WO1993022862A1

WO1993022862A1 - Telephone support device

Info

Publication number: WO1993022862A1
Application number: PCT/US1992/007772
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael David Hammer; William Glenn Mckeown
Original assignee: Michael David Hammer
Priority date: 1992-04-30
Filing date: 1992-09-14
Publication date: 1993-11-11
Also published as: MX9206279A; AU5156393A

Abstract

A hands-free type support device (10) is provided for supporting telephones (46). The support device (10) comprises a bridging support (12) that is received about the head of the user and which provides adjustable ear piece supports (16, 18) enabling the support device to be adjustable for various user head size ranges. Ear piece devices are provided with an internal cushion (42, 44) for engagement with the user's ears. The ear pieces (24, 26) each define auditory apertures (36) that permit sound projection from the telephone speaker to the respective auditory canals of the user. Telephone retention means (48) in the form of Velcro R layers enable a telephone to be releasably secured in assembly with a selected ear piece, thereby permitting the user the freedom for telephone communication while simultaneously using the hands for other activies.

Description

TELEPHONE SUPPORT DEVICE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to a telephone support device for supporting a telephone in talking and listening position relative to the head of a user. More particularly, the present invention concerns a telephone support device capable of being removably positioned about the head of the user and which provides a hook and loop type fastener surface enabling a telephone with a hook and loop fastening service thereon to be releasably assembled in substantially immovable relation with the head of the user so that the user may talk and listen without necessitating the hands of the user thereon.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There has been a long felt need for a considerable period of time for a support device that enables a telephone, particularly a cordless telephone, to be supported in talking and listening position relative to the head of a user. Over the years, dating back to at least 1945, a number of such telephone support devices have been developed as identified by prior art patents 2,487,787 of Brown; 2,538,458 of Hutchinson; 2,883,672 of Hornickel, et al.; 3,943,572 of Aileo; 4,048,453 of Seidel; 4, 121,061 of Donaldson; 4,367,378 of Jordan; 4,727,585 of Flygstad; 4,771,927 of Ventura; 4,821,317 of Wong; 4,881,256 a FWC; 4,982,451 of Graham; 5,068,923 of Sjoqvist; and Japanese Patent JA 62-47250

For the most part the telephone support devices that have been developed as noted above have found minimal acceptance from the standpoint of utilization and marketing.

In order for a telephone support device of this nature to be acceptable, it has been determined that the support device must releasably support a telephone, particularly a cordless telephone, in position for efficient hands-free use. The support device must have the capability of permitting a telephone to be easily and quickly assembled and disassembled from the support apparatus to thus enable a user to quickly pick up the telephone from its cradle when the phone rings and to attach the phone to the support device in position for talking and listening. To the knowledge of the inventors no telephone support apparatus has been developed and made available to the market which permits a standard telephone or any other type of audible telecommunication device to be quickly attached to or released from a hands-free type telephone support device. Thus, the telephone support devices that have been developed as indicated above, typically do not satisfy the long felt need that exists for such releasable head-support of a conventional corded or cordless telephone.

For a hands-free type telephone support device to be acceptable from the standpoint of utilization, it must be capable of being quickly assembled and disassembled from a support device and, when supported, must be positioned in substantially fixed position with the head of the user with the ear piece of the handset positioned such that sound from its speaker is directed to the auditory canal of the ear of the user and its microphone is positioned near the mouth of the user for ease and efficiency of soun projection into the microphone of the handset.

Virtually all of the telephone suppor devices that are set forth in the above noted patents are incapable of quickly and positively positioning a telephone in substantially fixed, talking and listening position relative to the head of the user. Fo adequacy and efficiency of telephone usage, it has bee determined that there remains a long felt need for a hands-free type telephone support device that enables a telephone handset to be quickly and efficiently picke up from the cradle of the telephone and assembled to head mounted telephone support device in such manne that the telephone is supported in substantially fixe relation with the head of the user. Especially throug the use of cordless telephones of conventional nature, the provision of a telephone support device of thi nature would permit a user to releasably mount conventional cordless telephone in assembly with th support device at a substantially fixed position wit the user's head, thereby enabling the user to mov about freely and to conduct other activities, i.e., washing dishes, ironing, dusting, making the bed, cooking, cleaning, working in the yard, washing the car, exercising, painting, etc., with the hands while maintaining efficient telecommunications with other parties.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a principle feature of the present invention to provide a novel hands-free type telephone support device that enables a conventional corded or cordless telephone to be quickly and efficiently retrieved from the telephone cradle upon ringing and assembled to a head support device in position for talking and listening.

It is another feature of the present invention to provide a novel hands-free type telephone device that enables a conventional corded or cordless telephone to be efficiently and releasably supported in substantially fixed position with the head of the user such that the speaker of the telephone is located adjacent the auditory canal of the user's ear and the microphone of the telephone handset is oriented for optimum sound pickup by the microphone of the telephone handset.

It is another feature of this invention to provide a novel hands-free type support for conventional corded or cordless telephones which assist in isolating extraneous background noise from the telephone conversation and mechanically amplify the sound being emitted from the telephone speaker to thus enable the telephone listener to more adequately receive sound from the speaker of the telephone handset. It is an even further feature of this invention to provide a novel hands-free type support for conventional corded or cordless telephones that permits simple and efficient adaptation of conventional telephones for efficient releasable support by a hands-free type telephone support device, without in any manner altering or damaging the telephone handset. Briefly, the various objects and features of the present invention as noted above are realized through the provision of a hands-free type of telephone handset support device which incorporates bridging support means adapted to be received about the head of a user. The bridging support means is typically in the form of an adjustable headband of the general nature utilized for support and positioning of conventional audio earphones. The bridging support device or adjustable head band is of generally U-shaped configuration and provides support appendage at the free extremities thereof for support of a pair of ear pieces. Each of the ear pieces is of generally flat, rather thin configuration and are composed of any one of a number of suitable materials. Each of the ear pieces may be composed of a substantially flat plate composed of any one of polymer or hard rubber materials. The ear pieces may also be composed of aluminum or any other suitable metal material if desired. Typically the ear pieces are of generally elliptical outer configuration and centrally thereof each of the ear pieces forms an auditory aperture through which sound from the speaker of a telephone headset is projected to the auditory canal of the user's ear. To the inner portions of each of the ear pieces is affixed a rather soft, annular ear pad which, during use, is positioned in cushioned engagement with the head of the user and in encompassing relation about the ear of the user. When the support device is use therefore, the ear of the user is substantially encapsulated within an auditory chamber defined by the soft ear pad and the ear piece, with the auditory aperture oriented in registry with the auditory canal of the user's ears. The configuration of the auditory chamber which results from the ear piece and ear pad assembly is generally tapered from a small dimension at the auditory aperture to a larger dimension at the ear pads. This forms a mechanical sound amplification chamber which amplifies the sound being emitted by a telephone speaker. With the sound amplified and the background noise minimized the listener's telephone voice reception is significantly enhanced. The outer surface portion of each of the ear pieces is provided with a fastener layer, being one of the hook or loop layers of a hook and loop fastener such as that manufactured and sold by the American Velcro Company under the registered trademark "VELCRO¹¹". Typically, to enable the support device to have a "feel" of softness at its outer surface, the fastener layer will comprise the loop layer of a hook and loop fastener.

A conventional telephone handset is then provided with the opposite one of the loop or hook layers of fastening material to thus enable the telephone to be quickly and efficiently assembled to the hands-free support device simply by pressing the ear piece of the handset into assembly with the ear piece of the telephone support. Typically, the ear piece of the telephone handset will be provided with a circular or generally rectangular layer of fastening material which has a central cut out to expose the sound holes of the ear piece. This fastening material will typically be the loop side so that the telephone ear piece will have a soft feel to the ear when used in separated relation from the support device. Also, if desired, a plurality of small patches of loop type fastening material are assembled to the telephon handset about the speaker openings of the telephon handset. These patches of loop type fastenin materials are typically provided with an adhesiv backing which will adhere to various surface portions of the ear piece portion of the telephone handset. These fastener surface patches are of sufficient dimension to permit adequate and efficient fastening support of the handset and yet permit the force of fastener disassembly to be proper for ease of disassembling the handset from its supported relation with the hands-free telephone support device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So that the manner in which the above recited features, advantages and objects of the present invention are attained and can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to the embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings.

It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.

In the Drawings

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a hands-free telephone support device constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of one of the ear piece portions of the telephone support device of Fig. 1, showing the construction thereof in detail.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of a conventional cordless telephone illustrating attachment of a fastener layer thereto in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a pictorial representation of the hands-free telephone handset support device of this invention being shown in assembly with the head of a user.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of one of the ear piece assemblies of this invention showing supported assembly of a telephone handset thereby. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings and first to Fig. 1, a hands-free type telephone device constructed in accordance with the present invention is illustrated generally at 10 and incorporates bridging support means adapted for releasable assembly about the head of a user and which incorporates an adjustable head band. The head band comprises a central, arcuate section 14 which is fairly wide as shown in Fig. 2 for purposes of comfort and which is adapted to fit over the head of a user in the same manner as is typical with audio earphones. From the arcuate head band 14 extend pairs of ear piece elements 16 and 18. These ear piece support elements each define pivot elements 20 and 22 at the respective free extremities thereof. The pairs of ear piece support elements 16 and 18 are arranged in diverging relation such that the respective pairs of pivots thereof are disposed in rather widely spaced relationship.

A pair of ear piece members 24 and 26 respectively, are secured in pivotal assembly with the support elements 16 and 18 by respective pivot pins 28 and 30. Thus, the ear pieces 24 and 26 are pivotally supported at the free extremities of the pairs of support elements 26 and 18 to thus enable the ear pieces to be self-orienting with respect to the head of the user. The head band 14 and the support elements 16 and 18 have a spring-like characteristic such that the ear pieces 24 and 26, when the device is not in use, are positioned closer together than their spacing when the device is being used. Thus, the ear pieces are spread slightly while being assembled to the head of the user and this spring-like characteristic enables the ear pieces to fit snugly, with light pressure, to -li ¬

the head of the user and thereby stabilizes the telephone support device in substantially immovable relation with respect to the head of the user. The inner portions of each of the ear pieces 24 and 26 are defined by respective annular cushions 32 and 34 which are assembled to the inner surface portions of each of the respective ear pieces 24 and 26 in any suitable manner. For example, the respective cushions 32 and 34 may be assembled to the inner surface portions of the ear pieces by means of any suitable adhesive material. When in assembly with the head of the user, the cushion elements 32 and 34 press gently against the head of the user and, being of annular, generally elliptical form, provide annular cavities within which the ears of the user are received. This enables the telephone support device to be worn by the user for extended periods of time without becoming uncomfortable. Each of the ear pieces 24 and 26 is typically in the form of a rather thin, plate-like body of material. Though the ear pieces may be composed of any of a number of suitable materials such as metal, hard rubber, polymer, it has been determined that satisfactory results will be provided if the ear pieces are composed of a polymer material in having an outer flange 35 the order of 1/8 inch in thickness or so and having a plate thickness of about 1/32 inches. This particular dimension and the type of material from which the ear piece is composed is, however, not intended to restrict the spirit and scope of the present invention in any manner whatever.

The ear pieces 24 and 26 each define substantially centrally oriented auditory apertures 36 as shown in Fig. 2 which, when the support device is worn by a user, is oriented in efficient sound projecting relation with the auditory canal of the ear of the user. The auditory apertures cooperate with the inner surfaces of the ear pieces and the inner surfaces of the annular cushion elements 32 and 34 to define auditory chambers about the ears of the user. The auditory chambers by virtue of the structure of the ear pieces and ear pads are larger in a direction toward the ears of the user as compared with the auditory apertures. This causes the auditory chambers to have a mechanical quality of sound amplification. This enables sound from the speaker of the telephone handset to be slightly enhanced in amplif cation as it is received in the auditory canals of the user's ears. This telephone handset support device, therefore, facilitates more efficient hearing by the user as is typical with the use of the telephone handset alone. Further, substantial encapsulation of the ears of the user within the auditory chambers effectively promotes isolation of extraneous background noise in the vicinity of the listener and thus permits the user to have more effective and efficient telephone communication capability as compared to the conventional telephone communications. As mentioned above, it is desirable to provide for efficient assembly and disassembly of a conventional telephone of the corded or cordless type to the telephone support device. It is further desirable that the user have the capability through use of the telephone support device to quickly pickup a telephone that has rung and to efficiently place it in supported assembly with the support device such that the telephone is positioned in substantially immovable relation with the head of the user, with the ear piece of the telephone oriented with its speaker in registry with the auditory aperture of the support device and with the microphone of the telephone handset oriented for efficient voice pickup of the user. These advantages are effectively realized through the provision of a hook and loop faster system for the telephone support device and the telephone handset, such as is manufactured and sold by the American Velcro Company under the registered trademark "Velcro^R", referred hereinafter simply as "velcro" . For purposes of understanding, a hook and loop fastener as utilized herein is intended to mean a releasable fastener assembly having one piece which is made up of elements comprising one-half of a readily releasable and reattachable fastening means, which half may comprise a plurality of tiny loops of synthetic resin which are adapted to establish interlocking assembly with a layer of fastener material made up of a multitude of small hooks of synthetic resin material. When brought into assembly, the small hooks engage within the multitude o small loops and thus provide a retention capability requiring force for disassembly thereof. It has been determined that velcro material may be efficiently used for supporting the telephone 46 in substantially immovable relation with one of the ear pieces 24 or 26. When the telephone rings, the user will simply lift the telephone from its cradle, or in the case of a cordless telephone, simply shift its switch to the talk mode to enable telephone communication to occur. The user will then simply press the ear piece portion of the telephone handset 46 against a selected one of the ear pieces 24 and 26 thus positioning the speaker holes 50 of the ear piece portion 52 in registry with the auditory aperture 36. By simply pressing the ear piece portion 52 of the handset 46 against the fastener layer 42 or 44 of the respective ear piece, the fastener layers 48 will become adhered to the respective fastener layer 44, thus supporting the telephone handset in substantially immovable relation with the respective ear piece. When the telephone handset is placed into supported assembly with the respective ear piece, the microphone openings 54 of the handset will be oriented adjacent to the mouth of the user and in position for the microphone of the handset to efficiently receive the sound of the user's voice. With the telephone handset supported in this manner the user will have hands-free capability to accomplish other tasks while at the same time being enabled to conduct efficient telephone communication. This hands-free telephone support device is therefore readily usable in the domestic environment by persons who wish to accomplish other tasks such as cleaning, cooking, etc. simultaneously with accomplishing telephone communication, such other tasks for example being infant care, dish washing, ironing and many other activities that may be conducted indoors. Where cordless telephones are utilized, many activities may be conducted out of doors by telephone users such as washing the car, raking leaves, painting, gardening, etc. In the office environment hands-free telephone support devices constructed in accordance with the present invention are considered quite efficient to enable telephone communication simultaneously with the conduct of hands-free activates by the user.

In travels, one^'s use of cellular phones, i.e., talking on the cellular phone while driving can be accomplished with greater safety and effectiveness due to enabling the driver who wishes and/or needs to communicate over the phone while driving can have both hands free to drive safer, etc. Each of the ear pieces 24 and 26 defines a substantially planar outer plate surface such as shown at 38 in Fig. 5. To these substantially planar plate surfaces is affixed respective layers 42 and 44 of fastener material, being one-half of a hook and loop fastener. typically the hook fastener layer 44 is affixed by an adhesive layer 45 to the plate surface 38 as shown in Fig. 5 and the loop layer of the fastener is affixed by an adhesive layer 49 to the ear piece 52 of the telephone to thus give the telephone ear piece a soft feel when touched to the ear of the user. The ear pieces 24 and 26 preferably have a hook type fastener layer as shown at 42 and 44. These hook type fabric layers are fixed to the respective outer surfaces 38 of the ear pieces 24 and 26 by means of any suitable adhesive material 45 or by any other suitable means of attachment. It has been determined that layers of hook type fabric fastener material having an adhesive backing may be pressed into adhesive retention with the outer surfaces 38 of the ear pieces and function quite well for the purposes of supporting a telephone handset.

As shown in Fig. 3 a conventional telephone such as a cordless telephone may be efficiently supported in releasable substantially immovable assembly with either one of the ear pieces 24 and 26 as desired by the user. The ear piece 52 of the telephone 46 is provided with a fastener layer 48 which is preferably composed of hook and loop fastening material. Although as shown in Fig. 3, a plurality of patches 48 of velcro material are shown to be utilized, it should be born in mind that the velcro material may be of any other suitable form other than the circular form shown. In fact, the velcro material of the ear piece portion of the handset may be defined by a single generally rectangular layer covering most of the ear piece portion of the handset and with a cut-out central portion permitting projection of sound from the telephone speaker and through the auditory aperture into the auditory chamber about the ears of the user.

In view of the foregoing, it is evident that the present invention is one well adapted to attain all of the objects and features hereinabove set forth, together with other objects and features which are inherent in the apparatus disclosed herein.

As will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, the present invention may be produced in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The present embodiment, is therefore, to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the claims rather than the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of the equivalence of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

Claims

1. A support device for supporting a telephone handset in substantially immovable relation with the head of a user and in position for telephone communication, comprising:

(a) bridging support means for extending about the head of a user and having ear piece support means thereon;

(b) ear piece means being supported by said ear piece support means and forming an outwardly facing portion, said ear piece means also forming an auditory aperture adapted to be positioned in registry with the auditory canal of the ear of the user; and

(c) telephone handset retention means being fixed to said ear piece means and being adapted for support of a telephone in substantially immovable relation with said ear piece means with the speaker of the telephone handset oriented for projection of sound through said auditory aperture to the auditory canal of the ear of the user and with the microphone of the telephone handset positioned near the mouth of the user, thus permitting the user the freedom to use the telephone handset for talking and listening while the users hands are free for other activities.

2. The support device of claim 1, wherein: said bridging support means is adjustable in length for selective positioning of said ear piece for accommodation of a range of head sizes of different users.

3. The support device of claim 1, wherein: said bridging support means is adapted to urge said ear piece means into intimate engagement with the head of the user.

4. The support device of claim 1, wherein: (a) said ear piece means is of generally flat con iguration and defines a central opening forming said auditory aperture; and

Cb) said telephone retention means being one-half of a releasable hook and loop fastener, the other one-half of said releasable hook and loop fastener adapted to be fixed to the ear piece of said telephone handset, such that said telephone is releasably supportable in substantially fixed relation with said ear piece means by assembly of said hook and loop releasable fastener.

5. The support device of claim 1, wherein: (a) said ear piece means comprises a pair of ear pieces each being supported by said bridging support means and being positionable in intimate engagement with the head of the user and about the ears of the user such that said auditory apertures of each of said ear pieces are in registry with the auditory canal of the respective ears of the user; and

(b) said bridging support means having a spring characteristic such that when assembled about the head of the user said ear pieces being urged toward one another so that said ear pieces are positionable in substantially immovable relation with the head of the user.

6. The support device of claim 5, including: an annular cushion element being fixed to the inner portion of each of said ear pieces and, when said ear pieces are positioned in engagement with the head of the user, said cushion elements being disposed in intimate cushioning engagement with the head of the user and are positioned in encompassing relation about the ears of the user.

7. The support device of claim 5, wherein:

(a) each of said ear pieces defines an outwardly facing surface having said auditory aperture located substantially centrally thereof; and

(b) said telephone handset retention means being a layer of fastening material being one-half of a hook and loop fastener, with the other one-half of said hook and loop fastener being adapted for fixed assembly with the ear piece of said telephone handset, said layer of fastening material forming the outer portions of each of said ear pie: .

8. The support device of claim 7, wherein: said layer of fastening material defines a central opening located in registry with said auditory aperture.

9. The support device of claim 8, wherein: said layer of fastening material defines substantially the entire outer surface of said ear piece thus permitting selective positioning of said telephone handset relative to said ear piece. 10. The support device of claim 7, wherein: said other one-half of said hook and 5 loop fastener comprises a plurality of surface patches of said hook and loop fastening material having an adhesive material forming the inner surface thereof for adhesive attachment to the ear piece of said telephone.

10 11. The support device of claim 10, wherein: said one-half of said hook and loop fastener comprises a layer of hook and loop fastening material forming a multitude of tiny fabric loops and thus presenting an outwardly facing surface having a

!5 smooth and soft feel when touched by the user.

12. The support device of claim 5, wherein:

(a) each of said ear pieces is of piate-like form and defines an outer surface positioned

20 for facing away from the head of the user and having said auditory aperture located substantially centrally thereof;

(b) said telephone handset retention means being releasable fastening material being

25 one-half of a hook and loop fastener being fixed to said outer surface of said ear piece and defining substantially the entire outer surface portion of said ear piece, said layer of releasable fastening material having a central opening positioned in registry with

30 auditory aperture; and

(c) said telephone handset retention means including releasable fastening material being the other one-half of said hook and loop fastener and adapted to be fixed to the ear piece of a conventional

35 telephone handset. 13. The support device of claim 12, wherein: each of said ear pieces forms a substantially flat plate and forms a positioning flange disposed in encompassing relation about said plate, said fastener being affixed to said plate.

14. The support device of claim 12, wherein: said hook and loop fastening material includes a backing of adhesive material for adhering assembly with said ear pieces and said ear piece of said telephone handset.

15. The support device of claim 12, including: annular cushion elements being fixed to the inner portion of each of said ear pieces and disposed for intimate cushioned engagement with the head of the user and in encompassing relation about the ears of the user, said annular cushion elements and said ear pieces cooperate to define respective auditory

"chambers in communication with said auditory apertures of said ear pieces and cooperating with said auditory apertures to form sound isolation and amplification structures for isolating background noise of the user's environment and for amplifying sound being projected through said auditory apertures by the speaker of said telephone handset. AMENDED CLAIMS

[received by the International Bureau on 2 March 1993 (02.03.93) ; original claims 4 and 7 cancelled; original claims 1 ,2,3-5,6,

8-10, 12-19 amended; other claims unchanged (5 pages) ]

1. A support device for supporting a telephone handset having an earpiece in substantially immovable relation with the head of a user and in position for telephone communication, comprising:

(a) a resilient headband for extending about the head of a user and having support means thereon;

(b) a relatively thin plate-like telephone handset support being connected to said resilient headband and being adapted to engage the head of the user in the region of the ear and having a flat wall portion defining a flat surface, said flat wall of said head engaging element also defining an auditory aperture centrally thereof adapted to be positioned in registry with the auditory canal of the ear of the user; and

(c) telephone handset retention means having a first retention layer being fixed to said flat surface of said telephone support element and having a second retention layer adapted to be fixed to the earpiece end of said telephone handset, said first and second retention layers being of the hook and loop fastener type and releasably adhering to one another as said telephone earpiece with said second retention layer attached is brought into oriented contact with said first retention layer of said flat surface of said telephone handset support element, thus releasably securing said telephone handset in substantially immovable relation with said telephone support element and with the earpiece and speaker of the telephone handset oriented for projection of sound to the auditory canal of the ear of the user and with the microphone of the telephone handset positioned near the mouth of the user, thus permitting the user the freedom to use the telephone handset for talking and listening while the users hands are free for other activities.

2. The support device of claim 1, wherein: said resilient headband is adjustable in length for selective positioning of said telephone handset support element for accommodation of a range of head sizes of different users.

3. The support device of claim 1, wherein: said resilient headband is adapted to urge said telephone support element into intimate engagement with the head of the user in the region of the ears.

5. The support device of claim 1, wherein: - 5 (a) a pair of telephone handset support elements being supported by said resilient headband and being plate-like, head engaging elements each being supported by said resilient headband and being positionable in intimate engagement with the head of the user and about the ears of the user such that said auditory apertures of each of said element is in registry with the auditory canal of the respective ears of the user; and

10 (b) said resilient headband having a spring characteristic such that when assembled about the head of the user said telephone handset support element being urged toward one another so as to be positionable in substantially immovable relation with the head of the user for releasable support of said telephone handset in position for telephone communication.

15

6. The support device of claim 5, including: an annular cushion element being fixed to the inner portion of each of said elements and, when said telephone handset support elements are positioned in engagement with the head of the user, said cushion elements being disposed in intimate cushioning

20 engagement with the head of the user and being positioned in encompassing relation about the ears of the user.

8. The support device of claim 1 , wherein: said first retention layer defines a central opening located in registry with 25 said auditory aperture.

9. The support device of claim 8, wherein: said first retention layer defines substantially the entire outer surface of said telephone handset support elements thus permitting selective positioning of said earpiece 30 and speaker portion of said telephone handset relative to said telephone handset support elements and thus relative to either ear of the user.

10. The support device of claim 1, wherein: said second retention layer comprises a plurality of surface patches of said hook and loop fastening material having an adhesive material forming the inner surface thereof for adhesive attachment to the earpiece portion of said telephone handset.

11. The support device of claim 10, wherein: said one-half of said hook and loop fastener comprises a layer of hook and loop fastening material forming a multitude of tiny fabric loops and thus presenting an outwardly facing surface having a smooth and soft feel when touched by the user.

12. The support device of claim 5, wherein:

(a) each of said flat surface portions of said telephone handset support elements is oriented for facing away from the head of the user;

(b) said telephone handset retention means being releasable fastening material being one-half of a hook and loop fastener being fixed to said flat surface positions of said telephone handset support elements and defining substantially the entire outwardly facing outer surface portion of said telephone handset support elements, said layer of releasable fastening material having a central opening positioned in registry with auditory aperture; and (c) said telephone handset retention means including releasable fastening material being the other one-half of said hook and loop fastener and adapted to be fixed to the earpiece and speaker portion of a conventional telephone handset.

13. The support device of claim 12, wherein: each of said telephone handset support elements defines a substantially flat plate and forms a positioning flange disposed in encompassing relation about said substantially flat plate, said hook and loop fastener being affixed to flat surface portion of said plate and having the outer periphery thereof circumscribed by said positioning flange.

14. The support device of claim 12, wherein: said hook and loop fastening material of said first and second retention layers includes a backing of adhesive material for adhering assembly with said flat surface portions of said head engaging elements and said earpiece and speaker portion of said telephone handset.

^•v

15. The support device of claim 12, including:

• 5 annular cushion elements being fixed to the inner portion of each of said telephone handset support elements and being disposed for intimate cushioned engagement with the head of the user and in encompassing relation about the ears of the user, said annular cushion elements and said elements cooperating to define respective auditory chambers in communication with said auditory apertures of said telephone handset support 10 elements and cooperating with said auditory apertures to form sound isolation and amplification structures for isolating background noise of the user's environment and for amplifying sound being projected through said auditory apertures by the speaker of said telephone handset.

15 16. A support device for supporting a conventional telephone handset having a speaker portion with an earpiece and a microphone portion in substantially immovable relation with the head of a user and in position for telephone communication, comprising:

(a) a resilient and adjustable headband for extending about the head of 20 a user and having at least one support thereon;

(b) at least one plate-like head engaging element being connected to said support and forming an outwardly facing generally planar surface defining substantially the entire outer surface portion of said plate-like head engaging element, said head engaging element also defining an auditory aperture adapted to be positioned in registry with the

25 auditory canal of the ear of the user;

(c) a first layer of hook and loop fastening material being fixed to and covering the entirety of said generally planar surface and thus defining a large surface area

_* thereof for selective positioning of said telephone handset relative to said plate-like head engaging element and being adapted for releasable support of a telephone handset in f 30 substantially immovable relation with said ear piece with the speaker portion of the telephone handset oriented for projection of sound through said auditory aperture to the auditory canal of the ear of the user and with the microphone portion of the telephone handset positioned near the mouth of the user, thus permitting the user the freedom to use the telephone handset for talking and listening while the users hands are free for other activities; and

(d) a second layer of hook and loop fastening material adapted to be fixed to the earpiece of the speaker portion of said telephone handset and capable of releasably adhering to said first layer of hook and loop fastening material with sufficient retention for substantially immovable support of said telephone handset upon being brought into surface to surface contact therewith.

17. The support device of claim 16, including: an annular cushion element being fixed to the inner portion of each of said plate-like head engaging elements and, when said head engaging elements are positioned in engagement with the head of the user, said cushion elements adapted to be positioned lin intimate cushioning engagement with the head of the user and in encompassing relation about the ears of the user.

18. The support device of claim 16, wherein:

(a) said first layer of hook and loop fastening material defines a central opening located in registry with said auditory aperture; and (b) first and second layers of hook and loop fastening material are each adhesive backed for adhesive attachment respectively to said generally planar surface and to said earpiece and speaker portion of said telephone handset.

19. The support device of claim 18, wherein: said second layer of said hook and loop fastening material comprises a plurality of surface patches of said hook and loop fastening material having an adhesive material forming the inner surface thereof for adhesive attachment to the speaker portion of said conventional telephone handset and being oriented to take away from the earpiece and speaker of the telephone handset.