Earpiece retainer

Abstract

The earpiece retainer is a retaining device for securing an earpiece, such as a Bluetooth® earpiece or the like, to a support, such as the user's belt. The earpiece retainer includes a housing having opposed front and rear walls and at least one sidewall. The housing defines and open interior region therein. A slot is formed through the front wall. The slot is dimensioned and configured for removably receiving an earphone portion of the earpiece therethrough. The earphone portion of the earpiece is releasably locked within the open interior region of the housing to secure the earpiece to the to housing when not in use. A spring-biased retaining member is disposed within the open interior region, the retaining member resiliently engaging the earphone portion and releasably holding the earphone portion against the front wall to releasably lock the earphone portion in place.

1 . An earpiece retainer, comprising:
 a housing having opposed front and rear walls and at least one sidewall, the housing defining an open interior region therein, the front wall having a slot formed therein, the slot being adapted for insertion of an earphone portion of an earpiece therein;   means for releasably locking the earphone portion of the earpiece within the open interior region;   means for releasably securing an ear mounting portion of the earpiece to the housing; and   means for releasably attaching the housing to a support.   
   
   
       2 . The earpiece retainer as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said housing comprises front and rear housing portions, the front housing portion including the front wall, a rear wall and at least one sidewall. 
   
   
       3 . The earpiece retainer as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said rear housing portion is configured to mate with the front housing portion and has a substantially open front, the rear housing portion defining a first retaining portion and a second retaining portion facing the substantially open front. 
   
   
       4 . The earpiece retainer as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said rear housing portion has a rear wall defining the rear wall of said housing and a first substantially rectangular wall extending therefrom defining a recess, the first substantially rectangular wall, the rear wall, and the recess forming the first retaining portion. 
   
   
       5 . The earpiece retainer as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said rear housing portion has a second substantially rectangular wall having an open upper end defining the second retaining portion. 
   
   
       6 . The earpiece retainer as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said means for releasably locking the earphone portion of the earpiece within the open interior region comprise:
 a first resilient member disposed within the recess defined by the first retaining portion; and   an engaging member attached to the resilient member.   
   
   
       7 . The earpiece retainer as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the engaging member is wedge-shaped, having a substantially rectangular rear face, the rectangular rear face being disposed within the first retaining portion. 
   
   
       8 . The earpiece retainer as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the rear wall of the front housing portion has an opening defined therein, the engaging member partially projecting through opening. 
   
   
       9 . The earpiece retainer as recited in  claim 8 , further comprising a sliding actuator disposed between the front housing portion and the rear housing portion. 
   
   
       10 . The earpiece retainer as recited in  claim 9 , further comprising means for retaining the sliding actuator between the front housing portion and the rear housing portion so that the sliding actuator is free to slide in a vertical direction between the rear wall of the rear housing portion and the front housing portion. 
   
   
       11 . The earpiece retainer as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising a second resilient member disposed within the second retaining portion, the sliding actuator having a button portion, the button portion having a lower surface, the second resilient member abutting the lower surface of the button portion of the sliding actuator. 
   
   
       12 . The earpiece retainer as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the sliding actuator has a lower end bearing against the wedge-shaped engaging member when the button portion is pressed down, compressing the second resilient member. 
   
   
       13 . The earpiece retainer as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said means for releasably securing the ear mounting portion of the earpiece to said housing comprises at least one opening formed through the at least one sidewall of said housing. 
   
   
       14 . An earpiece retainer, comprising:
 a housing having opposed front and rear walls and at least one sidewall, the housing defining an open interior region therein and a slot formed through the front wall, the slot being adapted for removably receiving an earphone portion of an earpiece therethrough, the at least one sidewall having an opening formed therein adapted for releasably receiving an ear mounting portion of the earpiece therethrough;   means for releasably locking the earphone portion of the earpiece within the open interior region of the housing; and   a clip secured to an outer surface of the rear wall of the housing for releasably securing the housing to a support.   
   
   
       15 . The earpiece retainer as recited in  claim 14 , wherein said means for releasably locking the earphone portion of the earpiece within the open interior region of said housing comprises a spring-biased retaining member disposed within the open interior region of said housing, the retaining member resiliently engaging the earphone portion and releasably holding the earphone portion against an inner surface of the front wall of said housing. 
   
   
       16 . The earpiece retainer as recited in  claim 15 , wherein said housing comprises front and rear housing portions, said front housing portion including the front wall, a rear wall and at least one front sidewall. 
   
   
       17 . The earpiece retainer as recited in  claim 16 , wherein said rear housing portion is contoured to mate with the front housing portion and has a substantially open front, the substantially open front of the rear housing portion defining a first retaining portion and a second retaining portion. 
   
   
       18 . The earpiece retainer as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the first retaining portion is defined by a substantially rectangular wall, the substantially rectangular wall bordering a recess formed in the rear wall. 
   
   
       19 . The earpiece retainer as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the second retaining portion is defined by a substantially rectangular wall having an open upper end. 
   
   
       20 . The earpiece retainer as recited in  claim 19 , wherein said means for releasably locking the earphone portion of the earpiece within the open interior region comprise:
 a first resilient member received within the recess; and   an engaging member secured to the resilient member.