Abstract:
Cases are disclosed herein for mobile electronic devices, such as smartphones, tables, e-readers, etc., that have an integrated retention system. The integrated retention system includes a retention device and a retraction device. The retention device allows the electronic device to be secured to a user&#39;s clothes or other object by an attachment device at the end of a cord. The retraction device allows the cord to be extended from the case to a desired length and retracted into the case when not in use. The cases disclosed herein, when used to secure an electronic device to an object, can prevent loss of and damage to the electronic device.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Mobile electronics, such as mobile phones, smart tablets, and the like, are increasingly popular and pervasive throughout society. They also represent a significant financial investment; therefore there is a need to protect and to prevent the loss of these items. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0002]    Generally, this invention relates to cases for mobile electronic devices, such as smartphones, tablets, e-readers, etc., that have an integrated retention system. The integrated retention system includes a retention device and a refraction device. The retention device allows the electronic device to be secured to a user&#39;s clothes or other object by an attachment device at the end of a cord. The retraction device allows the cord to be extended from the case to a desired length and retracted into the case when not in use. The cases disclosed herein, when used to secure an electronic device to an object, can prevent loss of and damage to the electronic device. 
         [0003]    In one aspect, the invention features a device comprising a case body configured to receive and releasably retain an electronic device, an extendable retention device configured to allow a user to tether the case body to an object, and a retraction device configured to retract the retention device into the case body. 
         [0004]    Some implementations may include one or more of the following features. The retention device can include a cord and can further include an attachment device. Furthermore, the attachment device can include a carabiner secured to a distal end of the cord. 
         [0005]    The refraction device can include a ratchet and pawl mechanism. Furthermore, the ratchet and pawl mechanism may include teeth disposed on a spool that carries the cord. The refraction device may further include a coil spring that is also carried by the spool. 
         [0006]    In some implementations, the coil spring and cord may be disposed in a concentric arrangement on the spool. 
         [0007]    In some implementations, a release button may be configured to allow the user to disengage the ratchet and pawl mechanism. 
         [0008]    In some implementations, the case body may include a cavity configured to receive the attachment device when the retention device is retracted. 
         [0009]    In another aspect, the invention may feature a device comprising a case body configured to receive and releasably retain an electronic device, a cord that is extendable from and retractable into the case body, and a retraction device configured to allow extension and retraction of the cord. According to this aspect, the retraction device comprises (a) a rotatably mounted spool having a plurality of ratchet teeth and being configured to carry the cord, and (b) a pawl mechanism that interacts with the teeth to control rotation of the spool and a coil spring, carried by the spool, that is configured to bias the spool towards a position in which the cord is retracted, and the coil spring and cord are disposed in a concentric arrangement on the spool. 
         [0010]    In some implementations of this aspect of the invention, the device may include an attachment device, e.g., a carabiner, secured to a distal end of the cord. 
         [0011]    In another implementation, the device may comprise one or more ear buds disposed at a distal end of the cord. Furthermore, the cord may comprise an earphone cable. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a device according to one implementation. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is plan view of the device with a carabiner in an extended position. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2A  is a plan view of the device with the carabiner in a refracted position. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the front side of the device. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is an end view of the device. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the device with the holder removed to reveal the retraction mechanism and the cord removed to clarity. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of the device with the upper portion of the ratchet mechanism cut away and the rear panel removed. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view of the device as shown in  FIG. 5  taken along line  6 - 6 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a sectional view similar to that shown in  FIG. 5A , taken closer to the rear panel. 
           [0021]      FIG. 8A  is a perspective view of the device similar to the view shown in  FIG. 5  except shown with earphones. 
           [0022]      FIG. 8B  is a perspective view of the device with the earphones in the retracted position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , a case  10  for a cell phone or other electronic device includes, on one side, a holder  12  ( FIG. 3 ) for receiving and securely holding the electronic device. In the embodiment shown, holder  12  is dimensioned to receive a cell phone. However, holder  12  may be of any desired configuration. The holder  12  is defined by a floor  22  and side walls  23 . 
         [0024]    As shown in  FIGS. 1-2A , on the other side the device  10  includes an integrated retention device that includes a cord  14  and a carabiner  16 . The retention device can be extended from the case, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , and retracted into the case, as shown in  FIG. 2A , by a refraction device. The retraction device will be discussed in further detail below. 
         [0025]    When the retention device is fully retracted, the carabiner  16  is received into a cavity  18  that is generally complementary in shape to the carabiner. When received in this manner, the distal edge of the carabiner  16  is flush with an edge  19  ( FIG. 2A ) of the case  10 . The cavity  18 , as well as a chamber  20  that holds the retraction device, are defined between the floor  22  of the holder  12  and a rear panel  24  of the case. The rear panel  24  defines a window  26  that allows the user to easily grasp the carabiner to extract it from the case. 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the rear panel  24  includes a raised area  28  that defines the outer portion of cavity  18  and that provides sufficient room in the cavity to accommodate the thickness of the carabiner. The cavity  18  is sized to hold the carabiner snugly while allowing the carabiner to be easily extracted. 
         [0027]    At the other end of the rear panel  24 , an opening  30  is configured to allow the use of a rear-facing camera of type that is commonly integrated into a mobile phone. Opening  30  is aligned with a corresponding opening  32  in the floor  22  of the holder  12 . 
         [0028]    The rear panel  24  also includes an opening  34  through which a button  36  extends. Button  36  is used to actuate the retraction of the retention device, as will be discussed further below. Opening  34  is sized to allow the movement of the button  36  from a first, normal position (shown) to a second, release position, in the direction of the arrow in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIGS. 5 ,  5 A and  6 , the retraction device includes a spool  40  that carries the cord  14  (not shown in these figures) in an outer compartment  42  ( FIG. 6 ) and a coil spring  44  ( FIG. 5A ) in an inner compartment  46  ( FIG. 6 ). The inner and outer compartments are arranged concentrically. The spool rotates on a shaft  48 , which extends upwardly from and is integral with the rear panel  24 . Spool  40  includes ratchet teeth  50  that interact with a pawl  52  to control extension and retraction of the cord. The cord is attached to the spool at an attachment point  53  ( FIG. 7 ). 
         [0030]    When the carabiner is pulled out of the case by the user, the pawl  52  slides over the ratchet teeth  50 , allowing the spool to rotate in the direction of arrow A ( FIG. 5A .) As the spool rotates, cord is fed out of the case, allowing the user to extend the carabiner to reach an object, or, once the carabiner is secured to an object, to extend the case closer to the user for use of the electronic device. Rotation of the spool during extension of the cord tensions the coil spring  44 , which is attached at one end to a notch  45  in the shaft  48  (which thus acts as a spring bearing) and at the other to a raised feature  54  on the spool ( FIG. 7 ). 
         [0031]    When the user stops pulling on the cord, the pawl, which is biased toward the spool by spring  56 , engages a ratchet tooth  50  to prevent reverse rotation of the spool so that the cord remains in an extended position. 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 6 , when the user desires to retract the cord, the user moves the button  36  in the direction of the arrow in  FIG. 2 , which then releases the pawl from the ratchet tooth. Once the engagement of the pawl and tooth is released, the force stored in coil spring  44  causes the spool to rotate in the reverse direction, retracting the cord. Because the pawl is biased toward to the spool by spring  56 , it is necessary for the user to hold the button in the release position until the cord has retracted to a desired extent. Once the user lets go of the button, the spring  56  will cause the button to return to its normal position, and the pawl to re-engage the spool. This locks the carabiner in place and prevents inadvertent extension of the cord, e.g., if the carabiner were to get caught on something. 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIGS. 5A and 6 , eyelets  58  and  60  define a path for the cord as it is being retracted and extended, as indicated by line C ( FIG. 5A ). Eyelet  58  is positioned approximately mid way between the sidewall of the rear panel and the center of the rear panel. The positioning of eyelet  58  with respect to centrally located eyelet  60  creates a bend in the cord increasing friction between the cord and the eyelet thereby slowing the retraction of the cord. 
         [0034]    The holder and rear panel may be made of any desired material, but is generally formed of a thermoplastic, e.g., polypropylene, nylon, polyethylene, etc., or a thermoplastic/elastomer blend. The springs and eyelets are preferably formed of metal, e.g., 316 Stainless Steel. The sprocket wheel may be made of any desired material, e.g., a plastic such as nylon. The cord is preferably of a durable, relatively high tensile strength material to prevent it from breaking, e.g., KEVLAR® aramid fiber from DuPont. 
       OTHER EMBODIMENTS 
       [0035]    A number of embodiments have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. 
         [0036]    For example, while the device shown in the figures is configured to hold a mobile phone, the device may alternatively be configured to hold any desired personal electronic device such as an MP3 player, a laptop, an e-reader, a tablet, a GPS, a personal locator device, an avalanche transceiver, etc. For example, if the device is one that does not include a camera, the openings for the camera described above could be omitted. 
         [0037]    Moreover, while a carabiner is shown, other types of releasable clips or fastening devices could be used. 
         [0038]    Additionally, the retraction devices used herein may be used to allow extension or retraction of other accessories. For example, an alternate embodiment may be configured with earphones rather than a clip. This embodiment would feature a similar retraction mechanism, however it would be configured to handle earphone cords. For example, as shown in  FIGS. 8A and 8B , when retracted, earphones  65  fit snuggly into the case. A portion of the earphones  65  extend beyond the edge of the case so that a user can successfully grasp and extract the earphones. Boss  67  extends from the rear panel  24  of the case to help secure the earphones when retracted into the case. Earphone cord  69  may follow the same route as cord  14  in  FIG. 5A , as shown in  FIG. 8A , or may be routed differently if necessary in order to accommodate the thickness of the cord and/or raised features provided on the cord. For example, the eyelets may be made larger, and/or eyelet  58  may be omitted. 
         [0039]    The end of the earphone cord that is distal to the earphones is routed to allow it to be plugged in to the earphone jack on the device. The configuration of this route is specific to the type and model of electronic device and therefore is not shown in the drawings. In some implementations the earphones include a microphone, e.g., disposed on the earphone cord, to allow the phone to be used in a “hands-free” manner. 
         [0040]    Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.