Patent ID: 9615160
Date: 2017-04-04
CPC Classifications: B65H,H04R,H04W

Claim:
1. An earphone system with retractable cables, comprising: a generally Y-shaped housing having a first upper arm, a second upper arm spaced from the first upper arm to define the upper segment of the Y-shaped housing, and a lower arm joined to the first and second upper arms, wherein each of the first and second upper arms has a recess portion at its terminal end; a left earbud connected to a first cable, at least a portion of the first cable within a first passageway in the first upper arm, wherein the left earbud is disposed in the first upper arm recess when the left earbud cable is totally retracted into the housing via the first passageway; a right earbud connected to a second cable, at least a portion of the second cable within a second passageway in the second upper arm, wherein the right earbud is disposed in the second upper arm recess when the right earbud cable is totally retracted into the housing via the second passageway; a plug-in connector connected to a third cable, at least a portion of the third cable within the lower arm; a first take-up reel in the housing and in communication with the first cable, the first take-up reel configured for independently spooling and de-spooling the first cable; a second take-up reel in the housing and in communication with the second cable, the second take-up reel configured for independently spooling and de-spooling the second cable; a third take-up reel in the housing and in communication with the third cable, the third take-up reel configured for independently spooling and de-spooling the third cable; means for independently locking the first and second take-up reels after the user has paid out a desired length of cable extending from the first and second take-up reels; and means for independently releasing the first and second take-up reels to allow the user to payout or retract the cables spooled by the first and second take-up reels.