Patent Publication Number: US-2009219788-A1

Title: Combination watch and cell phone foldable onto each other for use around a wrist of a user

Description:
1. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
     A. Field of the Invention 
     The embodiments of the present invention relate to a watch for use around a wrist of a user, and more particularly, the embodiments of the present invention relate to a combination watch and cell phone foldable onto each other for use around a wrist of a user. 
     B. Description of the Prior Art 
     Numerous innovations for wrist-related devices have been provided in the prior art. Even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, however, they differ from the embodiments of the present invention in that they do not teach a combination watch and cell phone foldable onto each other for use around a wrist of a user. 
     (1) U.S. Pat. No. 3,032,651 to Gisiger-Stähli et al. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,032,651 issued to Gisiger-Stähli et al. on May 1, 1962 in class 250 and subclass 14 teaches a radio set including a wrist watch casing, a pair of hollow supporting clips symmetrically and pivotably attached to the casing, a plurality of radio set components located in the casing and in the hollow clips, and conductive apparatus electrically connecting the components in the casing and the components in the hollow clips. The components include a loud speaker, a current source, and an antenna located in the hollow clips. 
     (2) U.S. Pat. No. 5,214,623 to Seager. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,214,623 issued to Seager on May 25, 1993 in class 368 and subclass 10 teaches a combined wristwatch and radiotelephone, having a plurality of substantially rigid link members disposed side by side in a series. Adjacent link members in the series are pivotally connected to one another about pivotal axes, all of which are substantially parallel to one another and to the longitudinal axis of the user&#39;s wrist when the apparatus is worn as a wristwatch. A main body member, which may contain or include such components as a display and a telephone dialing keypad, is disposed at an intermediate location in the series. An end member is disposed at each end of the series. One end member contains a radiotelephone microphone, and the other end member contains a radiotelephone speaker. A mechanism is associated with the series of link members for causing the link members to pivot relative to one another so that the apparatus can be placed in either a curved wristwatch configuration or a more elongated radiotelephone configuration. 
     (3) U.S. Pat. No. 5,381,387 to Blonder et al. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,381,387 issued to Blonder et al. on Jan. 10, 1995 in class 368 and subclass 10 teaches a radiotelephone device, including a case including a transceiver. A multilayer strap is attached to the case for fastening the device to a user&#39;s wrist. The multilayer strap has a top layer and a bottom layer. A microphone is electrically connected to the transceiver. A speaker is located at an end of the top layer of the strap and electrically connected to the transceiver. The speaker is located in a housing having a first surface substantially parallel to the top layer of the strap, and at least one other surface integrally connected to the first surface, which is positioned at an angle with respect to the first surface. At least one sound port is located within the at least one other surface of the housing. 
     (4) U.S. Pat. No. 6,035,035 to Firooz. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,035,035 issued to Firooz on Mar. 7, 2000 in class 379 and subclass 433 teaches a wrist-mounted telephone device for attaching to the wrist of a wearer and including a cellular telephone mechanism and a battery power source that are separately mounted in a common housing. 
     (5) U.S. Pat. No. 6,314,184 to Fernandez-Martinez. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,314,184 issued to Fernandez-Martinez on Nov. 6, 2001 in class 379 and subclass 433.1 teaches a mobile telephone apparatus/wireless telephone terminal mounted in a fixed or removable way to a bracelet support having a portion wherein are housed electric supply batteries for supplying power to the device. The telephone apparatus has a front panel with keyboard, presentation display, and microphone. The apparatus has preferably its larger dimension oriented obliquely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the bracelet. A ring-shape part intended to be coupled to one finger of the user hand is removable with respect to the apparatus and supports an earphone for the apparatus to which it is connected by an extensible electric cable or by radio. 
     (6) U.S. Pat. No. D460,430 to Wada et al. 
     U.S. Pat. No. D460,430 issued to Wada et al. on Jul. 16, 2002 in class D14 and subclass 138 teaches the ornamental design for a mobile phone. 
     (7) U.S. Pat. No. 6,549,791 to Jeon et al. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,549,791 issued to Jeon et al. on Apr. 15, 2003 in class 455 and subclass 572 teaches a watch type portable radiotelephone. The watch type portable radiotelephone includes a body element having upper and lower case frames, a battery pack holder including a battery pack for supplying power to the body element, a locking device for locking and unlocking the battery pack to and from the battery pack holder, respectively, a hinge connector for rotatably connecting the body element and the battery pack holder to each other, and a wrist band connected to the body element and the battery pack holder for enabling the portable radiotelephone to be worn around the wrist. 
     It is apparent that numerous innovations for wrist-related devices have been provided in the prior art that are adapted to be used. Furthermore, even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, however, they would not be suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described, namely, a combination watch and cell phone foldable onto each other for use around a wrist of a user. 
     2. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
     Thus, it is an object of the embodiments of the present invention to provide a combination watch and cell phone foldable onto each other for use around a wrist of a user, which avoids the disadvantages of the prior art. 
     Briefly stated, another object of the embodiments of the present invention is to provide a combination watch and cell phone foldable onto each other for use around a wrist of a user. The combination includes a watch, a cell phone, a band, and apparatus selectively maintaining the watch and the cell phone folded against each other and the band. The band is engages around the wrist of the user. The watch is operatively connected to the band so as to form a wristwatch. The cell phone is operatively connected to the band. 
     The novel features considered characteristic of the embodiments of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims. The embodiments of the present invention themselves, however, both as to their construction and to their method of operation together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of the specific embodiments when read and understood in connection with the accompanying drawing. 
    
    
     
       3. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       The figures of the drawing are briefly described as follows: 
         FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic perspective view of the combination watch and cell phone foldable onto each other of the embodiments of the present invention for use around a wrist of a user and in the communicator mode; 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged diagrammatic top plan view of the area generally enclosed by the dotted curve identified by ARROW  2  in  FIG. 1  of the combination watch and cell phone foldable onto each other of the embodiments of the present invention in the communicator mode; 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged diagrammatic perspective view of the area generally enclosed by the dotted curve identified by ARROW  3  in  FIG. 1  of the combination watch and cell phone foldable onto each other of the embodiments of the present invention in the time mode; 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged diagrammatic top plan view of the area generally enclosed by the dotted curve identified by ARROW  4  in  FIG. 1  of the combination watch and cell phone foldable onto each other of the embodiments of the present invention in the communicator mode; 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged diagrammatic top plan view of the area generally enclosed by the dotted curve identified by ARROW  5  in  FIG. 1  of the combination watch and cell phone foldable onto each other of the embodiments of the present invention in the communicator mode; 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged diagrammatic cross sectional view taken along LINE  6 - 6  in  FIG. 5 ; and 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged diagrammatic cross sectional view taken along LINE  7 - 7  in  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
    
     4. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS UTILIZED IN THE DRAWING  
     A. General. 
     
         
           10  combination watch and cell phone foldable onto each other of embodiments of present invention for use around wrist  12  of user  14   
           12  wrist of user  14   
           14  user
 
B. Overall Configuration of Combination Watch and Cell Phone Foldable onto each other  10 .
 
           16  watch 
           18  cell phone 
           20  band for engaging around wrist  12  of user  14   
           22  apparatus for selectively maintaining watch  16  and cell phone  18  folded against each other and band  20   
           24  wristwatch 
           26  static portion of watch  16  and cell phone  18   
           28  pair of foldable portions of watch  16  and cell phone  18   
           30  proximal portion of pair of foldable portions  28  of watch  16  and cell phone  18   
           32  distal portion of pair of foldable portions  28  of watch  16  and cell phone  18   
           34  keypad of static portion  26  of watch  16  and cell phone  18  for dialing 
           36  microphone of static portion  26  of watch  16  and cell phone  18  for speaking 
           38  plurality of function keys of proximal portion  30  of pair of foldable portions  28  of watch  16  and cell phone  18   
           40  screen of distal portion  32  of pair of foldable portions  28  of watch  16  and cell phone  18   
           42  watch face/text massager of screen  40  of distal portion  32  of pair of foldable portions  28  of watch  16  and cell phone  18   
           44  menu of screen  40  of distal portion  32  of pair of foldable portions  28  of watch  16  and cell phone  18   
           46  speaker of distal portion  32  of pair of foldable portions  28  of watch  16  and cell phone  18  for listening 
           47  compartment in band  20  for housing batteries  49  for powering combination watch and cell phone  10   
           49  batteries for powering combination watch and cell phone  10   
       
    
     C. Specific Configuration of Apparatus  22 . 
     
         
           48  pair of detents of apparatus  22   
           50  pair of balls of apparatus  22   
           52  springs of apparatus  22   
       
    
     5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     A. General. 
     Referring now to the figures, in which like numerals indicate like parts, and particularly to  FIG. 1 , which is a diagrammatic perspective view of the combination watch and cell phone foldable onto each other of the embodiments of the present invention for use around a wrist of a user and in the communicator mode, the combination watch and cell phone foldable onto each other of the embodiments of the present invention is shown generally at  10  for use around a wrist  12  of a user  14 . 
     B. The Overall Configuration of the Combination Watch and Cell Phone Foldable onto each other  10 . 
     The overall configuration of the combination watch and cell phone foldable onto each other  10  can best be seen in  FIGS. 2-5 , which are, respectively, an enlarged diagrammatic top plan view of the area generally enclosed by the dotted curve identified by ARROW  2  in  FIG. 1  of the combination watch and cell phone foldable onto each other of the embodiments of the present invention in the communicator mode, an enlarged diagrammatic perspective view of the area generally enclosed by the dotted curve identified by ARROW  3  in  FIG. 1  of the combination watch and cell phone foldable onto each other of the embodiments of the present invention in the time mode, an enlarged diagrammatic top plan view of the area generally enclosed by the dotted curve identified by ARROW  4  in  FIG. 1  of the combination watch and cell phone foldable onto each other of the embodiments of the present invention in the communicator mode, and an enlarged diagrammatic top plan view of the area generally enclosed by the dotted curve identified by ARROW  5  in  FIG. 1  of the combination watch and cell phone foldable onto each other of the embodiments of the present invention in the communicator mode, and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto. 
     The combination watch and cell phone  10  comprises a watch  16 , a cell phone  18 , a band  20 , and apparatus  22  for selectively maintaining the watch  16  and the cell phone  18  folded against each other and the band  20 . The band  20  is for engaging around the wrist  12  of the user  14 . The watch  16  is operatively connected to the band  20  so as to form a wristwatch  24 . The cell phone  18  is operatively connected to the band  20 . 
     The watch  16  and the cell phone  18  comprise a static portion  26 . The static portion  26  of the watch  16  and the cell phone  18  forms a part of the band  20 . 
     The watch  16  and the cell phone  18  further comprise a pair of foldable portions  28 . The pair of foldable portions  28  of the watch  16  and the cell phone  18  are foldably attached to each other and to the static portion  26  of the watch  16  and the cell phone  18  so as to form a compact structure. 
     The pair of foldable portions  28  of the watch  16  and the cell phone  18  include a proximal portion  30  and a distal portion  32 . 
     The static portion  26  of the watch  16  and the cell phone  18  comprises a keypad  34 . The keypad  34  of the static portion  26  of the watch  16  and the cell phone  18  is for dialing and is programmable for use on either wrist  12  of the user  14 . 
     The keypad  34  of the static portion  26  of the watch  16  and the cell phone  18  can be either mechanical keys or a touch screen. 
     The static portion  26  of the watch  16  and the cell phone  18  further comprises a microphone  36  for speaking. The microphone  36  of the static portion  26  of the watch  16  and the cell phone  18  is disposed outboard of the keypad  34  of the static portion  26  of the watch  16  and the cell phone  18 . 
     The proximal portion  30  of the pair of foldable portions  28  of the watch  16  and the cell phone  18  is foldably attached to, and selectively overlies, the static portion  26  of the watch  16  and the cell phone  18 . 
     The proximal portion  30  of the pair of foldable portions  28  of the watch  16  and the cell phone  18  comprises a plurality of function keys  38 . The plurality of function keys  38  of the proximal portion  30  of the pair of foldable portions  28  of the watch  16  and the cell phone  18  allow navigation through functions of the watch  16  and the cell phone  18 . 
     The distal portion  32  of the pair of foldable portions  28  of the watch  16  and the cell phone  18  is foldably attached to, and selectively overlies, the proximal portion  30  of the pair of foldable portions  28  of the watch  16  and the cell phone  18 . 
     The distal portion  32  of the pair of foldable portions  28  of the watch  16  and the cell phone  18  comprises a screen  40 . The screen  40  of the distal portion  32  of the pair of foldable portions  28  of the watch  16  and the cell phone  18  functions both as a watch face/text massager  42  and a menu  44 . The menu  44  of the screen  40  of the distal portion  32  of the pair of foldable portions  28  of the watch  16  and the cell phone  18  is navigated through by use of the plurality of function keys  38  of the proximal portion  30  of the pair of foldable portions  28  of the watch  16  and the cell phone  18 . 
     The distal portion  32  of the pair of foldable portions  28  of the watch  16  and the cell phone  18  further comprises a speaker  46  for listening. The speaker  46  of the distal portion  32  of the pair of foldable portions  28  of the watch  16  and the cell phone  18  is disposed outboard of the screen  40  of the distal portion  32  of the pair of foldable portions  28  of the watch  16  and the cell phone  18 . 
     The band  20  comprises a compartment  47 . The compartment  47  in the band  20  is for housing batteries  49  for powering the combination watch and cell phone  10 . 
     C. The Specific Configuration of the Apparatus  22 . 
     The specific configuration of the apparatus  22  can best be seen in  FIGS. 5-7 , which are, respectively, an enlarged diagrammatic top plan view of the area generally enclosed by the dotted curve identified by ARROW  5  in  FIG. 1  of the combination watch and cell phone of the embodiments of the present invention in the communicator mode, an enlarged diagrammatic cross sectional view taken along LINE  6 - 6  in  FIG. 5 , and an enlarged diagrammatic cross sectional view taken along LINE  7 - 7  in  FIG. 5 , and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto. 
     The apparatus  22  comprises a pair of detents  48 . The pair of detents  48  of the apparatus  22  are disposed opposingly in the static portion  26  of the watch  16  and the cell phone  18 , outboard of the keypad  34  of the static portion  26  of the watch  16  and the cell phone  18 . 
     The apparatus  22  further comprises a pair of balls  50 . The pair of balls  50  of the apparatus  22  are disposed opposingly in, and biased outwardly by springs  52  from, the distal portion  32  of the pair of foldable portions  28  of the watch  16  and the cell phone  18 , outboard of the screen  40  of the distal portion  32  of the pair of foldable portions  28  of the watch  16  and the cell phone  18 , and selectively engage in the pair of detents  48  of the apparatus  22 . 
     D. Conclusions. 
     It will be understood that each of the elements described above or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above. 
     While the embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described as embodied in a combination watch and cell phone foldable onto each other for use around a wrist of a user, however, they are not limited to the details shown, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions, and changes in the forms and details of the embodiments of the present invention illustrated and their operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the embodiments of the present invention. 
     Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the embodiments of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt them for various applications without omitting features that from the standpoint of prior art fairly constitute characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of the embodiments of the present invention.