Abstract
`
`(54)
`(57)
`
`Case for one earpiece with a USB charging connector
`This invention relates to a portable device for wireless telephone communication (1) comprising:
`
`-
`
`-
`
`an earpiece (10), intended to be placed near a user's ear and comprising at least one hollow housing (11)
`specifically intended to house a rechargeable battery, and device for sound reproduction (13) linked to the
`hollow housing (11) and intended to be placed in the immediate vicinity of the pinna of the user's ear, and
`an electric recharging base (20) comprising a battery (22) and having a housing (21) adapted to receive the
`earpiece (10) in a recharging position thereof,
`
`characterized in that it further comprises a magnetic coupling member (30) adapted to hold the earpiece (10) within
`the housing (21) of the base (20) in the recharging position.
`
`
`
`1
`
`APPLE 1020
`
`

`

`Description
`
`[0001] This invention concerns a portable device for wireless telephone communication, comprising an earpiece,
`intended to be placed near a user's ear, an electric recharging base and a coupling member between the them.
`[0002] Currently, earpieces paired with a cell phone via a Bluetooth-type wireless link are recharged by means of
`a suitable base upon which they rest. However, the link between these two members is often of poor quality. Thus,
`the earpiece is able to move relative to its base, which may lead to false contacts and a poor electrical connection.
`Therefore, the battery of the earpiece may not be recharged correctly. Furthermore, the headset may easily fall from
`its base, which cuts off the electrical connection, but above all may cause damage to the earpiece in the event of a
`fall and significant shock.
`[0003] One purpose of this invention is therefore to solve the problem cited above. using a reliable and inexpensive
`solution that is easy to implement.
`[0004] Thus, the subject-matter of this invention concerns a portable device for wireless telephone communication
`comprising:
`
`-
`
`-
`
`an earpiece, intended to be placed near a user's ear, and comprising at least one hollow housing specifically
`intended to house a rechargeable battery, and a device for sound reproduction linked to the hollow
`housing, and intended to be placed in the immediate vicinity of the pinna of the user's ear, and
`
`an electric charging base comprising a battery, and having a housing adapted to receive the earpiece in a
`recharging position thereof,
`said device being characterized in that it further comprises a magnetic coupling member adapted to hold
`the earpiece within the housing of the base in the recharging position.
`
`[0005] According to preferred embodiments, the device according to this invention may further include at least
`one of the following characteristics:
`
`-
`
`-
`
`-
`
`-
`
`-
`
`-
`-
`
`the magnetic coupling member comprises a magnet, and a metal plate provided respectively within the
`base and the earpiece, or vice-versa, said magnet and said plate work together to form the magnetic
`coupling;
`the earpiece is provided with an embedded flat magnet within the thickness of one of its surfaces, and the
`base is provided with an embedded flat magnet within the thickness of a housing surface, the magnet being
`placed opposite the plate in the recharging position;
`the earpiece is provided with electrical contactors that work together with the electrical connection pads
`provided on the charging base so that said pads are in contact with the contactors to establish an electrical
`connection between the base battery and the earpiece battery when in the recharging position;
`the electrical contactors comprise two flexible metal strips flush with one surface of the earpiece and the
`electrical connection pads protrude from the surface of the base which is placed opposite the surface of
`the earpiece provided with the strips when in the recharging position thereof;
`the base has a connector that may be plugged into a charger to recharge the base and/or the earpiece
`battery;
`the connector is a male USB type connector; and
`the base is equipped with a removable connector protection cap.
`
`[0006] Advantageously, the wireless telephone communication device is a Bluetooth standard earpiece.
`[0007] The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to particular embodiments given by way
`of illustration only and shown in the appended figures in which:
`
`-
`-
`-
`-
`-
`
`Figure 1 is a view in perspective of the device according to this invention in its assembled state;
`Figure 2 is a view in perspective of the device in a disassembled state;
`Figure 3 is a view in perspective of the device showing a cap in the withdrawn position;
`Figure 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the device in its assembled state,
`Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view along line V-V of Figure 4;
`
`2
`
`

`

`-
`
`-
`
`Figure 6 is a view in perspective taken from below an earpiece forming part of the device of this invention;
`and
`Figure 7 is an exploded view in perspective of the device before its assembly.
`
`[0008] Figures 1 to 3 show a portable wireless telephone communication device 1 comprising a Bluetooth standard
`operating earpiece 10 so that it can be paired with a cell phone (not shown) and a charging base 20 adapted to
`receive said earpiece 10 to recharge it.
`[0009] The earpiece (10) is intended to be placed near a user's ear. It comprises a hollow housing (11) specifically
`intended to house a rechargeable battery (not shown), a device for sound reproduction 13 linked to the hollow
`housing and intended to be placed in the immediate vicinity of the pinna of the user's ear. Preferably, the member
`to reproduce sound 13 is a mushroom-shaped speaker protruding from one surface 15 of the earpiece 10.
`[0010] The base 20 comprises a hollow housing 21 having a shape adapted to the outer shape of the housing 11 of
`the earpiece 10 and its speaker 13. Thus, in the charging position of the earpiece battery 10, the latter fits perfectly
`into the housing 21, as illustrated in Figure 1. In order to prevent the earpiece 10 from coming out of the housing 21
`in this position; a magnetic coupling member 30 is also provided.
`[0011] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the magnetic coupling member 30 comprises a flat magnet 32 housed in the
`earpiece 10, under surface 15 carrying the speaker 13, and a plate 34 embedded within the thickness of the surface
`23 of the base 20 facing the surface 15 of the earpiece 10, said magnet 32 and said plate 34 work together to form
`the magnetic coupling;
`[0012] The base 20 also contains a battery 22 which may be recharged in turn when it is connected to a source of
`current such as the mains or to an annex charger via a connector 25 such as a male plug of the USB type. The base
`20 is also provided with an end cap 28 to cover the USB socket 25 when not in use.
`[0013] As can be seen in Figures 6 and 7, the earpiece 10 is provided with electrical contactors 16 working with the
`electrical connection pads 26 provided on the charging base 20. More precisely, the electrical contactors 16 comprise
`two flexible metal strips 17 and the electrical connection pads 26 protrude from the surface 23 of the base 20.
`[0014] Thus, in the recharging position (Figure 1), the pads 26 are in contact with the strips 17 to establish an
`electrical connection between the base battery and the earpiece battery 10.
`[0015]
`It goes without saying that the detailed description of the subject-matter of the invention given only by way
`of illustration, does not constitute in any way a limitation, technical equivalents also being included within the scope
`of this invention.
`
`Claims
`
`1. Portable device for wireless telephone communication (1) comprising:
`
`-
`
`-
`
`an earpiece (10), intended to be placed near a user's ear and comprising at least one hollow housing (11)
`specifically intended to house a rechargeable battery, and a device for sound reproduction (13) linked to
`the hollow housing (11) and intended to be placed in the immediate vicinity of the pinna of the user's ear,
`and
`an electric recharging base (20) comprising a battery (22) and having a housing (21) adapted to receive the
`earpiece (10) in a recharging position thereof,
`
`characterized in that it further comprises a magnetic coupling member (30) adapted to hold the earpiece (10) in the
`housing (21) of the base (20) in the recharging position.
`
`2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the magnetic coupling member (30) comprises a magnet (32)
`and a metal plate (34) respectively provided in the base (20) and the earpiece (10), or vice-versa, wherein said
`magnet (32) and said plate(34) work together to form the magnetic coupling.
`
`3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the earpiece (10) is provided with a flat magnet (32)
`embedded within the thickness of one of its surfaces (15) and the base (20) is provided with a metal plate (34)
`embedded within the thickness of one surface (23) of its housing (21), the magnet (32) being placed opposite
`
`3
`
`

`

`the plate (34) in the earpiece recharging position (10).
`
`4. The device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the earpiece (10) is provided with
`electrical contactors (16) that work together with the electrical connection pads (26) provided on the charging
`base (20) so that said pads (26) are in contact with the contactors (16) to establish an electrical connection
`between the base battery (20) and the earpiece battery (10) when in the recharging position;
`
`5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the electrical contactors (16) comprise two flexible metal
`strips (17) flush with one surface (15) of the earpiece and the electrical connection pads protrude from the
`surface (23) of the base (20) which is placed opposite the surface (15) of the earpiece (10) provided with the
`strips (17) when in the recharging position thereof.
`
`6. The device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base (20) has a connector (25)
`that may be plugged into a charger to recharge the base and/or the earpiece battery;
`
`7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the connector (25) is a male USB type connector.
`
`8. Device according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the base is equipped with a removable connector (28)
`protection cap (25).
`
`9. The device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is a Bluetooth standard earpiece.
`
`
`
`
`
`4
`
`

`

`
`
`5
`
`

`

`YS_ _
`
`
`
`
`Ss i_<_
`
`
`
`
`
`
`6
`
`

`

`IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`In re Patent of: Walter G. Mayfield, et al.
`U.S. Patent No.: 10,259,020
`
`Attorney Docket No.: 50095-0028IP1
`Issue Date:
`April 16, 2019
`Appl. Serial No.: 15/851,952
`Filing Date:
`December 22, 2017
`Title:
`
`APPARATUS FOR CLEANING VIEW SCREENS AND
`
`
`
`LENSES AND METHOD FOR THE USE THEREOF
`
`DECLARATION OF LAURA H. HASTINGS-BROWNSTEIN
`
`I, Laura H. Hastings-Brownstein, declare that:
`
`1.
`
`The attached translation from French into English of the French Patent
`
`Application Publication No. EP2037661_A1 to Modelabs Technologies
`
`Limited Hong Kong (HK) also attached, is, to the best of my knowledge, a
`
`true, full and accurate translation of the attached French document.
`
`2.
`
`I personally performed this translation. I am competent to perform
`
`this translation, being fluent in both French and English, and having over 30 years
`
`of experience as a professional translator of French into English. I have been
`
`employed as a translator by many different companies and have performed
`
`freelance translations for many others, including French and English translations of
`
`legal materials (e.g., deposition transcripts, contracts), technical materials, and
`
`patents. I have the following degrees: BA in Languages of the Western World, BS
`
`in Chemistry and received a Master of Arts degree in Spanish from the
`
`Universidad Nacional Autónoma of México, while studying there as a Fulbright
`
`7
`
`

`

`Scholar. I have taught English as a second language, Spanish and French, and
`
`translation courses.
`
`3.
`
`I declare under the penalty of perjury under the laws of the United
`
`States that the foregoing is true and correct; and further declare that I am aware
`
`that willful false statements and the like so made are punishable by fine or
`
`imprisonment, or both, under 1001 of Title 18 of the United States Code.
`
`Dated: January 18, 2021
`
`By:
`
`
`
`Laura H. Hastings-Brownstein
`
`8
`
`