Apparatus, Electronic Sound System, Attachment System and Item of Clothing

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to apparatus for attachment to a piece of fabric. Further, the present invention relates to an electronic sound system for wearing by a person, to an attachment system for attaching an electronic device to a piece of fabric and to an item of clothing comprising the apparatus.

Background of the Invention Systems are known which allow a user to wear parts of an electronic system. For example, conventional headphones may have a headband so that the user can position loudspeakers over his ears by fitting the headband around his head.

As an alternative to fitting electronic system parts directly to the body, which a user may find somewhat restrictive and irritating, various systems exist for attaching parts of an electronic system to a user's clothing.

United States patent US 4,322,585 describes an electronic sound system where speakers may be fastened to an article of clothing. Each speaker has a pin which penetrates the fabric of the clothing, and which engages with a retaining clip to secure the speaker. Puncturing a hole in the fabric inevitably causes damage to the fabric. Further, any subsequent movement of the speaker may cause further damage by enlarging the hole.

United States patent US 4,764,962 describes a stereo speaker system where speakers may be attached to a user's clothing with a biased clip. Alternatively, a Velcro ^R fastener may be used to attach each speaker to a strap which is worn by the user.

Articles of clothing are known which have a hood installed with speakers. For example, the hood of the Audex™ jacket manufactured by

Burton™ has fittings which allow speakers to be mounted in the hood. The speakers can be removed for cleaning, but it is difficult to fit the speakers to jackets which do not have the necessary fittings.

A hooded sweater is also known with speakers built into the hood. The speakers are not designed to be removed from the sweater and are washable, so that the sweater may be washed without removing the speakers.

It is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus which is inexpensive to manufacture, and which is extremely versatile and convenient to use.

Summary of the Invention

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus for attachment to a piece of fabric, wherein said apparatus comprises a loudspeaker and an attachment system, wherein said attachment system comprises holding means arranged to hold the loudspeaker; a first co-operating part attached to said holding means; and a second co-operating part arranged to co-operate with said first co-operating part, wherein said co-operating parts are arranged to accommodate said piece of fabric between said co-operating parts, and when said co-operating parts are co-operating with each other, said cooperation provides a force which is transmissible through said fabric which force holds said co-operating parts together, whereby said co-operating parts grip said piece of fabric so as to attach said holding means to said piece of fabric.

As co-operation of the co-operating parts provides the force through the fabric, it is not necessary to penetrate the fabric in any way. Thus, the loudspeaker may be attached without causing any damage to the fabric. Moreover, the apparatus may be attached to any part of the fabric, as it does not need to use an edge of the fabric for attachment.

The co-operating parts grip sufficiently so that, in normal use, the apparatus maintains its position on the fabric and does not become detached, even if the apparatus is relatively heavy. The apparatus may therefore be attached to a variety of different types of fabric. Each of the co-operating parts may be of a very simple design, and thus manufacture of the apparatus is simple and highly cost-effective.

Preferably, the co-operating parts are arranged such that said force has a strength which allows a user to reduce said co-operation on demand.

The apparatus is highly versatile as it allows a loudspeaker to be detachably mounted at numerous positions on any piece of fabric where it is desirable to install a loudspeaker. As the apparatus may be easily detached from the fabric, a user may change the positioning of the apparatus on the fabric, or may conveniently transfer the apparatus to a different piece of fabric. For example, a user can mount the loudspeaker on their clothing or on any piece of fabric where it is desirable to mount a loudspeaker, such as a curtain, for example.

According to a preferred embodiment, said piece of fabric has a predetermined thickness and a size of at least one of said co-operating parts is arranged in accordance with said thickness.

The apparatus is highly adaptable as, with different sizes of at least one of the co-operating parts, the apparatus can be securely attached to fabrics of a variety of different thicknesses.

Preferably, the piece of fabric is part of a hood of an item of clothing and said attachment system is adapted whereby attachment of said holding means to said piece of fabric is arranged so that sound emitted by the loudspeaker is directed towards at least one ear of a person wearing said item of clothing.

Locating the loudspeakers in this way allows the user to easily hear the emitted sound with minimal sound distortion. Further, as the loudspeakers are not fitted directly onto the user's ears, the user can still hear ambient sounds with ease. According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic sound system for wearing by a person, wherein said electronic sound system includes: a) apparatus for attachment to a piece of fabric, wherein said apparatus comprises a loudspeaker and an attachment system, said attachment system comprising holding means arranged to hold the loudspeaker; a first cooperating part attached to said holding means; and a second co-operating part

arranged to co-operate with said first co-operating part, wherein said cooperating parts are arranged to accommodate said piece of fabric between said co-operating parts, and when said co-operating parts are co-operating with each other, said co-operation provides a force which is transmissible through said fabric which force holds said co-operating parts together, whereby said cooperating parts grip said piece of fabric so as to attach said holding means to said piece of fabric; and b) an electronic device arranged to send sound signals for said loudspeaker. The electronic device may, for example, include a portable music player and/or a mobile telephone which may, preferably, be integrally formed with the apparatus. This provides a highly convenient and compact electronic sound system for listening to sounds generated by the device, which a user can easily attach to their clothing so that they can, for example, listen to music or hear telephone conversations. Where the device is a mobile telephone, a microphone is preferably provided so that a user can speak during a telephone conversation held using the telephone. The apparatus may be arranged to connect with the electronic device via either a wired or a wireless connection. For the wireless connection, the lack of wires provides a sound system which is very simple to install.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus for attachment to a piece of fabric, wherein said apparatus comprises an electronic device and an attachment system, wherein said attachment system comprises holding means arranged to hold the electronic device; a first co-operating part attached to said holding means; and a second cooperating part arranged to co-operate with said first co-operating part, wherein said co-operating parts are arranged to accommodate said piece of fabric between said co-operating parts, and when said co-operating parts are cooperating with each other, said co-operation provides a force which is transmissible through said fabric which force holds said co-operating parts

together, whereby said co-operating parts grip said piece of fabric so as to attach said holding means to said piece of fabric.

The apparatus may include any electronic device, for example a light emitting diode (LED), which is desirable to attach to a piece of fabric. Thus, the present invention provides a highly advantageous and simple means of attaching any suitable electronic device to fabric.

In accordance with a yet further aspect of the present invention, there is provided an attachment system for attachment of an electronic device to a piece of fabric, said attachment system comprising holding means arranged to hold the electronic device; a first co-operating part attached to said holding means; and a second co-operating part arranged to co-operate with said first co-operating part, wherein said co-operating parts are arranged to accommodate said piece of fabric between said co-operating parts, and when said co-operating parts are cooperating with each other, said co-operation provides a force which is transmissible through said fabric which force holds said co-operating parts together, whereby said co-operating parts grip said piece of fabric so as to attach said holding means to said piece of fabric.

The attachment system may be provided separately. With the holding means arranged to hold the electronic device, a user may fit at least one electronic device of their choice to the attachment system so that the electronic device may be attached to a multitude of different pieces of fabric.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an item of clothing having a hood for at least partly covering the head of a person, wherein said hood comprises a piece of fabric and apparatus attached to the piece of fabric, said apparatus comprising a loudspeaker and an attachment system, and said attachment system comprising holding means arranged to hold the loudspeaker; a first co-operating part attached to said holding means; and a second co-operating part arranged to co-operate with said first co-operating part, wherein said co-operating parts are arranged to accommodate said piece of fabric between said co-operating parts, and when said co-operating parts are cooperating with each other, said co-operation provides a force which is

transmissible through said fabric which force holds said co-operating parts together, whereby said co-operating parts grip said piece of fabric so as to attach said holding means to said piece of fabric.

With the hood at least partly covering the head of the person, the loudspeakers are positionable relative to the ears of the person so that sound emitted by the loudspeakers is optimally directed to the person's ears.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, given by way of example only, which is made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 shows schematically apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 shows schematically a pair of earphones in accordance with the present invention.

Figures 3 and 4 show schematic cross sections of apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 5 shows schematically apparatus attached to an item of clothing in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Figure 1 shows schematically apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus 1 comprises a loudspeaker 2 and an attachment system for attaching the apparatus 1 to a piece of fabric, which may be part of a larger piece of fabric. In this embodiment the loudspeaker 2 has a front part 3 for emitting sound. The attachment system comprises holding means arranged to hold the loudspeaker 2. The holding means is a frame 4, formed for example of rigid plastic, which is shaped to surround at least part of the loudspeaker, so as to hold

the loudspeaker 2. The frame 4 has members 6 which extend about a rear part of the loudspeaker 2 and hold the loudspeaker 2 within the frame 4.

The apparatus 1 further comprises a first co-operating part, and a second co-operating part which is arranged to co-operate with the first co-operating part. One of the co-operating parts is shaped to receive the other of the cooperating parts to facilitate the co-operation and at least one of the co-operating parts is shaped to hold the co-operating parts together once the co-operating parts are co-operating with each other. This ensures that the co-operation is maintained. The co-operating parts are arranged to accommodate the piece of fabric between the co-operating parts. In this embodiment the first co-operating part is an annular groove 8, formed in the frame 4, which follows a circular perimeter of part of the frame 4 surrounding the front part 3. The frame 4 has a rearward annular ridge 12 and a forward annular ridge 13, which each form an edge of the groove 8. A minimum diameter, taken through a centre of the front part 3, of the groove 8 is less than a diameter, also taken through the centre of the front part 3, of each of the annular ridges 12, 13.

The second co-operating part is an annular element 10 which is sized to at least partly fit into the annular groove 8. An internal diameter of the annular element 10 is less than the diameter, taken through the centre of the front part 3, of the annular ridges 12, 13. In this way, the annular ridges 12, 13 hold the groove 8 and the annular element 10 together when the groove 8 and annular element 10 are co-operating. A size of at least one of the annular element 10 and of the annular groove 8 is selected in accordance with a predetermined thickness of the piece of fabric, to allow optimum co-operation of the groove 8 and the element 10. The groove 8 is shaped to have a concave cross section and at least part of the element 10 is shaped to have a convex cross section. Such shaping facilitates the co-operation. Further details will be explained below using Figures 3 and 4.

The annular element 10 is preferably formed of a material, such as a suitable plastic, which allows the annular element 10 to be deformed so as to fit entirely over the rearward ridge 12 and into the groove 8. The frame 4 has a

shape and a suitable size so that the annular element 10 fits over any parts of the frame 4 encountered when fitting the annular element 10 into the groove 8. Further details of the co-operation between the element 10 and the groove 8 will be described later below. The apparatus 1 includes an electrical connection element which is arranged to electrically connect the loudspeaker 2 with an electronic device (not shown) which can send electrical sound signals to the loudspeaker 2 via the electrical connection element. In this embodiment the electrical connection element is an electrical wire 14. One end of the wire 14 is electrically connected to the loudspeaker 2 and the other end of the wire 14 is arranged for connection with the electronic device.

Referring to Figure 2, in this embodiment two of the apparatus 1 described above are provided. With the wire 14 of each apparatus 1 arranged to connect the corresponding apparatus 1 to the electronic device, this embodiment of the present invention provides a pair of earphones.

In this embodiment, the electronic device is a portable music player (not shown) which has an electrical sound signal output socket. The end of each wire 14 which is not connected to the loudspeaker 2 of the apparatus 1 electrically connects with a plug 16 which is shaped to fit the output socket. In the conventional manner, with the plug 16 plugged into the socket, the portable music player is electrically connected to each loudspeaker 2 via the wires 14. The earphones, together with the portable music player, provide an electronic sound system for wearing by a person.

With reference to Figures 3 and 4, which show schematic cross sections of one of the apparatus 1, attachment of the apparatus 1 to a piece of fabric 17 will now be described.

In this embodiment, the piece of fabric 17 is part of a hood of an item of clothing, such as a sweater. Figure 3 shows positioning of the apparatus 1 in relation to the piece of fabric 17, immediately before attachment of the apparatus. The piece of fabric 17 is arranged between the two co-operating parts so that one surface of the fabric 17 faces the members 6 of the frame 4 and

another surface of the fabric 17 faces the annular element 10. A degree of crumpling of the fabric 17 and a degree of unevenness of at least one of the surfaces may be acceptable for useful operation of the apparatus, provided that sufficient co-operation of the co-operating parts can still be achieved. As indicated in Figure 3 by dashed lines, the annular element 10 is approximately aligned with the rearward annular ridge 12. To attach the apparatus, a user first passes the element 10 over the members 6 of the frame. Next, the user deforms the annular element 10 so that it will fit over the rearward ridge 12 and into the groove 8, with the piece of fabric 17 trapped between the groove 8 and the annular element 10, as illustrated by Figure 4. The piece of fabric covers the members 6. The annular element 10 and the groove 8 in this way co-operate so as to provide a force which is transmissible through the fabric 17. The force provided through the fabric 17 in this way holds the co-operating parts together, so that the co-operating parts grip the fabric 17 and therefore attach the holding means, and consequently the loudspeaker 2, to the fabric 17. By providing the force through the fabric, the force is provided in a direction from one of the surfaces of the fabric to the other surface of the fabric.

The size of at least one of the groove 8 and the annular element 10 are preferably selected in accordance with a predetermined thickness of the fabric 17, so that the annular element 10 can be fitted over the rearward ridge 12 by a user, and so that the force provided by the co-operation between the groove 8 and the annular element 10 is sufficiently strong, in consideration of the weight of the apparatus, to attach the apparatus to the fabric 17. Co-operation of the groove 8 and the annular element 10, with the piece of fabric 17 between them, may compress the fabric 17 to some degree; the sizes of the co-operating parts preferably take this compression into account.

In this embodiment the strength of the force is partly determined by a resilience of the materials which the frame 4 and the annular element 10 are formed from. Whilst the material of the annular element 10 needs to be suitably deformable, as described above, the materials additionally need to be resistant to

any deformation which would decrease the strength of the force provided by the co-operation, for example a radial or tangential stretching of the annular element 10.

Figure 5 shows an upper part of a sweater 18 having a hood 20 for covering the head of a person wearing the sweater 18. Figure 5 shows each of the apparatus 1 of the earphones attached to the fabric of the hood 20 in the manner described previously. The person wearing the hood is not shown; however, each apparatus 1 is shown attached to the hood 20 so that sound emitted by each loudspeaker 2 would be directed towards at least one ear of that person. Each annular element 10 is located on an exterior of the hood 20 and each frame 4 and loudspeaker 2 is located on an interior of the hood 20. The wires 14 are shown extending outside the sweater, but may alternatively extend within the sweater.

The co-operating parts are arranged such that the force provided through the fabric has a strength which allows a user to reduce, and preferably to stop, co-operation between the co-operating parts on demand. To do this in this embodiment, the user grips the frame 4 and the annular element 10 and, by deforming the annular element 10 so as to fit over the rearward ridge 12 and over the members 6, the user can separate the co-operating parts from each other. In this way, the user can detach the holding means from the piece of fabric.

The above embodiments are to be understood as illustrative examples of the invention. Further embodiments of the invention are envisaged. For example, as an alternative to connecting the apparatus to the portable music player using the wire, the apparatus may be arranged to wirelessly receive sound signals for the loudspeakers from the music player, which is arranged to send sound signals for the loudspeakers to the apparatus. Thus, a wireless connection may be established between the apparatus and the music player. The wireless connection may be set up using a short-range radio frequency interface according to the Bluetooth specification, a wireless access point network

specification such as the Wi-Fi™ specification of the Wi-Fi Alliance, or suchlike.

An electronic sound system in accordance with the present invention may include one, two, or more of the apparatus which include a loudspeaker. In such embodiments, each apparatus and the music player are appropriately arranged to connect with each other via either a wired or wireless connection.

In the embodiments described above, the electronic device is a portable music player. Further embodiments are envisaged where the electronic device alternatively includes, for example, a mobile telephone, a portable electronic media player such as a portable television or a portable gaming console, or any other electronic device which generates sound signals which a user may want to listen to using the apparatus, for example an amplifier unit for an electronic sound system. Such electronic devices may be attached to a piece of fabric using an attachment system in accordance with the present invention. For such embodiments, the holding means may be suitably adapted to hold the electronic device rather than the loudspeaker.

Where the electronic device is a mobile telephone, there is preferably also provided a microphone, as part of the electronic sound system, which is arranged to send signals corresponding to sounds, uttered by a user, to the mobile telephone.

In further embodiments, the portable music player, or any envisaged electronic device for connecting to the apparatus, may be integrally formed with at least one of the apparatus. The holding means may therefore be arranged to hold these integrated electronic devices, and other parts of the apparatus may be arranged to accommodate these devices, to permit attachment of these devices to the fabric. For embodiments where there is more than one such apparatus, each apparatus may be arranged to connect with each other either by a wired or a wireless link, to send sound signals between the different apparatus. Further, any of the apparatus may include a power supply for powering any electronic device included in the apparatus. Controls for any such electronic device may

be located in a position on the apparatus which is easily accessible by a user.

The controls may be provided in the form of a remote control unit.

For embodiments where the apparatus is connected to the music player by a wire, the apparatus may further comprise means, such as a compact compartment, which is arranged to store the wire when the apparatus is not in use. This facilitates easy storage of the wire and reduces the likelihood of damage to the wire when not in use.

In a further embodiment, where the apparatus is arranged for attachment to clothing, it is envisaged that the apparatus comprises a further attachment system arranged to attach the apparatus to part of a body of the person. For example, the apparatus may have clips for attaching the apparatus to ears of a user, or may have a headband for attaching the apparatus to a head of a user. In this way, if the user does not wish to attach the apparatus to their clothing, the user can instead wear the apparatus directly on their person. The apparatus is arranged to be detached from the fabric by a user. In further embodiments, the apparatus may be alternatively arranged to prevent a user from detaching the apparatus from the fabric.

The embodiments described so far relate to apparatus for attachment to a piece of fabric, such as that of an item of clothing. Further embodiments are, of course, envisaged where the apparatus may be arranged for attachment to different types of fabric

In order to enhance the grip of the co-operating parts on the fabric, the surface of one, or both, of the co-operating parts which comes into contact with the fabric, may be treated or textured in a suitable manner. The co-operating parts may be differently constructed to those described above. For example, instead of the annular element, a linear element such as a tie, for example a zip-tie, or equivalent, may be wrapped around and in the groove, with the piece of fabric between the co-operating parts, and fastened so as attach the apparatus to the fabric. Further alternatively, one of the co- operating parts, for example the first co-operating part, may comprise a plurality of hooks. The other co-operating part, in this case the second co-operating part,

may be arranged with notches so that fitting of the hooks with the notches and twisting the co-operating parts in relation to each other, with the fabric between the co-operating parts, interlocks the co-operating parts with each other, so as to attach the apparatus to the fabric. In a further embodiment, the co-operating parts may each be magnetic so as to co-operate with each other, and are held together, with the fabric arranged between them, by a magnetic force acting between the two parts. In such an embodiment, any electronic devices, including the loudspeaker, which are included in the apparatus are preferably shielded from the magnetic field of the magnets to prevent or reduce impairment of the performance of any electronic device of the apparatus.

The apparatus described is not limited to including a loudspeaker. The apparatus may alternatively include any electronic device which a user desires to attach to a piece of fabric, for example, a camera or a device for emitting light, such as a light emitting diode (LED). Attaching a light emitting device to a fabric has numerous applications, for example attachment of a warning light to a cyclist's clothing.

It is to be understood that any feature described in relation to any one embodiment may be used alone, or in combination with other features described, and may also be used in combination with one or more features of any other of the embodiments, or any combination of any other of the embodiments. Furthermore, equivalents and modifications not described above may also be employed without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined in the accompanying claims.