Abstract:
Disclosed herein is a system and method for conveniently carrying an electronic device with an earpiece comprising stretching a flexible holding enclosure over the earpiece and then releasing it so that maintains the position of the electronic device and an associated attachment mechanism.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not Applicable 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       FIELD 
       [0004]    The present application relates to electronic and in particular cell phone accessories attachment mechanisms. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0005]    There are numerous types of wireless headsets that are presently on the market. While these are extremely convenient in that they can easily be placed in one&#39;s ear, there are two major problems. The first is that the wireless headsets are constantly being lost. The second is that if you haven&#39;t lost it, you have often stuck it in a purse or pocket where it isn&#39;t easily accessible, particularly when the user is in a vehicle. 
         [0006]    Attempts have been made to overcome these problems, such as pouch type holders that you attach to your dashboard; however, this results in the wireless headset being constantly left in the car. Or, alternatively, no means of storage if you walk away from the car with the wireless headset still in your ear. 
         [0007]    Other attempts, such as that specified in U.S. Pat. No. 8,186,022 B2, Michael G. Roser, have attempted to overcome these problems by tightening a loop in space between the earpiece and the base of the headset. In the case of Roser, the loop was connected to an elongated member (a string) that was then attached to a clip that was used to presumably clip the object to the user&#39;s clothing. Nectar Accessories (Las Vegas), which appears to no longer be in business, at one time was marketing conceptually similar products to Roser in that they involved tightening a loop in space between the earpiece and the base of the headset but, rather than loop being attached to a string, they had the tightened loop attached to a necklace in one case and in the other, to a retractable cord. While these products overcame many of the problems, since they required the loop to be tightened and locked in place around the wireless device, that meant that either a string, necklace, or retractable cord was always attached and hanging from your ear during use. 
         [0008]    A different approach was taken by jewelry designer Andi Monn. Monn created special metal covers for the base of iPhone headsets. The headset base slides into a form-fitting metal sleeve, which has a specially designed magnet that holds the sleeve in place without affecting the electronics of the headset. Each one comes with a leather cord that you can wear around your neck, as well as a key ring. While this design configuration doesn&#39;t require anything to be dangling from your ear during use, this is a device specific concept that needs to be adapted for every single product on the market and requires numerous components to implement. 
         [0009]    What is still missing is a device independent wireless headset (or similar device) holder that is portable, that is designed to allow the wireless headset to be utilized without being attached to the holder, and is simple and easy to use. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0010]    In order to overcome the deficiencies described in the prior art, methods and systems are described herein. 
         [0011]    A system for conveniently carrying an electronic device with an earpiece comprising an attachment mechanism; a holding enclosure, which is capable of being stretched over the earpiece and will then contract and hold the electronic device in position. 
         [0012]    Wherein the attachment mechanism either has the ability to open and close, for example a split key ring, or the attachment mechanism is integrated as a single piece into the holding enclosure, for example in a figure-8 configuration. 
         [0013]    Wherein when the attachment mechanism and holding enclosure are integrated into a single piece, the system may include a secondary attachment mechanism and/or the orientation of the faces of the attachment mechanism and holding enclosure may be either the same, or angled and in particular perpendicular to one another. 
         [0014]    Where in the system may further include a pull-tab as an aid in stretching the holding mechanism over the earpiece. 
         [0015]    A method for conveniently carrying an electronic device with an earpiece comprising stretching a holding enclosure over the top of the earpiece and then releasing it, wherein said holding enclosure contracts such that said holding enclosure maintains the electronic device in position. 
         [0016]    Wherein the holding enclosure utilized in the method further includes an attachment mechanism. 
         [0017]    Wherein the attachment mechanism utilized in the method either has the ability to open and close, for example a split key ring, or the attachment mechanism is integrated as a single piece into the holding enclosure, for example in a figure-8 configuration. 
         [0018]    Wherein the case where the attachment mechanism and holding enclosure are integrated into a single piece the method may include a secondary attachment mechanism and/or the orientation of the faces attachment mechanism and holding enclosure may be either the same, or angled and in particular perpendicular to one another. 
         [0019]    Wherein said stretching of said holding enclosure is accomplished by grasping and then pulling on a pull-tab 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of the first embodiment; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  shows a wireless headset about to be inserted into the first embodiment; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  shows a wireless headset inserted into the first embodiment; 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  perspective view of a second embodiment; 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  shows the second embodiment with an added pull-tab. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]      FIG. 1  shows embodiment  1 , which comprises an attachment mechanism  100  and a holding enclosure  110 . 
         [0026]    Attachment mechanism  100  is shown as a standard split key ring; however, it could be any attachment mechanism such as jewelry clasp or even a necklace, without departing from the broad inventive concepts. 
         [0027]    Additionally, attachment mechanism  100  could either be a device that opens and closes and allows objects to be inserted onto it, such as the example of the split key ring shown, or it could be a continuous object such as fixed length chain that goes around someone&#39;s neck. 
         [0028]    Holding enclosure  110  is shown as being toroid (donut) shaped; however, other shapes such as triangular, rectangular, oblong and custom are also anticipated. Additionally, it is anticipated that various sizes such as small, medium, and large may be needed. Holding enclosure  110  is made of elastic polymer or other material with similar characteristics. 
         [0029]    Examples of elastic polymers include but are not limited to: unsaturated rubbers (e.g. natural Polyisoprene, synthetic Polyisoprene, Polybutadiene, Chloroprene rubber, Butyl rubber, Halogenated butyl rubbers, Styrene-butadiene Rubber, Nitrile rubber, Hydrogenated Nitrile Rubbers . . . etc.); saturated rubbers (e.g. Ethylene Propylene rubber, Ethylene Propylene Diene rubber, Epichlorohydrin rubber, Polyacrylic rubber, Silicone rubber, Fluorosilicone Rubber, Fluoroelastomers, Perfluoroelastomers, Polyether block amides, Chlorosulfonated polyethylene, Ethylene-vinyl acetate . . . etc.); and various other types of elastomers (e.g. Thermoplastic elastomers, certain proteins such as resilin and elastin, Polysulfide rubber, Elastolefin, which is used in the production of elastic fabrics . . . etc). 
         [0030]      FIG. 2  shows embodiment  1 , which comprises an attachment mechanism  100  and a holding enclosure  110 ′ (which is holding enclosure  110  in a stretched state), and wireless headset  2 , which is comprises base  200  and earpiece  210 . 
         [0031]    Wireless headset  2  is representative of any electronic device that has an earpiece. 
         [0032]    Holding Enclosure  110  is designed such that, when it is stretched state  110 ′, it can be stretched over earpiece  210 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 3  shows embodiment  1 , which comprises an attachment mechanism  100  and a holding enclosure  110 ″ (which is holding enclosure  110  in a stretched state but contracted when compared to state  110 ′) and wireless headset  2 , which is comprised of base  200  and earpiece  210 . 
         [0034]    In  FIG. 3 , wireless headset  2  has been inserted into holding enclosure  110 ″ and holding enclosure  110 ″ is positioned between base  200  and earpiece  210 . Holding Enclosure  110  is designed such that when it is stretched state  110 ″ it will hold wireless headset  2  in place. 
         [0035]      FIG. 4  shows embodiment  4 , which has been attached to key ring  450 . Embodiment  4  comprises a holding enclosure  410  and integrated attachment mechanism  400 . 
         [0036]    Holding enclosure  410  is similar to holding closure  110 , except that rather than having an external attachment mechanism  100  running through holding closure  110  and resulting in contact between attachment mechanism  100  and wireless headset  2  during use (see  FIG. 3 ) it has an integrated attachment mechanism  400 . 
         [0037]    However, unlike attachment mechanism  100 , Integrated attachment mechanism  400  in embodiment  4  is shown as a continuous surface and therefore without an intermediate piece of equipment such as key ring  450  it can only attached to objects that have the ability to pass through it. 
         [0038]    The combination of embodiment  4  and key ring  450  together make up another embodiment. In this embodiment, key ring  450  is shown as a standard split key ring; however, it could be any attachment mechanism such as jewelry clasp or even a necklace, without departing from the broad inventive concepts. 
         [0039]    Additionally, holding enclosure  410  and integrated attachment mechanism  400  are shown as oriented in the same direction. However, it is anticipated that orienting them at an angle, in particular perpendicular to one another, may be desirable. 
         [0040]      FIG. 5  shows embodiment  4 ′, which is similar to embodiment  4  except that it has pull-tab  520  added. 
         [0041]    Pull-tab  520 , although shown added to embodiment  4  to produce  4 ′, could be added to any of the embodiments and is representative of the type of a feature that could be utilized to aid in stretching the holding enclosure of a particular embodiment, and not meant to specify a particular geometry. 
         [0042]    As such the embodiments are able to overcome the deficiencies. However, it should be recognized by those skilled in the art, that changes or modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the broad inventive concepts of the invention. It should be understood, therefore, that the present invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed herein, but is intended to cover all modifications and changes that are within the scope and spirit of the appended claims.