MOBILE DEVICE CASE WITH RETRACTABLE CABLE

• US 20150364875A1
• Filed: 07/31/2014
• Published: 12/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ezra J. Ginsberg
• Original Assignee: Ezra J. Ginsberg
• Inventors: GINSBERG, EZRA J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,472,909 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/72 Means for accommodating flexible lead within the holder
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/16 for telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence

Abstract

A mobile device case is generally described. In some examples, the mobile device case may include a retracting mechanism. In some examples, the retracting mechanism may be coupled to a cable. The cable may be effective to allow the cable to be extended away from the mobile device case, lock the cable into place at a length of extension, and retract the cable into the mobile device case. In some examples, the cable may be electrically coupled to a connector piece formed within the mobile device case. In various examples, the cable may be effective to provide power or sync data to a mobile device installed within the mobile device case.

Claims

1. A mobile device case, comprising:

a top portion, a bottom portion, and side portions arranged to define a void, wherein the void is sized and shaped so as to be effective to receive a mobile device;

a rear portion arranged between the top portion, the bottom portion and the side portions, wherein the rear portion includes one or more walls arranged to define a compartment in the mobile device case;

a connector piece, wherein the connector piece is electrically coupled to a cable, and wherein the connector piece is effective to connect to a port of the mobile device;

a retracting mechanism inside the compartment, wherein the retracting mechanism is effective to;

allow the cable to be extended away from the mobile device case;

lock the cable into place at a length of extension; and

retract the cable into the mobile device case.

2. The mobile device case of claim 1, wherein the cable includes a distal head and a proximal head, wherein the proximal head is electrically coupled to the connector piece.

3. The mobile device case of claim 1, wherein the port is a first port, and wherein the cable is effective to connect to a second port, and wherein the second port is external to the mobile device case.

4. The mobile device case of claim 2, wherein the cable is a USB cable, and wherein the distal head of the USB cable is effective to remain flush with a rear side of the mobile device case, when the cable is retracted into the mobile device case.

5. The mobile device case of claim 1, wherein the mobile device case further includes a rechargeable battery within the compartment of the mobile device case.

6. The mobile device case of claim 5, wherein the rechargeable battery is effective to be recharged through the cable, after a battery of a particular mobile device installed within the mobile device case is charged through the cable.

7. The mobile device case of claim 1, wherein the cable is effective to sync data between a particular mobile device installed within the mobile device case and a computing device coupled to a distal head of the cable.

8. A method to charge a battery of a mobile device, the method comprising:

connecting the mobile device to a connector piece in a mobile device case, wherein the connector piece is electrically coupled to a cable;

extending at least a portion of the cable away from the mobile device case through an opening defined by one or more walls in the mobile device case;

connecting the cable to a power source or computing device;

charging the battery of the mobile device through the cable; and

retracting the cable through the opening into the mobile device case using a retracting mechanism.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the retracting mechanism includes a spool or wheel.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein retracting the cable includes using a spring mechanism to rotate the retracting mechanism around an axle.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising, after retracting the cable, concealing the cable or a portion of the cable using a cover.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein concealing the cable includes sliding the cover over the opening in a plane that is parallel to the rear surface of the mobile device case.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the cable includes a distal head and a proximal head, wherein the proximal head is electrically coupled to a connector piece of the mobile device case.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the proximal head is coupled to the retracting mechanism.

15. The method of claim 8, further comprising syncing data between the mobile device and the computing device.

16. A method of retracting a cable into a compartment of a mobile device case, the method comprising:

extending a cable away from a mobile device case through an opening defined by one or more walls in the mobile device case, until a desired length of the cable has been extended away;

locking a retracting mechanism, wherein the retracting mechanism is at a locked position when locked;

pulling the cable beyond the locked position; and

retracting the cable into the mobile device case through the opening.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the cable is retracted through the opening of the mobile device case as a result of pulling the cable beyond the locked position and releasing the tension caused by pulling the cable beyond the locked position.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein, after retracting the cable into the mobile device case, the cable is at least partially disposed within a compartment defined by one or more walls of the mobile device case.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

covering the opening with a cover after retracting the cable into the compartment of the mobile device case.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the cover includes a hinged door.