Cable retractor for an electronic device

• US 7,151,912 B1
• Filed: 11/07/2000
• Issued: 12/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Diversified Acquisition Company, Morrison Product Development, Inc., Roger L. Price, The Douglas Albrecht Living Trust
• Original Assignee: Diversified Acquisition Company, Morrison Product Development, Inc., Roger L. Price, The Douglas Albrecht Living Trust
• Inventors: Morrison, Mark D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beamer, Temica
• Assistant Examiner(s): CONTEE, JOY KIMBERLY
• Application Number:
  US09/707,814
• Time in Patent Office: 2,233 Days
• Field of Search: 455/90, 455/557, 455/568, 455/569, 455/573, 379/430, 379/431, 379/433.01, 379/433.02, 379/438, 381/370, 381/374, 381/376, 381/379, 381/380, 381384-387, 381/395, 242/385.4
• US Class Current: 455/90.3
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6058 involving the use of a headset accessory device connected to the portable telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection

Abstract

A cable retractor assembly is capable of retracting a cable onto a rotatable reel, the rotatable reel being urged to rotate in a predetermined direction by a biasing force. A moveable actuator when located in a first position is capable of overcoming the biasing force that urges the cable to be wound onto the reel. When the moveable actuator is in a second position, the moveable actuator does not impede the biasing force The retractor assembly may be integrated into or detachably secured to a portable electronic device. A sensor within the cable retractor assembly can detect when the reel rotates or the cable is extracted and thereby signal a coupled communications device to pick up an incoming call. The cable retractor assembly further comprises a pick-up actuator that when actuated signals a coupled communications device to pick up an incoming call.

Claims

1. A cable retractor assembly coupleable to a communications device, comprising:

an enclosure for housing a rotatable reel, wherein the enclosure is detachably coupleable to the communications device;

a biasing member coupled to the reel and the enclosure for urging the reel to rotate in a predetermined direction;

an actuator coupled to the enclosure to signal the communications device to pick up an incoming call; and

a vibrator designed to vibrate when the actuator picks up the incoming call and the biasing member is rotated in a direction opposite the predetermined direction.

2. The cable retractor assembly of claim 1, wherein the communications device is a wireless phone.

3. The cable retractor assembly of claim 1, wherein the communications device is a cellular phone.

4. The cable retractor assembly of claim 1, further comprising a terminal for coupling the signal to the coupleable communications device.

5. The cable retractor assembly of claim 1, further comprising a speaker coupled to a cable for generating sound waves, the cable coupled to the reel.

6. A cable retractor assembly coupleable to a portable communications device, comprising:

a communications circuit for sending and receiving wireless communications signals;

a cable retractor assembly for retracting a coupled cable, the cable comprising a first end and a second end, the first end coupled to the communications circuit and the second end comprising a speaker;

an enclosure for housing the communications circuit and the retractor, wherein the enclosure is detachably coupleable to the communications device;

a sensor to determine if the coupled cable is extended or retracted from the communication device, and

a micro controller programmed to send an audio signal to the speaker when the communications circuit receives a wireless communications signal and the sensor determines the coupled cable is extended from the communication device.

7. The cable retractor assembly coupleable to a portable communications device of claim 6, further comprising a microphone coupled to the cable a spaced distance from the speaker.

8. The cable retractor assembly coupleable to a portable communications device of claim 7, further comprising an enclosure for housing the speaker and a microphone.

9. A cable retraction assembly, comprising:

a reel rotatable about an axis for the winding and unwinding of a cable, the cable having at least two electrical conductors;

a biasing member coupled to the reel for urging the reel to rotate in a first direction;

a force applicator for resisting winding and unwinding of the cable; and

an enclosure for housing the reel, the biasing member, and the force applicator wherein the enclosure is detachably coupleable to an electronic device having an alert device wherein the cable retraction assembly deactivates the alert device when the cable is unwound from the reel.

10. The cable retraction assembly of claim 9, further comprising a speaker coupled to the cable for generating sound waves.

11. The cable retraction assembly of claim 10, further comprising a microphone coupled to the cable for detecting sound waves.

12. The cable retraction assembly of claim 9, wherein the electronic device is a portable communications device.

13. A cable retractor, comprising;

an enclosure detachably coupleable to a portable electronic device;

a rotatable reel;

a biasing member secured to the enclosure and the reel to urge the reel to rotate in a predetermined direction;

a length of cable having a first end and a second end, the first end coupled to the reel and the second end having a speaker coupled thereto;

a plurality of terminals secured to the enclosure, the terminals electrically coupled to the first end of the cable and electrically coupleable to the portable electronic device;

a communications circuit for sending and receiving wireless communications signals;

a sensor to determine if the biasing member is rotated in a direction opposite the predetermined direction; and

a micro controller programmed to send an audio signal to the speaker when the communications circuit receives a wireless communications signal and the sensor determines the biasing member is rotated in the direction opposite the predetermined direction.

14. The cable retractor of claim 13, further comprising a microphone coupled to the cable for detecting sound waves.

15. The cable retractor of claim 13, wherein the portable electronic device is a selected one of a AM/FM radio, a CD player, an MP3 player, a cassette player, a personal digital assistant, a computer, a cordless phone, a radio phone, and a cellular phone.

16. A portable communications device, comprising:

a cable with a proximal end and a distal end;

an earpiece coupled to the distal end of the cable;

a cable retractor for retracting the cable in a predetermined direction and coupled to the proximal end of the cable;

a sensor to determine if the biasing member is rotated in a direction opposite the predetermined direction;

a ringer coupled to the portable communication device;

a circuit for determining the presence of an incoming call; and

a micro controller programmed to deactivate the ringer when the circuit determines the presence of the incoming call and the sensor determines the biasing member is rotated in a direction opposite the predetermined direction.

17. The portable communications device of claim 16, further comprising:

a vibrator coupled to the portable communication device wherein the micro controller is programmed to activate the vibrator when the circuit determines the presence of the incoming call and the sensor determines the earpiece is extended from the portable communication device.

18. The portable communications device of claim 16, wherein the micro controller is programmed to activate the ringer to send an audio signal to the earpiece when the circuit determines the presence of the incoming call and the sensor determines the earpiece is extended from the portable communication device.

19. The portable communications device of claim 16, wherein the micro controller is programmed to activate the ringer when the circuit determines the presence of the incoming call and the sensor determines the earpiece is retracted into the portable communication device.

20. The portable communications device of claim 16, wherein the micro controller is programmed to allow the incoming call to transmit to the incoming call to the earpiece when the earpiece is extended from the portable communication device.

21. The portable communications device of claim 16, further comprising one of the group consisting of:

a AM/FM radio, a CD player, an MP3 player, a cassette player, a personal digital assistant, a computer, a cordless phone, a radio phone, and a cellular phone.

22. The portable communications device of claim 16, further comprising the earpiece tethered to the cable retractor.

23. The portable communications device of claim 16, further comprising the earpiece and a microphone tethered to the cable retractor.