Hearease

Abstract

A shield for mobile electronic equipment comprises an audio funnel 2,3 and an attachment mechanism 1. A neck 2 has a series of parallel angled concertina ridges. The funnel mouth comprises a substan

Description

The present invention relates to device providing a shield for an item of mobile electronic equipment, in particular but not exclusively a mobile telephone. Background Increasing numbers of people in the world utilise mobile or cellular telephones as a part of everyday life. Speaking on a telephone in public situations may be compromising or uncomfortable to some such users, particularly where other persons may be able to overhear the conversation, or the user’s side of the conversation. It can be desirable to be able to speak quietly into the telephone’s microphone with the person on the other side of the conversation still able to hear well. Prior Art US 9 264 525 (MARSHALL) discloses a telephone mouthpiece shield assembly for includes a telephone receiver that has a mouthpiece, an earpiece and a body extending therebetween. The telephone receiver has a front side, a rear side, a first lateral side and a second lateral side. A mount is positioned on the telephone receiver. The mount is positioned between the mouthpiece and the earpiece. A shield comprises a plate that has an inner side and an outer side. The inner side abuts and is coupled to the mount such that the inner side faces the first lateral side of the telephone receiver. The plate includes a first section and a second section. The first section comprises a leg that is attached to and extending downwardly from the mount. The second section comprises a foot extending forwardly from a forward edge of the plate. The second section is positioned adjacent to the mouthpiece. The second section extends forward of the telephone receiver to shield the mouthpiece from ambient sound. The second section extends through a plane of an outer surface of the body extending around the telephone receiver. US 7 515 708 (DOTY et al) discloses a phone case having a bottom wall, opposing side walls, and mouth and ear end walls that form a pocket with an opening having a rim for extending from ear to mouth and around the mouth to hide it from view and to muffle and block beyond the case words spoken into a phone nested therein. A sidewall portion of the rim may have a curved shape conforming generally to the contour of a human face from ear to mouth, and the pocket walls may be made of a flexible, sound absorbing material so that the rim of the opening is sufficiently deformable to conform substantially to the ear to mouth contour and form a sound seal when pressed against a human face. The ear end wall may form an ear portion of the rim for placement over an ear lobe to reduce interfering external noise. US 7 197 140 (ASARO) discloses a sound baffle attached to a telephone handset comprises a pair of telescopically connected members shaped and dimensioned to act as a sound guide in combination with a reflecting cover plate that can be obliquely adjusted to direct the sound waves emitted by the user toward the handset microphone, and to muffle his conversation to the surroundings for improved privacy. The present invention arose in order to overcome problems suffered by existing devices. Summary of the Invention According to the present invention there is provided a device providing for a mobile electronic equipment equipped with one or more microphones, the device comprising an equipment attachment mechanism and an audio funnel for directing sound to the microphone(s). In some embodiments the device may use an acoustic lens to direct a user's voice into the equipment’s microphone or microphones, whilst blocking any background noise by deflecting it away. Such lens may comprise the funnel or a baffle. The funnel may comprise a dedicated part, which part may be arranged to be positioned close to the user’s mouth in use. In some embodiments the funnel may be configured to displace from a first in use position which may be distal the equipment to a second storage position. In some embodiments one or more lenses or baffles may also be moved from a first in use position to a second position so as to redirect towards the funnel. In some embodiments the device comprises an extendable neck to allow the funnel to approximate the user's mouth. Such extendable neck may comprise an injection moulded part of liquid silicone rubber and may be articulated or envisaged to function, extend or deviate using joints, for example similar to a straw neck design. In this way the sound may directed from the microphone or microphones to a mouth. In some embodiments a male connector piece uses the charging or connectivity port of the equipment as a mounting point for the funnel. In some embodiments the device may filter out the background sound using a directional filter. Such filter this may be envisaged to take a deviated, discontinuous or Zig Zag shape aperture, mouth or funnel. In this way sound waves, originating from the user's voice, may be directed to and picked up by the equipment. It may be envisaged that embodiments of the device may have minimal parts so costs will be low, for example comprising living hinges. Some such embodiments of the device may comprise a neck or funnel configured in a concertina to expand or contract so as to enable at least two positions, for example in use and stored. The device may be envisaged to comprise an equipment attachment mechanism configured to slide in place over the bottom end or rear face of the equipment, where the microphones are typically situated. This position may allow the device to be kept on the equipment and when in a second collapsed or storage position will not take up too much room. For example when the user starts a call, they may be enabled to simply pull out the device into the in use position. This may extend the length of the device externally as well as internally clearing the inner of the funnel to allow the sounds waves to pass through easier. In some embodiments the device may comprise flexible parts. In this way a flexible part, for example neck, may allow the user to direct the funnel towards their mouth. In some embodiments the device comprises a substantially rigid case or cover for the equipment. For example the case may clip over, onto or around the equipment in a manner known in the art. It may be envisaged that such cover forms of the device may be configured to cover the rear face of the equipment to allow use of a touchscreen. The cover may incorporate the funnel. Some embodiments of the cover may comprise an in use position and a storage position for the funnel. The user may be envisaged to slide a part of the cover or funnel into the in use position as required whereby sound is directed at the microphone(s). The funnel may comprise a hinged, pivoting or sliding part, which may comprise a grill or perforated part. The sound waves may subsequently bounce off and between the plastic grill. In some further embodiments the device comprises a cover with a means of covering the equipment in a second storage position and of directing the sound in the first in use position. For example in some embodiments the device may comprise a form of a wallet and phone cover which has face panels over the rear face and front face of the equipment in use. Such embodiments may utilise the front face’s panel as a way of directing sound waves from the user to the microphones. The rear face may be substantially rigid to protect the equipment. The front panel may be envisaged to be a synthetic or a real leather or fabric, and may comprise some flexibility so as to enable the user to cup the panel or part thereof around their mouth for added privacy in use. It may be further envisaged that some embodiments may comprise side baffles, which are arranged to connect the faces or may extend from the front or rear panel. Such baffles may act to redirect or contain sound waves. A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the Figures in which: Brief Description of Figures All figures show sketches subject to later formalisation or removal as appropriate. Figures 1 show isometric views of a first embodiment of the device according to the present invention, retracted to a second position, partially extended into a first position, and extended and deviated into another variant of the first position; Figures 2 shows isometric views of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 in use; Figure 3 shows a diagrammatic side view of the embodiment as shown in Figure 1 in a first position; Figures 4 shows top views of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 in use, and a side view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 in use, respectively; Figures 5 show isometric views of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 in various positions; Figures 6 show isometric views of a second embodiment of the device according to the present invention in use, in a second position and first position respectively; Figures 7 show isometric views of the embodiments shown in Figures 6; Figure 8 shows diagrammatic side views of the embodiment shown in Figures 6 in use, in the second and first position respectively; Figure 9 shows an isometric view of a third embodiment of the device according to the present invention, in use; Figure 10 shows a detail isometric view of the embodiment as shown in Figure 9; Figure 11 shows isometric views of the embodiment shown in Figure 9, closed and open respectively; Figure 12 shows a diagrammatic view of the embodiment shown in Figure 9, in use; Figure 13 shows an isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figure 9, closed; and Figure 14 shows an isometric view of the embodiment shown in figure 9, open. Detailed Description of Figures The first embodiment of the device according to the present invention generally comprises a device 9 providing a shield for a mobile electronic equipment 1000 equipped with one or more microphones, the device comprising an equipment attachment mechanism 1 and an audio funnel 2,3. In particular the embodiment comprises a single part which is moulded from liquid silicone rubber, and comprises a neck 2 formed of a series of parallel angled concertina ridges that pop in and pop out of position, based on a similar straw neck design. The embodiment comprises an equipment attachment mechanism 1 at one end of the neck and a funnel mouth 3 at the distal end of the neck 2. The funnel mouth comprises a substantially rectangular collar 6 providing an aperture 5, with an internal surface formed into a zigzag in section, as shown in Figure 3. The silicone will be 2-3mm thick for durability. To form the equipment attachment mechanism 1 a male connector 8 extends from the end, and uses the charging or connectivity port of the equipment as a mounting point. This part will have around a 2mm wall thickness. The equipment attachment mechanism 1 is further provided by a cradle 4 with the connector inside, and two parallel faces extending away from the funnel 2,3, one of which faces is scalloped to allow access to the equipment 1000. The second embodiment of the device according to the present invention generally comprises a device 99 providing a shield for a mobile electronic equipment 1000 equipped with one or more microphones, the device comprising an equipment attachment mechanism 21 and an audio funnel 20. In particular the embodiment comprises a cover 21 for the rear face of the equipment, the cover being formed in a rigid material and having apertures and indentations 22 matching the particular features of the equipment, for example camera lens or buttons. This cover is formed of a two-part compression moulded polycarbonate. The other parts of the embodiment will then also be sonic welded altogether to produce a one part embodiment. The parts of the embodiment comprise a sliding funnel 20, which funnel 20 comprises a series of parallel fins 23 which run laterally on the cover. The funnel 20 comprises a part that is enabled to slide from a first in use position where the fins of the funnel extend from the end of the equipment in use, in channels 24 either side, to a second storage position where the end of the equipment and / or the microphone(s) are not covered. In the pictured embodiment the second position is where the funnel is located coplanar the rear face of the cover. A soft touch finish could be applied to exterior surfaces to give a silicone feel. The third embodiment of the device according to the present invention generally comprises a device 99 providing a shield for a mobile electronic equipment 1000 equipped with one or more microphones, the device comprising an equipment attachment mechanism 67 and an audio funnel 63,68. In particular the embodiment comprises a phone cover with two panels 61,62 covering the front and rear faces of the equipment respectively in use. The two panels are hinged together at one end of the equipment and the front face panel 61 is clipped over and onto the equipment using a tab 66 with a press stud, extending from the distal end of the rear panel 62. The front panel 61 comprises pockets 64 for cards and the like. The rear face panel comprises a rigid clip over open-faced casing 67 which has cut out sections 69 for easy access to the equipment’s buttons. The rear panel is provided by a plastic casing 67 formed from a simple mould and glued to a leather fabric board exterior 65. The front face panel 61 is leather, and has side baffles 63 to redirect vocal sound waves to microphones. The baffles 63 comprise thin flexible material to either side of a thermoplastics funnel 68 which comprises a part extending from the casing 67 and projecting from the equipment’s end, and formed of a substantially rectangular tube 5 with two open ends. The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention as defined by the claims. 10

Claims

1 .US 9 264 525 (MARSHALL) discloses a telephone mouthpiece shield assembly for includes a telephone receiver that has a mouthpiece, an earpiece and a body extending therebetween. The telephone receiver has a front side, a rear side, a first lateral side and a second lateral side. A mount is positioned on the telephone receiver. The mount is positioned between the mouthpiece and the earpiece. A shield comprises a plate that has an inner side and an outer side. The inner side abuts and is coupled to the mount such that the inner side faces the first lateral side of the telephone receiver. The plate includes a first section and a second section. The first section comprises a leg that is attached to and extending downwardly from the mount. The second section comprises a foot extending forwardly from a forward edge of the plate. The second section is positioned adjacent to the mouthpiece. The second section extends forward of the telephone receiver to shield the mouthpiece from ambient sound. The second section extends through a plane of an outer surface of the body extending around the telephone receiver.US 7 515 708 (DOTY et al) discloses a phone case having a bottom wall, opposing side walls, and mouth and ear end walls that form a pocket with an opening having a rim for extending from ear to mouth and around the mouth to hide it from view and to muffle and block beyond the case words spoken into a phone nested therein. A sidewall portion of the rim may have a curved shape conforming generally to the contour of a human face from ear to mouth, and the pocket walls may be made of a flexible, sound absorbing material so that the rim of the opening is sufficiently deformable to conform substantially to the ear to mouth contour and form a sound seal when pressed against a human face. The ear end wall may form an ear portion of the rim for placement over an ear lobe to reduce interfering external noise.US 7 197 140 (ASARO) discloses a sound baffle attached to a telephone handset comprises a pair of telescopically connected members shaped and dimensioned to act as a sound guide in combination with a reflecting cover plate that can be obliquely adjusted to direct the sound waves emitted by the user toward the handset microphone, and to muffle his conversation to the surroundings for improved privacy.The present invention arose in order to overcome problems suffered by existing devices.Summary of the InventionAccording to the present invention there is provided a device providing for a mobile electronic equipment equipped with one or more microphones, the device comprising an equipment attachment mechanism and an audio funnel for directing sound to the microphone(s).In some embodiments the device may use an acoustic lens to direct a user's voice into the equipment’s microphone or microphones, whilst blocking any background noise by deflecting it away. Such lens may comprise the funnel or a baffle.The funnel may comprise a dedicated part, which part may be arranged to be positioned close to the user’s mouth in use. In some embodiments the funnel may be configured to displace from a first in use position which may be distal the equipment to a second storage position. In some embodiments one or more lenses or baffles may also be moved from a first in use position to a second position to redirect towards the funnel.In some embodiments the device comprises an extendable neck to allow the funnel to approximate the user's mouth.Such extendable neck may comprise an injection moulded part of liquid silicone rubber and may be articulated or envisaged to function, extend or deviate using joints, for example similar to a straw neck design.In this way the sound may directed from the microphone or microphones to a mouth.In some embodiments a male connector piece uses the charging or connectivity port of the equipment as a mounting point for the funnel.In some embodiments the device may filter out the background sound using a directional filter. Such filter this may be envisaged to take a deviated, discontinuous or Zig Zag shape aperture, mouth or funnel.In this way sound waves, originating from the user's voice, may be directed to and picked up by the equipment.It may be envisaged that embodiments of the device may have minimal parts so costs will be low, for example comprising living hinges.Some such embodiments of the device may comprise a neck or funnel configured in a concertina to expand or contract to enable at least two positions, for example in use and stored.The device may be envisaged to comprise an equipment attachment mechanism configured to slide in place over the bottom end or rear face of the equipment, where the microphones are typically situated. This position may allow the device to be kept on the equipment and when in a second collapsed or storage position will not take up too much room.For example, when the user starts a call, they may be enabled to simply pull out the device into the in-use position. This may extend the length of the device externally as well as internally clearing the inner of the funnel to allow the sounds waves to pass through easier.In some embodiments the device may comprise flexible parts. In this way a flexible part, for example neck, may allow the user to direct the funnel towards their mouth.In some embodiments the device comprises a substantially rigid case or cover for the equipment. For example, the case may clip over, onto or around the equipment in a manner known in the art. It may be envisaged that such cover forms of thedevice may be configured to cover the rear face of the equipment to allow use of a touchscreen. The cover may incorporate the funnel.Some embodiments of the cover may comprise an in-use position and a storage position for the funnel. The user may be envisaged to slide a part of the cover or funnel into the in-use position as required whereby sound is directed at the microphone(s).The funnel may comprise a hinged, pivoting or sliding part, which may comprise a grill or perforated part. The sound waves may subsequently bounce off and between the plastic grill.In some further embodiments the device comprises a cover with a means of covering the equipment in a second storage position and of directing the sound in the first in use position.For example, in some embodiments the device may comprise a form of a wallet and phone cover which has face panels over the rear face and front face of the equipment in use. Such embodiments may utilise the front face’s panel as a way of directing sound waves from the user to the microphones. The rear face may be substantially rigid to protect the equipment.The front panel may be envisaged to be a synthetic or a real leather or fabric and may comprise some flexibility to enable the user to cup the panel or part there of around their mouth for added privacy in use.It may be further envisaged that some embodiments may comprise side baffles, which are arranged to connect the faces or may extend from the front or rear panel. Such baffles may act to redirect or contain sound waves.Application No: GB2408290.1Claims searched:Examiner: Mrs Margaret PhillipsDate of search: 18 November 2024Patents Act 1977: Search Report under Section 17Documents considered to be relevant:Category Relevant to claims Identity of document and passage or figure of particular relevance X X X X X - US 7197140 B2 (ASARO) See fig 3 and associated description US 2011 / 0136535 Al (DIPASQUALE et al.) See fig 1 and associated description EP 1890467 Bl (SAGEMCOM BROADBAND SAS) See WPI Abstract Accession number 2008-D90374 and fig 2 US 6965790 Bl (MENDOLIA) See figs 1-3 and associated description WO 97 / 42746 Al (ERICSSON TELEFON AB L M) See fig 2-3 and associated descriptionCategories: X Document indicating lack of novelty or inventive A Document indicating technological background and / or state step of the art. Y Document indicating lack of inventive step if P Document published on or after the declared priority date but combined with one or more other documents of same category. before the filing date of this invention. & Member of the same patent family E Patent document published on or after, but with priority date earlier than, the filing date of this application.Field of Search:Search of GB, EP. WO &US patent documents classified in the following areas of the UKCX :Worldwide search of patent documents classified in the following areas of the IPC____________H04M______________________________________________The following online and other databases have been used in the preparation of this search reportINTERNET, SEARCH-PATENTInternational Classification:Subclass Subgroup Valid From H04M 0001 / 19 01 / 01 / 2006 H04M 0001 / 02 01 / 01 / 2006

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