Patent Application
20080242383
[Not Applicable]
[Not Applicable]
[Not Applicable]
Two-way radios, such as push-to-talk (PTT) radios, are commonly used to provide communications among emergency personnel such as fire fighters. In such applications, it is critical that the communications device remain operable in extreme conditions such as high temperature and moisture. Typically, such radios are used with a speaker/microphone that is interconnected with the radio through an extension cord. The radio is worn at or near the user's waist and the speaker/microphone is positioned near the user's chest or shoulder, so as to be in close proximity to the user's head. The radio is protected from the elements by the protective coat, referred to as a turn-out coat, that is worn by the fire fighter. However, in order to allow the user to hear and be heard, the speaker microphone is typically worn external to the turn-out coat. In this location, both the speaker/microphone and the power cord are exposed to extremes in temperature and moisture. Prior attempts to address these issues have failed because the materials used to construct the speaker/microphone have not been able to withstand the extreme temperatures and/or the manufacture of such accessories has been too proven to be too expensive to be commercially acceptable.
A protective cover assembly is provided for a communications device of the type comprising a radio unit interconnected with an accessory through a power cord. The cover assembly includes first and second portions constructed of a fire retardant material. The first portion is configured to contain the accessory and the second portion is configured to contain the power cord. The first and second portions are releasably secured to one another by mechanical fasteners, such as snaps. The first portion includes a panel that can be opened to allow the cover to be slid over the radio accessory and closed to secure the cover over the accessory. Typically, the accessory is a speaker/microphone, in which case the cover first portion includes a perforated section that allows sound to pass through the cover.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a protective cover is provided for an accessory, such as speaker/microphone unit, of the type that is interconnected with a radio unit either through a power cord or wireless technology. The protective cover comprises a housing configured to enclose the accessory unit. The cover is formed of a fire retardant material and includes a sealable opening that is openable to allow the cover to be positioned over the speaker/microphone unit and that can be closed to secure the cover over the speaker/microphone unit. The sealable opening may comprise a flap that is movable between an open position to allow the cover to be positioned over the accessory unit and that a closed position to secure the cover over the accessory unit.
The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of certain embodiments of the present invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings, certain embodiments. It should be understood, however, that the present invention is not limited to the arrangements and instrumentalities shown in the attached drawings.
Referring to the drawings, a fire retardant cover 10 is configured for mounting over a radio accessory (not shown) of a two-way radio device (not shown). Examples of such devices can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,179,666; 6,026,282 and 5,038,400, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Typically the radio accessory comprises a speaker/microphone unit (not shown) which is interconnected with the radio unit through a power cord (not shown). Alternatively, the accessory unit may be interconnected with the radio unit through a wireless connection, such as a BlueTooth® connection.
The cover 10 is constructed from a fire retardant material, such as NOMEX®, as sold by DuPont, or other similar fire retardant materials. As will be appreciated, the specific design of the cover will be largely dictated by the specifics of the particular accessory with which the cover is intended to be used. In the illustrated embodiment, the cover 10 is configured for use with a speaker/microphone unit. The cover 10 is generally box shaped and includes a front panel 12 that overlies the front panel of the speaker/microphone unit. The front panel 12 includes a perforated section 14 that allows sound to pass through the cover 10 to allow the user to hear and be heard through the speaker/microphone unit. The top panel 16 includes a flap 18 that can be opened to allow the antenna of the speaker/microphone to pass through an opening 20 in the top panel. When not in use, the flap 18 is releasably held in its closed position by a hook and loop fastener, such as VELCRO® brand fastener. For example, the hook portion (not shown) can be carried by the inner surface of the flap 18 and the loop portion 22 can be positioned on the outer surface of the top panel.
In the illustrated embodiment, the top panel 16 includes a circular protuberance 24 that overlies the PTT button of the speaker microphone. The protuberance 24 acts as a visual and/or tactile locator for the underlying PTT button.
As can be seen in
The bottom panel 26 includes a flap 40 that can be opened to allow the jack from an earphone to pass through an opening 42 in the bottom panel for connection to the speaker/microphone. When not in use, the flap 40 is releasably held in its closed position by a hook and loop fastener in the manner described above. For example, the hook portion can be carried by the inner surface of the flap 40 and the loop portion can be positioned on the outer surface of the bottom panel 26.
Similarly, the back panel 34 includes a flap 42 that can be opened to allow the clip (not shown) the speaker/microphone to pass through an opening in the back panel. When not in use, the flap 42 is releasably held in its closed position by a hook and loop fastener in the manner described above. For example, the hook portion can be carried by the inner surface of the flap 42 and the loop portion can be positioned on the outer surface of the back panel 34. As will be appreciated, the cover may include other features to accommodate the specifics of a given speaker/microphone unit.
The cover assembly of the present invention provides a highly effective thermal barrier for protecting communication equipment from the temperature extremes that fire fighters are exposed to during their work. The cover assembly uses a series of mechanical fasteners, such as snaps or loop and hook connectors, which make it easy to install and remove from the unit, e.g., for cleaning or replacement. The covers 10, 50 have been designed to allow the speaker/microphone and power cord to survive extreme temperature variations for short periods of time without failure of any functionality. The audio performance of the accessory is not significantly degraded by the application of the cover 10. Moreover, the cover 10 improves the grip and handling characteristics of the accessory due to the frictional properties of the material that is used to construct the cover.
While the invention has been described with reference to certain embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its scope. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.
