Headset cable retraction system

• US 7,086,512 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2004
• Issued: 08/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CAHP LLC
• Original Assignee: CAHP LLC
• Inventors: Driessen, Natalie, Tierney, Nathan J., Shack, Andrew, Schmucker, Charles J., Palmer, Robert H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jules, Frantz F.
• Application Number:
  US10/960,111
• Publication Number:
  US 20050072872A1
• Time in Patent Office: 671 Days
• Field of Search: 191/12.R, 191/12.2 R, 191/12.4, 191/12.2 A, 242/388.91, 242/379, 242/385.1, 242/402, 455/575.2, 379/433.01, 206/320
• US Class Current: 191/12.4
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/05 specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/15 Protecting or guiding telephone cords

Abstract

A headset cable retraction system and device is described, the system including a housing, the housing having a cavity. In addition, the system includes a cord capable of transmitting an electrical signal, wherein a portion of the cord is contained in the cavity. The system further includes an earpiece attached to the cord; and, a retracting mechanism in the housing, the retracting mechanism including a drive wheel, a spring coupled to the drive wheel and a idler wheel, the cord being pressed between the drive wheel and the idler wheel; wherein when the cord is extracted from the cavity, the spring becomes tensioned. A method for using the system and device is also described.

Claims

1. A headset cable retraction system, comprising:

a housing, the housing including a cavity;

a cord capable of transmitting an electrical signal, wherein a portion of the cord is removably contained in the cavity;

an earpiece attached to the cord;

a retracting mechanism in the housing, the retracting mechanism including a drive wheel, a wave washer biasing the drive wheel, a spring coupled to the drive wheel, and a idler wheel, the cord being pressed between the drive wheel and the idler wheel;

wherein when the cord is extracted from the cavity, the spring becomes tensioned; and

,

a stop mechanism displaced in the housing and operatively connected to the retracting mechanism for holding the cord at selected positions when the cord is extracted from the housing, wherein the stop mechanism includes a plurality of ridges in the drive wheel and a matching plurality of ridges in the housing, at least one of the plurality of ridges engaging one of the matching plurality of ridges to prevent release of the tensioned spring.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the retracting mechanism includes a wave washer biasing the idler wheel.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the retracting mechanism includes a flat washer between the wave washer and the idler wheel.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the drive wheel includes a rubberized surface.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the cord connector includes a plug for connecting to a receptacle on a mobile phone.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the earpiece includes a speaker.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the earpiece includes a speaker and a microphone.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein a side of the housing is configured to mate with a side of a mobile phone.

9. A phone having a retractable cord, comprising:

a phone circuit contained in a housing, the housing including a cavity;

a cord capable of transmitting an electrical signal, wherein a portion of the cord is removably contained in the cavity;

an earpiece attached to the cord and coupled to the phone circuit;

a retracting mechanism in the housing, the retracting mechanism including a drive wheel, a wave washer biasing the drive wheel, a spring coupled to the drive wheel, and a idler wheel, the cord being pressed between the drive wheel and the idler wheel;

wherein when the cord is extracted from the cavity, the spring becomes tensioned; and

,

a stop mechanism displaced in the housing and operatively connected to the retracting mechanism for holding the cord at selected positions when the cord is extracted from the housing, wherein the stop mechanism includes a plurality of ridges in the drive wheel and a matching plurality of ridges in the housing, at least one of the plurality of ridges engaging one of the matching plurality of ridges to prevent release of the tensioned spring.

10. The phone of claim 9, wherein the retracting mechanism includes a wave washer biasing the idler wheel.

11. The phone of claim 10, wherein the retracting mechanism includes a flat washer between the wave washer and the idler wheel.

12. The phone of claim 9, wherein the drive wheel includes a rubberized surface.

13. The phone of claim 9, wherein the cord connector includes a plug for connecting to a receptacle on a mobile phone.

14. The phone of claim 9, wherein the earpiece includes a speaker.

15. The phone of claim 9, wherein the earpiece includes a speaker and a microphone.

16. A method for removing and replacing a cable from a cable retraction device, the method comprising the steps of:

retracting a cable from an internal cavity of a housing comprising a drive wheel having a plurality of ridges, a wave washer biasing the drive wheel, and an idler wheel rotatably disposed therein, the housing also comprising a matching plurality of ridges, at least one of the plurality of ridges engaging one of the matching plurality of ridges to lock the device, wherein the cable is interposed between and contacts only a portion of both the drive wheel and the idler wheel, and wherein a portion of the cable stored within the device is positioned in a section of the internal cavity separate from the drive wheel and idler wheel; and

,

locking the device into a first position when the cable is extracted to maintain the cable in an extracted position.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of unlocking the device into a second position for retracting the cable into the housing.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of retracting the cable includes tensioning a spring coupled to one of the drive wheel and the idler wheel.