DE20305813U1 - Transportable mobile telephone unit enables hands-free operation - Google Patents

Abstract

The unit comprises a telephone (2), a headband (1) and a connecting element (3) for the headband and the phone. The headband is elastic and the phone is fixed between the band and the user's ear. The connecting element can be a Velcro fastener or a rubber surface located on the headband inside. The size of the band can be adapted to the size of the user's head.

Description

Portable hands-free system for mobile phones

This innovation concerns a portable hands-free system for mobile phones that enables hands-free speaking and listening. The hands-free system essentially consists of a mobile phone, a headband and a connecting element between the mobile phone and the headband.

Portable hands-free systems for mobile phones are used wherever making a phone call is necessary or desired due to activities that require the use of both hands, but safe handling of a phone is not possible or only possible to a limited extent. This can be the case in many areas of life, e.g. when working, pursuing a hobby or driving a car.

DE 299 04 595 Ul discloses a telephone holder in which an elastic band partially sewn into a headband serves as a holder for a telephone, whereby a non-sewn-in part of the elastic band must be pulled down and a telephone attached to it. One criticism of this telephone holder is that the telephone does not have sufficient positional stability when it is attached to the elastic band. The unstable attachment is particularly evident when the user moves their head. The condition that the telephone speaker is constantly at the user's ear while making a call is therefore not always met. Another disadvantage of the known telephone holder is that the user needs both hands to attach the telephone to the elastic band, which is particularly risky when driving a car.

Rev: March 27, 2003 Harald BehütunS · "I ' I &iacgr; **·* " tJ£*dVfe7 006

The innovation is therefore based on the task of further developing the above-mentioned phone holder in order to avoid the defects listed and in particular to ensure that the phone is securely attached and held firmly. At the same time, technically complex and expensive solutions should be avoided in order to be able to provide the hands-free system to a large group of users.

These and other objects are achieved by a portable hands-free system for mobile phones which uses an elastic headband and in which the mobile phone is clamped between the headband and the user's ear, wherein the connecting element prevents the mobile phone from slipping out of the clamping area by providing an increased adhesive effect between the headband and the mobile phone.

A key advantage of the innovation is that the connection of the mobile phone to the headband ensures a firm and secure hold. The user can move their head freely in all directions while making a call without the relative position of the mobile phone to the user's head changing. The connection between the mobile phone and the elastic headband is sufficiently stable and secure, as modern mobile phones are very light and the size of these devices has also been reduced in recent years. Due to the sensitivity of the microphones on modern mobile phones, a very good voice connection is possible even when the phone is fixed directly in the user's ear area.

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Rev: 27.03.2003

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Another advantage is that the hands-free system is relatively easy to use. By sliding the mobile phone under the headband and pressing it gently, the effect of the connecting element creates a reversible connection between the mobile phone and the elastic headband. The connection is released again by lifting the headband slightly and pulling the mobile phone out.

When selecting suitable connecting elements, the new hands-free system uses Velcro fasteners or rubberized adhesive surfaces.

Another advantage is that when selecting the Velcro fastener, you can use commercially available, self-adhesive hook and loop fasteners for Velcro fasteners, which can be cut to the required size and replaced by simply peeling or sticking them on. Of course, the Velcro fastener elements can also be attached to the headband or phone in other ways.

Another advantage of this innovation is that the elastic headband can be easily adjusted in width and length to suit the user’s head size.

The new hands-free system does not require any electrical cables and does not result in any additional radiation exposure that is hazardous to health, as is the case with a short-range radio connection between the telephone and earphones, for example.

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Rev: March 27, 2003 Harald BehüturJs^· ..· *., &Idigr; ®S Olli 006

Another advantage is that the portable hands-free system is extremely inexpensive to purchase and can be used with any mobile phone, eliminating the need for costly adaptation to different models.

An advantageous embodiment consists in the elastic headband being provided with the Velcro strap on the inside, which faces the user's head, and the back of the mobile phone at the level of the hearing area being provided with the hook strap. This creates the connection between the mobile phone and the headband mentioned above by means of a Velcro fastener and at the same time improves wearing comfort for the user.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the elastic headband consists entirely or at least in sections of a material that has a similar surface to a Velcro fastener, i.e. the surface is provided with dense, soft loops into which the hooks of the hook fastener engage, thus creating the Velcro fastener connection. The advantage of this embodiment is that the elastic headband simultaneously takes on the function of a Velcro fastener part, namely that of the Velcro fastener.

When rubberized surface areas are used as a connecting element, the mobile phone adheres directly to a rubber surface on the inside of the headband using adhesive forces. A significant advantage is that the mobile phone does not have to be additionally provided with a part of a connecting element and thus every mobile phone can be used immediately.

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Rev: March 27, 2003 Harald Behüturt§.· ,. t· · &Idigr;Ggr;3 0117 006

whereby this design achieves a high degree of flexibility. To increase the adhesive effect, it is also possible to provide the mobile phone with an additional rubber coating on the back. With this design, it is possible to provide the headband with a rubber coating on the inside when it is manufactured, or to subsequently attach the rubber coating to the inside of the headband. A very good connection is created between the user and the mobile phone; in particular, very good contact is ensured between the user's ear and the loudspeaker, as well as between the user's speaking area and the microphone. The mobile phone can be easily moved into any desired position.

In another advantageous embodiment, the elastic headband is wide enough to be pulled over the user's ears and thus, similar to a winter hat, takes on the function of protection against cold and wind. This is particularly advantageous in the cold winter months or in areas where the weather is cold.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the elastic headband also serves as a sweatband, which means that the portable hands-free system can also be used in sports and fitness. When doing sports, especially running, jogging or walking, the type of transport and use of the hands-free system is important, as the user directs all physical exertion towards performing his sporting activities and using a telephone by hand would be a hindrance.

Rev: March 27, 2003 Harald Behüturt§.· ..* ·« · 5^ 0117 006

The elastic headband can also be used as an advertising medium. By sticking or sewing advertisements of various genres onto the headband, the user of the portable hands-free system can also provide advertising services without any personal effort. This should also make the innovative hands-free system interesting for companies as a promotional gift.

Further advantages and details emerge from the following description of a preferred embodiment with reference to the drawing. They show:

Fig. 1 a portable hands-free system for mobile phones; 15

Fig. 2 the portable hands-free system for mobile phones,
attached to the head of a user.

Fig. 1 shows a mobile hands-free system for mobile phones, the three main components of which are an elastic headband 1, a mobile phone 2 and a Velcro fastener 3. The mobile phone 2 is attached to the inside of the elastic headband 1 at the level of the hearing area by the Velcro fastener 3.

For this purpose, the mobile phone has a hook band on its back, which interacts with a Velcro band attached to the headband 1. The elastic headband 1 can be adjusted in width and length to the size of the user's head. It is also possible to choose a material for the elastic headband 1, at least on the inside, which has a surface similar to a Velcro band, provided with tight loops, which form a

Rev: March 27, 2003 'Harald Behütuftg»* ». ·· · 03 0117 006

reversible connection equivalent to that of a Velcro fastener.

The elastic headband 1 can have different designs depending on the functional requirements, although its function as part of the portable hands-free system for mobile phones always has the highest priority. It is possible to choose an elastic headband that is wide enough to be pulled over the user's ears in the cold winter months or in cold weather conditions to provide protection against the cold, similar to a winter hat. In addition, it can be used as a sweatband in sports, provided that an absorbent material is used. By printing or sewing advertisements onto the visible outside of the elastic headband 1, the user can act as an advertising medium.

Fig. 2 shows the mobile hands-free system for mobile phones, which is located on the head of a user, with the elastic headband 1 being worn in the conventional way around the head at the height of the forehead area. To attach it, the mobile phone 2 is pushed under the elastic headband 1, with the Velcro strap being attached to the inside of the elastic headband 1 and the hook strap being attached to the back of the mobile phone 2. The mobile phone 2 can be aligned so that it is optimally adapted to the user according to his head size and shape, so that the loudspeaker area is located directly at the user's ear.

Rev: March 27, 2003 Harald Behütuiis · . * *.»" · 05 θ1*17 006

In a further embodiment not shown, a rubberized surface is provided as a connecting element, which is located on the inside of the headband, in the same place as the loop tape of the Velcro fastener in the embodiment shown. In the embodiment not shown in the figures, it is also possible to attach a rubberized surface to the back of the mobile phone, which is located in the same place as the hook tape of the Velcro fastener in the embodiment described above.

Now you can speak and listen hands-free. You only need to use your hands to dial and end a call. In both versions, you can easily attach and detach the mobile phone with one hand.

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Claims (12)

1. Portable hands-free system for mobile phones, which enables hands-free speaking and listening and consists of a mobile phone ( 2 ), a headband ( 1 ) and a connecting element, characterized in that the headband ( 1 ) is elastic and the mobile phone ( 2 ) is clamped between the headband ( 1 ) and the user's ear, wherein the connecting element prevents the mobile phone ( 2 ) from slipping out of the clamping area by providing an increased adhesive effect between the headband ( 1 ) and the mobile phone ( 2 ). 2. Portable hands-free system for mobile phones according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting element is a Velcro fastener ( 3 ) attached between the headband ( 1 ) and the mobile phone ( 2 ). 3. Portable hands-free system for mobile phones according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that there is a Velcro strap on the inside of the elastic headband ( 1 ) and a hook strap on the back of the mobile phone, the Velcro strap and hook strap together forming the Velcro fastener ( 3 ). 4. Portable hands-free system according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the Velcro tape and hook tape have self-adhesive backs. 5. Portable hands-free system according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the Velcro strap is detachably connected to the elastic headband ( 1 ) and the hook strap is detachably connected to the mobile phone ( 2 ). 6. Portable hands-free system according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the elastic headband ( 1 ) consists of a material which has a surface similar to a Velcro band, provided with tight loops which form a reversible connection with the hooks of the hook band attached to the mobile phone ( 2 ). 7. Portable hands-free system for mobile phones according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting element is a rubber surface located on the inside of the elastic headband ( 1 ). 8. Portable hands-free system for mobile phones according to claim 7, characterized in that a further rubber surface is located on the back of the mobile phone ( 2 ). 9. Portable hands-free system for mobile phones according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the width and the length of the elastic headband ( 1 ) can be adjusted to the head size of the user. 10. Portable hands-free system for mobile phones according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the elastic headband ( 1 ) has an increased width in the side area and thus simultaneously serves as an ear warmer. 11. Portable hands-free system for mobile phones according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the elastic headband consists of an absorbent material and thus simultaneously serves as a sweatband during sporting activities. 12. Portable hands-free system according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that text and/or image elements are arranged on the outside of the elastic headband ( 1 ), so that it simultaneously serves as an advertising medium.