AU2002100081A4 - A portable telephone with a hand/wrist strap - Google Patents

Description

A PORTABLE TELEPHONE WITH A HAND/WRIST

STRAP

TECHNICAL

FIELD

This invention relates to portable telephones and has particular relevance to portable telephones provided with a hand or wrist strap.

BACKGROUND ART Portable telephones are being used increasingly by people in all walks of life and as the technology advances the size and weight of the telephones is being reduced increasingly.

Generally the portable telephones are used whilst being held in the palm of the users hand.

Some portable telephones are in the form of a elongate "slab" and other telephones, which are generally smaller, have a hinge flap mounting a microphone and in use the flap is folded out from the main body of the telephone so that the mouth piece can be held adjacent the mouth and the earpiece on the main body of the telephone adjacent the ear.

Hands free accessories are also available and these are convenient in situations where the users hands are occupied, e.g. when driving, writing down the text of a message or the like.

In most cases the shape and configuration of portable telephones does not always allow provide for ideal positioning of the earpiece and microphone.

The hand and or wrist provide an ideal site for mounting a portable telephone and the thumb and small finger provide an ideal spacing and arc for mounting an earpiece and microphone in a manner which would be comfortable for the user, and which would allow the fingers of the hand to be free.

United States patent no. 5,659, 611 describes a radio telephone wrist instrument wherein separate microphone and speaker attachments are releasably mounted on the fingers or thumbs of a users hand.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable telephone which can be mounted on the hand and wrist of the user.

In terms of the size most portable telephones the front face of the hand is probably the more ideal site for mounting portable telephones.

Accordingly it is a further object of the present invention to provide a carrying device for a portable telephone which enables a portable telephone to be worn on the front face of a users hand and which provides a releasbly mounted combined microphone and speaker device which can be worn on the finger or thumb of a user.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION According to the present invention there is provided a carrying device for a portable telephone comprising; a casing in which a portable telephone can be enclosed, a strap or straps for mounting the telephone on the hand and wrist a user, and a combined microphone and speaker extension connectable to a telephone within the casing, characterised in that the combined microphone and speaker extension is adapted to be releasably worn on a finger or thumb of a user.

The strap or straps are mounted on a rear face of the casing.

The strap or straps are adapted to secure the casing with respect to the palm and wrist of a user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.

Aspects of the present will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which; Figure 1 is a plan view of a portable telephone in accordance with one possible embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 2 is a perspective view of a portable telephone fixed to the hand of a user, and Figure 3 is a perspective drawing of a carrying case enclosing a portable telephone and a combined microphone speaker extension, and Figure 4 is a perspective drawing the rear portion of a person's hand showing the position of mounting straps for carrying the case of figure 3 on the hand.

With reference to the drawings the present invention provides a portable telephone generally indicated by arrow 1 having a body 2 with one major face mounting controls 3 and a display 4, a hand or wrist strap associated with the side end or rear major surface of the body, a microphone extension generally indicated by arrow 6 extending from the body and an earpiece extension generally indicated by arrow 7 also extending from the body.

The microphone extension 6 and the earpiece extension 7 are each provided with means 8 for attachment to a users small finger and thumb respectively.

The means 8 for attachment to the finger or thumb can be in the form of a solid or adjustable ringlet and in each case an amplifying device 9 can be attached to the said means for attachment.

The connection from the main body of the telephone to the attachment means can be in the form of a flexible, semi-rigid or shapeable arm The hand or wrist strap 5 can be adjustable with a 'Velcro' strap or other form of strap adjuster (not shown).

Figure 2 of the drawings shows the telephone of Figure 1 being worn on the hand of a user, and in the example illustrated the hand or wrist strap 5 extends across the palm of the users hand and the attachment means 8 to which the microphone and earpieces are attached are mounted on the thumb 11 and a distal finger 12 respectively of the users hand.

With respect to figures 3 and 4 of the drawings according to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a carrying device for a portable telephone generally indicated by arrow 15, comprising a casing 16 in which a portable telephone 17 can be enclosed in the orientation illustrated.

The carrying case is adapted to be worn on the front of the hand and is secured to the wrist and palm by adjustable straps 18, 19.

A combined microphone/speaker extension generally indicated by arrow 20 can extend from the portable telephone 17 and is worn on the thumb or finger of a user.

The microphone speaker extension 20 comprises a plug 21 to connection to the telephone 17 a two wire flexible cord 22 which extends to a mounting band 23 and an earpiece and microphone mounting piece 24 mounted on the band 23.

The straps 18, 19 can be joined by matching VelcroT M strips which will provide adjustment for different hand and wrist sizes.

An alternative to the structure described an additional or separate microphone and lead 27 can be provided for added comfort. When not in use the microphone and lead 25 may be stored by attachment to the casing or in a separate pocket (not shown) associated with the casing 16.

The casing 16 may be accessed via a zip opening 26.

With the telephone thus mounted on the hand it is a simple matter for the user to tilt the control panel towards his eyes and make whatever control functions that are required and during a conversation to position the hand close to the face so that the earpiece and microphone are ideally positioned in relation to the ears and mouth.

The user effectively has two hands free and in a situation where for example the user wants to take down a message a paper and pen can be obtained using both hands and the conversation expeditiously resumed.

Aspects of the present invention have described by way of example only and it will be appreciated that modifications and additions thereto may be made without departing from the spirit or scope thereof.

Claims (3)

1. A carrying device for a portable telephone comprising; a casing in which a portable telephone can be enclosed, a strap or straps for mounting the telephone on the hand and wrist of a user, and a a combined microphone and speaker extension connectable to a telephone within the casing, characterised in that the combined microphone and speaker extension is adapted to be releasbly wom on a finger or thumb of a user. lo

2. A carrying device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the strap or straps are mounted on a rear face of the casing.

3. A carrying case as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the strap or straps are adapted to secure the casing with respect to the palm and wrist of a user. DATED this 4t day of February 2002 COLIN BAILEY-SMITH KEVIN BAILEY-SMITH By their Patent Attorneys CULLEN CO.