Patent No. 5726383 Telephone radiation shield
Patent No. 5726383
Telephone radiation shield (Geller, et al., Mar 10, 1998)
Abstract
A radiation shield for use with a mobile hand-held communication device, the communication device including a listening element and a stowable and deployable talking element, the radiation shield including a first shield portion which at least partially covers the talking element, a second shield portion which at least partially covers the listening element, a fastener which fastens the first and the second shield portions together, the first and the second shield portions and the talking element being in a stowed orientation when the first and the second shield portions are fastened together by the fastener, and a tensioning device operatively attached to at least one of the first and the second shield portions, wherein the tensioning device, upon opening of the fastener, applies a force to at least one of the first and the second shield portions which moves at least one of the first and the second shield portions into a deployed orientation.
Notes:
BACKGROUND
OF THE INVENTION
Mobile hand-held communication apparatus, such as portable telephones, walkie-talkies,
and cellular telephones are well known in the art. Recently much attention has
been drawn to radiation emitted from such apparatus, particularly cellular telephones,
which may be injurious to a human user. For example, it has been widely reported
that a large percentage of electromagnetic energy associated with the transmission
of messages with a cellular telephone is absorbed by the brain and hand of the
user. Clearly, some sort of radiation shielding is highly desirable for preventing
damage to the user.
There are radiation shields for cellular telephones in the art. U.S. Pat. No.
5,335,366 to Daniels, describes a radiation shield which has a closed-curve
cross sectional shape which wraps completely around the antenna of the cellular
telephone. Published PCT application PCT/US95/05866, also filed by Daniels,
differs from the '366 patent in that the radiation shield may only partially
wrap around the antenna. In addition, a battery, comprising a shielding material,
is provided for shielding an electronic circuit component.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,336,896 to Katz, describes a protective shielding device which
includes an antenna which can be swiveled and distanced from the user's head.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention seeks to provide an improved radiation shield for use
with a mobile hand-held communication device. The shield has portions which
are attached to each other by a fastener. By opening the fastener, the radiation
shield automatically deploys talking and/or listening elements of the communication
device, thereby preparing the communication device for ready use.
There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, a radiation shield for use with a mobile hand-held communication
device, the communication device including a listening element and a stowable
and deployable talking element, the radiation shield including a first shield
portion which at least partially covers the talking element, a second shield
portion which at least partially covers the listening element, a fastener which
fastens the first and the second shield portions together, the first and the
second shield portions and the talking element being in a stowed orientation
when the first and the second shield portions are fastened together by the fastener,
and a tensioning device operatively attached to at least one of the first and
the second shield portions, wherein the tensioning device, upon opening of the
fastener, applies a force to at least one of the first and the second shield
portions which moves at least one of the first and the second shield portions
into a deployed orientation.
Preferably the second shield portion, when in a deployed orientation, at least
partially covers an antenna of the communication device.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first
and the second shield portions include at least one metalized layer sandwiched
between at least two dielectric layers. Alternatively, the first and the second
shield portions include at least one metalized layer attached to at least one
dielectric layer.
Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention,
the radiation shield includes a third shield portion which selectively at least
partially covers a dialing portion of the communication device.
Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention,
a radiation shielding jacket is provided which at least partially covers a body
portion of the communication device.
There is also provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, a mobile hand-held communication device including a stowable and
deployable talking element, a listening element, a radiation shield including
a first shield portion which at least partially covers the talking element,
and a second shield portion which at least partially covers the listening element,
a fastener which fastens the first and the second shield portions together,
the first and the second shield portions and the talking element being in a
stowed orientation when the first and the second shield portions are fastened
together by the fastener, and a tensioning device operatively attached to at
least one of the first and the second shield portions, wherein the tensioning
device, upon opening of the fastener, applies a force to at least one of the
first and the second shield portions which moves at least one of the first and
the second shield portions into a deployed orientation.
There is also provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, a method for shielding a user from radiation emanating from a mobile
hand-held communication device, the communication device including a listening
element and a stowable and deployable talking element, the method including
the steps of at least partially covering the talking element with a first shield
portion, at least partially covering the listening element with a second shield
portion, providing a fastener which fastens the first and the second shield
portions together, the first and the second shield portions and the talking
element being in a stowed orientation when the first and the second shield portions
are fastened together by the fastener, and providing a tensioning device operatively
attached to at least one of the first and the second shield portions, wherein
the tensioning device, upon opening of the fastener, applies a force to at least
one of the first and the second shield portions which moves at least one of
the first and the second shield portions into a deployed orientation.
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It
is appreciated that various features of the invention which are, for clarity,
described in the contexts of separate embodiments may also be provided in combination
in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which
are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment may also be
provided separately or in any suitable subcombination.
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention
is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove.
Rather the scope of the present invention is defined only by the claims which
follow:
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