Sports Musicom Headset

Abstract

A Sports MusiCom headset ( 10 ) adapted for use with cellular telephones comprises at least one speaker ( 28 ) and microphone ( 30 ) mounted within helmet liner ( 20 ) suitable for use in conjunction with a variety of sports and recreational activities. Speaker ( 28 ) and microphone ( 30 ) are held in place by detachable fastening means, e.g. a hook and loop fastening system, or stretchable fabric, so they may be removed to wash helmet liner ( 20 ). Chin strap ( 32 ) is also held in place by detachable fastening means or stretchable fabric. Microphone ( 30 ) is contained within a pocket of chin strap ( 32 ) so as to rest microphone ( 30 ) against the wearer's throat, thereby minimizing disturbances from external sources, such as wind. Slap switch ( 60 ) is a relatively large (ideally, four square inch) call answer button that allows easy answering of telephone calls, even if the wearer is in motion or wearing gloves that would render the operation of prior art call answer buttons difficult or impossible. Breakaway connector ( 40 ) is provided between helmet liner ( 20 ) and slap switch ( 60 ) to prevent wires from snagging on foreign objects, and to allow separation of helmet liner ( 20 ) from the remaining components of Sports MusiCom headset ( 10 ). A further embodiment incorporates standard headphone and microphone connections ( 85, 86 ) for compatibility with a wearer's headset of choice, and which may also incorporate slap switch ( 60 ). “Patch” cables may be included to allow use of the headset device with different cellular telephone models, which may contain nonstandard audio input/output connections.

1 . A Sports MusiCom headset for providing hands-free cellular telephone communication between a wearer and others, and for providing audio playback from a portable music player, the Sports MusiCom headset comprising:
 a helmet liner having a head covering portion adapted to fit on a wearer's head and a chin strap, extending downward from said head covering portion, adapted to fit around a wearer's chin;   at least one speaker mounted to said helmet liner;   a microphone mounted to said chin strap; and,   a cellular telephone plug, in electrical communication with said at least one speaker and said microphone, adapted for use with a cellular telephone audio input/output jack.   
     
     
         2 . The Sports MusiCom headset of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said at least one speaker comprises two speakers; and,   said head covering portion is adapted to hold each speaker on opposites sides of a wearer's head for stereophonic audio reproduction.   
     
     
         3 . The Sports MusiCom headset of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said head covering portion comprises at least one speaker pocket for containing said at least one speaker;   said chin strap comprises a microphone pocket for containing said microphone;   said at least one speaker is removably mounted within said at least one speaker pocket; and,   said microphone is removably mounted within said microphone pocket.   
     
     
         4 . The Sports MusiCom headset of  claim 1 , wherein said chin strap is adapted to hold said microphone in communication with a wearer's throat. 
     
     
         5 . The Sports MusiCom headset of  claim 1 , wherein said chin strap comprises a first elongated member, a second elongated member, and fastening means for removably attaching said first and second elongated members to one another. 
     
     
         6 . The Sports MusiCom headset of  claim 1 , wherein said helmet liner is constructed of stretchable fabric to hold said helmet liner securely on a wearer's head. 
     
     
         7 . The Sports MusiCom headset of  claim 1 , further comprising a breakaway connector in electrical communication with said at least one speaker, said microphone, and said cellular telephone plug, the breakaway connector comprising:
 a first segment having a first plurality of electrical contact elements; and,   a second segment having a second plurality of electrical contact elements,   wherein said first and second pluralities of electrical contact elements are adapted to be in electrical communication with one another when said breakaway connector is engaged.   
     
     
         8 . The Sports MusiCom headset of  claim 7 , wherein:
 said first segment comprises at least one magnet; and,   said second segment comprises at least one magnetically attractive element adapted to be in magnetic communication with said at least one magnet when said breakaway connector is engaged, whereby said first and second segments are held together by magnetic attraction.   
     
     
         9 . The Sports MusiCom headset of  claim 1 , further comprising a switch operable for remotely answering and ending cellular telephone calls, the switch comprising:
 a base pad having a first substantially flat surface defining a first plane;   a slap pad having a second substantially flat surface defining a second plane, wherein said second plane is substantially parallel to said first plane, the second substantially flat surface having a surface area;   a first electrical contact in electrical communication with said cellular telephone plug;   a second electrical contact in electrical communication with said cellular telephone plug;   resilient means urging said first and second electrical contacts in an electrically open position; wherein,   said first and second electrical contacts contact one another to close an electrical circuit when said slap pad is displaced toward said base.   
     
     
         10 . The Sports MusiCom headset of  claim 9 , wherein said surface area is between one square inch and four square inches. 
     
     
         11 . The Sports MusiCom headset of  claim 9 , wherein said surface area is approximately four square inches. 
     
     
         12 . The Sports MusiCom headset of  claim 9 , wherein said surface area is greater than four square inches. 
     
     
         13 . A switch operable for remotely answering and ending cellular telephone calls, the switch comprising:
 a base pad having a first substantially flat surface defining a first plane;   a slap pad having a second substantially flat surface defining a second plane, wherein said second plane is substantially parallel to said first plane, the second substantially flat surface having a surface area;   a cellular telephone plug adapted for use with a cellular telephone audio input/output jack;   a first electrical contact in electrical communication with said cellular telephone plug;   a second electrical contact in electrical communication with said cellular telephone plug;   resilient means urging said first and second electrical contacts in an electrically open position; wherein,   said first and second electrical contacts contact one another to close an electrical circuit when said slap pad is displaced toward said base.   
     
     
         14 . The MusiCom headset adapter of  claim 13 , wherein said surface area is between one square inch and four square inches. 
     
     
         15 . The MusiCom headset adapter of  claim 13 , wherein said surface area is approximately four square inches. 
     
     
         16 . The MusiCom headset adapter of  claim 13 , wherein said surface area is greater than four square inches. 
     
     
         17 . A MusiCom headset adapter for providing hands-free cellular telephone communication between a wearer and others, and for providing audio playback from a portable music player, the Sports MusiCom headset adapter comprising:
 a cellular telephone plug adapted for use with a cellular telephone audio input/output jack;   a standard 3.5-mm female speaker jack in electrical communication with said cellular telephone plug; and,   a standard 3.5-mm female microphone jack in electrical communication with said cellular telephone plug.   
     
     
         18 . The MusiCom headset adapter of  claim 17 , further comprising a switch operable for remotely answering and ending cellular telephone calls, the switch comprising:
 a base pad having a first substantially flat surface defining a first plane;   a slap pad having a second substantially flat surface defining a second plane, wherein said second plane is substantially parallel to said first plane, the second substantially flat surface having a surface area;   a first electrical contact in electrical communication with said cellular telephone plug;   a second electrical contact in electrical communication with said cellular telephone plug;   resilient means urging said first and second electrical contacts in an electrically open position; wherein,   said first and second electrical contacts contact one another to close an electrical circuit when said slap pad is displaced toward said base.   
     
     
         19 . The MusiCom headset adapter of  claim 18 , wherein said surface area is between one square inch and four square inches. 
     
     
         20 . The MusiCom headset adapter of  claim 18 , wherein said surface area is approximately four square inches. 
     
     
         21 . The MusiCom headset adapter of  claim 18 , wherein said surface area is greater than four square inches.