Patent Application
20080137268
Personal audio players are well known and conventionally have played audio content from any of a variety of formats including radio broadcasts, cassette tapes, compact discs (CDs). More recently, digital personal audio players have played digital audio content that is stored in a digital medium such as a memory circuit (e.g., flash memory) or a disk drive. Examples of such digital personal audio players include the iPod® players available from Apple Computer Company, including the original iPod®, the iPod® mini, and the iPod® nano.
As an alternative to conventional wired headphones, users listen to the audio content with wireless headphones, such as the Freepulse™ Wireless Headphones, which are available from Logitech Corporation.
Such a wireless adapter is external to the personal audio player and is connected to it mainly by an electrical connector, such as a 3.5 mm stereo audio jack. While adequate for some uses, such a physical coupling can be less than optimal for providing a physically secure coupling between the wireless adapter and the personal audio player. During some physical activity such as jogging, for example, the electrical connector may not be adequate to hold the wireless adapter and the personal audio player securely together.
Accordingly, the present invention provides an integrated personal audio player case and wireless adapter. In one implementation, the integrated case and wireless adapter includes a rigid main body and a rigid closable top that are sized to receive and encase a selected personal audio player, such as a digital personal audio player having a user control structure and at least one output connector for audio content. In this implementation, the top includes an open aperture through which a user can access and operate the user control structure.
An integrated wireless adapter is encased within the main body for providing a localized wireless communication channel to a wireless device. At least one electrical connector connects to the at least one output connector to deliver audio content from the selected personal audio player to the integrated wireless adapter.
Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the detailed description of the preferred embodiment thereof, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Integrated player case and adapter 100 is sized to receive and encase a selected personal audio player. In the illustrated implementation, integrated player case and adapter 100 is sized and configured to receive and encase an iPod® nano audio player 10 (
Flip-top 104 includes an open aperture 106 through which a user can access and operate user control structure 16 of audio player 10 (
Integrated player case and adapter 100 includes an audio connector 110 (
Rigid main body 102 and rigid closable flip-top 102 cooperate to provide a protective enclosure for audio player 10 and also to provide a secure attachment between audio player 10 and connectors 110 and 112. Attaching a wireless adapter to an audio player just by means of an electrical connection, without the enveloping casing of the present invention, can allow the wireless adapter to be inadvertently disconnected from the audio player during normal usage. Such disconnections are highly disruptive for users.
A user-operable remote/local control switch 116 allows a user to select whether audio player 10 retains local control of the audio playback, as in normal operation, or is controlled by the remote wireless device (e.g., wireless headphones). With switch 116 in the remote control mode, wireless adapter 116 uses multi-pin dock connector 112 to receive “line out” audio content from audio player 10, for transmission to the remote wireless device, and to deliver to audio player 10 remote control signals (e.g., play, pause, skip, etc.) received from the remote wireless device (e.g., wireless headphones 32,
With switch 116 in the local control mode, wireless adapter 116 uses audio connector 110 to receive audio content from audio player 10. In this local control mode the remote wireless device (e.g., wireless speakers or receiver, not shown) plays back audio content according to the user's control of the audio player 10, including volume, play, stop, skip, etc. This local control mode allows a user to control playback at a remote device (e.g., speakers, receiver, etc.) by manipulation of the control structure 16 of the audio player 10. In this local control mode, audio player 10 in combination with integrated player case and adapter 100 appears to function like a “remote control” for the remote device (e.g., speakers, receiver, etc.), even though the control functions are executed on the local audio player 10.
The present invention is directed to a case that contains a personal audio player to provide a secure connection to an integral wireless adapter. Integrated player case and adapter 100 is described as having a rigid body 102 and a flip-top 104. It will be appreciated, however, that the present invention would encompass other implementations of an integrated player case and adapter including, for example, main bodies that are pliable, rather than rigid. Also, other implementations of an integrated player case and adapter according to the present invention may include tops, enclosures, clamps, grips, bands, etc., that secure a personal audio player within a main body without a flip-top 104. Such alternative tops, enclosures, clamps, grips, bands, etc. may cooperate with the main body to substantially enclose a personal audio player, as does flip-top 104, or may function to secure the periphery of a personal audio player to provide a secure physical coupling between it and the integral wireless adapter.
In view of the many possible embodiments to which the principles of our invention may be applied, it should be recognized that the detailed embodiments are illustrative only and should not be taken as limiting the scope of our invention. Rather, the invention includes all such embodiments as may come within the scope and spirit of the following claims and equivalents thereto.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60756600 | Jan 2006 | US |
