Cable tethering neckpiece

• US 9,055,795 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2013
• Issued: 06/16/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nicholas Stuart Larkin
• Original Assignee: Nicholas Stuart Larkin
• Inventors: Larkin, Nicholas Stuart
• Primary Examiner(s): Pickett, J. Gregory
• Assistant Examiner(s): COGILL, JOHN M
• Application Number:
  US13/852,763
• Publication Number:
  US 20130256345A1
• Time in Patent Office: 810 Days
• Field of Search: 224/201, 224/181, 224/189, 224/251, 224/265, 224/930, 181/129, 381/364, 381/309, D28/41, 2DI/G 1.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/00 Receptacles for purposes not provided for in groups A45C1/00-A45C9/00 specially adapted for toiletry or cosmetic equipment A45D29/20, A45D44/18; travelling sewing kits A45F3/48
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/001 for portable audio devices, e.g. headphones or MP3-players
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2200/0516 Portable handheld communication devices, e.g. mobile phone, pager, beeper, PDA, smart phone
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/105 Earpiece supports, e.g. ear hooks for stereophonic headphones H04R5/0335
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/103 Combination of monophonic or stereophonic headphones with audio players, e.g. integrated in the headphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/107 Monophonic and stereophonic headphones with microphone for two-way hands free communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/09 Applications of special connectors, e.g. USB, XLR, in loudspeakers, microphones or headphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/0335 Earpiece support, e.g. headbands or neckrests for monophonic headphones H04R1/105

Abstract

A neckpiece wearable by a user includes opposing arm segments operatively connected to each other and configured such that each arm segment defines a tethering element configured to removably retain a cable to the neckpiece. The arm segments may be arranged to retain the neckpiece to the user'"'"'s neck intermediate the shoulders and jaw of the user, such that the neckpiece when worn by the user is not in contact with the user'"'"'s shoulders and/or is not supported in position by the user'"'"'s shoulders. An access opening allows the user to don and doff the neckpiece, and is preferably less than 35% of the perimeter of the neckpiece. The neckpiece may include a grasping interface to exert a grasping pressure on the user'"'"'s neck. The neckpiece may include a physiological sensing element. The arm segments may be formed of wire. A connecting element may detachably connect the opposing arm segments.

Claims

1. A neckpiece wearable by a user, the neckpiece comprising:

opposing arm segments operatively connected to each other;

a nape interface intermediate the opposing arm segments and configured as a substantially flat surface;

a grasping interface defined by each of the arm segments;

wherein each arm segment defines a tethering element configured to removably retain a cable to the neckpiece;

wherein the arm segments are arranged such that when the neckpiece is worn by the user each grasping interface exerts a grasping pressure on the user'"'"'s neck to retain the neckpiece to the user'"'"'s neck in a mid-neck location; and

wherein the tethering element is configured as a spiraled portion integrally formed with at least one of the arm segments.

2. The neckpiece of claim 1, further comprising:

a connecting element configured to detachably connect one arm segment from the other arm segment.

3. The neckpiece of claim 2, wherein the connecting element is a magnetic clasping element.

4. The neckpiece of claim 2, further comprising:

the connecting element including an orientation feature to orient the opposing arms relative to each other when connected by the connecting element.

5. The neckpiece of claim 1, wherein each arm segment is formed of wire.

6. The neckpiece of claim 5, wherein the wire is surface treated with one of an organic, non-organic, polymeric or metallic coating.

7. The neckpiece of claim 1, further comprising:

an access opening defined by the arm segments;

wherein the access opening is not greater than 35% of the perimeter of the neckpiece inclusive of the access opening.

8. The neckpiece of claim 1, wherein the grasping interfaces are arranged to exert the grasping pressure on one of an anterior and a lateral portion of the user'"'"'s neck.

9. The neckpiece of claim 1, further comprising:

a channel at least partially defined by the arm segments;

the channel including at least one of the tethering elements configured to removably retain a cable to the neckpiece.

10. The neckpiece of claim 1, wherein:

the neckpiece is configured to receive at least one electronic element configured to be operatively attached to the neckpiece;

wherein neckpiece is configured to electrically connect the at least one electronic element to another electronic element.

11. The neckpiece of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of apertures defined by the neckpiece;

wherein the plurality of apertures are arranged to define a cable pathway for retaining the cable to the neckpiece.

12. The neckpiece of claim 1, further comprising:

a sensing element configured to sense a physiological parameter of the user;

wherein the sensing element is operatively attached to the neckpiece and configured such that when the neckpiece is worn by the user, the sensing element interfaces with the user to sense the physiological parameter.

13. The neckpiece of claim 1, wherein the arm segments are made of one of a polymeric material and a carbon fiber material.

14. The neckpiece of claim 1, wherein the arm segments are made of a smart material.

15. The neckpiece of claim 1, further comprising:

the opposing arm segments defining an access opening therebetween; and

a clasp element configured to enclose the access opening.

16. A neckpiece wearable by a user, the neckpiece comprising:

opposing arm segments extending from a central segment and selectively connectable to each other by a connecting element configured to detachably connect the opposing arm segments;

each opposing arm segment including a tethering element defined by a spiraled portion of a wire segment configured to removably retain a cable to the neckpieces;

wherein the central segment defines a nape interface configured as a substantially flat surface;

a grasping interface defined by each of the arm segments; and

wherein the arm segments are arranged such that when the neckpiece is worn by the user each grasping interface exerts a grasping pressure on the user'"'"'s neck to retain the neckpiece to the user'"'"'s neck in a mid-neck location.

17. The neckpiece of claim 16, further comprising:

the connecting element including an orientation feature to orient the opposing arms relative to each other when connected by the connecting element.

18. The neckpiece of claim 16, wherein the wire segment is surface treated with one of an organic, non-organic, polymeric or metallic coating.

19. The neckpiece of claim 16, further comprising:

the opposing arm segments defining an access opening therebetween; and

a clasp element configured to enclose the access opening.

20. A neckpiece wearable by a user, the neckpiece comprising:

opposing arm segments integrally formed with and extending from a central segment;

wherein the central segment defines a nape interface configured as a substantially flat surface;

a grasping interface defined by each of the arm segments;

wherein the arm segments are arranged such that when the neckpiece is worn by the user each grasping interface exerts a grasping pressure on the user'"'"'s neck to retain the neckpiece to the user'"'"'s neck in a mid-neck location;

a channel defined by a spiraled portion of at least one of the central segment and the arm segments;

wherein the channel is configured to at least partially define a cable pathway for retaining a cable to the neckpiece; and

wherein the spiraled portion is integrally formed with the at least one of the central segment and the arm segments.