WO2003045187A1

WO2003045187A1 - Means for attaching a lanyard to a handheld communication device

Info

Publication number: WO2003045187A1
Application number: PCT/US2001/044192
Authority: WO
Inventors: Cedric William Allum; Frank Nuovo
Original assignee: Vertu Ltd
Priority date: 2001-11-27
Filing date: 2001-11-27
Publication date: 2003-06-05
Also published as: AU2002232430A1

Abstract

A portable or handheld communication device, such as a cellular telephone, is disclosed. The device can be worn on a lanyard around a user's neck. This is achieved through the use of an optional lanyard attachment fixture which can be attached to the device if needed. In the absence of a lanyard attachment fixture, a blanking plate is provided which matches the overall external appearance of the device and preserves its aesthetic appeal. The lanyard attachment fixture co-operates with an associated deskstand of the communication device so that reliable interworking of the communication device and the deskstand can be achieved.

Description

MEANS FOR ATTACHING A LANYARD TO A HANDHELD COMMUNICATION DEVICE

Background of the Invention

This invention relates to an improved means of attaching a lanyard or carrying strap to a handheld communication apparatus. The invention is particularly suitable for a portable telephone, such as a cellular telephone. Other uses will be apparent to the skilled man.

Advances in miniaturisation of portable communication devices such as portable telephones have led to user demands for more convenient means of carrying the devices. Older, more bulky telephones tended to be carried in briefcases and the like. As telephones have become smaller, they have been carried in pockets or clipped to belts. Now they have become even smaller, many users wish to carry their telephones on a lanyard or cord around their neck, ensuring ease of access and constant availability.

In use, it is often convenient to attach a lanyard to a lower surface of a telephone or other electronic device. In the case of a telephone, this allows the telephone to hang upside down around a user's neck. However, when it is desired to make an outgoing call, receive an incoming call or view information displayed on a display of the telephone, the telephone may be simply tilted towards the user, so that it assumes the correct orientation. If the lanyard were attached to an upper surface of the telephone, it would interfere with such an operation, and would tend to position itself between either the user's ear and the earpiece or the user's eyes and the display.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a lanyard attachment device for attachment to a handheld communication device, the lanyard attachment device comprising: a first part for attachment to the handheld communication device; and a second part, pivotable relative to the first part about its union with said first part, and arranged to be attached to a lanyard for use in carrying the handheld communication device around the neck of a user.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a handheld communication device having an operating face comprising a display region and an input region comprising a plurality of input devices, said handheld communication device comprising a lanyard attachment device positioned to project from a lower surface of said handheld communication device, wherein said lanyard attachment device comprises a first portion attached to said handheld communication device, and a second portion pivotally attached to said first portion and being arranged for attachment of a lanyard, said pivotal attachment of said first and second portions defining a pivot axis which is substantially parallel to a lower surface of the handheld communication device.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a combination comprising: a handheld communication device having a lanyard attachment fixture projecting from a lower surface of the telephone; and an associated deskstand for receiving the handheld communication device, wherein the lanyard attachment fixture is arranged such that it is pivotable relative to the lower surface from which it projects, about an axis substantially parallel with the lower surface, such that if the handheld communication device is placed into the deskstand, the lanyard attachment fixture is guided away from a connector.

An advantage of a portable or handheld communication device, particularly a telephone, according to embodiments of the present invention is that a user of the device can decide whether or not he wishes to adapt the device to incorporate a lanyard attachment device. Not all users will want such a feature, and if unwanted, there is no need to provide such a device, as it may tend to detract from the aesthetic appeal of the handheld device. However, for a user who wishes to wear his portable device around his neck, the provision of a lanyard attachment device serves a very useful function, and far from detracting from the aesthetic appeal, allows the user to show their device to maximum effect, by wearing it where it will be clearly visible to all. This is becoming increasingly common, and many people choose to make fashion statements by purchasing a particular telephone over another rival product.

Advantageously, the lanyard attachment device is located on a lower surface of the communication device. This not only means that the device is easily tilted into the correct orientation when hanging around a user's neck, but this is the location in which such an attachment device interferes least with the aesthetic appearance of the communication device.

Preferably, the lanyard attachment device is made from a hard wearing, tough and durable material, such as steel or another suitable metal. Other materials such as plastics materials may also be used.

Coupled with the optional provision of the lanyard attachment device is the normally default option of providing a blanking plate which occupies the position in the device which would be occupied by the lanyard attachment device if fitted. In this way, the aesthetic appeal of the portable device is maintained, while still allowing easy modification to incorporate the means by which a lanyard may be used with the portable device.

The use of a lanyard attachment device according to embodiments of the present invention provide advantages in the interworking of the handheld device with associated devices, particularly deskstands. Deskstands are normally provided to keep the handheld device close by and in easy reach. Most deskstands also provide a charging current to charge the internal battery of the handheld device. This is supplied to the handheld device by electrical contacts in the charger, which connect to matching contacts in the handheld device. Lanyard attachment devices according to embodiments of the invention offer the advantage that they do not interfere with the electrical connection required for charging. The movable nature of the attachment device ensures that as the handheld device is introduced into the deskstand, it is guided away from the electrical connectors, and so cannot interrupt the electrical connection.

Advantageously, lanyard attachment devices according to embodiments of the present invention provide an added safety feature if used with non-approved lanyards. Ordinarily, if a user of the handheld device uses the supplied and approved lanyard, it incorporates a safety feature which comprises a weakened portion of the lanyard which is designed to break or shear if the lanyard experiences more than a certain force. In this way, the user is protected from possible injury if, for instance, the handheld device becomes trapped in the doors of a closing train.

However, if the user chooses to use a non-approved lanyard, not having such a safety feature, he places himself at risk should the handheld device become trapped as described above. To address this risk, lanyard attachment devices according to embodiments of the present invention incorporate a defined structural weakness which will cause at least part of the lanyard attachment device to become separated from the handheld device if it experiences more than a certain defined force. The force at which separation occurs is intended to be greater than the force at which an approved lanyard will break. In this way, if an approved lanyard is used, it will always break first. The separation of the lanyard attachment device is a fall back solution for when all other solutions have failed.

Preferably, the handheld communication device is a cellular telephone.

Other communication devices such as wireless browsers or palmtop computers may benefit from aspects of the invention. Indeed, many handheld communication devices incorporate some or all of the features of the above mentioned examples. Brief Description of the Drawings

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to understand how the same may be brought into effect, the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a front view of a handheld telephone according to embodiments of the invention;

Figure 2 shows a rear perspective view of a handheld telephone comprising a device according to an aspect of the invention;

Figure 3 shows a detailed perspective view of the device of Figure 2;

Figure 4 shows a detailed perspective view of a blanking device for use when the device of Figure 3 is not used;

Figures 5a-d show the steps followed to remove a lanyard attached to the handheld telephone of Figure 2;

Figure 6 shows a partial view of the telephone of Figure 1 inserted into a complementary deskstand; and

Figure 7 shows the waisted portions of a hinge pin for providing a secondary safety feature.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Figure 1 shows a front view of a portable or handheld telephone of the type which can benefit from embodiments of the present invention. The telephone 1 has the usual features associated with such devices. On the operating face of the telephone 1 , there is a loudspeaker 100 for relaying voice signals from a remote user. Immediately below the loudspeaker 100, there is a display region 110 for displaying graphical and textual information to the user. Immediately below the display area 110, there is an input region 120 comprising several independent input devices such as push button keys for entering information into the telephone and controlling its operation. Immediately below the input region, there is a microphone 130 for receiving voice information from a user and relaying it to a remote user.

Using the normal terminology for such devices, the loudspeaker 100 is at the upper end of the telephone, and the microphone 130 is at the lower end.

Figure 2 shows a perspective rear view of the lower portion of a handheld telephone 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this view, the rear cover of the telephone is removed to reveal the battery compartment 5. The outer casing of the telephone 1 comprises two ribs or rails 2, 3 which encircle the telephone and assist in holding the various housing elements of the telephone housing together.

On the lower surface of the telephone is the system connector 4. This comprises electrical contacts (not shown) for connecting any of various external devices to the telephone 1. Such external devices include chargers, hands free headsets, computers and car kits.

Also shown is the optional lanyard attachment device 10. This is also shown in more detail in Figure 3. The lanyard attachment device comprises a first portion 11 for attachment to the telephone. The first portion is held securely in position by two screws 20, which fasten it to the telephone housing.

The second portion 12 of the lanyard attachment device 10 is hingedly connected to the first part 11 , about a hinge pin 15, and comprises an eye portion 13. The eye portion allows a user to fasten a lanyard or neck strap to the eye portion 13. The second portion 12 is free to pivot about an axis defined by the hinge pin 15. The pivot axis is parallel to the lower surface of the telephone i.e. the surface occupied by the system connector 4.

Figures 5a-d show the steps followed in order to remove a lanyard 40 from the telephone 1 having a lanyard attachment device 10. The lanyard 40 comprises a clip or fastener 42 on the end of a cord or chain 41. In order to remove the lanyard, the user depresses a sprung element, which enables the clip 42 to be removed from the eye 13 of the lanyard attachment device 10.

In order to re-attach the lanyard 40 to the telephone 1 , the steps are simply reversed.

When the lanyard is used to carry the telephone, the telephone will appear to hang upside down around the user's neck. During such use, the lower surface, i.e. the surface to which the lanyard is attached, will appear to be the upper surface. For clarity, the term lower surface is used throughout to refer to the lower surface in operational use, for instance when the user is talking into the telephone or browsing information on the display.

The lanyard attachment device is intended to be available to the user of the telephone as an optional attachment. However, since not all users will require such a feature, in the absence of the lanyard attachment, a blanking plate 30, as shown in Figure 4, is provided. It is envisaged that the telephone will generally be supplied with the blanking plate 30 in position, with the user specifically requesting the lanyard attachment device 10 if needed.

The blanking plate 30 is specifically designed to match the outer appearance of the telephone 1. In the particular configuration shown, note that the outer profile of the blanking plate 30 blends exactly with the rail 2 shown in Figure 2. As such, the blanking plate 30 does not detract from the aesthetic appearance of the telephone. This is important to many users of telephones, who, in many cases, purchase a particular telephone because of its attractive appearance. Only those users who wish to make use of a lanyard for carrying their phone will need to have the lanyard attachment 10 device fitted.

The optional lanyard attachment device 10 may be provided to a user so that he may fit it himself, or preferably, it may be fitted in a suitable retail outlet or service centre. As noted previously, the first and second portions of the lanyard attachment are movable with respect to each other. If that were not the case, then a fixed static lanyard attachment device would be necessary. As this generally needs to be located on a lower surface of the telephone to ensure proper orientation of the telephone in use, it is also located very near to the system connector 4. As such, it is likely that such a fixed device would interfere with the provision of a reliable connection between the telephone's system connector 4 and a mating connector in a complementary deskstand used for charging the telephone's battery.

To address this possible problem, the second portion 12 is hingedly connected to the first portion so that when the telephone 1 is inserted into its complementary deskstand for charging, the second portion 12 of the lanyard attachment 10 is able to pivot and swing away from the connector 4. This prevents it from interfering with the mechanical connection between the connector 4 and the mating connector in the deskstand.

Figure 6 shows the telephone 1 , with lanyard attachment device 10 fitted, being inserted into matching deskstand 50. The deskstand 50 comprises a base 51 , extending from which are two vertical elements 52 which define a channel 53 into which the telephone 1 is inserted. The deskstand 50 provides a convenient means to store the telephone 1 on a desk while charging it. The deskstand 50 is provided with a power connection (not shown) for providing a charging current to the telephone 1. The charging current is provided via electrical connector 55 which connects with the system connector 4 of the telephone 1 when the telephone is fully inserted into the deskstand 50.

The deskstand 50 has a small recess 54 in a side wall at the bottom of the channel 53. The recess 54 is provided to accommodate the lanyard attachment device 10 when the telephone is inserted into the deskstand. The recess 53 is angled such that when the lanyard attachment device 10 first contacts it, the lanyard attachment device 10 swings away from the vertical, and so allows the telephone to fully engage with the deskstand 50.

In this way, the user can simply insert the telephone into the deskstand for charging without needing to remove the lanyard or be concerned about the lanyard attachment device getting in the way of the electrical connection between the telephone and deskstand.

If the lanyard 40 is connected when the telephone is inserted, the extra bulk of the spring clip 42 means that in the absence of a movable lanyard attachment fixture, the clip 42 is likely to prevent the telephone from fully engaging with the deskstand. With a lanyard attachment device according to embodiments of the invention, the device and the lanyard clip are guided away from the channel 53 and the connectors of the telephone and the deskstand.

The lanyard supplied for use with the lanyard attachment device 10 incorporates a safety feature whereby excessive strain applied to the lanyard causes it to fracture or snap so that the user is not injured. This safety feature is intended to operate in the circumstance where the user's telephone may, for instance, become trapped in the closing doors of a departing train. The increased strain on the lanyard would sever the lanyard at a predefined weakened point.

If, however, the user chooses to use a lanyard other than the one provided with the in-built safety feature, he potentially places himself at danger of strangulation. To safeguard against such a situation, the lanyard attachment device is constructed so that if a certain force is applied to it, the hinge pin 15, joining the first 11 and second 12 parts together breaks, thus relieving the strain on the lanyard around the user's neck.

Figure 7 shows a hinge pin arranged to function in the above described manner. The hinge pin 15 provides the mechanical link between the two parts of the lanyard attachment device 10. Along the length of the pin 15 are two distinct waisted portions 16 i.e. portions having a reduced diameter compared to the remainder of the pin. Each waisted portion corresponds with the position of the interface between the first 11 and second 12 portion of the lanyard attachment device 10.

If the provided lanyard is used, and is subject to excessive strain, then it is intended to fail at a force of about 120N. If, however, a different lanyard is used which has no in-built safety feature, or at least an inadequate one, then the hinge pin 15 will fracture when the applied force is 250N + 50N.

In this way, if the supplied lanyard is used, it will always break before the hinge pin 15. However, if the user uses a different lanyard, then the hinge pin is designed to protect the user from injury in the event of excessive force being applied to the lanyard.

Although illustrated with two waisted portions, the skilled man is aware that other arrangements, such as a single waisted portion, are possible which will deliberately introduce a defined weakness into the pin structure for the purpose described above.

Although particularly described with reference to a lanyard or neck strap, the same consideration apply equally to other forms of strap attachments such as wrist straps.

The present invention includes any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein either explicitly or any generalisation thereof irrespective of whether or not it relates to the claimed invention or mitigates any or all of the problems addressed.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. , A lanyard attachment device for attachment to a handheld communication device, the lanyard attachment device comprising:

a first part for attachment to the handheld communication device; and

a second part, pivotable relative to the first part about its union with said first part, and arranged to be attached to a lanyard for use in carrying the handheld communication device around the neck of a user.

2. A lanyard attachment device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second part is pivotable about a pivot axis defined by a hinge mechanism.

3. A lanyard attachment device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the hinge mechanism comprises a hinge pin, and said hinge pin is arranged to fracture if a force exceeding a defined limit is applied thereto.

4. A lanyard attachment device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the hinge pin is arranged to fracture by the provision of at least one waisted portion along a length of the hinge pin.

5. A handheld communication device having an operating face comprising a display region and an input region comprising a plurality of input devices, said handheld communication device comprising a lanyard attachment device positioned to project from a lower surface of said handheld communication device, wherein said lanyard attachment device comprises a first portion attached to said handheld communication device, and a second portion pivotally attached to said first portion and being arranged for attachment of a lanyard, said pivotal attachment of said first and second portions defining a pivot axis which is substantially parallel to a lower surface of the handheld communication device.

6. A handheld communication device as claimed in claim 5 wherein said lanyard attachment device is located centrally on said lower surface of said handheld communication device.

7. A kit of parts comprising:

a handheld communication device;

a lanyard attachment device as claimed in claim 1 ; and

a blanking plate for attachment to the handheld communication device as an alternative to the lanyard attachment apparatus.

8. A kit of parts as claimed in claim 7 further comprising a lanyard for attachment to the lanyard attachment device.

9. A combination comprising:

a handheld communication device having a lanyard attachment fixture projecting from a lower surface of the telephone; and

an associated deskstand for receiving the handheld communication device, wherein the lanyard attachment fixture is arranged such that it is pivotable relative to the lower surface from which it projects, about an axis substantially parallel with the lower surface, such that if the handheld communication device is placed into the deskstand, the lanyard attachment fixture is guided away from a connector.

10. A combination as claimed in claim 9 wherein the lanyard attachment fixture is guided away from a connector by its entry into an angled recess in the deskstand.

11. A combination as claimed in claim 10 wherein the angled recess is located in a side wall of the lowest section of a channel in the deskstand for receiving the handheld communication device.