EP1232635A1

EP1232635A1 - Headset unit for use with a mobile telephone

Info

Publication number: EP1232635A1
Application number: EP00938955A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Alvin Wai Lun Yip
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-06-24
Filing date: 2000-06-25
Publication date: 2002-08-21
Also published as: WO2001001657A1; AU5417400A; CN1375154A

Abstract

An accessory for remote speaking and/or listening to a mobile telephone comprises a unit having means for connection to an associated mobile telephone of a microphone and/or earpiece or headset on a dispensable lead electrically connected to the connection means and adapted to be housed within the unit. A spool fitted with spring means is contained within the unit which has the lead wound on its outer surface. When the microphone and/or earpiece or headset is withdrawn from the unit for use the spring is tensioned through rotation of the spool. The microphone and/or earpiece or headset is rewound by the spring means by operation of a catch which releases the stored tension. The dispensable lead is preferably wound on the circumference of the spool when not in use and a ratchet or similar device is fitted to the spool which prevents rotation in the opposite sense to the spool rotation created by withdrawing the audio unit lead, operation of the catch disables the ratchet or similar device when the audio unit ceases to be used and the audio lead is rewound. The dispensable lead is connected to the main body of the telephone by supplementary contacts on the main unit which mate with contacts on the telephone body which may contain a rechargeable battery. Alternatively the unit can replace the detachable back of a mobile telephone which covers the battery. The unit can take the form of a pendant or a thin card-shaped pack with a short supplementary lead to connect it to the associated mobile telephone.

Description

HEADSET UNIT FOR USE WITH A MOBILE TELEPHONE

This invention relates to headsets and similar accessories for use with mobile telephones and similar equipment .

Many mobile telephones have a microphone and earpiece that is integral with the transmitter/receiver unit, keyboard and battery. In most mobile telephones electrical power is supplied from a battery pack. The battery pack generally uses rechargeable cells and in some models the battery pack is removable so that it can be exchanged for a re-charged pack when exhausted. In use such telephones are raised to the head and used in much the same manner as a conventional PSTN line telephone handset.

Holding a mobile telephone to the head to speak and listen has a number of disadvantages. The antenna is close to the brain and damage may occur from its transmitted radiation. When driving the need to hold the telephone when called or wishing to make a call is hazardous as it reduces the ability of the driver to control the vehicle. Detachable earpieces and/or headsets which include a microphone are available for some mobile telephones. Such accessories are hereinafter referred to as detached audio units . These accessories are normally attached by means of a cable fitted to a conventional electrical connector such as a multicontact jack plug. The detachable audio units overcome some of the above described disadvantages of telephones with an integral microphone and earpiece however due to their small size and their ability to be easily unplugged they can easily be mislaid and the connecting flexible wire becomes knotted.

The present invention provides a mobile telephone or attachment for a such a telephone which provides storage for a detachable audio unit .

According to the present invention there is provided a an accessory for remote speaking and/or listening to a mobile telephone characterised in that it comprises a unit having means for connection to an associated mobile telephone of a microphone and/or earpiece or headset on a dispensable lead electrically connected to the connection means and adapted to be housed within the unit, and a spool fitted with spring means having the lead wound on its outer surface, whereby when the microphone and/or earpiece or headset is withdrawn from the unit for use the spring is tensioned through rotation of the spool and whereby the microphone and/or earpiece or headset is rewound by the spring means by operation of a catch which releases the stored tension.

The retraction means is preferably a spring loaded spool rotatably mounted within the unit. The lead of the detached audio unit is wound on the circumference of the spool when not in use . When required for use the audio unit is removed from its housing within the unit and as it is withdrawn the audio lead unwinds from the spool creating tension in an associated spring mechanism. A ratchet or similar device is fitted which prevents rotation in the opposite sense to the spool rotation created by withdrawing the audio unit lead so that the dispensed lead is not urged back on to the spool when the withdrawal tension is released. The ratchet or other device is released when the audio unit ceases to be used and the audio lead is rewound as the spool rotates releasing the stored tension in the spring. Spring loaded spools of with an associated one way system and clamp to control the the return of unwound lead are well known and are widely used in tape measures and similar devices . Connection of a detachable audio unit to the main body of an associated mobile telephone can use a variety of methods. In one embodiment the audio lead is connected to the main body of the telephone by supplementary contacts on the main unit which mate with contacts on the telephone body. In such cases the unit may also contain a recharg- able battery as the power supply for the telephone with further mating contacts to connect the power supply to the electrically operated parts of the telephone . Such power supply and battery units tend to be unique to a particular model of mobile telephone. In an alternative embodiment the unit can replace the detachable back of a mobile telephone which covers the battery. Such replacement back units will also be unique to a particular model of mobile telephone .

Further embodiments can be "stand alone" units which contain a spooled lead dispenser, as described above, which is connected through a short lead to a mobile telephone and which dispenses a long lead carrying an audio unit. Such independent audio unit modules may take the form of a pendant worn around the neck or a thin card-shaped pack which can easily be fitted in a pocket of wallet. In either case a short supplementary lead connects them to the mobile telephone by means of a male jack plug which fits into a female socket on the surface of the telephone . In preferred embodiments the conductors of the leads are enclosed within a covering that forms a circular cross section. An auxiliary metal wire or polymeric fibre may be present to increase strength and/or stiffness.

The case of the units is preferably fabricated from thermoplastic synthetic polymers pigmneted to match the associated mobile telephone in the embodiments containing rechargeable batteries or which are adapted to replace a battery cover. In the case of pendant and card units the case may be made in a range of colours and carry indicia showing the maker's name and/or promoting a firm associated with the product such as a mobile telephone supplier.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood a number of embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic layout of an embodiment of the invention in which the unit is associated with a battery pack,

Figure 2 is a schematic layout of an alternative embodiment of the battery pack unit of the invention,

Figure 3 is a schematic front views of a further embodiment in which the unit is associated with a battery,

Figures 4a, 4b, and 4c are a schematic side views showing how the earpiece is accommodated within the unit,

Figure 5 is a schematic front views of an alternative embodiment of the unit shown in Figure 3 , Figure 6 is a schematic back view of a unit in the form of a battery cover,

Figures 7a and 7b are a schematic front and side views of a pendant unit according to the invention, and

Figures 8a and 8b are a schematic front and side views of a card unit according to the invention.

A battery pack unit, see Figure 1, has a case 1 which houses a battery pack 2 and a handset 3. The pack 2 consists of a number of rechargeable cells. The handset includes a microphone 4 and earphone 5. The handset is attached to the unit by a lead 6 which is carried by a spool 7. The spool 7 is spring loaded so that tension is created in the spring when spool 7 rotates as the lead 6 is dispensed. A ratchet o other one way mechanism, not shown, prevents the spool rewinding the lead 6 after it has been dispensed. A hand operated catch 8 releases the one way mechanism when operated causing the spool 7 to rotate and rewind the lead 6 on to its periphery. A switch 9 allows "hands free" operation of the telephone.

The spool 7 is this embodiment carries a set of rotary contacts, not shown, that provide an electrical path from the lead 6 to a set of supplementary contacts which mate with a matching set of contacts on the main body of the telephone when the battery pack unit is attached to it .

In the alternative embodiment of the battery pack unit, see Figure 2, a set of rotary contacts 11 connect a supplementary lead 12 to a male jack plug 13. The connections and size of the plug 13 are those used with conventional detachable handsets. The battery pack unit shown in Figure 2 can be constructed as a direct replacement for prior battery packs which do not contain handsets . The handset 3 is electrically connected to the main body of the telephone by means of the plug 13 and its associated lead 12.

In a specific example of a battery pack unit, see Figure 3, an outer shell 20 houses a battery pack and spring loaded spool, not shown, having a lead 21 connected to a headpiece 22 which issues from a cavity 23. A first catch 24 unlocks the unit when it is to be recharged. As previously described, a second catch 25 releases the one way mechanism which causes the spool to rotate and rewind the lead 21.

Figures 4a, 4b and 4c show the stages of insertion of the headpiece 22 into the cavity 23 for storage. When fully inserted the outer face of the earpiece 22 is substantially flush with the outer shell 20 of the unit. co CO t t H μ> cn o cn o cn o cπ

arranged to issue downwardly at the base of the unit 30. A cavity 31 into which the handle 39 of the earpiece 34 can be inserted is clearly shown. When placed in the cavity 41 the outer face of the earpiece 34 lies flush with the surface of the unit 30.

Embodiments that can be used with any mobile telephone, see Figures 7a and 7b, may take the form of a pendant 50 having a lead 51 carrying a jack plug 52 which may be fitted into a matching female socket on any mobile telephone. The connecting lead 51 needs to be longer than those used in the previously described embodiments as the pendant may be separated from the mobile telephone to which it is connected by up to a metre. For this reason the lead 51 is preferably in the form of a pre-coiled spiral so as to prevent it becoming entangled with the user's clothing. The pendant 50 accepts an earpiece 53 having a lead 54 the major portion of which is stored on a spring loaded spool, not shown, in the manner described with respect to other embodiments of the invention. The earpiece 53 can be withdrawn for use extending the available length of the lead 54. When it is no longer required pressure on a catch 55 causes the lead 54 to be rewound on to the spool within the pendant case . Pendant units of the type described with respect to Figure 7 may be manufactured in a compact form. The oval case of the pendant 50 can have a maximum dimesion of 44 mm and a minimum dimension of 38 mm with a thickness, excluding the associated headpiece, of 12 mm.

A further embodiment that can be used with any mobile telephone, see Figures 8a and 8b, may take the form of a card shaped case 60 containing a pre-coiled connecting lead 61 carrying a jack plug 62 which may be fitted into a matching female socket on any mobile telephone. The coiled lead 61 is attached to a spring loaded spool 63 by a set of terminals 64. A lead 65 has an earpiece 66 at one end and at the other end is connected to rotary contacts, not shown, that feed the terminals 64. The lead 65 is stored when the unit is not in use on the spool 63. As with the previously decribed embodiments of the invention, the spool 63 has a one-way drive system fitted to prevent the tension stored in the spring returning the lead 65 to the spool 63 while the earpiece 66 is in use. When use has ceased a catch 69 releases the restraint imposed by the one-way system so that the spring tension causes the spool 63 to rotate and wind back the lead 65. In the embodiment shown the lead 65 carries an in-line microphone 67 close to the earpiece 66. When the earpiece is held to the ear the microphone 67 will be close to the mouth so that the combination acts as a conventional telephone handset. When not in use the earpiece 66 and microphone 67 are stored in a cavity moulded intoi the case of the unit 60.

While the invention has been described in terms of what are presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it shall be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover modifications and variations within the spirit and scope of the invention as set out in the appended claims .

Claims

1. An accessory for remote speaking and/or listening to a mobile telephone characterised in that it comprises a unit having means for connection to an associated mobile telephone of a microphone and/or earpiece or headset on a dispensable lead electrically connected to the connection means and adapted to be housed within the unit, and a spool fitted with spring means having the lead wound on its outer surface, whereby when the microphone and/or earpiece or headset is withdrawn from the unit for use the spring is tensioned through rotation of the spool and whereby the microphone and/or earpiece or headset is rewound by the spring means by operation of a catch which releases the stored tension.

2. An accessory as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the dispensable lead is wound on the circumference of the spool when not in use .

3. An accessory as claimed in either claim l or claim 2, characterised in that a ratchet or similar device is fitted to the spool which prevents rotation in the opposite sense to the spool rotation created by withdrawing the audio unit lead.

4. An accessory as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that operation of the catch disables the ratchet or similar device when the audio unit ceases to be used and the audio lead is rewound as the spool rotates releasing the stored tension in the spring.

5. An accessory as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the dispensable lead is connected to the main body of the telephone by supplementary contacts on the main unit which mate with contacts on the telephone body.

6. An accessory as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that it contains a rechargeable battery as the power supply for the mobile telephone and further mating contacts to connect the power supply to the electrically operated parts of the telephone.

7. An accessory as claimed in any of the claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the unit can replace the detachable back of a mobile telephone which covers the battery.

8. An accessory as claimed in any of the claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the unit modules takes the form of a pendant .

9. An accessory as claimed in any of the claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the unit modules takes the form of a a thin card-shaped pack.

10. An accessory as claimed in either claims 8 or claim 9, characterised in that a short supplementary lead connects the unit to the associated mobile telephone by means of a male jack plug which fits into a female socket on the surface of the telephone .