AU2008202415B2 - Amplicard - Google Patents

Abstract

PATENT APPLICATION - RESPONSE TO EXAMINERS REPORT Amplicard. Your Ref: Patent Application Number: 2008202415 The invention is a sound enhancement device for a mobile phone, made from a single sheet of rigid material which is die cut, scored and folded to create an internal sound shaping volume, and a pair of sound dispersal wings. The invention is universal in type and will work with all makes of mobile phone that have an internal loudspeaker fitted. Field of the Invention: * The invention is a sound enhancement device for a mobile phone. Description of the Related Art: * To enhance the quality of sound reproduction from a mobile phone it is usually necessary to plug the device into an external electronic amplifier with speakers, a set of headphones, or an external loudspeaker system, effectively removing the internal loudspeaker from the circuit and sending the audio signal out of the phone to the external device for further processing. Integrated electronic amplifier and loudspeaker systems specifically provided for mobile phones, are commonly referred to as 'Docks', and require either a battery or external power source: Headphones may be of either 'in ear' type, 'on ear' type, or 'over ear' type. Commonly a set of 'in ear' headphones are provided with a mobile phone at purchase. In order for a mobile phone to connect to a 'dock' there is usually a male connector provided on the dock which fits into a female connector on the mobile phone. These connectors are often of a proprietary type, meaning that a 'dock' of a certain type may only be used with a mobile phone of a certain type. Headphones often also employ proprietary connectors, meaning that headphones of a certain type may only be used with mobile phones of a certain type. Page 3 RECEIVED TIME 11.0CT. 11:52 Editorial Note There are three pages of drawings.

Description

Editorial Note: Application Number: 2008202415 The Description starts on Page 3 PATENT APPLICATION - RESPONSE TO EXAMINERS REPORT Amplicard. Your Ref: Patent Application Number: 2008202415 ABSTRACT The invention is a sound enhancement device for a mobile phone, made from a single sheet of rigid material which is die cut, scored and folded to create an internal sound shaping volume, and a pair of sound dispersal wings. The invention is universal in type and will work with all makes of mobile phone that have an internal loudspeaker fitted. BACKGROUND Field of the Invention: * The invention is a sound enhancement device for a mobile phone. Description of the Related Art: * To enhance the quality of sound reproduction from a mobile phone it is usually necessary to plug the device into an external electronic amplifier with speakers, a set of headphones, or an external loudspeaker system, effectively removing the internal loudspeaker from the circuit and sending the audio signal out of the phone to the external device for further processing. Integrated electronic amplifier and loudspeaker systems specifically provided for mobile phones, are commonly referred to as 'Docks', and require either a battery or external power source: Headphones may be of either 'in ear' type, 'on ear' type, or 'over ear' type. Commonly a set of 'in ear' headphones are provided with a mobile phone at purchase. In order for a mobile phone to connect to a 'dock' there is usually a male connector provided on the dock which fits into a female connector on the mobile phone. These connectors are often of a proprietary type, meaning that a 'dock' of a certain type may only be used with a mobile phone of a certain type. Headphones often also employ proprietary connectors, meaning that headphones of a certain type may only be used with mobile phones of a certain type. Page 3 RECEIVED TIME 11.0CT. 11:52 SUMMARY 1. The loudspeakers installed in mobile phones are extremely small and offer a limited quality, volume and frequency range of sound reproduction, which the invention audibly improves, enabling music played by the mobile phone to be enjoyed and shared. 2. The invention is universal in type and will work with all makes of mobile phones that have an internal loudspeaker installed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 e Shows a plan view of the invention printed on a single sheet of paper card, prior to die cutting and folding " FIGURE 1.1: Indicates the base panels which will be folded, to each form one side of the base of the invention. * FIGURE 1.2: Indicates dashed 'scoring lines' on the plan. The sheet will be scored along each of the dashed lines indicated, in preparation for folding e FIGURE 1.3: Indicates a solid 'cutting line' on the plan, which will be die cut, as will all solid lines indicated on the plan " FIGURE 1.4: Indicates the side panels which form the sound shaping volume created inside the invention , once die cut and folded " FIGURE 1.5: Indicates the sound dispersal wing " FIGURE 1.6: Indicates the hinge fold area FIGURE 2 e FIGURE 2.1: The arrow indicates that the top inner panel as identified, is folded inwards along the scored line, allowing the two dispersal wings to fold upwards, and out of the side panels of the invention. (See Figure 3 - which is a perspective drawing showing the wings in the correct position) e FIGURE 2.2: The hinge panels fold outwards in the opposite direction to the top inner panel, allowing the side panels to fold down at a 90 degree angle, relative to the sound dispersal wings " FIGURE 2.3: The far left and far right base panels, fold further inwards than the side panels, to form the base of the invention, which is now triangular in shape (as seen in the end view in Figure 6) FIGURE 3 * FIGURE 3.1: Indicates the base panel formed by the folding of the side panels indicated in Figure 1.1 Page 4 RECEIVED TIME 17.0CT. 11:52 e FIGURE 3.2: Indicates the side panels which form the sound shaping volume created inside the invention e FIGURE 1.6: Indicates the two sound dispersal wings folded at 90 degrees to each other FIGURE 4 * FIGURE 4.1: Indicates where the mobile phone should be placed, inside the sound shaping volume of the invention. The sound shaping volume created inside the invention attenuates high frequencies and accentuates mid to low frequencies to improve the quality and apparent volume of sound reproduced by the mobile phone speaker FIGURE 5 " Shows a view from above, of the invention in its operational form e FIGURE 5.1: Indicates the sound dispersal wings e FIGURE 5.2: Indicates the side panels of the sound shaping volume created by the invention FIGURE 6 e This is an end view of the invention e FIGURE 6.1: Indicates the sound dispersal wing in its deployed position " FIGURE 6.2: Indicates the opening used to place the mobile phone inside the sound shaping volume created by the invention " FIGURE 6a: Indicates the method of folding the invention so that it can be flattened for transport or mailing FIGURE 7 e This is a side view of the invention. This is how the invention appears when folded flat for transport or mailing. The invention can readily be folded flat (flat packed for mailing) using the scoring lines (see FIGURE 6a) e FIGURE 7.1: Indicates the sound dispersal wing folded flat e FIGURE 7.2: Indicates the side panel of the sound shaping volume Page 5 RECEIVED TIME 1 OCT. 11:52 Editorial Note: Application Number: 2008202415 The next page is Page 9 DETAILED DESCRIPTION 1. The invention is made from a single sheet of material and provides a low cost and portable method of enhancing the quality of sound reproduction, and improving the apparent volume and dispersal of sound produced, by a mobile phone. The loudspeaker installed in a mobile phone is extremely small and offers a limited quality, volume and frequency range of sound reproduction, which the invention audibly improves, enabling music, video, audio books and other sound files and types played by the mobile phone, to be enjoyed and shared. 2. The invention is universal in type and will work with all makes of mobile phone that have an internal loudspeaker installed. 3. The invention works by creating a sound shaping volume internally (FIGURE 3.1) that attenuates high frequencies and accentuates mid to low frequencies to re-balance and improve the linearity of the frequency range, quality and apparent volume of sound reproduced by the mobile phone speaker. The shaped sound is then released through side openings (FIGURE 2.1) under sound dispersal wings that promote the dispersal of the shaped sound through the area outside the invention. 4. The ideal form of the invention is made from a single sheet of 300gsm paper card, which is die cut, scored and folded so that the internal sound shaping volume created, comfortably encloses a typical mobile phone. An A5 sized sheet of card is sufficient (210mm wide x 148.5mm high). For example it is envisaged that the invention could be printed, scored and die cut on the reverse side of a gift, message or greeting card (FIGURE 1), enabling the card to be converted into the invention, and to perform a second function as a sound enhancement device for a mobile phone, in addition to delivery of a message or sentiment. This additional function adds substantial value to the card without the use of additional materials. However the invention is not limited to this form and can be scaled up or down to work with other devices also fitted with small or poor quality loudspeakers. The invention may also be made from other materials, in particular plastic sheet material, such as polypropylene sheet, is suitable and has the advantage of durability and water proofing, although the apparent volume of sound created can be lessened when using a more rigid material such as this which can dampen the release of the shaped sound. Page 9 RECEIVED TIME 1 OCT. 11 :52

Claims (5)

1. The invention is made from a single sheet of rigid material which is die cut, scored and folded to create an internal sound shaping volume, and a pair of sound dispersal wings.

2. The invention of claim 1, wherein the sound shaping volume created inside the invention, attenuates the high frequencies and accentuates the mid to low frequencies to re-balance and improve the linearity of the frequency range, quality and apparent volume of sound (we will refer to this as shaped sound), generated by a mobile phone placed inside it.

3. The invention of claim 1, wherein the sound dispersal wings direct the shaped sound up and away from the interior of the invention, and into the space outside it.

4. The invention of claim 1, wherein the invention may be folded flat using the existing scoring lines to enable simple postage and transport.

5. The invention of claim 1, wherein the invention may be created using an existing item such as a greeting card, without diverting the greeting card from its primary function, and thereby creating a secondary function and ongoing utility for these, previously single use items. Page 10 RECEIVED TIME 17.OCT, 11:52