Lanyard for handheld electronic device

• US 20070053523A1
• Filed: 08/24/2005
• Published: 03/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Rohrbach, Matthew, Elias, John, Iuliis, Daniele
• Granted Patent: US 7,650,007 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/77
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2005/006 comprising a suspension strap or lanyard
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2200/0516 Portable handheld communication devices, e.g. mobile phone, pager, beeper, PDA, smart phone
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2200/0525 Personal portable computing devices, e.g. laptop, tablet, netbook, game boy, navigation system, calculator
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/00 Holders or carriers for hand articles; Holders or carriers for use while travelling or camping
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/023 Transducers incorporated in garment, rucksacks or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/04 Circuit arrangements, e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker detection, or for adaptation of settings to personal preferences or hearing impairments combinations of amplifiers H03F3/68; stereophonic systems H04S

Abstract

A lanyard for carrying or wearing portable electronic devices is disclosed. The lanyard includes a neck cord having data carrying capabilities. The lanyard also includes a harness that physically holds and operatively couples the portable electronic device to the neck cord. When a portable electronic device is coupled to the harness, the portable electronic device can be worn around a neck and communicate with an input and/or output (I/O) device (e.g., earphones) operatively coupled to the data carrying cord. That is, the I/O device can send data through the neck cord to the portable electronic device and/or receive data being carried by the neck cord from the portable electronic device. The lanyard facilitates greater ease in wearing portable electronic devices and enables better approaches for managing wires between portable electronic devices and peripheral I/O devices.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use with a portable electronic device, said apparatus comprising:

a neck cord having at least one data carrying element, the at least one data carrying element having a first end and a second end;

an electrical connector physically coupled to said neck cord and electrically coupled to the first end of the at least one data carrying element; and

at least one output device electrically connected to the second end of the at least one data carrying element.

2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said apparatus is a lanyard.

3. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said electrical connector is an audio jack.

4. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said electrical connector is an electronic device holder.

5. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one output device is a speaker.

6. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one output device is an ear phone.

7. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one data carrying element is internal to said neck cord.

8. An apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein the at least one data carrying element is a wire.

9. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said neck cord supports the portable electronic device when said neck cord is worn by a user.

10. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device is a portable media player.

11. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein when the portable electronic device is connected to said electrical connector, the portable electronic device can output data to be provided to said at least one output device via the at least one data carrying element.

12. An apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein said at least one output device is a speaker, wherein the output data is audio signals that are supplied to said at least one speaker

13. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said neck cord includes a first cord portion and a second cord portion.

14. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the first cord portion has a first end and a second end, and the second cord portion has a first end and a second end,

wherein the at least one data transferring element is provided within the first cord portion, and

wherein the at least one data transferring element further extends out from the second end of the first cord portion and connects with said at least one output device.

15. A wearable electronic apparatus, said apparatus comprising:

a neck cord having at least one signal carrying element, the at least one signal carrying element having a first end and a second end;

a portable electronic device physically supported by said neck cord and electrically coupled to the first end of the at least one signal carrying element; and

at least one output device electrically connected to the second end of the at least one signal carrying element.

16. A kit for facilitating wearing an electronic device around one'"'"'s neck, said kit comprising:

a portable electronic device capable of being wearable or handheld;

an apparatus capable of supporting said portable electronic device around the user'"'"'s neck, said apparatus including at least;

a neck cord having at least one signal carrying element, the at least one signal carrying element having a first end and a second end;

an electrical connector physically coupled to said neck cord and electrically coupled to the first end of the at least one signal carrying element; and

at least one output device electrically connected to the second end of the at least one signal carrying element.

17. A lanyard for an electronic device, comprising:

an electronic device holder that physically and operatively mates with a handheld electronic device, one or more signals being transferred between the electronic device holder and the handheld electronic device when mated; and

a cord attached to the electronic device holder, and forming a loop for placement around a user'"'"'s neck, the cord carrying one or more signals between the electronic device holder and a peripheral I/O device operatively coupled to the cord.

18. The lanyard as recited in claim 17 wherein the electronic device holder includes a connector that operatively interfaces a corresponding connector of the handheld electronic device when the handheld electronic device is mated with the electronic device holder, and wherein the cord is operatively coupled to the connector.

19. The lanyard as recited in claim 18 wherein the connector is an audio jack, the corresponding connector is an audio port and wherein the cord includes a conductive wire electrically attached to the audio jack.

20. The lanyard as recited in claim 17 wherein the cord is adjustable to different loop sizes.

21. The lanyard as recited in claim 17 wherein the electronic device holder includes a mechanical holding feature that secures and releases the electronic device to and from the electronic device holder.

22. The lanyard as recited in claim 17 further including one or more cables having a first end that emanates from the cord and a second end that connects to an I/O device.

23. The lanyard as recited in claim 22 wherein the I/O device is an earphone.

24. The lanyard as recited in claim 22 wherein the cable is an integral portion of the cord.

25. The lanyard as recited in claim 22 wherein the cable emanates from a node of the cord.

26. The lanyard as recited in claim 25 wherein the cable is hard wired to the cord at the node.

27. The lanyard as recited in claim 25 wherein the cable includes a connector that mates with a corresponding connector of the cord, the corresponding connector being located at the node.

28. The lanyard as recited in claim 25 wherein the position of the node is adjustable along the length of the cord.

29. A lanyard for an electronic device, comprising:

a flexible neck cord forming a loop for placement around a user'"'"'s neck;

a electronic device holder supported by the flexible neck cord such that the electronic device holder hangs from the flexible cord, the electronic device holder including a connector for anchoring an electronic device to the flexible neck cord, the connector including at least one electrical contact that comes into electrical engagement with a corresponding contact located on the electronic device when the electronic device is secured to the electronic device holder; and

an electrical wire having a proximal end connected to the electrical contact, and a distal end that extends to a head piece worn on the user'"'"'s head, the electrical wire emanating from the electronic device holder and running at least partially along the flexible neck cord.

30. The lanyard as recited in claim 29 wherein the electronic device is an audio player and wherein the head piece includes one or more earphones, the earphones operatively coupling to the audio player via the connector and electrical wire so that audio data can be outputted to the earphones from the audio player when the audio player is secured to the electronic device holder.

31. The lanyard as recited in claim 29 wherein the neck cord includes a first portion extending from a first side of the electronic device holder and a second portion extending from a second side of the electronic device holder.

32. The lanyard as recited in claim 31 wherein a first electric wire runs along the first portion of the neck cord, and a second electric wire runs along the second portion of the neck cord.

33. The lanyard as recited in claim 32 wherein a proximal segment of the first portion includes a sheath that surrounds the first electric wire, and wherein a proximal segment of the second portion includes a sheath that surrounds the second electric wire.

34. The lanyard as recited in claim 31 wherein the first and second portions of the neck cord are coupled together to form a loop.

35. The lanyard as recited in claim 34 wherein at least one clasp is provided to adjustably secure the first and second portions together.

36. The lanyard as recited in claim 29 not comprising a harness support wire that attaches to the electronic device.

37. The lanyard as recited in claim 29 not comprising a signal carrying cable that extends from the electronic device holder and that connects to the electronic device.

38. A lanyard for an electronic device, comprising:

a connector unit that physically mates with and that mechanically and electrically couples to a handheld electronic device, the connector unit including a body and at least an audio connector attached to the body, the audio connector interfacing with a corresponding audio connector of the handheld electronic device when the handheld electronic device and connector unit are mated together;

a pair of cords that form a loop for placement on a person'"'"'s neck, each of the cords including one or more electrical wires and an outer sheath disposed around the one or more electrical wires, the outer sheath covering a proximal portion of the one or more electrical wires, the pair of cords comprising,

a first cord fixed to and emanating from a first side of the connector unit, a proximal end of the outer sheath of the first cord being attached to the body of the connector unit and a proximal end of the one or more electrical wires of the first cord being connected to the audio connector of the connector unit, a distal end of the one or more electrical wires of the first cord being connected to a first earphone, a distal end of the outer sheath of the first cord extending to a point between the proximal and distal ends of the one or more electrical wires of the first cord;

a second cord fixed to and emanating from a second side of the connector unit, a proximal end of the outer sheath of the second cord being attached to the body of the connector unit and a proximal end of the one or more electrical wires of the second cord being connected to the audio connector of the connector unit, a distal end of the one or more electrical wires of the second cord being connected to a second earphone, a distal end of the outer sheath of the second cord extending to a point between the proximal and distal ends of the one or more electrical wires of the second cord;

a first clasp fixed to the second cord at the distal end of the outer sheath of the second cord;

a second clasp fixed to the first cord at the distal end of the outer sheath of the first cord;

wherein the first clasp slidably receives the first cord between the proximal end of the first cord and the second clasp, and the second clasp slidably receives the second cord between the proximal end of the second cord and the first clasp, the clasps sliding along their respective cords in order to adjust the size of the loop formed by the first and second cords, the clasps providing a retaining force on their respective cords in order to hold the position of the cords when a desired size is found.

39. The lanyard as recited in claim 38 wherein the outer sheath is a woven fiber.

40. The lanyard as recited in claim 38 wherein the inner electrical wires include an inner conductive wire and an outer insulator.

41. The lanyard as recited in claim 40 wherein the connector unit includes an audio jack and a mechanical retention feature, the audio jack being configured for insertion into an audio plug of the electronic device, the mechanical retention feature cooperating with a mechanical retention feature located on the electronic device to secure the connector unit to the electronic device, an inner conductive wire of the first cord being electrically connected to a first contact of the audio jack, an inner conductive wire of the the second cord being electrically connected to a second contact of the audio jack.

42. The lanyard as recited in claim 41 wherein the mechanical retention feature is located on a dummy data connector of the connector unit.

43. The lanyard as recited in claim 41 wherein the mechanical retention feature is located on a data connector of the connector unit.

44. The lanyard as recited in claim 38 wherein the first clasp includes a through-hole for slidably receiving the second cord between the connector unit and the second clasp, and wherein the second clasp includes a through hole for slidably receiving the first cord between the connector unit and the first clasp.

45. The lanyard as recited in claim 38 wherein the outer sheath covers the inner wire between the connector unit and the respective clasp, and wherein the electric wire extends exposed from the respective clasp to the respective earphone.

46. The lanyard as recited in claim 38 wherein the connector unit includes an input mechanism for controlling features of the electronic device.

47. A lanyard, comprising:

a neck cord which is worn around the neck;

one or more output device operatively connected to the neck cord; and

a connector unit physically carried on the neck cord and configured to releasable engage a portable media player, the connector unit intimately and rigidly mating with the portable media player so that the portable media player is an extension of the connector unit when engaged thereto,

the neck cord and connector unit having electrical signal carrying capabilities so that electrical signals can be passed from the portable media player to the one or more output devices when the portable media player is engaged with the connector unit.