Earpiece for a mobile device

Abstract

Various embodiments of an earpiece for a mobile device. The earpiece is detachably mounted to the mobile device and provides sound amplification for a user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An earpiece for use with a mobile device, said earpiece comprising:
 an earpiece body having a sound entrance, a sound exit and at least one internal aperture coupling said sound entrance and said sound exit;   said earpiece body being adapted to be situated on or integrally formed in at least one of said mobile device or a case for said mobile device so that said sound entrance becomes operatively associated with a speaker of said mobile device so that a user can position said sound exit in or near said user's ear.   
     
     
         2 - 59 . (canceled) 
     
     
         60 . An earpiece system for a mobile device comprising:
 an earpiece, said earpiece comprising:
 an earpiece body comprising a sound inlet, sound outlet and at least one internal channel for acoustically coupling said sound inlet to said sound outlet; 
 said earpiece body having a first end either integrally formed or adhered to a case for the mobile device or for detachably or removeably mounting on for mobile device so that said sound inlet becomes positioned in acoustic communication with a speaker of for mobile device and a second end that defines or is adapted to receive an earpiece tip. 
   
     
     
         61 . The earpiece system as recited in  claim 60  wherein said earpiece system comprises a plurality of said earpieces. 
     
     
         62 . The earpiece system as recited in  claim 61  wherein said plurality of said earpieces each has an earpiece tip having a predetermined shape, at least two of which are different. 
     
     
         63 . The earpiece system as recited in  claim 62  wherein said predetermined shape is at least one of generally cylindrical, bulbous, spherical, tear drop, conical, frusto-conical or comprises a decreasing cross section from said sound inlet to said sound outlet. 
     
     
         64 . The earpiece system as recited in  claim 60  wherein said sound outlet is coaxial with said sound inlet. 
     
     
         65 . The earpiece system as recited in  claim 60  wherein said sound outlet is not coaxial with said sound inlet. 
     
     
         66 . The earpiece system as recited in  claim 60  wherein said earpiece body has a first end integrally formed or adapted to be mounted on said case, said earpiece body having an earpiece projection adapted to receive an earpiece tip. 
     
     
         67 . The earpiece system as recited in  claim 66  wherein said earpiece tip is selected from a group or plurality of interchangeable tips. 
     
     
         68 . The earpiece system as recited in  claim 67  wherein said group or plurality of interchangeable tips comprise different shapes or sizes adapted to fit or conform to at least a portion of a user's ear. 
     
     
         69 . The earpiece system as recited in  claim 60  wherein said earpiece body has an end that is configured and adapted to be mounted directly onto said mobile device. 
     
     
         70 . The earpiece system as recited in  claim 69  wherein said first end defines a clip for mounting on a said portion of said mobile device. 
     
     
         71 . The earpiece system as recited in  claim 70  wherein said clip is generally U-shaped. 
     
     
         72 . The earpiece system as recited in  claim 70  wherein said clip comprises a width that is substantially the same as a diameter of said earpiece. 
     
     
         73 . The earpiece system as recited in  claim 70  wherein said clip comprises a first leg portion having a predetermined length, said predetermined length generally corresponding to a distance between a mounting edge of said mobile device and a speaker of said mobile device. 
     
     
         74 . The earpiece system as recited in  claim 70  wherein said at least a portion of said clip becomes situated between said mobile device and said case that is mounted on said mobile device after said clip and said case are mounted on said mobile device. 
     
     
         75 . The earpiece system as recited in  claim 70  wherein said clip comprises a first end having a generally U-shape defining an aperture for receiving at least a portion of said mobile device, a second end for engaging an end of said mobile device and an elongated joining portion for joining said first and second ends, said earpiece being associated with said first end. 
     
     
         76 . The earpiece system as recited in  claim 60  wherein said first end of said earpiece body comprises a portion that is integrally formed in said case adapted to be mounted on at least a portion of said mobile device. 
     
     
         77 . The earpiece system as recited in  claim 76  wherein said case covers a majority of said mobile device. 
     
     
         78 . The earpiece system as recited in  claim 76  wherein said case is mounted on said mobile device and covers less than a majority of said mobile device. 
     
     
         79 . The earpiece system as recited in  claim 60  wherein said sound inlet defines an aperture that is larger than an aperture defined by said sound outlet. 
     
     
         80 . The earpiece system as recited in  claim 60  wherein said earpiece body is frusto-conical in cross section. 
     
     
         81 . The earpiece system as recited in  claim 60  wherein said earpiece body has a portion that is generally planar and comprises at least one first wall adapted to mate with at least one second wall in said case so that said earpiece can be detachably mounted to said mobile device case. 
     
     
         82 . The earpiece system as recited in  claim 81  wherein said at least one first and second walls have mating beveled surfaces that cooperate to define a dovetail connection. 
     
     
         83 . The earpiece system as recited in  claim 60  wherein said mobile device is a mobile telephone. 
     
     
         84 . The earpiece system as recited in  claim 60  wherein said first end is mounted directly over said speaker. 
     
     
         85 . The earpiece system as recited in  claim 60  wherein said first end is mounted directly over a speaker aperture in said case. 
     
     
         86 - 87 . (canceled)