Telephone having sealed acoustical passageway through flip cover hinge

• Main Author: CURTIS WAYNE THORNTON
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 06.07.2000
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: DEAF-AID SETS; ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE; ELECTRICITY; LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKEACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS; TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION; WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS

An acoustical passageway is provided between a flip cover and a body member of a radiotelephone, such as a cellular telephone, by directing a portion of the passageway through the hinge connecting the two components in a direction coaxially aligned with the axis of rotation of the cover with respect to the body. The internal passageway extends from an aperture provided at a predetermined position in the cover, through a hinge pin connecting the cover to the body member, and thence through an internally extending passageway in the body member to a microphone disposed in the body member. The acoustical path between the apertures in the cover and the microphone remains sealed irrespective of the open or closed position of the cover. The interconnection between the passageway disposed in the cover and the passageway disposed in the body member is maintained in biased abutment as a result of an interference fit between the respective components. The biased abutment is maintained even after extended, prolonged use of the radiotelephone.