Abstract:
A lanyard system for retaining a wireless headset has a strap and a slide affixed at a first end of the strap. The slide engages a portion of a length of the strap and forms a loop. The slide is adjustable along the length of the strap to adjust the size of the loop. An elastomeric retainer is affixed at a second end of the strap for selective attachment to a wireless headset for removably securing the wireless headset to the lanyard system.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to lanyards in general and more particularly to a lanyard and universal mounting system for retaining a Bluetooth headset. 
     2. Discussion of the Related Art 
     Bluetooth is a wireless protocol for exchanging data over short distances from fixed and mobile devices, creating personal area networks (PANs). The Bluetooth protocol was originally conceived as a wireless alternative to RS232 data cables. It can connect several devices, overcoming problems of synchronization. One of the most popular uses of the Bluetooth protocol is as a wireless headset for use with mobile telephones. 
     Such a wireless headset generally comprises a body and a means to retain the headset on the user&#39;s ear. The body of the wireless headset typically includes the operating electronics, a rechargeable battery, a microphone and a speaker. The speaker is coupled with an earpiece for directing the sound through the user&#39;s ear canal. The headset can be retained on the user&#39;s ear with an ear loop that hooks behind the user&#39;s ear much like the temple of a pair of eyeglasses. Other headsets are retained on the user&#39;s ear with the earpiece; the earpiece being of sufficient size to securely fit within a portion of the outer ear of the user. 
     The convenience of a wireless headset for use with mobile telephones is only realized by keeping the headset close to the user&#39;s body for immediate activation upon the receipt or placing of a telephone call. In order to keep the headset close, most individuals wear the headset attached to their ear without break. However, such wear can be uncomfortable from the weight of the headset, although minimal, and the fit and placement of the ear loop or earpiece. Consequently, some individual&#39;s remove the headset when not in use and keep it close by for when a call is incoming or is being placed. Unfortunately, removal of the headset often leads to misplacement or inconvenient placement when the individual desires to use the headset. 
     At least one lanyard having an attachment mechanism for holding a Bluetooth earpiece is known. However, the attachment mechanism is particularly designed for attachment to a specific earpiece design, and affixes directly to the body of the Bluetooth device with a fixed clip. It is not designed to enable attachment to multiple different earpiece configurations. 
     Thus, what is desired is a universal device that will retain wireless headsets, having myriad different constructions, on a user&#39;s body in a convenient location for immediate use. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a lanyard system that satisfies the need for a device to retain a wireless headset on a user&#39;s body in a convenient location for immediate use. The lanyard system has a strap and a slide affixed at a first end of the strap. The slide engages a portion of a length of the strap and forms a loop. The slide is adjustable along the length of the strap to adjust the size of the loop. An elastomeric retainer is affixed at a second end of the strap for selective attachment to a wireless headset for removably securing the wireless headset to the lanyard system. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is a lanyard system for retaining a wireless headset including a strap and an attachment at a first end of the strap. The attachment functions to attach the lanyard system to an article of a user&#39;s clothing. A retainer is affixed at a second end of the strap for selective attachment to a wireless headset for removably securing the wireless headset to the lanyard system. 
     Yet another aspect of the present invention is a lanyard system for retaining a wireless headset including a strap and a slide affixed at a first end of the strap. The slide engages a portion of a length of the strap to form a loop. The slide is adjustable along the length of the strap to adjust a size of the loop. A butterfly clip is affixed at a second end of the strap. The butterfly clip has a pair of jaws biased in a closed position by a spring. Each of the jaws includes an elastomeric pad affixed to opposing surfaces of the jaws for gripping the wireless headset. One of the jaws has an electrical device integrated therewith. 
     These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following written specification, claims and appended drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present invention, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a lanyard for securing a Bluetooth headset embodying the present invention, wherein the Bluetooth headset earpiece is secured by an butterfly clip; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a user having the lanyard of  FIG. 1  about his neck and in the process of securing a Bluetooth headset; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment lanyard wherein the Bluetooth headset is secured by an elastomeric ring; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment lanyard having an alligator clip at one end thereof; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a lanyard having a button hole at one end for securing the lanyard to a shirt button; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the lanyard of  FIG. 1  incorporating a light on the butterfly clip that is powered by the battery of the Bluetooth headset; 
     
    
    
     Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “rear”, “right”, “front”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in  FIG. 1 . However, one will understand that the invention may assume various alternative orientations and step sequences, except where expressly specified to the contrary. Therefore, the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. 
     Turning to the drawings,  FIGS. 1 and 2  show a lanyard system  20  which is one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention and illustrates its various components. Lanyard system  20  includes a strap  22  having a length sufficient to form a loop  25  of sufficient size to fit over the head  15  of a user  13  ( FIG. 2 ). While strap  22  is shown as a long, narrow flat strip, those practiced in the art will readily recognize that strap  22  can be a cord, a string, a chain, or any other long, narrow flexible member. The term strap as used herein is considered to be inclusive of any long, narrow flexible members. Strap  22  has a slide  26  affixed to a first end  23  thereof. Slide  26  is shaped to closely engage a circumference of strap  22  to form loop  25  and is slidable along the length of strap  22  to adjust the size of loop  25 . 
     Strap  22  has a second end  24  to which is affixed a retainer such as butterfly clip  28 . Butterfly clip  28  includes first and second jaws  30 ,  31  which are pivotal one with respect to another and are biased in a closed position by a spring  34  in a commonly known configuration. Opposing faces of jaws  30 ,  31  have elastomeric pads  32 ,  33  affixed thereto respectively for securely grasping an element of headset  12 . 
     In use, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , a user  13  places loop  25  of lanyard system  20  over his head  15 . Slide  26  can then be adjusted along the length of strap  22  to adjust lanyard system  20  according to the desires of user  13 . To secure wireless headset  12  (typically a Bluetooth headset) user  13  grasps butterfly clip  28  and with his fingers  16  squeezes according to arrows “A” to open jaws  30 ,  31 . He then places an element of wireless headset  12  such as earpiece  14  within open jaws  30 ,  31  of butterfly clip  28 . User  17  then releases the opening force generated along arrows “A” to permit jaws  30 ,  31  to close and grasp the element of wireless headset between elastomeric pads  32 ,  33 . In this manner, user  17  can keep wireless headset  12  nearby for immediate use upon the receipt or placement of a call with a telephone associated with wireless headset  12 . When user  17  desires to use headset  12 , he again squeezes butterfly clip  28  with his fingers  16  to release headset  12  for immediate use. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 3 , an alternate embodiment lanyard system  120  is shown. As described previously, lanyard system  120  includes a strap  122  having a slide  126  affixed to a first end  123  and forming a loop  125 . Strap  122  has a second end  124  to which is affixed a retainer such as elastomeric loop  140 . Elastomeric loop  140  includes a tab  144  for attachment to second end  124  of strap  122  and defines an opening  142  therethrough to receive an element of headset  12  such as earpiece  14  or the headset body. 
     In use, user  13  places lanyard system  120  over his head  15  and adjusts lanyard system  120  as described above. To secure wireless headset  12 , user  13  slides elastomeric loop  140  over an element of headset  12  according to arrow “B”. Opening  142  is typically of a smaller size than the element of headset  12  such as an end of earpiece  14  or sized to receive the body of headset  12 . Elastomeric loop  140  is stretched to increase the size of opening  142  to allow passage of the element of headset  112  therethrough. When user  17  desires to use headset  12 , he grasps elastomeric ring  142  in his fingers  16  and pulls elastomeric ring  140  in the opposite direction from arrow “B” allowing elastomeric ring  140  to stretch according to the size of the headset  12  element retained thereby until headset  12  is released. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates another lanyard system embodiment  220 . Lanyard system  220  includes a length of chain  250  having a first end  223  to which is attached an attachment  252  such as an alligator clip. A second end  224  has affixed thereto a retainer such as butterfly clip  228  which is substantially identical in form and function to butterfly clip  28 , above. Alternatively, the retainer utilized on lanyard system  220  can be an elastomeric ring which is substantially identical in form and function to elastomeric ring  140 , above. Those practiced in the art will readily recognize that chain  250  can also take the form of a cloth or leather strap, a chord, or another like long narrow flexible member. 
     In use, user  17  affixes attachment  252  to an article of clothing and then attaches wireless headset  12  to the retainer either according to the manner described for butterfly clip  28 , above or according to the manner described for elastomeric ring  140 , above. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 5 , yet another lanyard system embodiment  320  is shown and comprises a strap  322  having a first end  323  which defines a buttonhole  360 . Strap  322  has a second end  324  to which is affixed a retainer such as butterfly clip  328  substantially identical in form and function to butterfly clip  28 , above, or an elastomeric ring which is substantially identical in form and function to elastomeric ring  140 , above. Strap  322  can have buttonhole  360  formed through strap  322  or, if strap  322  is a string or chord, buttonhole  360  can be formed as a loop at first end  323 . In use, a button  19  of a user&#39;s shirt  18  is placed through buttonhole  360  to retain lanyard system  320  to the user&#39;s person. Butterfly clip  328  or elastomeric ring retainer are used in the same manner as described above. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates still another lanyard system embodiment  420 . Lanyard system  420  is substantially the same as lanyard system  20  described above with like elements having like reference numerals preceded by the number “4”. Lanyard system  420  also includes an electrical device  478  integrated with a butterfly clip jaw such as jaw  430 . Jaw  430  includes a power receptacle  476 . A power lead  470  has a first plug  472  at one end thereof and a second plug  474  at a second end thereof. First plug  472  is received in power receptacle  476  and second plug  474  is received in an electrical receptacle (not shown) of wireless headset  12  which has its earpiece  14  secured in jaws  430 ,  431  of butterfly clip  428 . In this manner the battery of headset  12  can power the electrical device  478  in jaw  430 . Electrical device  478  is here shown as a light such as a light emitting diode. When user  17  desires to use headset  12 , he unplugs second plug  474  from headset  12  and releases earpiece  14  from jaws  430 ,  431 . 
     The above description is considered that of the preferred embodiments only. Modifications of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art and to those who make or use the invention. Therefore, it is understood that the embodiments shown in the drawings and described above are merely for illustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the following claims as interpreted according to the principles of patent law, including the doctrine of equivalents.