WO2003103255A1

WO2003103255A1 - Carrying device and combination of a carrying device and an electronic communication apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2003103255A1
Application number: PCT/FI2003/000407
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mikael Jaakkola; Sami Säilä
Original assignee: Nokia Corporation
Priority date: 2002-05-31
Filing date: 2003-05-27
Publication date: 2003-12-11
Also published as: DE20380240U1; AU2003233824A1; FIU20020261U0; FI5924U1

Abstract

The invention comprises a carrying device with elongated carrying means (2) and means (15, 19) for suspending a load. In the combination according to the invention, an electronic communication apparatus (3) is attached to the carrying device. The carrying device also comprises an elongated conducting means (6, 7). The conducting means (6, 7) has a first part (6a), which operates as a carrying means (2) or is arranged as permanently in contact with the carrying means (2). At the first end of the first part (6a) there are means (19) for connecting the conducting means to the electronic communication apparatus (3). The conducting means (6, 7) also has a second part (6a, 7b), the first end of which is arranged permanently in contact with the carrying means (2). The second part (6b, 7b) has been arranged detached from the carrying means (2) at least for part of its length, when desired. At the second end of the second part (6b, 7b) there are signal means (4, 5) for transmitting a message from the conducting means (6, 7) to the user or vice versa. The carrying device also comprises control means (10, 11, 12, 13, 21) for detaching the second part (6b, 7b) of the conducting means from the carrying means (2) and bringing it into contact with the carrying means (2) when desired.

Description

Carrying Device and Combination of a Carrying Device and an Electronic Communication Apparatus

The invention relates to a carrying device and combination of a carrying device and an electronic communication apparatus according to the preambles of the independent claims set forth below. In particular, the invention relates to an elongated carrying device, such as a neck ribbon, which enables easy and safe use of a mobile phone or a corresponding device equipped with an earphone cord, when driving a car, for example.

In order to facilitate the use of mobile phones when driving, a well known method is to place the mobile phone in a holder installed for it in the car during the drive. Such a holder is presented in patent publication US 5836536, for example. In order to implement the hands-free operation, a known method is to use earphones and microphones connected to the telephone with electric cords. In addition, there are known methods for reducing the inconvenience caused by the excess cord with various spoolers or the like, which wind up the redundant cord. Patent publication US 5832098 discloses a typical cord winding device, which is attached to the telephone itself, for example. International patent application WO 01/67724 discloses an electric cord spooler arranged in the transport bag of the mobile phone. US 5511120 discloses an electric cord spooler installed within the mobile phone cover. WO 00/68131 discloses various cord winding devices.

People carry various belongings with various elongated carrying devices. For example, keys or a company's identity cards can be carried on a neck ribbon. It is also possible to carry around the neck various electric devices intended for listening to music or for playing games. Such an elongated carrying device gets easily tangled with the earphone cord of the mobile phone, for example, causing inconvenience and even dangerous situations in the traffic. Music is often listened to in stereo, in which case two earphones are needed, with a cord for both of them. The more ribbons or cords the user is wearing around the neck, the more cumbersome it becomes to use them in a controlled manner. A traditional neck ribbon already provides ribbons on both sides of the head, running essentially vertically on the chest of the user. They have not been utilized in the way that modern technology would allow.

The prior art mobile phone holders or devices that wind up the excess electric cord of the earphone make it possible to prevent the slack cord from disturbing the user when driving a car, for example. However, they do not remove the problem of the ribbon and the electric cords getting tangled. However, the significant and surprising benefits that can be gained by combining a neck ribbon or a corresponding elongated carrying device and an easy-to-use electric cord control device have not been realized in the prior art publications. The prior art electric cord control devices and cord spoolers are complicated and easily broken.

The objective of the present invention is especially to reduce or even remove the above mentioned problems of the prior art.

It is also an objective of the invention especially to provide a carrying device, which makes the use of an electric communication apparatus safe and easy. A further objective is to provide a more reliable, simpler and cheaper way of controlling an excess of an elongated conducting means.

In order to achieve the above mentioned objectives, the carrying device and combination according to the invention are characterized in what is set forth in the characterizing parts of the accompanying independent claims.

Some preferred exemplary embodiments according to the invention will be described in the dependent claims set forth below. The benefits of the invention and the alternative embodiments and the benefits thereof mentioned in this text relate for the applicable parts to all solutions according to the invention, especially to the carrying device and combination according to the invention, even if it were not specifically mentioned in connection with each example and benefit.

A typical carrying device according to the invention comprises an elongated carrying device and means attached to it for suspending a load. In normal use, such a carrying device is preferably on the user's chest, where the earphone cord of a mobile phone also typically runs. A carrying device according to the invention is most preferably intended to be worn around the user's neck, like a neck ribbon or the like, or on the shoulder like the carrying straps of a bag, rucksack or the like, or braces. The term carrying means denotes the elongated part of the carrying device intended for carrying, such as the ribbon of a neck ribbon intended to go round the head. The typical carrying device according to the invention is combined with an elongated conducting means, such as an electric cord, optical fibre or other means by which a signal can be transmitted from the communication apparatus to the user or vice versa. It is typically a conductor that connects the earphone and/or microphone to the communication apparatus. According to the invention, it is also possible to form the carrying device or at least a part thereof of the elongated conducting means itself.

A typical conducting means according to the invention has at least a first and a second part. The first part has been arranged as permanently attached to the carrying device and essentially parallel with the carrying device. Alternatively, the first part of the conducting means forms the carrying means or at least part thereof. The electric cord, for example, has typically been placed for its first part within the plastic ribbon of the neck ribbon as essentially immobile. The first end of the first part has means for connecting the conducting means to an electric communication apparatus, such as a connector that fits the earphone interface of the telephone. Thus the elongated part of the carrying means is used, at least for part of its length, as a routing for the conducting means, in addition to its normal use. Thus there is at least one loose string less to bother the user. Within the neck ribbon or a corresponding means the conducting means is also protected against external stress, such as rubbing.

The second part of the conducting means according to the invention is typically permanently attached to the carrying means at its first end. The second end of this second part has signal means for transmitting a message from the conducting means to the user or vice versa, or typically an earphone and/or a microphone. In order to let the user use the conducting means according to need, e.g. place the earphone in his/her ear, a typical second part of the conducting means is arranged to be detached from the carrying device at least for part of its length when desired, and essentially freely movable in relation to the direction of the carrying means. The length of the freely movable part is preferably adjustable according to the user's need.

A typical carrying device according to the invention also comprises control means for arranging the second part of said conducting means as detached from the carrying means when desired, and attached to the carrying device, when desired. This makes the invention especially safe. The earphone cord that is freely movable in relation to the neck ribbon during use can be placed back in connection with the neck ribbon when the earphone is not needed. Thus the earphone cord will not get tangled with the neck ribbon when it is not used.

The conducting means according to the invention can comprise more than one conductor, and there can be more than one elongated conducting means, e.g. a carrying device can have two earphones with separate cords. The conducting means can be permanently attached to the communication means, or the connectors between them can be detachably fastened. In a typical combination according to the invention, an electronic communication apparatus is combined with the carrying device according to the invention. The term electronic communication apparatus denotes various devices, such as a telephone, computer or a so-called PDA device (personal digital assistant), radio, television, music player, game machine or a film viewing device. A signal means, such as an earphone or a microphone, is connected with conducting means to a communication apparatus coupled to the carrying device. A conducting means denotes an electric cord or some other means, such as optic fibre, by which data can be transmitted between a signal means and communication apparatus.

The carrying device according to the invention combines many components that have been known as separate in a new way. The easiness of use thus achieved increases comfort, because excess cords do not bother the user especially after the telephone call or other use of the earphone. In particular, the invention increases safety in traffic, when the communication apparatus coupled with the carrying device is used when driving a car or the like. The carrying device according to the invention is easy to manufacture so that the elongated conducting means with earphones or other signal means can be easily taken into use, or detached from the carrying device when answering a new call, for example. The earphone or the like can also easily be placed back to the carrying device. The signal and conducting means remain in place steadily and controllably when they are not used, and they are not lost easily.

Because many technical details comprised by the invention, such as the structure of the electronic components, the conducting means or the carrying means separately from each other, the possible winding mechanisms or the like of the conducting means, and the means of the carrying device for suspending the load are not as such objects of this invention, these solutions will not be dealt with in more detail in this text. There are many prior art solutions for most of these details, and as separate they are well known to a person skilled in the art. However, some new structural details and solutions are introduced in this text, too.

The control means according to the invention for detaching the second part of the conducting means from the carrying device when desired and for connecting with the carrying device can be implemented in many different ways. Some preferred control means comprise at least one set of fastening means that fit together, arranged at least at the second end of the second part of the conducting means and at a suitable point in the rest of the carrying device. With these, the second part of the conducting means can be detachably fastened to the carrying device. A magnet can be arranged at a suitable point in the carrying device, whereby the magnetic field between the magnet and the signal means draw the signal means and the counterpiece towards each other, thus providing a preferred pair of fastening means because of its simplicity. However, the fastening means can be provided by other means as well, such as a pair of latches or locking means, grip or Velcro tape means, button or snap fastening means.

Some preferred control means according to the invention comprise a holding element which is arranged to hold the elongated carrying means and the second part of the conducting means together. Such a holding element is preferably a sleeve-like member, which is arranged around the elongated carrying means and the second part of the conducting means. The user can move such a holding element along these elongated means to the point desired and thus adjust the length of the conducting means which is essentially freely movable in relation to the direction of the carrying means, in which case the portion of the second part of the conducting means between the holding element and the second end is arranged as separate from the carrying means and essentially freely movable is relation to the direction of the carrying means. In a preferred embodiment, the friction between the holding element and the carrying and/or conducting means to be combined thereby is preferably set such that the holding element remains in place during normal use of the carrying device. Preferably, such a holding element moves only when the user so wishes. For example, the holding element may include a pressure element that is releasable by pressing with fingers, for pressing the holding element tightly to the elongated means combined by it. The holding element itself can also be formed so tight that it remains in place around the elongated means. In another preferred embodiment, the holding element is arranged around the carrying means and the second part of the conducting means to be combined thereby so loosely that it continuously tends to fall downwards under the force of gravity, at the same time tending to bring the second part of the conducting means into contact with the carrying means. However, such an easily movable holding element is preferably so light that it does not e.g. disturbingly tend to draw the earphone in the ear of the user downwards.

Some preferred control means of the second part of the conducting means comprise a storage space of the conducting means and means for bringing the bulk of the second part of the conducting means into said storage space and out of it when desired. The storage space can be e.g. a cord reel arranged in the carrying device for the conducting means which is currently not being used. The storage space is typically an essentially closed space to and from which the conducting means is preferably led through small openings. The storage space preferably comprises means by which the length of the conducting element outside it can be locked or it can be lengthened or shortened according to need. By using a possible power element, such as a spring or an electric motor, the reel or a corresponding conducting means collector can be made to wind the electric cord into its storage space when the user so wishes. In an essentially closed storage space, the excess conducting means will not easily get tangled or damaged.

A particularly advantageous storage space for a conducting means according to the invention is a variable-length space arranged in connection with the elongated carrying means and essentially parallel with it. It has a first end, which is preferably arranged fixed in the carrying means and a second end, which is arranged movable in relation to the carrying means. The walls of such a variable-length storage space are preferably made of some flexible, variable-length or compressible material. By moving the second end of the storage space, its length and the amount of conducting means that it can hold can be set as desired. The first end of the particularly advantageous, variable-size storage space has been fastened to the carrying device close to the point where the first part of the conducting means ends and the second part begins, or close to the point where the conducting means is permanently attached to the carrying means. A preferred conducting means according to the invention is thus arranged into the storage space from the inlet opening near the first end of the storage space, and then in the storage space running from its first end to the second end. Within the storage space, at its second end, there are fastened turning means of the type of a pulley, for example, through which the conducting means runs and turns back towards the first end. The conducting means is preferably led out of the storage space through the outlet opening near the first end of the storage space. When an electric cord, for example, is drawn out of such a storage space, the second end of the storage space comes towards the first end at the same time. When the second end of the storage space is drawn further from the first end, some electric cord comes into the storage space at the same time, whereby the freely movable portion of the conducting means outside the storage space becomes shorter.

The storage space can also be mostly or almost entirely an open space. In that case, the means needed for the storage of the conducting means, such as pulley members or winding members have been arranged in the carrying means without a closed bag equipped with walls like the one mentioned above or the like. The elongated conducting means can then be guided to run along the desired route, e.g. with rings or loops fastened to the neck ribbon as fixed or movable, which can operate as inlet and outlet openings. The advantages of such an open storage space include easy servicing of components and low manufacturing costs. It is also possible to arrange both ends of the storage space as movable in relation to the carrying means, and the storage space fastened to the carrying means at some other point than near its first end.

Preferably, the carrying means according to the invention is manufactured of an essentially different material and of essentially different shape than the second part of the conducting means. The more the materials and their shapes differ from each other, the more difficult it is for the elongated means to get tangled with each other.

In the following, the invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying schematic drawing, in which Fig. 1 shows schematically the combination according to the invention in the first position, Fig. 2 shows the combination of Fig. 1 in a second position, Fig. 3 shows the second combination according to the invention schematically, and Fig. 4 shows the neck ribbon according to the invention schematically.

Although three different embodiments of the invention are shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, the same reference numbers are used for corresponding parts for the sake of clarity.

The preferred combination 1 according to the invention shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a neck ribbon 2 intended to go round the user's neck, the ribbon being hollow inside and having a somewhat circular cross section, with an electronic communication apparatus 3 fastened to it. The electronic communication apparatus 3 produces sound, which the user listens to from the earphones 4 and 5. The earphones 4 and 5 are connected to the communication apparatus 3 with electric cords 6 and 7. The first parts of the electric cords (not shown in Figures 1 and 2) begin from the same side of the communication apparatus 3 and run within the first side 2a of the neck ribbon from the communication apparatus 3 up to the central point 8 of the neck ribbon. In the central point 8 there is arranged a protecting sleeve 9, under which the electric cords 6 and 7 are taken out of the neck ribbon 2a and turned each to its own direction. The sleeve 9 is fitted to such a tightness that it fastens the cords 6 and 7 firmly to the neck ribbon 2 by pressing. The second parts 6b and 7b of the electric cords, at the second ends of which there are earphones 4 and 5, begin from the sleeve 9. The second parts 6b and 7b of the electric cords beginning from the sleeve 9 are detached from the neck ribbon at least for most of their length. On both sides of the central sleeve 9 there is placed a sleeve-like holding element 10 and 11, which surrounds the neck ribbon and the second part of the electric cord that runs in the same direction with it. In other words, holding element 10 surrounds part 2a of the neck ribbon and the second part 6b of the electric cord, and holding element 11 surrounds part 2b of the neck ribbon and the second part 7b of the electric cord.

In the situation shown in Figure 1 the communication apparatus 3 is not in use, or at least the music produced by it is not listened to with the earphones 4 and 5. The holding elements 10 and 11 are in the second extreme position, close to the communication apparatus 3. The holding elements 10 and 11 hold the second parts 6b and 7b of the electric cord essentially for the whole length attached to the neck ribbon 2.

Figure 2 shows a situation in which the earphone 4 has been taken into use. The holding element 10 has slid close to its second extreme position, close to the central point 8 of the neck ribbon. Now the second part 6b of the electric cord of the earphone 4 is almost for its whole length freely movable in relation to the direction of the neck ribbon 2. The holding elements 10 and 11 have been arranged around the neck ribbon 2 and the second part 6b of the electric cord so loosely that they continuously tend to fall downwards under the force of gravity, tending at the same time to guide the second parts 6b and 7b of the electric cord into contact with the neck ribbon 2. However, the easily movable holding element 10 is preferably so light that it does not disturbingly tend to draw the earphone 4 in the ear of the user downwards. The holding elements 10 and 11 could also be adapted to be so tight that during normal use they remain at the point where the user has placed them.

Figure 3 shows a preferred combination 1 according to the invention, which differs from the combination of figures 1 and 2 in that instead of the holding elements 10 and 11, the earphones 4 and 5 and the second parts 6b and 7b of their electric cords are held in contact with the neck ribbon 2 by magnetic fasteners. There are magnets 12 and 13 attached on both sides 2a and 2b of the neck ribbon, close to the communication apparatus 3. In the earphones 4 and 5 or beside them in the electric cord 6b or 7b there is a suitable counterpiece, whereby magnetic fields 14 are created between the magnet 12 and the earphone 4 and the magnet 13 and the earphone 5 respectively, holding the earphones 4 and 5 and their electric cords 6b and 7b in contact with the neck ribbon 2. According to the invention, the magnet fastening could also be replaced by some other fastening means, for example some mechanical fastening means, such as a groove arranged in the earphone, and a projection that fits the groove arranged in the neck ribbon. In order to ensure comfort of use, the fastening should preferably be such that it can be released by the user using the finger power of one hand, when desired.

In the situation shown by Fig. 3, the earphone 4 and the second part 6b of its electric cord are in contact with the neck ribbon 2a in a controlled manner. The earphone 5 is shown as detached from its magnet 13, and the magnetic field 14 between the earphone 5 and the magnet 13 that draws them towards each other is shown schematically.

The magnet fastening shown by Fig. 3 or some other suitable fastening means could also be arranged in the neck ribbon shown in the example of Figures 1 and 2. In the examples of Figures 1, 2 and 3, it is naturally also possible to arrange to, the neck ribbon and/or to the other parts of the electric cord other fastening means than the ones described here. It is also possible that there are two, three or more magnet fastenings like the one in the example of Fig. 3 in the neck ribbon for one earphone and its cord. If there were a microphone in addition to the earphone in the same cord, there could also be fastening means at the point where the microphone is. In Figures 1, 2 and 3, the communication apparatus 3 is permanently fixed to the neck ribbon 2, and no detachable fastening means between them are shown. For example, the neck ribbon 2 could be at its ends permanently pressed between the parts of the shell of the communication apparatus 3. The communication apparatus 3 could also be detachable from the neck ribbon 2, in which case there should be some kind of special fastening means in the communication apparatus 3 and the neck ribbon 2, and connecting means for connecting the electric cords 6 and 7 to the communication apparatus 3.

Figure 4 shows a preferred neck ribbon 2 according to the invention, to which an earphone 4 is attached. The neck ribbon 2 is made of two separate ribbons 2a and 2b. The ribbons 2a and 2b are fastened to each other at the lower end 15 of the neck ribbon to be attached to the load with a seam 16 and at the upper end 17 intended behind the user's neck with a seam 18. The load, such as an electronic communication apparatus can be hung from a loop formed by the lower end 15 of the neck ribbon, for example, or separate fastening means can be arranged between the neck ribbon 2 and the communication apparatus. At the lower end 15 of the neck ribbon there is an electric connector 19 for connecting to the electronic communication apparatus. The connector 19 can be arranged so tightly attached to the communication apparatus that the communication apparatus can be suspended from it. The connector 19 and the earphone 4 are connected by an electric cord 6, of which the first part 6a denoted by a dashed line is arranged to run for most of its length in a space formed within part 2a of the neck ribbon towards the upper end 17 of the neck ribbon. An opening 20 has been formed in the ribbon 2a, from which the electric cord 6a is led outside part 2a of the neck ribbon. The part of the electric cord that is outside ribbon 2a is its second part 6b, which can be arranged for at least most of its length freely movable in relation to the direction of the neck ribbon 2. The neck ribbon 2 also comprises a storage bag 21 for the second part 6b of the electric cord arranged around the ribbon 2a and parallel with it. The bag 21 is shown in Figure 4 as a cross section. It is fastened to the ribbon 2a at its first end 22, on the upper end 17 side of the opening 20. The second end 23 of the bag 21 is arranged at a distance from the first end 22 of the bag towards the lower end 15 of the neck ribbon. The electric cord 6b is arranged in the bag 21 close to the first end 22 of the bag. In the bag 21, the electric cord 6b first runs towards the second end 23 of the bag, and then back towards the first end 22 of the bag, where an opening 24 is formed in the bag, through which the electric cord 6b is led out of the bag 21. Inside the second end 23 of the bag there is a pulley 25, through which the electric cord 6b is arranged to run. The walls 26 of the bag are made of flexible material or, for example, material that can be folded like an accordion.

The bag 21 is fastened to the ribbon 2a only at its first end 22. When the user needs the earphone 4, he/she pulls at the earphone 4 in the direction shown by the arrow A, whereupon the force imposed by the electric cord 6b on the pulley 25 pulls on the second end 23 of the bag in the direction of arrow B, i.e. the length of the bag 21 is reduced. When the user does not need the earphone 4 any more, he/she pulls at the second end 23 of the bag in a direction opposite to the direction of arrow B, whereupon the electric cord 6b is stored in the bag 21. There can be pulleys 25 at both ends of the bag, in which case several cord passages in the direction of the bag 21 can be arranged within the bag 21. In theory, when the number of passages through pulleys in the bag increases, the stress imposed on the cord by pulling decreases.

It is clear to a person skilled in the art that the invention is in no way limited only to the embodiments described in the above specification, but it can be varied within the scope of the inventive idea defined by the attached claims.

Claims

A carrying device, such as a neck ribbon, which comprises elongated carrying means (2) and means (15, 19) for suspending a load, characterized in that it comprises elongated conducting means (6, 7) including

- a first part (6a) arranged as a carrying means (2) or permanently in contact with the carrying means (2) and mainly parallel with the carrying device (2), and having at the first end of its first part (6a) means (19) for connecting the conducting means to an electronic communication apparatus (3), and - a second part (6b, 7b) with its first end arranged permanently in contact with the carrying means (2) and which second part (6b, 7b) is arranged, when desired, detached from the carrying means (2) at least for part of its length and essentially freely movable in relation to the direction of the carrying means (2), the second part (6b, 7b) having at its second end signal means (4, 5) for transmitting a message from the conducting means (6, 7) to the user or vice versa, and that the carrying device also comprises control means (10, 11, 12, 13, 21) for arranging said second part (6b, 7b) of the conducting means detached from the carrying means (2) when desired and in contact with the carrying device (2) when desired.

2. A carrying device according to claim 1, characterized in that said control means comprise at least one set of fastening means (12, 13) that fit together, arranged at least at the second end of the second part (6b, 7b) of the conducting means and at a suitable point in the rest of the carrying device, by which the second part (6b, 7b) of the conducting means can be detachably fastened to the carrying means (2).

3. A carrying device according to claim 2, characterized in that the fastening means comprise a magnet (12, 13) arranged at a suitable point in the carrying device, whereby a magnetic field (14) is arranged between the magnet (12, 13) and the signal means (4, 5) so that said magnetic field (14) draws the magnet (12, 13) and the signal means (4, 5) towards each other.

4. A carrying device according to claim 1, characterized in that said control means comprise a holding element (10, 11) arranged to hold the carrying means (2) and the second part (6b, 7b) of the conducting means in contact with each other, and to settle or to be placed at a desired point in the length of the second part (6b, 7b) of the conducting means, in which case the portion of the second part (6b, 7b) of the conducting means between the holding element (10, 11) and the second end of the second part (6b, 7b) of the conducting means is arranged to be detached from the carrying means (2) and essentially freely movable in relation to the direction of the carrying means (2).

5. A carrying device according to claim 4, characterized in that the holding element (10, 11) is a sleeve-like element arranged around the carrying means (2) and the second part (6b, 7b) of the conducting means.

6. A carrying device according to claim 1, characterized in that said control means comprise a storage space (21) for the conducting means and means (24, 25) for bringing the second part (6b) of the conducting means mainly into said storage space (21) and out of it when desired.

7. A carrying device according to claim 6, characterized in that the storage space (21) is a variable-length space (21) arranged in contact with the elongated carrying means (2a) and essentially parallel with it, the storage space comprising a first end (22), which is arranged fastened to the carrying means (2a) and a second end (23), which is arranged movable in relation to the carrying means (2a).

8. A carrying device according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the conducting means (6, 7) is arranged - to the storage space (21) close to the first end of the storage space (22), then

- to run from the first end (22) to the second end (23),

- to run via turning means (25) arranged at the second end (23) and back towards the first end (22), and - through an outlet opening (24) close to the first end (22) of the storage space out of the storage space (21).

9. A carrying device according to claim 8, characterized in that the turning means (25) arranged at the second end (23) are arranged to allow movement of the conductor (6b) in relation to them.

10. A combination (1), which comprises an electronic communication apparatus (3), characterized in that it also comprises a carrying device according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 9, the electronic communication apparatus (3) being attached to the means (15, 19) of the carrying device for suspending a load.