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Mobile Phone Patent Abstract
A film keyboard is sewn into an end of the sleeve of a jacket. A
cable leads from it to a first plug-type connector, on whose opposite
end a rubber band engages, said rubber band being supported in terms
of forces at another point on the end of the sleeve. If the nebber
band is located between the thumb and index finger, the first plug-type
connector is thus inevitably held in such a position that it can
easily be plugged into a second, corresponding plug-type connector
of a mobile phone when the latter is held in the hand in the usual
way. When not in use, the first plug-type connector is held concealed
in the end of the sleeve.
Mobile Phone Patent Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A device for electrically connecting a mobile phone to a keyboard,
comprising
a first plug-type connector (19) connected to a keyboard,
a second plug-type connector (29) of a mobile phone, compatible
with said first plug-type connector,
a strap device (22) that extends in a position of use on the hand
(10) of a person, at least from the back (23) of said hand between
the thumb (13) and index finger to the hollow (12) of said hand,
said first plug-type connector (19) being attached to said strap
device in such a way that said first plug-type connector (19) can
be positioned in the vicinity of said thumb where said first plug-type
connector (19) can be connected to said second plug-type connector
(29) when a mobile phone (11) is held in said hand in a usual way,
wherein said strap device (22) can be attached to one end (15)
of a sleeve of an item of clothing for the upper body of said person
in such a way that said strap device (22) is held stabilized in
the position of use and can be moved into a position of rest in
which at least said first plug-type connector (19) is held concealed
in or on the end (15) of said sleeve,
further comprising a keyboard (16) that can be applied into or
onto said item of clothing, and
a cable device (18) that connects said keyboard (16) to said first
plug-type connector (19).
2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said strap device
(22) comprises a folded-over cuff (34) that is attached to the edge
(36) of said sleeve, said cuff (34) having an opening (37) through
which a thumb of said hand can be pushed, and parts of said cable
device are concealed in the material of said cuff (34).
3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said strap device
(22) comprises a longitudinally inelastic cable (18) which extends,
as part of said cable device (18), from a first edge point (21)
of said end (15) of said sleeve to said first plug-in connector
(19), and wherein said strap device (22) comprises a longitudinally
elastic tensile element (22) which extends from a second edge point
(24) of said end (15) of said sleeve to said first plug-type connector
(19), which tensile element (22) is tensioned in said position of
use, and in a position of rest retracts said first plug-type connector
(19), substantially relieved of tension, into said sleeve.
4. The device as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a tubelet-like
substantially longitudinally incompressible duct (26) concealed
in said sleeve, in which duct (26) a significant part of said tensile
element (22) is guided in a longitudinally moveable fashion, it
being possible to secure an end of said tensile element (22) which
is remote from said first plug-type connector (19) in a first end
region of said duct, and to attach a second end region of said duct
in the vicinity of said second edge point (24) of said end (15)
of said sleeve.
Mobile Phone Patent Description
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not applicable.
Statement Regarding Federally Sponsored Research or Development
Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a device for electrically connecting a
mobile phone to a keyboard.
The links between mobile phones and the Internet are becoming stronger
and stronger. In this context they are increasingly used as combination
devices for voice and text communication. Usually, alphanumeric
characters are input by means of multiple activation of the numerical
keys, which is extremely awkward and therefore only suitable for
short messages. In some mobile phones it is possible to connect
an external alphanumeric keyboard by means of a connecting cable,
which is only possible in quasi-stationary use (for example in a
car) because of the awkward handling.
2. Description of Relevant Art
In FOCUS 46/1997, there are reports of the predictions of a group
of scientists from the MIT Media Lab in Cambridge to the effect
that computers and other electronic devices will be integrated into
items of clothing. One concept which is illustrated is, for example,
a keyboard which is integrated in the front armpit region of a denim
jacket behind which a synthesizer chip is to be concealed. The positions
of the concealed keyboard are symbolized ornamentally on the outside
of the material. The keyboard is reliably conceived as a film keyboard
which is very thin and can be bent in a somewhat elastic way and
is already generally available. However, in these concepts it is
always assumed that all the interacting components (keyboard, synthesizer
chip) are accommodated together in one item of clothing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to provide a device of the generic
type which makes it possible to use an external keyboard in conjunction
with a mobile phone in a convenient way and at the same time provides
a plug-in connection which is easy to handle eregonomically.
This object is achieved by means of the features of the present
invention.
The first plug-type connector is inevitably held in the right-hand
position on the ball of the thumb by means of the strap-device which
is held between the thumb and the index finger, with the result
that as the mobile phone is picked up it is also very easy to make
the electrical connection between the keyboard and mobile phone.
When not in use, the first plug-type connector disappears from the
exposed position, but is easy to access at any time. Because a film
keyboard is provided in or on an item of clothing (preferably the
sleeve of the jacket), the person wearing the clothing always has
the keyboard, which is unnoticeable in terms of weight, on him.
A refinement of the invention causes the strap device to be retracted
into the sleeve by means of an elastic tensile element, such as
in particular a rubber band. Because the strap device is anchored
to twc edge points of the end of the sleeve which lie approximately
diametrically opposite one another, it gives rise to a certain orientation
and securing of the sleeve with respect to the thumb, and thus with
respect to the lower arm of the carrier, in the position of use,
so that if it is integrated in the sleeve region the keyboard is
always located in a position which is convenient for use.
In this context, a development of the invention has the effect
that even when the tensile element is stressed, the sleeve remains
extended so that the keyboard can be easily activated.
In a variant of the invention, it is possible to dispense with
an elastic tensile element. The cuff (or a portion of a cuff) must
however match the jacket in terms of appearance.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Further advantages and refinements of the invention emerge from
the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference
to the drawing, in which:
FIG. 1 shows the first variant of a device according to the invention
in a schematically simplified way, in the position of use and in
the state before contact is made with the mobile phone, and viewed
in the direction of the ball of the thumb,
FIG. 2 shows the f irst variant, viewed in the direction of the
back of the hand,
FIG. 3 shows a second variant of a strap device in a schematic,
perspective view,
FIG. 4 shows a third variant of a device according to the invention
in the position of use of the strap device (without mobile phone),
FIG. 5 shows the third variant in the position of rest of the strap
device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
According to FIG. 1, a hand 10 is about to take hold of a mobile
phone 11 in the vicinity of the hollow 12 of the hand between the
thumb 13 on one side and the other fingers 14 on the other. The
forearm is surrounded by an end 15 of a sleeve of a jacket, for
example. In the material of the end 15 of the sleeve a film keyboard
16 is concealed and secured, the positions of the keys being marked
by symbols 17 (alpha or alphanumeric symbols) corresponding to the
keyboard of a typewriter. The symbols 17 can be printed or embroidered
onto the outside of the material, to give the desired appearance.
A longitudinally inelastic (as cables usually are) multi-conductor
cable 18 leads from the film keyboard 16 to the lower end of a multipin
first plug-type connector 19 (which is illustrated here, for example,
as a flat plug-in socket). In the position of use illustrated, the
cable 16 is secured in a nonextensible fashion to a lower, first
edge point 21 of the end 15 of the sleeve.
A rubber band 22 leads from the upper end of the first plug-type
connector 19 between the thumb 13 and the index finger to the back
23 of the hand (according to FIG. 2) and enters, at a second edge
point 24 of the end 15 of the sleeve which is at the top in the
position of use, into a longitudinally incompressible plastic tubelet
26 (indicated by seams 25) which is secured there, which extends
approximately as far as the elbow of the arm and is also fixed therefore.
The end 27 of the rubber band 22 is thickened and is thus held resting
against the left-hand edge (FIG. 2) of the plastic tubelet 26. The
rubber band 22 is guided in the longitudinally moveable way in the
interior of the plastic tubelet 26. It is important that when the
rubber band is placed around the thumb 13 the tensile force of said
rubber band 22 is condicted by the plastic tubelet 26 to the second
edge point 24 so that here the end 15 of the sleeve is pulled towards
the thumb 13. The plastic tubelet 26 can also have a flat or oval
cross section corresponding to the respective cross section of the
rubber band 22. The cross section must be selected such that the
plastic tubelet 26 does not bend too much when there is maximum
tensile stressing of the rubber. It can also be attached (not illustrated)
to one longitudinal edge of the film keyboard or integrated into
it, which increases the longitudinal rigidity. The first and second
edge point 21, 24 are at a distance so far apart from one another
in the circumferential direction (around the wrist) that the free
length of the cable 18, including the length of the first plug-type
connector 19, is smaller than this distance so that the plug-type
connector 19 is pulled back behind the extreme edge of the end 15
of the sleeve when the rubber band 22 is moved out of the position
of use shown in the figures over the thumb 13 and back into a position
of rest (not shown). In the position of rest, the first plug-type
connector 19 is virtually invisible. The free length of the cable
18, the first plug-type connector 19 and the rubber band 22 together
form a strap device by means of which the first plug-type connector
19 (in the position of use illustrated) is inevitably positioned
and held in the vicinity of the ball 28 of the thumb of the hand
10 in such a way that electrical connection to the mobile phone
11 can easily be made when it is held in the usual way.
For this, the mobile phone 11 has, on the side facing the ball
28 of the thumb, a corresponding, second plug-type connector 29
(illustrated here as a countersunk flat-type connector) so that
the two plug-type connectors 19 and 29 engage one in the other when
the mobile phone 11 is held in the hand 10 in the usual way. Admittedly
the example is tailored to a situation in which the mobile phone
is held with the left hand.
The number of conductors and plug pins depends on how the keys
affect the mobile phone. If a transducer IC which generates key-coded,
serial signals is already integrated into the film keyboard, one
signal line, combined with two lines for supplying power to the
transducer IC from the mobile phone, is sufficient. If the IC generates,
for example, four parallel signal bits, six lines are necessary.
However, if the key coding takes place in the mobile phone, it is
necessary to have a number of lines which corresponds to the number
of keys, which is certainly less expedient.
The strap device illustrated in FIG. 3 is composed of an approximately
U-shaped, dimensionally stable, but preferably spring-elastic carrier
31, which is intended to rest with a first limb 32 against the back
23 of the hand (FIG. 2). Its end is extended by means of a rubber
band 22', which can correspond in the rest of its course to the
rubber band 22 of FIG. 2. The second limb 33 is intended to extend
to the hollow 12 of the hand and rest there in particular against
the ball 28 of the thumb (FIG. 1). In this region, the first plug-type
connector 19' is attached to the second limb 33. In this variant,
the strap device does not therefore necessarily extend to two edge
points on the end of the sleeve which are at a distance from one
another. The electrical connection between the plug-type connector
19' and the film keyboard can be effected by means of a ribbon cable
(not shown), which is, for example, cast in the carrier 31 and then
continued parallel to the rubber band 22'. Instead of a rubber band,
it is also possible to provide a cable which can be inserted into
the plastic tubelet 26 (corresponding to FIG. 2). The tensile stress
in the direction of the sleeve is in fact not absolutely necessary
in this variant if the carrier 31 is held tight in the hand (at
any rate until the mobile phone has been picked up and plugged in).
According to FIG. 4, the strap device is formed by a folded-over
cuff 34 which is approximately in the shape of a semi-ellipse whose
straight longitudinal side 35 is attached to the edge 36 of the
sleeve and is folded forward in the position of use so that the
thumb 13 can be pushed through an opening 37. In the position of
rest according to FIG. 5, the cuff 34 is folded back onto the outside
of the end 15" of the sleeve so that the first plug-type connector
19" which is attached to the cuff 34 is held protected and
concealed between the cuff 34 and the end 15" of the sleeve.
The retention of the cuff 34 in the position of rest can be assured
by means of a snap-and-close fastener 38 (not indicated here). This
is dependent on the inherent rigidity of the cuff 34. The cable
device for connecting the plug-type connector 19" to the keyboard
can be formed by copper threads which are sewn or woven into the
material of the cuff 34 and then of the adjoining end 15" of
the sleeve. As an alternative to the outward folding of the cuff
34 which is illustrated, the cuff can also be folded inward into
the inside of the sleeve in the position of rest, making it completely
invisible. This is a question of design.
In the above embodiments it has been assumed that the keyboard
is positioned in the vicinity of the forearm, which certainly makes
the keys easy to use. However, other positions are also possible,
for example in the belly region or else also in the thigh region.
It is essential that the cable device always be lead through the
sleeve to the end of the sleeve and from there to the mobile phone
via the strap device. |