Reducing the tangling of cables

• US 8,913,775 B2
• Filed: 03/03/2013
• Issued: 12/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomas Nathan Millikan
• Original Assignee: Thomas Nathan Millikan
• Inventors: Millikan, Thomas Nathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Huyen D
• Application Number:
  US13/783,373
• Publication Number:
  US 20130266171A1
• Time in Patent Office: 653 Days
• Field of Search: 381/309, 381/370, 381/374, 381/376, 381/380, 381/384, 181/129, 181/130, 181/135, 379/430, 379/438, 455/351, 455/575.1, 455/90.3, 242/385, 206/37, 206/38, 206/234
• US Class Current: 381/384
• 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

Corded devices, such as headphones and power suppliers, can be stored in a case that reduces the tendency of their cords to tangle without the need for wrapping or winding.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a case with an opening that allows access to an internal compartment;

a speaker-portion securing device fixed to the inside of the internal compartment operable to secure at least one earbud of a pair of headphones;

a headphone jack securing device fixed to the inside of the internal compartment on a side opposite the speaker-portion securing device and operable to secure a headphone plug of the pair of headphones;

wherein the internal compartment is operable to allow a cabled portion of the pair of headphones to remain free inside the internal compartment, and wherein the headphone jack securing device comprises a female socket configured so that the headphone plug can be inserted into the female socket to secure the headphone plug.

2. The apparatus of 1, wherein the speaker-portion securing device is a magnet.

3. The apparatus of 1, wherein the speaker-portion securing device comprises a separator that divides the inside of the case into two compartments wherein the two compartments have openings adjacent to one another and aligned with the opening of the case.

4. The apparatus of 1, wherein the speaker-portion securing device comprises a pouch large enough to store speaker-portions of earbuds.

5. The apparatus of 1, wherein the speaker-portion securing device comprises a Velcro strap.

6. The apparatus of 1, wherein the case does not comprise a means to wind a headphone cable.

7. The apparatus of 1, further comprising a bag, wherein the case is integrated into the bag.

8. The apparatus of 1, further comprising clothing, wherein the case is integrated into the clothing.

9. An apparatus comprising:

a case with an opening that allows access to an internal compartment;

wherein the internal compartment is operable to hold over-the-ear headphones; and

a headphone jack securing device fixed to the inside of the internal compartment using a cable and operable to secure a headphone plug of the over-the-ear-headphones;

wherein the internal compartment is operable to allow a cabled portion of the over-the-ear headphones to remain free inside the internal compartment, and wherein the headphone jack securing device comprises a female socket configured so that the headphone plug can be inserted into the female socket to secure the headphone plug.

10. The apparatus of 9, further comprising a flap that separates the case into two compartments.

11. The apparatus of 9, wherein the internal compartment is comprised of a top compartment and a bottom compartment.

12. The apparatus of 9, further comprising an instruction on the inside of the case.

13. The apparatus of 9, further comprising a bag, wherein the case is integrated into the bag.

14. The apparatus of 9, further comprising clothing, wherein the case is integrated into the clothing.

15. An apparatus comprising:

a case with an opening that allows access to an internal compartment;

a pouch fixed inside of the internal compartment operable to secure a speaker-portion of a pair of headphones, the pouch having an opening;

a headphone jack securing device, fixed to the inside of the internal compartment and outside the pouch, operable to secure a headphone plug of the pair of headphones; and

;

elastic attached to the opening of the pouch;

wherein the internal compartment is operable to allow a cabled portion of the pair of headphones to remain free inside the internal compartment, and wherein the headphone jack securing device comprises a female socket configured so that the headphone plug can be inserted into the female socket to secure the headphone plug.

16. The apparatus of 15, further comprising a means for closing the opening of the case.

17. The apparatus of 15, further comprising a bag, wherein the case is integrated into the bag.