Speakerphone with detachable ear bud

Abstract

This invention is a wireless, speakerphone accessory that allows the user to be in either public or private communication with a remote electronic device like a mobile telephone. The accessory includes a detachable ear bud that can be worn in a user's ear so that only the user hears the audio signal being received. When the ear bud is coupled to the speakerphone accessory, the circuitry in the ear bud is used to control a loudspeaker and other components in the accessory so as to convert the combined device in to a speakerphone that may be heard by the user and others in his immediate vicinity. The speakerphone accessory optionally includes pockets for receiving rechargeable batteries, as well as utility pockets for holding spare components like ear sleeves. The invention not only offers the dual functionality of private and public operating modes, but serves as a self-retaining case to greatly reduce the chances that any of the components become lost.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.