Reducing the tangling of cables

• US 9,042,591 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2013
• Issued: 05/26/2015
• 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:
  US14/027,227
• Publication Number:
  US 20140247950A1
• Time in Patent Office: 618 Days
• Field of Search: 381/309, 381/370, 381/373, 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
• 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 consisting essentially of:

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; and

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

wherein the headphone jack securing device is fixed to the inside of the internal compartment using a cable,

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 of the pair of the pair of headphones can be inserted in to 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.

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

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

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

8. An apparatus for storing a pair of headphones to reduce tangling without winding its cable, comprising:

a case for storing a pair of headphones;

a compartment formed inside of the case and comprising an opening for accessing a storage compartment;

wherein the compartment is operable to allow a cabled portion of the pair of headphones to remain free inside the internal compartment;

a pouch with an opening inside of the compartment operable to secure a speaker-portion of the pair of headphones;

a headphone jack securing device fixed to the inside of the compartment and operable to secure a headphone plug of the pair of headphones when inserted into the headphone jack securing device; and

wherein the opening of the pouch comprises elastic.

9. The apparatus of 8, further comprising a means for closing the opening of the case.

10. The apparatus of 8, further comprising a bag, wherein the case is integrated into the bag.

11. An apparatus consisting essentially of:

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; and

a headphone jack securing device fixed to the inside of the internal compartment 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 of the pair of headphones can be inserted in to the female socket to secure the headphone plug.

12. The apparatus of 11, wherein the speaker-portion securing device is a magnet.

13. The apparatus of 11, 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.

14. The apparatus of 11, wherein the headphone jack securing device is fixed to the inside of the internal compartment using a cable.

15. The apparatus of 11, wherein the speaker-portion securing device comprises a pouch.

16. The apparatus of 11, wherein the case does not comprise a means to wind a headphone cable.

17. The apparatus of 11, further comprising a bag, wherein the case is integrated into the bag.

18. The apparatus of 11, further comprising clothing, wherein the case is integrated into the clothing.