of sounds generated by the smart device  1  via the corresponding application, such as changing the instrument being emulated by the application running on the smart device  1  from a library of stored instrument files. One skilled in the art should appreciate that any variety of different supplementary features may be activated via the use of the feature buttons  81  in addition to those contemplated herein with respect to the discussed musical application. As one non-limiting example, one or more of the feature buttons  81  may act as a form of shift or alternate key for changing the type of input associated with the actuation of one or more of the actuators  50 ,  60  during use of a language protocol, such as capitalizing a letter associated with a keyboard application of the attachment  10  as mentioned briefly hereinabove. 
     The application running on the smart device  1  may also be configured to utilize the accelerometers/gyroscopes installed within the smart device  1  to further manipulate the inputs to the smart device  1  via the actuation of the actuators  50 ,  60  and the feature buttons  81 . For example, the tilting and/or translation of the smart device  1  may result in the shifting of the octaves being played by the application running on the smart device  1 . As another example, a quivering motion of the smart device  1  may result in a vibrato effect with respect to any notes or sounds being played by the smart device  1  via the corresponding application. As yet another example, the tilting or translation of the smart device  1  during the playing of a note or sound via one of the actuators  50 ,  60  or feature buttons  81  may allow for a bending or other modification of the instantaneously played note or sound. The smart device  1  and the corresponding application being run thereon may accordingly allow for a variety of complex notes and/or sounds to be played via use of the attachment  10  in order to more accurately emulate the features of an instrument such as the aforementioned harmonica, and especially a chromatic harmonica. 
     In use, the operator selects an application to run on the smart device  1  that generates a desired array of the interactive areas  3  on the touch screen  2 . The application may be a musical application configured to generate sounds or notes for emulating an instrument such as the harmonica as described herein. The smart device  1  is positioned relative to the attachment  10  via the locating feature  6  in order to position the array of the interactive areas  3  relative to each of the actuators  50 ,  60  and each of the optionally provided feature buttons  81 . Once the smart device  1  is suitable positioned and secured, the operator holds the port assembly  12  in a manner contacting any corresponding conductive elements  70 ,  72  outwardly exposed on the exterior of the port assembly  12 . The operator then places his or her mouth adjacent the first end  21  of one or more of the ports  20  similar to a traditional harmonica. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , if the operator blows into the air passageway  40  of one of the ports  20 , the flow of the air through the air passageway  40  in a direction from the first end  21  of the port  20  towards the second end  22  thereof causes the stream of air to press against the second segment  54  of the blow actuator  50 . Additionally, any air not flowing around the second segment  54  through the air passageway  40  also tends to pass through the corresponding opening  37  formed through the first sidewall  31  to further cause the stream of the air to press against an inwardly facing surface of the free portion  57  of the first segment  53 . The pressing of the air stream against the aforementioned surfaces causes a flexing of the blow actuator  50  about the pivot axis  58  in a direction towards the touch screen  2  and through the aperture  17  formed in the cap plate  15 . The contact surface  55  formed by the exterior corner of the blow actuator  50  is pivoted into direct contact with the desired one of the interactive areas  3 . The indented portion  16  of the cap plate  15  provides a spacing in the height direction of the port  20  to allow for the flexing of the blow actuator  50  without undesired interference being provided by the cap plate  15 . The electric charge of the operator is conducted through the conductive element  70  and the blow actuator  50  to interact with the touch screen  2  at the interactive area  3  in a manner similar to a normal touch of the touch screen  2  via the finger of the operator. The note or sound associated with the corresponding interactive area  3  is then played by the smart device  1  in accordance with the programming of the application running on the smart device  1 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the drawing of the air through the air passageway  40  in the direction from the second end  22  of the port  20  towards the first end  21  thereof causes the same general interaction with the draw actuator  60  for flexing the draw actuator  60  about the pivot axis  68  thereof towards the touch screen  2 . The corresponding contact surface  65  engages the other of the pair of the interactive areas  3  associated with the illustrated port  20  to once again cause the smart device  1  to play the note or sound associated with the corresponding interactive area  3  in accordance with the programming of the application running on the smart device  1 . 
     As discussed above, the operator may also selectively press one of the feature buttons  81  or tilt/translate the smart device  1  in order to manipulate any notes or sounds to be played by the smart device  1  prior to or during interaction with a desired one of the interactive areas  3  displayed on the touch screen  1  via the selective actuation of one of the actuators  50 ,  60 . The operator can accordingly closely mimic the sound of a harmonica as well as any of a variety of different instruments via use of the attachment  10  and the application running on the smart device  1 . The use of the feature buttons  81  and/or the tilting/translating of the smart device  1  may alternatively be utilized to control other aspects of the application running on the smart device  1 , such as toggling through various options provided by the corresponding application or changing the volume of the sounds generated, as non-limiting examples. 
     The use of the attachment  10  in conjunction with the smart device  1  beneficially allows for the operator to utilize the computing features of the smart device  1  for creating notes and/or sounds that are not achievable with ordinary musical instruments. For example, the smart device  1  may have a library of possible instruments or sounds playable by the smart device  1  in reaction to the selection of one of the interactive areas  3  of the touch screen  2 , wherein a toggling of these possible instruments or sounds can be achieved via a selection by the operator with respect to the instantaneously running software application. Furthermore, the smart device  1  may also include features allowing for the instantaneous modification of the notes or sounds playable by the smart device  1  via the use of the smart device accelerometers or the described feature buttons  81 , whereby such instantaneous modifications are not easily achievable with a traditional musical instrument. Additionally, one particularly useful use of the attachment  10  and the smart device  1  may include one of the communication ports of the smart device  1  being coupled to a pair of headphones to be worn by the operator. The operator may utilize the headphones to play the harmonica or whatever other instrument is to be emulated by the attachment  10  and the smart device  1  without having to be heard by any other individuals adjacent the operator, thereby reducing the disturbance to others as may be common during the practicing of a musical instrument. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , a port  120  of an attachment  110  according to another embodiment of the invention is disclosed. The attachment  110  is substantially similar in general configuration to the attachment  10 , but differs therefrom with respect to a configuration of a pair of actuators  150 ,  160  disposed within each of the ports  20  forming a port assembly of the attachment  110 . Only one of the modified ports  120  is shown in cross-section in  FIG. 7  due to the otherwise similar configuration and method of use of the attachment  110 . The attachment  110  may include any number of the ports  120  in the same side-by-side rectilinear array as disclosed in  FIG. 1  with respect to the attachment  10 , and may also include the feature housing  80  with the corresponding feature buttons  81  in addition to the locating feature  6  having the opening  7  for receiving the smart device  1  therein. The components or elements forming the attachment  110  that are substantially similar in form and purpose to those of the attachment  10  are denoted with the same reference numerals hereinafter and are accordingly devoid of extensive description hereinafter. 
     The port  120  largely differs from the port  20  by the inclusion of the relevant portions of each of the actuators  150 ,  160  directly within the air passageway  40  of the port  120 , thereby eliminating the need for the insulating cap plate  15  received over the outwardly facing surface of the first sidewall  31 . The actuators  150 ,  160  are once again divided into a blow actuator  150  configured to be actuated by a blow action and a draw actuator  160  configured to be actuated by a draw action. Each of the pair of the actuators  150 ,  160  is once again formed from an electrically conductive and resiliently flexible material in order to facilitate the interactions with each of the interactive areas  3  of the corresponding touch screen  2  and the flexing of the actuators  150 ,  160  during a blow or draw action through the air passageway  40 . The actuators  150 ,  160  also include widths for occupying a majority of the width of the air passageway  40  to prevent undesired air passage around the actuators  150 ,  160  in a manner limiting the effectiveness of the actuators  150 ,  160 . The actuators  150 ,  160  are once again alternatively referred to as flex reeds due to the flexibility of the actuators  150 ,  160  and the reed-like configurations thereof. 
     The blow actuator  150  includes a first end portion  151  forming an affixed portion  156  of the blow actuator  150  that is secured in position to the port  120  and configured to remain stationary during the actuation of the blow actuator  150 . The first end portion  151  is electrically conductively connected to the conductive element  70  of the attachment  110  for conducting the electric charge of the operator to the blow actuator  150 . In the illustrated embodiment, the first end portion  151  is wrapped around the first sidewall  31  at the first end  21  of the port  120  with a strip of the conductive portion  70  sandwiched between the first end portion  151  and the first sidewall  31 , but any configuration of the first end portion  151  forming the affixed portion  156  and the conductive element  70  may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention. The wrapping of the first end portion  151  around the first sidewall  31  at the first end  21  of the port  120  may also facilitate the mouth of the operator directly electrically coupling the operator to the blow actuator  150 , as desired. In other embodiments, the first end portion  151  may be arranged entirely within the air passageway  40  with the affixed portion  156  formed by coupling the first end portion  151  to the first sidewall  31  via a suitable fastener or adhesive, as non-limiting examples. 
     The blow actuator  150  includes a free portion  157  that is able to flex relative to a pivot axis  158  of the blow actuator  150  disposed at or adjacent the first end  21  of the port  120 . The free portion  157  is bent twice to include a first segment  152 , a second segment  153 , and a third segment  154 . The first segment  152  extends primarily in the longitudinal direction of the air passageway  40  while inclined at a slight acute angle relative to the adjacent inwardly facing surface of the first sidewall  31 . The angle of inclination of the first segment  152  relative to the inwardly facing surface of the first sidewall  31  may be between 1 and 10 degrees, as desired. The second segment  153  extends transversely from an end of the first segment  152  towards the second sidewall  32 . The second segment  153  may be arranged substantially perpendicular to the first segment  152 . The inclination of the first segment  152  causes the transition of the blow actuator  150  from the first segment  152  to the second segment  153  to be spaced from the first sidewall  31  with respect to the height direction of the port  120 . The third segment  154  extends from an end of the second segment  153  in a direction substantially opposite the direction of extension of the second segment  153  away from the first segment  152 . The third segment  154  includes a greater length than the second segment  153  to cause the third segment  154  to extend past the second segment  153  with respect to the height direction of the port  120 . A distal end of the third segment  154  forms a contact surface  155  of the blow actuator  150  configured for directly contacting the corresponding interactive area  3  of the touch screen  2  during actuation of the blow actuator  150 . The contact surface  155  may be disposed within the opening  37  formed in the first sidewall  31  prior to actuation of the blow actuator  150 . 
     The draw actuator  160  includes the same configuration as the blow actuator  150  while mirrored symmetrically about a plane arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the port  120 , wherein the plane of symmetry extends between the two interactive areas  3  of the touch screen  2  corresponding to each of the actuators  150 ,  160 . The draw actuator  160  accordingly includes a first end portion  161  provided as an affixed portion  166  of the draw actuator  160  and a free portion  167  configured to flex about a pivot axis  168  of the blow actuator  160 . The free portion  167  is bent twice to include a corresponding first segment  162 , second segment  163 , and third segment  164 , wherein a distal end of the third segment  164  forms a contact surface  165  of the draw actuator  160  extending past the second segment  163 . 
     The actuators  150 ,  160  operate in substantially identical fashion to the actuators  50 ,  60 . For example, a blow action through the air passageway  40  causes the flow of the air to press against each of the first segment  152  and the second segment  153  for causing the blow actuator  150  to flex towards the first sidewall  31 . The inclination and longitudinal exposure of the first segment  152  within the air passageway  40  aids in pivoting the blow actuator  150  as an increased surface area of the blow actuator  150  is exposed to the stream of the air striking the blow actuator  150 . The pivoting of the blow actuator  150  causes the contact surface  155  formed at the end of the third segment  154  to extend through the opening  37  formed through the first sidewall  31  to make contact with the underlying interactive area  3  of the touch screen  2 . The draw actuator  160  operates in identical fashion with respect to a flow of the air through the air passageway  40  in an opposing direction to that of the blow action, hence further description is omitted. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 8-11 , a port  220  of an attachment  210  according to another embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. The illustrated port  220  may be a portion of a port assembly including a rectilinear array of a plurality of the ports  220  arranged side-by-side in similar fashion to the configuration of the attachment  10  of  FIG. 1 , wherein any number of the ports  220  may be utilized. The attachment  210  may also include a corresponding feature housing  80  with feature buttons  81  formed to either or both sides of the port assembly, as desired. As shown in  FIGS. 9-11 , the attachment  210  may further include a locating feature  6  for positioning the smart device  1  relative to the attachment  210  in similar fashion to the attachment  10 . 
     An underside of the port  220  showing an outwardly facing surface of the first sidewall  31  is shown in  FIG. 8 . The first sidewall  31  includes a first engaging component  291  and a second engaging component  292  extending therethrough, wherein each of the engaging components  291 ,  292  extends through a corresponding opening  295  formed through the first sidewall  31  from the inwardly facing surface thereof to the opposing outwardly facing surface thereof. The first engaging component  291  and the second engaging component  292  are spaced apart from each other with respect to the longitudinal direction of the port  220  to position each of the engaging components  291 ,  292  in axial alignment with one of the pair of the interactive areas  3  of the touch screen  2  forming one of the rows of the interactive areas  3  when the smart device  1  is positioned relative to the attachment  210  as shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . A division between the pair of the interactive areas  3  associated with the illustrated port  220  accordingly falls directly between the spaced apart engaging components  291 ,  292 . 
     Each of the engaging components  291 ,  292  is configured to normally engage the axially aligned one of the interactive areas  3  when the smart device  1  is positioned relative to the attachment  210  with the touch screen  2  facing towards the engaging components  291 ,  292 . The engaging components  291 ,  292  are formed from an electrically conductive material configured to conduct an electric charge of the operator through the engaging components  291 ,  292  as explained in greater detail hereinafter. The engaging components  291 ,  292  may each substantially resemble the tip of a touch screen compatible stylus, as desired, in similar fashion to select embodiments of the feature buttons  81  described hereinabove. The engaging components  291 ,  292  may preferably be formed from a suitable electrically conductive elastomer to allow for the engaging components  291 ,  292  to be slightly resiliently depressed when the smart device  1  is received within the locating feature  6 , thereby establishing continuous contact with each of the engaging components  291 ,  292  while also aiding in securing the smart device  1  within the locating feature  6  via the spring action of the resiliency of the elastic material forming the engaging components  291 ,  292 . 
     The engaging components  291 ,  292  are each shown as being substantially cylindrical in shape, but any cross-sectional shape of the engaging components  291 ,  292  may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention. Each of the engaging components  291 ,  292  extends through the first sidewall  31  to include a first portion thereof projecting beyond the outwardly facing surface of the first sidewall  31  and a second portion thereof projecting beyond the inwardly facing surface of the first sidewall  31  and into the air passageway  40 . The second portion of each of the engaging components  291 ,  292  is configured to selectively engage an actuator  250  depending from the second sidewall  32  between each of the engaging components  291 ,  292  as explained in greater detail hereinafter. 
     As is apparent from review of  FIGS. 9-11 , the air passageway  40  is subdivided into a first segment  40   a  disposed towards the first end  21  of the port  220  and a second segment  40   b  disposed towards the second end  22  of the port  220 , wherein the first segment  40   a  includes the first engaging component  291  disposed therein and the second segment  40   b  includes the second engaging component  292  disposed therein. The first segment  40   a  and the second segment  40   b  may each include a substantially similar width, but the second segment  40   b  includes a substantially greater height than the first segment  40   a  to result in the second segment  40   b  having a larger cross-sectional flow area therethrough. The second sidewall  32 , the third sidewall  33 , and the fourth sidewall  34  may include alternative shapes to those illustrated with respect to the attachments  10 ,  110  in order to accommodate the differing heights between the different segments  40   a ,  40   b  of the air passageway  40 . For example, the second sidewall  32  is illustrated as including a first segment  32   a  towards the first end  21  of the port  220  and a second segment  32   b  towards the second end  22  thereof, wherein the first segment  32   a  includes a substantially L-shaped configuration to accommodate the increase in height of the air passageway  40  at the transition from the first segment  40   a  to the second segment  40   b  thereof 
     The actuator  250  is once again formed from an electrically conductive and resiliently flexible strip of material. The material may be any suitable material having the necessary characteristics, including a metallic material such as brass or carbon steel, as non-limiting examples. In contrast to the previously disclosed actuators  50 ,  60 ,  150 ,  160 , the actuator  250  is formed from a substantially rectangular strip of the material devoid of any bends or turns. The actuator  250  may include a width that extends across a majority of the width of the air passageway  40  to prevent an excessive flow of the air around the actuator  250  during use of the attachment  210 . The actuator  250  may alternatively be referred to as a flex reed due to the flexibility and the general configuration of the strip of material, as desired. 
     The actuator  250  extends longitudinally from a first end portion  251  to an opposing second end portion  252  with the actuator  250  arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the port  220 . The first end portion  251  is affixed to at least one of the segments  32   a ,  32   b  of the second sidewall  32  and forms an affixed portion  256  of the actuator  250 . The first end portion  251  may be affixed to the second sidewall  32  using any affixing method including the use of a fastener or an adhesive, or the affixed portion  256  may be sandwiched between the opposing segments  32   a ,  32   b  of the second sidewall  32 , as desired. The remainder of the actuator  250  including the second end portion  252  thereof is freely disposed, wherein the second end portion  252  extends to a position immediately between the inwardly projecting portions of the spaced apart engaging components  291 ,  292 . The freely disposed portion of the actuator  250  is configured to pivot or flex about a pivot axis  258  disposed at the transition from the affixed portion  256  to the remainder of the actuator  250 . The second end portion  252  forms a contact surface  255  of the actuator  250  configured to be placed in selective contact with either of the adjacent disposed engaging components  291 ,  292  depending on whether the operator utilizes a blow action or a draw action with respect to the air passageway  40 . 
     The difference in height between the first segment  40   a  and the second segment  40   b  of the air passageway  40  may be provided to aid in facilitating the flexing of the actuator  250  towards the first engaging component  291  during a draw action performed by the operator. Specifically, the enlarged surface area of the actuator  250  exposed towards the second end  22  of the port  220  allows for the ambient air entering the second segment  40   b  of the air passageway  40  to provide a greater air pressure to the actuator  250  when a suction pressure is being generated within the first segment  40   a  of the air passageway  40 . However, the port  220  may operate in the manner described hereinafter even in the event of the air passageway  40  having a consistent cross-sectional flow area along an entirety of a length thereof. 
     The conductive element  70  associated with the port  220  extends along the exposed surface of the first segment  32   a  of the second sidewall  32  to make electrically conductive contact with the affixed portion  256  of the actuator  250 . The conductive element  70  once again provides an electrically conductive pathway for conducting the electric charge of the operator to the actuator  250  during use of the attachment  210 . 
     In use, a blow action causing air to flow through the air passageway  40  from the first end  21  to the second end  22  of the port  220  as shown in  FIG. 10  causes the flow of air to press against a side of the actuator  250  facing towards the first end  21  for flexing the actuator  250  towards the second engaging component  292 . The resulting contact between the contact surface  255  of the actuator  250  and the second engaging component  292  completes an electrical connection between the operator and the second engaging component  292  via the conductive element  70  to cause the second engaging component  292  to electrically interactive with the underlying interactive area  3  of the touch screen  2 . A draw action causing air to flow through the air passageway  40  from the second end  22  to the first end  21  of the port  220  as shown in  FIG. 11  applies a pressure to a side of the actuator  250  facing towards the second end  22  of the port  220  to cause the actuator  250  to flex towards and contact the first engaging component  291 . The resulting contact between the contact surface  255  of the actuator  250  and the first engaging component  291  completes an electrical connection between the operator and the first engaging component  291  via the conductive element  70  to cause the first engaging component  291  to electrically interactive with the underlying interactive area  3  of the touch screen  2 . The attachment  210  having the port  220  beneficially allows for both the blow and the draw actions of the operator to electrically interact with each of the pair of the interactive areas  3  via the use of only a single actuator  250  having a simplified configuration. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 12-14 , a port  320  of an attachment  310  according to yet another embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. The port  320  includes many elements common to the port  20  and the port  220  of the previously disclosed attachments  10 ,  210 , hence description is of those common components is substantially limited hereinafter. The port  320  may be one of an array of side-by-side arranged ports  320  forming a port assembly similar to that illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The attachment  310  may accordingly have a similar configuration as the attachment  10 , including a corresponding locating feature  6  and feature buttons  81  disposed within one or more feature housings  80 , as desired. 
     The first sidewall  31  includes a first engaging component  391  and a second engaging component  392  extending therethrough in similar fashion to the attachment  210 , wherein the engaging components  391 ,  392  straddle the division between adjacent ones of the interactive areas  3 . The engaging components  391 ,  392  are similarly formed from an electrically conductive material that may also be resiliently compressible, such as an electrically conductive elastomer as used in stylus tips. The first sidewall  31  may include an indentation  335  formed therein intermediate the engaging components  391 ,  392  for providing access to side surfaces of the engaging components  391 ,  392 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 12-14 . However, the first sidewall  31  may alternatively be provided devoid of the indentation  335 , whereas the engaging components  391 ,  392  may be extended axially into the air passageway  40  to expose the side surfaces of the engaging components  391 ,  392 . 
     The actuator  350  differs from each of the previously disclosed actuators  50 ,  60 ,  150 ,  160 ,  250  by being provided as a stretchable and electrically conductive membrane or diaphragm extending across an entirety of the cross-sectional flow area of the air passageway  40  such that the actuator  350  extends to each of the four sidewalls  31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  34 . The stretchable and electrically conductive material may be a conductive fabric or a conductive polymer, as non-limiting examples. Any electrically conductive material able to stretch/expand as described hereinafter may be utilized for forming the actuator  350  without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     The actuator  350  may include flaps or the like extending through openings formed in at least two of the sidewalls  31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  34  for affixing the actuator  350  across the air passageway  40  as described above. For example, the cross-sectional view shown in  FIGS. 12-14  illustrates one such flap  356  received within an indented portion of an outwardly facing surface of the second sidewall  32 , wherein the flap  356  may be adhered to the second sidewall  32 . The illustrated embodiment may include two more of the flaps similarly extending through and adhered to the third and fourth sidewalls  33 ,  34 , as desired. The actuator  350  may alternatively be sandwiched about a perimeter thereof between two opposing segments forming the port  320 , as desired. As one particularly beneficial example, one strip of the electrically conductive and stretchable material may extend across all of the ports  320  forming the port assembly of the attachment  310 , wherein the sandwiching together of the divided segments of each of the ports  320  forming the port assembly segregates the single strip into a plurality of different actuators  350  with each of the segregated portions corresponding to the interior of one of the resulting air passageways  40 . 
     The actuator  350  is once again placed in electrically conductive contact with a conductive element  70  that is also exposed for contact with the operator of the attachment  310 . The conductive element  70  may be extended to contact one of the flaps  356  affixed to the port  320  as shown in  FIGS. 12-14 , but any configuration of the conductive element  70  providing the necessary conductive path to the actuator  350  may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     The port  320  is shown as including an open second end  22 , but the port  320  may be provided with a closed second end  22  due to the manner in which the actuator  350  stretches in response to an increasing or decreasing air pressure between the actuator  350  and the first end  21  of the port  320 , so long as the portion of the air passageway  40  formed between the actuator  350  and the closed second end  22  includes a desired pressure suitable for opposing the pressure generated to the other side of the actuator  350 . 
     In use, a blow action by the operator as shown in  FIG. 13  increases the pressure within the air passageway  40  between the first end  21  of the port  320  and the actuator  350  to cause the actuator  350  to resiliently expand towards and contact the second engaging component  392 , thereby forming the electrical interaction with the corresponding interactive area  3 . A draw action by the operator as shown in  FIG. 14  decreases the pressure within the air passageway  40  between the first end  21  of the port  320  and the actuator  350  to form a partial vacuum therein, thereby allowing for the air disposed on the opposite side of the actuator  350  to cause the actuator  350  to expand towards and contact the first engaging component  391  due to the pressure difference generated on the opposing sides of the actuator  350 . 
     The mouth actuated attachments  10 ,  110 ,  210 ,  310  for touch screens shown and described herein provides numerous benefits over a traditional rendition of the same attachment not required to be used in combination with a smart device. First, the use of any of the attachments  10 ,  110 ,  210 ,  310  allows for the user to utilize the attachment soundlessly so as not to disturb others within the vicinity of the operator due to the capability to utilize headphones or the like paired with the corresponding smart device. Secondly, use of any of the disclosed attachments  10 ,  110 ,  210 ,  310  in combination with a smart device also allows for each of the attachments  10 ,  110 ,  210 ,  310  to be operated with the use of a mobile application. This would provide for an easier educational delivery and guidance in how to operate each of the attachments  10 ,  110 ,  210 ,  310  for novice and advanced users alike. This technological capability also provides an option for handicap accessibility, wherein a handicapped person may be able to operate the any of the attachments  10 ,  110 ,  210 ,  310  via mouth actuated actions. Lastly, dependent upon the functionality of the mobile application and the capability of the smart device itself, it is foreseeable that through the use of each of the attachments  10 ,  110 ,  210 ,  310 , most instruments may be emulated through the use of the attachments  10 ,  110 ,  210 ,  310  without the requirement of any hardware modifications. Such versatility may be accomplished through a Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) used in conjunction with the mobile application running on the corresponding smart device. 
     From the foregoing description, one ordinarily skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention and, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications to the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions.