GB2342085A

GB2342085A - A cable-spooling casing

Info

Publication number: GB2342085A
Application number: GB9821412A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bill Yang
Original assignee: Cotron Corp
Current assignee: Cotron Corp
Priority date: 1998-08-03
Filing date: 1998-10-01
Publication date: 2000-04-05
Anticipated expiration: 2018-10-01
Also published as: GB9821412D0; GB2342085B; NL1010363C2; CA2249769A1; CA2249769C

Abstract

A cable-spooling casing 10 suitable for winding up earphone transmission cable for transportation comprises spooling guides 12 and 14, each guide having an exterior surface 16, 20 and an interior surface 18, 22. Each of the interior surfaces 18, 22 of the guides 12, 14 has a protuberance 24, 26 and the guide 12 has a plurality of slots 34 around its perimeter. There is a clip 36 mounted on the exterior surface 16 of the guide 12 for fixing the earphone transmission cable in place, and a means 40 on the exterior surface 20 of the guide 14 for securing the cable-spooling casing onto an object. The two guides may be the same or different sizes. The guides may be oval or rectangular in shape. The clip 36 may have a saw tooth or wavy profile to prevent the cable from slipping out from the clip. The means 40 may include sticky tape, a sticky clip or a suction cup, or a clamp.

Description

2342085 CABLE-SPOOLING CASING FOR EARPHONES

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 5 Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a cable-spooling casing. More particularly, the present invention relates to a casing capable of spooling up the entire length of an earphone's transmission cables for easy carriage and providing an optimal length of transmission cable for individual user's listening needs.

Description ofRelated Art

As electronic industry continues to flourish, the number of miniaturized and lightweight electrical appliances increases exponentially. People can carry these small electrical appliances, for example, a Walkman or a CD player, around while mobile and in the midst of their daily lives. They can listen to music through earphones any time and any place without having to worry about interfering with other people. Nowadays, a hands-free type of mobile telephones is also available so that people can talk to each other through an earphone-microphone set as well.

At present, the earplug type of earphone is still one of the most commonly used products. Most Walkmans, call beepers, or mobile telephones use earplugs because earplugs are lightweight and easy to handle. However, when a user is using an earplug In 17, type of earphone, the user's body frequently becomes entangled with the earphone transmission cables during minor movements. Sometimes an earplug is pulled out of the ear and then dropped on the floor. Besides causing some discomfort to the -1;7 -2user's ear. frequently dropping the earplug may damage the earphone. Furthermore, a long transmission cable dangling down the ear can cause great inconveniences such as the possibility of interfering with the movement of hands and feet.

In light of the foregoing, there is a need to provide a cable-spooling casing for 5 spooling up redundant cable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention provides a cable-spooling casing for spooling up earphone transmission cable so that earplugs are not so easily pulled out of the ears. so as to avoid discomfort to the user's ears and prevent damage to the earphone that may occur when it is dropped on the floor. Moreover, the transmission cable is not so readily entangled with hands and feet.

In another aspect, this invention provides a cable-spooling casing that permits easy adjustment of the length of transmission cables so that the earphone can be used more conveniently.

To achieve these and other advantaues and in accordance %vith the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein. the invention provides a cablespooling casing suitable for completely spooling up earphone transmission cables for easy carriage and for adjusting the length of loose transmission cables outside the spool casing for accommodating an individual user. The cable-spooling casing includes a first spooling guide having a first protuberance on its interior surface and a plurality of slots around its perimeter and a second spooling guide having a second protuberance on its interior surface, such that when the first protuberance of the first spooling guide is joined to the second protuberance of the second spooling guide. a groove for,,-spooling cable is formed. There is also at least one clip on the exterior surface of the first cable spooling guide for fixing the earphone transmission cable and at least one clamp on the exterior surface of the second cable-spooling guide for clamping the cable-spooling casing onto any item worn by a user.

This invention relies on the clip on the exterior surface of the first cable spooling guide to grip one part of the transmission cable so that the dislodgment of transmission cable from the casing is prevented. Furthermore, the invention relies on the clamp on the exterior surface of the second cable-spooling guide to clamp the casing onto any item worn by the user. Finally; the invention uses the slots at the perimeter of the first cable-spooling guide to fix the position of the transmission cable coming out from the spool, thus preventing side movement of the tr-msmission cable.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary, and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanving drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings, Fig. I is a schematic drawing of a front view of a cable-spooling casing for spooling earphone transmission cable according to one preferred embodiment of this invention, Fig. 2 is a schematic drawing of a top view of the cable-spooling casing for spooling earphone transmission cable as shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 33 is a schematic drawing of a bottom view of the cable-spooling casing for spooling earphone transmission cable as shown in Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a schematic drawing of a sketch of the cable-spooling casing showing transmission cable ATapped around its spooling groove with each outlet end passing out from the spool through a slot and the position of the transmission cable near the plug's and the earplug's ends each fixed by a clip to the casing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.

Figs. 1. 2 and 3 are the respective front view, top view and bottom view of a cable-spooling casino, for spooling earphone transmission cable according to one preferred embodiment of this invention.

The cable-spooling casino 10 of this invention comprises cable-spooling guides 12 and 14. The cable-spooling guide 12 has an exterior surface 16 and an intenor surface 18, and the cable-spooling guide 14 similarly has an exterior surface 20 and an interior surface 22. The cable-spooling guide 12 and the cable-spooling guide 14 may both be of the same size or different sizes. and may have an oval shape, a rectangular shape or any other suitable shape.

The interior surfaces 18 and 22 of the respective guides 12 and 14 have protuberances 24 and 26, respectively, such that the size of the protuberance 24 corresponds W1th the size of the protuberance 26. The guide 12 is joined to the guide 14 through their respective protuberances 24 and 26. The guides 12 and 14 together with their protuberances form the main body of the cable-spooling casing with a cablespooling groove _332 in the middle for spooling up transmission cable of the earphone. In addition, the guide 12 has a plurality of slots 34 on its perimeter for positioning the transmission cable coming out from the spool.

At least one clip is installed on the exterior surface 16 of the guide 12.. For example. two clips 3)6 and 38 having their opening ends facing each other are mounted onto the exterior surface 16. The clip '36 and clip 3)8 can be used to fix the location of the transmission cable coming out from the spool near the earphone's end 42 and the plug's end 44, respectively. Fig. 4 is a sketch of the cable-spooling casing showing transmission cable wrapped around its spooling groove with each outlet end passing out from the spool through a slot. The transmission cable near the plug end and the earplugs end are each fixed by a clip to the casing.

Furthermore, on the exterior surface 20 of the guide 14, at least one clamp 40 is installed. Using the clamp 40 to clamp onto any item worn by a user (for example, a leather belt or pockets), the cable-spooling casing 10 can be easily carried. The clamp 40 can be, for example, a sticky tape, a sticky clip or a suction cup. In addition, the clips _3)6 and 3) 8 have a saw-tooth profile 46 or a wavy profile (not shown) for preventing the transmission cable from sliding out of the clipped positions.

When the user decides that too much loose transmission cable is outside the casing. excessive length can be wound back into the cable-spooling casing 10. Since the cable-spoolino casing 10 is light and also equipped with a clamp 40, the casing 10 can be fixed onto almost any item worn by the user, such as collar, pocket or belt. With loose transmission cable returned to the cable-spooling casing 10, a user can freely move his or her body without having to worry about becoming entangled with the cable.

Thus, earplugs will not be so easily pulled out from the ear causing discomfort and then dropped to the floor resulting in damage.

On the other hand. when the user has finished using the earphones, the entire length of the transmission cable can be wound back into the cablespooling casing 10 for eas',7 carriage as shown in Fig. 4. No matter how long the length of transmission cable outside the casino, transmission cable near the earphone end 42 and the plugs end 44 can be fixed in position by sliding the cable down the slots 34, and then firmly gripping the cable with clips '36 and 38, respectively.

In summary. one aspect of this invention is the fixing of transmission cable by clips '36 and 338 that have a saw-tooth shaped profile on the exterior surface 16 of the cable-spooling guide 12. Hence. transmission cable near the earphone's end 42 as well as near the plug^s end 44 can both be secured. Hence, transmission cable is prevented from slipping from the clips.

Another aspect of this invention is the clamp 40 on the exterior surface 20 of the cable-spooling guide 14. This has the advantage of being able to clamp the cable- spooling casing 10 on an)! items worn by the user, and hence makes its carriage C:1 convenient.

A third aspect ofthis invention is the introduction of slots 34 on the perimeter of the guide 14 so that the cables emanating from the spool can be fixed in position.

_k -7- Hence, any random movement that might loosen the transmission cable wound up on the spool is prevented.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A cable-spooling casing suitable for winding up earphone transmission cable, the cable-spooling casing comprising:

a first cable-spooling guide, wherein the first cable-spooling guide includes a first exterior surface and a first interior surface, such that the first interior surface has a first protuberance and the perimeter of the first cable-spooling guide has a plurality of slots; a second cable-spooling guide, wherein the second cable-spooling guide includes a second exterior surface and a second protuberance, and the second protuberance joins with the first protuberance of the first cablespooling guide to form a groove in the middle for spooling transmission cable; a clip mounted on the first exterior surface of the first cable-spooling guide for fixing the position of the transmission cable; and a clamp mounted on the second exterior surface of the second cablespooling cruide for clamping onto anv item worn bv a user.

2. The cable-spoolinc, casing of claim 1, wherein the first cablespooling gulde :1 C_ and the second cable-spooling guide are the same size.

a of claim 1, wherein the first cable-spooling guide 33. The - cablespooling casin,__ Z-1 and the second cable-spooling guide have different sizes.

4. The cable-spooling casing of claim 1, wherein the first cable-spooling guide and the second cable-spooling guide have an oval shape.

5. The cable-spooling, casing of claim 1. wherein the first cablespooling guide and the second cable-spooling guide have a rectangular shape.

6. The cable-spooling casing of claim 1, wherein the clip has a saw-tooth shaped profile for preventing the transmission cable from slipping out of the clip.

7. The cable-spooling casing of claim 6, wherein the saw-tooth shaped profile includes a wavy profile.

8. The cable-spooling casing of claim 1, wherein the first protuberance corresponds in size to the second protuberance.

9. The cable-spooling casing of claim 1, wherein the back clamp includes a sticky tape.

10. The cable-spooling casing of claim 1, wherein the back clamp includes a sticky clip.

11. The cable-spooling casing of claim 1, wherein the back clamp includes a suction cup.

P Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A cable-spooling casing suitable for winding up earphone transmission cable, the cable-spooling casing comprising:

a first spool part which includes a first exterior surface and a first interior surface, such that the first interior surface has a first protuberance and the perimeter adjacent the exterior surface has a pluralit, of slots, a second spool part which includes a second exterior surface and a second interior surface such that the second interior surface has a second protuberance, the second protuberance being joined with the first protuberance of the first spool part to form a spool having a groove in the Middle for spooling transmission cable; at least one hook-like clip having an arm and a support i-noulned on the first exterior surface of he first spool part for adjustably fixing the position of the two end portions of transmission cable which is spooled in the groove so as to leave the end portions passing through the slots adjacent to the clip wherein the arm of the clip and the first exterior surface define an operung for receiving the end portions, and a fixing device formed on the second exterior surface of the second spool part for fixing the cable spooling casing onto an item carried by a user.

The cabIc-spooling) casing of claim 1. wherein the first spool part including the first protuberance and the second Spool Dart including the second protuberance are the same size.

The cablc-spooling casing of claim 1. wherein the first spool part and the second spool part have different sizes.

4. The cable-spooling casing of claim 1, wherein the first spool pain and the second spool part have an oval shape as viewed from the top.

5. The cable-spooling casing of claim 1, wherein the first spool part and the second spool part have a rectangular shape as viewed from the top.

6. The cable-spooling casing of any preceding claim, wherein the clip has a saw-tooth shaped profile for preventing the transmission cable from slipping out of the clip.

7. The cable-spoohngo, casing of any one of claims I to 5, wherein the clip -has a wavy profile for preventing the transmission cable from slipping out of the clip.

8. The cable-spooling casing of any preceding claim, wherein the fixing device includes a sticky tape.

9. The cable-spooling casing of any one of claims I to 7, wherein the fixincr device includes a clip.

10. The cable-spooling casing of any one of claim- s 1 to 7, wherein the fixing device includes a hook-like clamp.

casing I -iy preceding ciairn. whefHn Lhe The cable-spoo!jrcl of zi first and second protuberances have a periphery with an oval-like shape.

12. The cable-spooling casing of any preceding claim, including two of said hook-like clips wherein each of the clips adjustably fixes o,-i-- of the end portions, and the arms of the clips are substantially parallel with the first exterior surface and define a first opening for receiving one of the end portions and a second opening for receiving the other of the end portions.

13. The cable-spooling casing of claim 12, wherein the openings of the clips are facing each other.

14. The cable-spoolincy casing substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures I to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

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