Attachable extendable and retractable earpiece cable assembly for mobile communication and sound devices

• US 8,873,250 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2012
• Issued: 10/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kroupa, Robert
• Original Assignee: Kroupa, Robert
• Inventors: Kroupa, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoffberg, Robert J
• Assistant Examiner(s): MATEY, MICHAEL A
• Application Number:
  US13/369,580
• Publication Number:
  US 20120314351A1
• Time in Patent Office: 992 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.01, 361/826, 206/223, 206/320, 381/384, 320/114
• US Class Current: 361/826
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2701/3919 USB, earphones, audio or video cables, e.g. for connecting small electronic devices such as MP3 players or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/4434 actuated by pulling on or imparting an inclination to the material
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 11/02 using take-up reel or drum
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1033 Cables or cables storage, e.g. cable reels cord reels per se H02G11/02; arrangements for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of conductors or cables B65H75/34; extensible conductors or cables, e.g. self-coiling cords H01B7/06

Abstract

An extendable and retractable earpiece or audio headset cable assembly for mobile electronic devices having an audio output port having a mount attached to a portion of the mobile communication or sound device, such as the battery access door or panel. An earpiece cable reel housing is removably connected to the mount, and the mount includes a flange having an outwardly extending rim. The reel housing includes a slot that receives and engages the rim of the flange to removably attach the reel housing to the mount. In another embodiment, the mount is integrally formed with the battery access door or panel. In a further embodiment, the reel housing is integrally formed with a protective casing that is attached to the mobile electronic device.

Claims

1. An extendable and retractable earpiece or audio headset cable assembly for mobile electronic communication or sound devices having an audio output port, comprising:

a laterally extending mount attached to a portion of said mobile electronic communication or sound device;

wherein said mount is a battery access door;

a cable reel housing removably connected to said mount;

said mount including a flange having an outwardly extending rim;

said reel housing including a slot, said slot adapted to receive and engage said rim of said flange to removably attach said reel housing to said mount on said mobile electronic communication or sound devices.

2. The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein:

Said mount comprises a mounting post, said flange mounted on said mounting post.

3. The cable assembly of claim 2, wherein:

said rim of said flange is curved,

said curved rim adapted to engage said slot when said reel housing is removably attached to said mount.

4. The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein:

a chamber is formed in said reel housing and a rotatable reel is disposed in said chamber;

at least one cable coiled around said reel, said at least one cable extending from said reel in said chamber and through an aperture in the reel housing to a location exterior of said reel housing; and

said at least one cable electrically connected at one end to at least one of an earpiece and an audio headset.

5. The cable assembly of claim 4, wherein:

a second end of said at least one cable is electrically connected to an electrical jack plug, said electrical jack plug adapted to be electrically connected to said audio output port of said mobile electronic communication or sound devices.

6. The cable assembly of claim 5, wherein:

said reel allowing said at least one cable to extend outward in a linear direction from said reel housing through said aperture upon the application of a manual tension force to said at least one cable.

7. The cable assembly of claim 6, wherein:

the application of the tension force to the extended at least one cable actuates said reel to rewind said at least one cable around said reel.

8. The cable assembly of claim 6, wherein:

said aperture having a dimension adapted to prevent said earpiece or said headset from passing through said aperture and into said chamber.

9. The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein:

said reel housing includes a second slot, said second slot adapted to receive a flange of a clasp assembly and removably attach said clasp assembly to said reel housing, said clasp assembly adapted to removably attach said reel housing to an item worn or supported by a user of said mobile electronic communication or sound devices.

10. A combination protective apparatus for a mobile electronic device electrically connected to an extendable and retractable earpiece or audio headset cable assembly for said mobile electronic device having input and output ports and at least one electronic screen display, comprising:

a protective casing having certain internal dimensions substantially the same as certain external dimensions of said mobile electronic device, said casing adapted to receive and extend tightly around all peripheral sides of said mobile electronic device and having an aperture for the electronic screen display, said protective casing having an earpiece or headphone cable reel housing formed integrally with said protective casing.

11. The combination protective apparatus and cable assembly of claim 10, wherein:

said protective casing including a surface having inner and outer upwardly extending ridges formed on said surface;

a reel housing cover attached to said inner and outer ridges of said surface, a chamber formed between said reel housing cover and said surface of said protective casing;

a reel disposed in said chamber, at least one electric cable coiled around said reel, said at least one cable extending out of said chamber through an aperture in one of said reel housing cover and said outer upwardly extending ridges;

said at least one electric cable electrically connected at one end to at least one of an earpiece and an audio headset; and

said reel adapted to rewind said at least one electric cable around said reel upon the application of a tension force to said at least one electric cable after said at least one cable has been extended through said aperture.

12. The combination protective apparatus and cable assembly of claim 10, wherein:

said cable reel housing includes a slot;

said slot adapted to receive a flange of a clasp assembly and removably attach said clasp assembly to said cable reel housing; and

said clasp assembly adapted to removably attach said protective casing to an item supported by a user of the mobile electronic device.

13. An extendable and retractable earpiece or headset cable assembly for mobile electronic communication or sound devices having an audio output port and a battery access door or a panel, comprising:

a cable reel housing integrally formed with an outer surface of one of said battery access door and panel of said mobile electronic communication or sound devices;

a chamber formed in said cable reel housing;

a rotatable reel disposed in said chamber;

at least one cable coiled around said reel, said at least one cable extending from said reel in said chamber and through an aperture in said cable reel housing to a location exterior of said reel housing; and

said at least one cable electrically connected at one end to at least one of an earpiece and an audio headset.