Interchangeable attachable extendable and retractable earpiece cable assembly for mobile communication and sound devices

• US 9,066,181 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2013
• Issued: 06/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert J. Kroupa
• Original Assignee: Robert J. Kroupa
• Inventors: Kroupa, Robert J
• Primary Examiner(s): Bui, Hung S
• Assistant Examiner(s): MATEY, MICHAEL A
• Application Number:
  US14/055,610
• Publication Number:
  US 20140105441A1
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• Field of Search: 191/12.4, 191/12.2 R, 381/370, 242/378, 242/370, 242/375, 455/569.1, 455/575.2, 455/351, 455/575.8, 174/53, 361/755, 361/826
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 interchangeable, extendable and retractable audio earpiece cable assembly for a mobile electronic or sound device having an audio output port. A protective casing assembly is adapted to attach to the mobile communication or sound device. A platform assembly having a cable reel housing is removably attached to the protective casing assembly. A cable attached at one end to an earpiece retractably extends from the cable reel housing at another end.

Claims

1. An interchangeable, extendable and retractable earpiece cable assembly for a mobile electronic device having an audio output port and at least one electronic screen display, comprising:

a. a protective casing assembly adapted to be attached to said mobile electronic device, said casing assembly having certain internal dimensions substantially the same as certain external dimensions of said mobile electronic device and having an aperture in a front portion for the electronic screen display;

b. a platform assembly removably attached to a rear portion of said casing assembly;

c. a cable reel housing mounted to a rear of said platform assembly;

d. the protective casing assembly, platform assembly, and cable reel housing provide a single integrated assembly ready for use when assembled together;

e. an extendable and retractable earpiece cable assembly located in said cable reel housing;

f. said extendable and retractable earpiece cable assembly including at least one earpiece cable retractably extendable from said cable reel housing, and a reel mechanism around which said at least one earpiece cable is removably wound, said at least one cable electrically connected to at least one earpiece;

g. said protective casing assembly including a docking footprint, said docking footprint adapted to removably receive said platform assembly; and

h. said platform assembly including a releasable latch having a spring loaded mechanism, said releasable latch adapted to releasably engage a hook on a top of the protective casing assembly.

2. The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein:

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

said at least one cable wound around said reel in a first position, 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 in a second position.

3. The cable assembly of claim 2, 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 device.

4. The cable assembly of claim 2, 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.

5. The cable assembly of claim 4, wherein:

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

6. The cable reel assembly of claim 4, wherein:

the dimensions of said aperture are adapted to prevent said at least one earpiece from passing through said aperture into said chamber.

7. The cable assembly of claim 2, 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 connected to a jack plug holding aperture of said platform in a first position;

said jack plug adapted to be connected to said audio output port of said mobile electronic device in a second position.

8. The cable assembly of claim 6, wherein:

said at least one cable is electrically connected to an inline microphone, said microphone preventing said cable from retracting into said cable reel housing at the point of the inline microphone.

9. The cable assembly of claim 8, wherein said at least one earpiece is a set distance from said microphone.

10. The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the protective casing assembly includes at least one hook on the top and at least one hook on a bottom of said protective casing assembly, said hooks adapted to engage said platform assembly and attach said platform assembly to said protective casing assembly.

11. The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the platform includes a connector plug, said connector plug adapted to make an electrical connection with the audio output port of the mobile electronic device.

12. The cable assembly of claim 11, wherein the platform assembly includes an aperture, said aperture adapted to accept the connector plug when the connector plug is not connected to the audio port.

13. The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the platform assembly includes an earpiece retainer, said earpiece retainer adapted to removably accept and retain the at least one earpiece.

14. The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the platform assembly and the protective casing assembly includes a plurality of apertures, said apertures adapted to allow access to at least one of an input port, the audio output port, and a camera lens of said mobile electronic device.

15. An interchangeable, extendable and retractable earpiece cable assembly for a mobile electronic communication or sound device having an audio output port, comprising:

a. a protective casing assembly adapted to be attached to said mobile communication or sound device, said casing assembly having certain internal dimensions substantially the same as certain external dimensions of said mobile electronic communication or sound device;

b. a platform assembly removably attached to a portion of said casing assembly;

c. a cable reel housing mounted to said platform assembly;

d. at least one cable retractably extending from said cable reel housing, said at least one cable electrically connected to at least one earpiece;

e. wherein the platform assembly includes an earpiece retainer, said earpiece retainer adapted to removably accept and retain the at least one earpiece; and

f. wherein the platform assembly includes a release mechanism associated with said at least one earpiece, said release mechanism adapted to release the at least one earpiece from said earpiece retainer.

16. The cable assembly of claim 15, wherein:

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

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

c. wherein the platform assembly includes a cable retainer located in said aperture, said cable retainer adapted to guide the at least one cable into and out of said chamber.

17. The cable assembly of claim 16, wherein the cable reel housing includes a rewind button, said rewind button initiating retraction of said at least one cable around said reel.