Hands-free personal communication device
A hands-free personal communication device is worn about a user's neck. The communication device includes an elongated elastic neckband for supporting the communication device about the user's neck. The elastic neckband has memory characteristic and is bendable along its length such that the neckband is formable into and out of various selectable positions. An acoustic output device is attached to the neckband and positioned near an ear of the user when the communication device is worn about the user's neck. A microphone is attached to an end of the neckband. A detachable earbud may be attached to an end of the neckband.
1. A hands-free personal communication device for wearing about a user's neck, the communication device comprising:
an elongated elastic neckband for supporting the communication device about the user's neck, the neckband having memory characteristic and being bendable along its length such that the neckband is formable into and out of various selectable positions;
an acoustic output device attached to the neckband and positionable near an ear of the user when the communication device is worn about the user's neck,
a microphone attached to a first end of the neckband; and
an earphone attached to the neckband,
wherein the neckband is adapted to store the earphone in a stored position when the earphone is not in use.
2. The hands-free personal communication device of claim 1 , wherein the earphone is attached to a second end of the neckband and removable from the stored position such that the earphone is insertable into an ear of the user when the communication device is worn about the user's neck.
3. The hands-free personal communications device of claim 2 , further comprising an electrical connection between the earphone and the communication device.
4. The hands-free personal communication device of claim 1 , further comprising a battery.
5. The hands-free personal communication device of claim 1 , further comprising a wired electrical connection.
6. The hands-free personal communication device of claim 1 , further comprising a wireless electrical connection.
7. The hands-free personal communication device of claim 1 , wherein the neckband comprises a cavity for storage of the earphone.
8. The hands-free personal communication device of claim 7 , wherein the earphone is removable from the stored position and insertable into an ear of the user when the communication device is worn about the user's neck.
9. The hands-free personal communication device of claim 8 , wherein the neckband comprises a cavity that facilitates retraction and deployment of an electrical wire connected to the earphone.
10. The hands-free personal communication device of claim 1 , wherein the elastic neckband comprises a bendable wire and a flexible rubber coating.
11. The hands-free personal communication device of claim 1 , further comprising a weighted boom attached to a second end of the neckband, the weighted boom of sufficient weight to offset the acoustic output device and microphone when the device is worn about the user's neck.
12. The hands-free personal communication device of claim 1 , further comprising means for controlling the volume of the acoustic output device.
13. The hands-free personal communication device of claim 1 , wherein the acoustic output device comprises an audio speaker.
14. The hands-free personal communication device of claim 1 , further comprising a second acoustic output device attached to the neckband and positionable near another ear of the user.
15. The hands-free personal communication device of claim 1 , further comprising a neck brace attached to the neckband to provide additional stability to the neckband.
16. The hands-free personal communication device of claim 1 , wherein the acoustic output device is waterproof.
17. The hands-free personal communication device of claim 1 , wherein the microphone is waterproof.
18. The hands-free personal communication device of claim 1 , further comprising a neck brace attached to the neckband to provide additional stability to the neckband.
19. A hands-free personal communication device for wearing about a user's neck, the communication device comprising:
an elongated elastic neckband for supporting the communication device about the user's neck;
an acoustic output device attached to the elongated elastic neckband and positionable near an ear of the user when the communication device is worn about the user's neck; and
an earphone attached to an end of the neckband,
wherein the neckband is adapted to store the earphone in a stored position when the earphone is not in use and the earphone is removable from the stored position and insertable into an ear of the user when the communication device is worn about the user's neck.
20. The hands-free personal communication device of claim 19 wherein the earphone is attached to the communication device by an electrical cord having memory characteristic.
21. The hands-free personal communication device of claim 19 , further comprising an electrical connection between the earphone and the communication device.
22. The hands-free personal communication device of claim 19 , further comprising a battery.
23. The hands-free personal communication device of claim 19 , further comprising a wired electrical connection.
24. The hands-free personal communication device of claim 19 , further comprising a wireless electrical connection.
25. The hands-free personal communication device of claim 19 , wherein the elastic neckband comprises a bendable wire and a flexible rubber coating.
26. The hands-free personal communication device of claim 19 , further comprising a weighted boom attached to a second end of the neckband, the weighted boom of sufficient weight to offset the acoustic output device and microphone when the device is worn about the user's neck.
27. The hands-free personal communication device of claim 19 , further comprising means for controlling the volume of the acoustic output device.
28. The hands-free personal communication device of claim 19 , wherein the acoustic output device comprises an audio speaker.
29. The hands-free personal communication device of claim 19 , wherein the neckband comprises a cavity that facilitates retraction and deployment of an electrical wire connected to the earphone.
30. The hands-free personal communication device of claim 19 , further comprising a second acoustic output device attached to the neckband and positionable near another ear of the user.
31. The hands-free personal communication device of claim 19 , wherein the acoustic output device is waterproof.
32. The hands-free communication device of claim 19 , wherein the microphone is waterproof.
33. A hands-free personal communication device for wearing about a user's neck, the communication device comprising:
an elongated neckband for supporting the communication device about the use's neck, the neckband having memory characteristic and being bendable along its length such that the neckband is formable into and out of various selectable positions;
an acoustic output device attached to the neckband and positionable near an ear of the user when the communication device is worn about the use's neck;
a microphone attached to a first end of the neckband;
an earphone attached to an end of the neckband, the earphone being detachable from the neckband and insertable into an ear of the user when the communication device is worn about the user's neck; and
a neck brace attached to the neckband to provide additional stability to the neckband.