In several proposed charging cases, the accessory will be worn around the neck.
If Apple’s research proves correct, versions that can be worn as a necklace or bracelet could be added to the familiar puck-shaped AirPods charging case.
Advertisement
The whole point of AirPods and AirPods Pro is that they are so light and small that it feels like the music is all around you.But while it’s great to have the earbuds in your ear, they’re also so small when you take them out you risk losing them.
That’s one reason they come in a charging case so you know where you put them.Plus, of course, a charging case is the key to making sure your AirPods last a decent amount of time.
You just have to remember to put your AirPods back in the case – and even when you do, the current charging case isn’t all that big and not to be missed.
Hence the recently granted patent for “Wireless Headphone Accessory”.Despite the unique name, this patent covers several different charging options, although they are all designed to solve the same problems.
Advertisement
“While some portable electronic devices can be carried in a pocket or purse, some activities do not allow the use of pockets or purses to store electronic devices,” it said.”For example, some portable electronic devices are commonly used to listen to music while the user of the portable electronic device is jogging or doing other exercise.”
“Portable electronic device accessories that have the function of holding a portable electronic device to a user have traditionally been bulky and may be inconvenient or may not provide certain desirable features such as charging capabilities,” he continues.”Thus, improvements and enhancements to electronic device accessories may be desirable in order to securely store an electronic device in a usable form factor while still providing other desirable features.”
Presumably, smaller AirPods could be stored on an oddly sized key ring in the future.
Apple is looking for a way for an owner to easily store their AirPods when not in use.And his proposed solutions start with a massive necklace.
“As shown, the accessory may include a first receiving portion and a second receiving portion,” says Apple.”The first and second receiving parts may be physically connected to each other by the body part.”
“In some examples, some or all of the body parts may be flexible or bendable and may be referred to as flexible parts,” he continues.”However, in some instances, the first and second receiving portions may be directly connected to each other, or may even be enclosed or at least partially contained within the housing…”
The first example of the neck brace shown has an open U-shape with inserts inserted into each of the two ends.This leaves the headphones in danger of falling out, so another suggestion is to make the U look more like a big “O” – a necklace, not a neck brace – where the two ends are fastened together.
The Apple patent then explores many different versions of this idea, including one that has indicators to show the charge level.It would seem that a much smaller accessory can be used to attach AirPods to a regular keychain.
It’s a chest AirPod that transmits a phone call to the user, but it’s not the standard Starfleet uniform.
Finally, the last option is that an AirPods charging accessory can “loot onto a piece of clothing, accessory, body part or appendage of the wearer, or any other object at will, to hold the accessory to it.”
This most obviously leads to the suggestion of a wristband, but Apple also suggests that “the accessory can be threaded through or around a belt or part of a backpack worn by the wearer.”
In closing, Apple suggests using a charging case that attaches to clothing as a very specific, very directional speaker.
“By producing or amplifying directional sound as shown, the accessory may allow the user to hear the sound while other people, even those standing directly next to the user, may not hear the sound,” says Apple.“In this way, the user can, for example, continue a telephone conversation through the headphones while the headphones are in the accessory, and still maintain the desired level of privacy.”
This patent belongs to nine inventors, including Kristen L. Cretella.Her previous related work has included research into creating a device remarkably similar to the Star Trek communicator icon.