Abstract:
The invention provided a protective apparatus for accommodating a portable device and accessories of the portable device. The protective apparatus includes a holder for accommodating the portable device; a retractile member for allowing cable portions of the accessory to be coiled therearound; and a clasp or a receptacle for receiving bulky portions of the accessories. The protective apparatus is simple designed and convenient to wind the cable onto and unwind the cable from the protective apparatus.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   1. Technical Field 
   The present invention relates to a protective apparatus that is able to house a portable device and accessories of the portable device. 
   2. Related Art 
   As portable electronic devices become smaller and more sophisticated, they are prone to being easily damaged. Some of the portable electronic devices are fitted with accessories for performing extended functions. For example, a cellular phone is usually fitted with an earpiece. 
   The U.S. Patent Application Publication 20050255898 (&#39;898 publication), entitled “Cell Phone And Holder”, published on Nov. 17, 2005, discloses a cell phone holder. The cell phone holder includes a pocket for holding a cell phone, and a housing on the back plate of the cell phone holder for accommodating an earpiece of the cell phone. The housing is a complicated structure for controlling the extension and retraction of the earpiece cable. 
   The cell phone holder of the &#39;898 publication has, inter alia, the following disadvantages: The earpiece cable of the cell phone is wound around a spool within the complicated housing, which make it inconvenient for a user to install the cable into or remove the earpiece from the housing when the earpiece cable is not necessary for the cell phone. For example, if the original earpiece cable is defective, it is inconvenient for the user to replace a new earpiece into the housing. Additionally, the complicated housing also increases the cost of the cell phone holder. 
   Accordingly, what is needed is a holder and an accessory housing that provides protection for a portable device and to hold accessories of the portable phone. The holder should be simple in design for easy manipulation and removal of a cable. The simple design also saves on cost. 
   SUMMARY 
   A protective apparatus is provided for accommodating a portable device and at least one accessory of the portable device is provided. The protective apparatus includes: a holder configured for accommodating the portable device, the holder comprising a front panel and a back panel; a retractile member fixed on the back of the back panel of the holder for allowing at least part of a cable portion of the at least one accessory to be wound therearound, the retractile member comprising a spool and an operable portion for keeping the coiled cable portion in position around the spool; and a clasp fixed on the back panel of the holder for accommodating the bulky portion of the at least one accessory. 
   The protective apparatus also can includes: a holder configured for accommodating the portable device, the holder comprising a front panel and a back panel; a retractile member fixed on the back of the back panel of the holder for allowing at least part of a cable portion of the at least one accessory to be wound therearound, the retractile member comprising a spool and an operable portion for keeping the coiled cable portion in position around the spool; and a clasp fixed on the back panel of the holder for accommodating the bulky portion of the at least one accessory. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a protective apparatus in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a front plan view of the protective apparatus of  FIG. 1  together with a detachable handle attached thereto; 
       FIG. 3  is a right-side view of the protective apparatus of  FIG. 1  together with associated accessories; 
       FIG. 4A  is a back plan view of the protective apparatus and detachable handle of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4B  is an enlarged, isometric view of the clasp of the protective apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 5  is similar to  FIG. 3 , but showing the protective apparatus after the accessories have been removed; 
       FIG. 6A  is an isometric view of a protective apparatus in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 6B  is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of part of a pedestal of the protective apparatus of  FIG. 6A , taken along VIB-VIB thereof, and showing in phantom an earpiece portion of an earpiece engaged in an earpiece socket of the pedestal; 
       FIG. 7  is a right-side view of the protective apparatus of  FIG. 6  together with associated accessories; 
       FIG. 8  is an isometric view of a protective apparatus in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention, a pair of grooves are concaved in the pedestal; and 
       FIG. 9  is a right-side view of the protective apparatus of  FIG. 6  together with associated accessories. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
   The present invention provides a protective apparatus for protecting a portable device, such as cellular phones, media players, etc. Three embodiments of the present invention are described hereinbelow for the purpose of illustrating features of the protective apparatus. The protective apparatus is used to hold the portable device and accessories of the portable device. The accessory may be divided into a cable portion and a bulky portion. 
   In the embodiments detailed herein, an earpiece assembly is described as an exemplary accessory. The earpiece assembly includes, for example, an earpiece cable  71  and a pair of earpieces  6  (see for e.g.,  FIG. 3 ). The earpiece cable  71  can be considered as a cable portion of the accessory, and the earpieces  6  can be considered as bulky portions of the accessory. In other examples, a cable portion of the accessories can be a microphone cable or a set of data lines. The bulky portion of the accessory can be a mouthpiece of a telephone. Accordingly, the protective apparatus typically includes a retractile member  3  used for holding at least one cable portion, and a receptacle used for holding at least one bulky portion. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 5 , a protective apparatus  10  in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention are shown. The protective apparatus  10  includes a holder  2  for accommodating the portable device, a retractile member  3  for coiling the earpiece cable  71  therearound, and a clasp  4  for fastening the earpieces  6 . That is, the clasp  4  serves as a receptacle for holding bulky portions. 
   Referring particularly to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the holder  2  includes a front panel  21 , a back panel  23 , and a plurality of elastic connecting portions  22  which interconnect the front panel  21  and the back panel  23 . In the illustrated embodiment, the expanse of the front panel  21  is made of transparent material  211 . Thereby, when the portable device is accommodated in the holder  2 , information displayed on a screen of the portable device is viewable through the transparent material  211 . 
   Referring particularly to  FIGS. 1 ,  3  and  5 , these show an isometric view and two side views of the protective apparatus  10 . The retractile member  3  is fixed to the back panel  23  of the holder  2 . The retractile member  3  includes an operation portion  33  and a spool  34 . In the illustrated embodiment, the operation portion  33  and the spool  34  are both generally rectangular with rounded corners. The operation portion  33  has a larger area than the spool  34 . In alternative embodiments, the operation portion  33  can be circular, oval, or other suitable shapes, as long as an area of the spool  34  is less than that of the operation portion  33 . The retractile member is a retractable device that can be locked in a retracted position and locked in an extended position by exerting an external force on the operation portion  33  by a user. For example, the retractile member can include a spring-loaded mechanism as known in the art. 
   Referring particularly to  FIGS. 1 ,  4 A and  4 B, the clasp  4  is fixed on the back panel  23  of the holder  2 . In the illustrated embodiment, the clasp  4  is essentially an elastic, elliptical ring with two ends that abut each other. The clasp  4  defines a central through opening  42  for accommodating respective stems (not labeled) of the earpieces  6  therein. The clasp  4  is preferably made of pliable material such as polyethylene, so that the ends of the clasp  4  can be manually separated from each other. Thereby, an entrance is defined between the ends of the clasp  4 , the entrance being in communication with the through opening  42 . Thus the earpiece cable  71  can first be received in the through opening  42  via the entrance, and then the stems of the earpieces  6  can be resiliently engaged in the through opening  42 . 
     FIG. 3  is a side view of the protective apparatus  10 , showing the retractile member in the extended position. In this position, the total span of the retractile member  3  including the spool  34  and the operation portion  33  is larger than the corresponding total span of the clasp  4 . The earpiece cable  71  can be conveniently wound around the spool  34 . The stems of the earpieces  6  are accommodated into the through opening  42  of the clasp  4 . 
     FIG. 5  shows the protective apparatus  10  after the earpiece cable  71  and the earpieces  6  have been removed, and further shows the retractile member  3  in the retracted position. After the earpiece cable  71  has been from the retractile member  3 , there is no need for the retractile member  3  to extent fully. Thus the user can press the retractile member  3  to the retracted position for a volume saving. In this position, the total span of the retractile member  3  including the spool  34  and the operation portion  33  is less than the corresponding total span of the clasp  4 . Thus, the protective apparatus  20  occupies a smaller amount of space. 
   Referring particularly to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the back panel  23  of the protective apparatus  10  defines a hole  24 . Thereby, a detachable or fixed handle  5  can be attached to the back panel  23 . The handle  5  enables the portable device to be conveniently carried when it is retained in the protective apparatus  10 . In an alternative embodiment, the hole  24  can instead be defined in the front panel  21 . 
   When the portable device is not to be used, the protective apparatus  10  is used for packing the earpiece cable  71  and the earpiece  6  as follows: A first step is to exert an external force on the operation portion  33  to release the spool  34  into the extended position. A second step is to coil the earpiece cable  71  around the spool  34 . A last step is to insert the stems of the earpieces  6  into the through opening  42  of the clasp  4  and thereby resiliently engaging the stems in the clasp  4 . Thus, the portable device is accommodated in the protective apparatus  10  and the accessories are neatly placed in the protective apparatus  10 . 
     FIG. 6A  is an isometric view of a protective apparatus  20  in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. The protective apparatus  20  is similar to the above-described protective apparatus  10 . However, the protective apparatus  20  includes a pedestal  28  fixed on the back panel  23 . The pedestal  28  essentially serves as a receptacle for holding bulky portions. In particular, the pedestal  28  includes a pair of earpiece sockets  25  for receiving the earpieces  6  therein. 
     FIG. 6B  is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of part of the pedestal  28  showing one of the earpiece sockets  25 , also shown is one of the earpieces  6  engaged in the earpiece socket  25 . The diameter of an outermost end of the earpiece socket  25  is a little less than a diameter of an innermost end of the earpiece socket  25 . The pedestal  28  is typically made of rubber or similar elastic material. When each earpiece  6  is inserted into the corresponding earpiece socket  25 , the rim of the earpiece socket  25  elastically deforms to allow the earpiece  6  to enter the earpiece socket  25 . After the rim rebounds, the rim blocks the earpiece  6  from falling out of the earpiece socket  25 . In alternative embodiments, inner walls of the earpiece sockets  25  can be made of, or include, magnetic material, so as to attract the earpieces  6  and help retain the earpieces  6  in the earpiece sockets  25 . In other alternative embodiments, the pedestal  28  can be shaped and sized to accommodate other different kinds of bulky portions of accessories. 
     FIG. 7  is a right-side view of the protective apparatus  20 , showing the spool  34  in the extended position. In this position, a user can conveniently coil the earpiece cable  71  around the spool  34 . The earpieces  6  are inserted into the earpiece sockets  25  of the pedestal  28 . 
     FIG. 8  is an isometric view of a protective apparatus  30  in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. The protective apparatus  30  is similar to the above-described protective apparatus  20 . However, the pedestal  28  defines a pair of grooves  29  at a main outer surface thereof, for retaining the stems of the earpieces  6  therein. A transverse width of an opening of each of the grooves  29  at the outermost surface of the pedestal  29  is narrower than a corresponding width of a midsection of the groove  29  inside the pedestal  29 . Due to the resilient properties of the pedestal  29 , when the stems of the earpieces  6  are inserted into the grooves  29 , the wider midsections of the grooves  29  are able to accommodate the full widths of the stems of the earpieces  6 , while rim portions of the pedestal  28  at the narrower openings of the grooves  29  prevent the stems of the earpieces  6  from falling out from the grooves  2 . 
   It is believed that the present embodiments and their advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiments of the invention.