Abstract:
A method ( 200 ) for coiling an earphone set ( 10 ) comprising at least one earphone ( 11 ), at least one cable ( 12 ), one for each earphone ( 11 ), and a connector ( 14 ), the method comprising: 
       coiling the at least one cable ( 12 ) around a cable strap ( 21 ) having at least one end ( 22 );    passing a first ( 22 ) of the at least one end of the cable strap ( 21 ) over a first ( 11 ) of the earphones by inserting the first earphone ( 11 ) through a first slot ( 23 ) in the first end ( 22 ) for attaching the first earphone ( 11 ) to the cable strap ( 21 ); and    passing a second ( 22 ) of the at least one end of the cable strap ( 21 ) over a second ( 11 ) of the earphones by inserting the second earphone ( 11 ) through a second slot ( 23 ) in the second end ( 22 ) for releasably attaching the second earphone ( 11 ) to the cable strap ( 21 ).

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates to a cable coiling method and apparatus and relates particularly, though not exclusively, to a cable coiling method and apparatus for storing an earphone.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     As portable technology advances consumers demand portable devices be easy to use. This demand also extends to the use of their accessories, such as, for example, earphone sets, hands-free sets, button headphones, and so forth.  
         [0003]     Most such accessories are separate from and releasably attachable to the portable device. To keep them in order, separate cable-control apparatus is used. Such cable-control apparatus is normally bulky and can be cumbersome to use. For example, as shown in  FIG. 1 , a conventional earphone set  10  comprises two earphones  11 , an earphone mount  18  attached to each of the two earphones  11 , a cable  12 , a first end of the cable  12  splitting to form two cable extensions  13 . Each cable extensions  13  is attached to a first end  17  of the earphone mount  18 . A jack  14  is attached to a second end  19  of the cable  12 , wherein the jack  14  may be inserted into a socket  15  of a portable device  16  such as, for example, an MP3 player.  
         [0004]     Traditional cable management solutions for earphones  11  may be such as, for example, a cable spooling casing  15  wherein the cable  12  is winded in the casing  15 . The casing  15  comprises a plurality of slots  16  for securing the earphones  11 , a bottom case  17  and a cover  18  attached to the bottom case  17 . This is cumbersome to set up, and is quite bulky.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     In accordance with a first preferred aspect there is provided a method for coiling an earphone set comprising at least one earphone, at least one cable, one for each earphone, and a connector, the method comprising: 
        coiling the at least one cable around a cable strap having at least one end; and     passing a first of the at least one end of the cable strap over a first of the earphones by passing the first earphone through a first slot in the first end for releasably attaching the first earphone to the cable strap.        
 
         [0008]     There may be two earphones and two cables. The method may further comprise passing a second of the at least one end of the cable strap over a second of the earphones by passing the second earphone through a second slot in a second end of the at least two ends for releasably attaching the second earphone to the cable strap.  
         [0009]     According to a second preferred aspect there is provided apparatus for coiling an earphone set comprising at least one earphone, at least one cable, one for each earphone, and a connector, the apparatus comprising a cable strap for coiling the at least one cable, the cable strap comprising at least one end; 
        a first of the at least one ends has a first slot for passing over a first earphone of the at least one earphone by passing the first earphone through the first slot for attaching the first earphone to the cable strap;     wherein the earphone set is releasably secured to the cable coiling apparatus after the at least one cable is coiled.        
 
         [0012]     The cable strap may be of an elastic material selected from a group consisting of: vinyl, leather, butyl, and neoprene. Each slot may comprise a slit extending from each slot, the slit being for enabling expansion of each slot. Each slot may have a defined shape selected from the group comprising: a circle, a triangle, a quadrilateral, and a polygon.  
         [0013]     The first end may be detachably attached to the second end via a fastening device selected from a group consisting of: Velcro, press-studs, zips and snaps. Each slot may comprise a slit extending from each slot, each slit being for enabling expansion of each slot.  
         [0014]     The first end may be affixed to the second end; and the cable strap may comprise a sleeve for securing the cables. The earphone set may be affixed to the cable strap; or may be detachably attached to the cable strap.  
         [0015]     There may be two earphones and two cables, the cable strap comprising two ends and further comprising a second slot at a second of the two ends for enabling the cable strap to be passed over the second of the earphones by passing the second earphone through the second slot to releasably attach the second earphone to the cable strap. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]     In order that the present invention may be fully understood and readily put into practical effect, there shall now be described by way of non-limitative example only preferred embodiments of the present invention, the description being with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings.  
         [0017]     In the drawings:  
         [0018]      FIG. 1  illustrates a top view of a prior art cable spooling casing for earphones for a portable device;  
         [0019]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of a cable coiling apparatus according to a first preferred embodiment;  
         [0020]      FIG. 3  illustrates in detail the auxiliary device coiled around the cable coiling apparatus of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0021]      FIG. 4  shows the auxiliary device coiled around the apparatus of  FIG. 2  for attaching to the portable device;  
         [0022]      FIG. 5  is a flow chart showing a method according to the first preferred embodiment;  
         [0023]      FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of a cable coiling apparatus according to a second preferred embodiment;  
         [0024]      FIG. 7  illustrates in detail the auxiliary device coiled around the cable coiling apparatus of  FIG. 6 ;  
         [0025]      FIG. 8  shows a perspective view of a cable coiling apparatus according to a third preferred embodiment;  
         [0026]      FIG. 9  illustrates in detail the auxiliary device coiled around the cable coiling apparatus of  FIG. 8 ;  
         [0027]      FIG. 10  shows the auxiliary device coiled around the apparatus of  FIG. 8  for attaching to the portable device; and  
         [0028]      FIG. 11  shows an alternative form of an earphone set.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0029]      FIG. 2  shows a cable coiling apparatus  20  for securing an earphone set  10  to the cable coiling apparatus  20  according to a first embodiment of the invention so that the earphone set  10  is in a relatively compact configuration for ease of storage and transport. The apparatus  20  comprises a cable strap  21  for coiling the cable  12  around a first portion  24  of the cable strap  21 . The cable strap  21  is split at a joint  30  to form two ends  22 , each end  22  comprising a slot  23 . The slot  23  comprises a slit  25  extending adjacent from the slot  23 . The slot  23  may be of a shape such as, for example, a circle (as shown), a triangle, a quadrilateral, a polygon and the like. The slit  25  may be of a shape such as, for example a horizontal cut-out. The cable strap  21  may be made of an elastic material such as, for example, leather, vinyl, butyl, neoprene or any suitable types of polymers.  
         [0030]     A sleeve  27  of the cable strap  21  is for securing each of the cable extensions  13  in place. The apparatus  20  may be attached to the earphone set  10  during the manufacture of the earphone set  10 . A rib  29  formed within the sleeve  27  prevents the apparatus  20  from moving down towards the jack  14 . A primary logo  40  may be printed onto the first portion  24 . The primary logo  40  may be printed by a process such as, for example, silk screen printing. The primary logo  40  may also be indented or embossed onto the first portion  24  of the apparatus  20 .  
         [0031]     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the cable  12  is coiled around the first portion  24  of the cable strap  21 . Each of the ends  22  is folded over to show a secondary logo  42  printed on the cable strap  21 . The secondary logo  42  may be printed by a process such as, for example, silk screen printing. The secondary logo  42  may also be indented or embossed onto the cable strap  21 . The joint  30  prevents the cable strap  21  from separating during the folding of the ends  22 . Each of the earphones  11  are passed through the slot  23 , the cable strap  21  enabling the slit  25  to stretch from a closed state  31 , thereby enlarging the slot  23  to receive each earphone  11 .  
         [0032]     After each of the earphones  11  is passed through the slot  23 , the slit  25  resumes the closed state  31  to releasably secure the earphone set  10  to the apparatus  20 . An advantage of the slit  25  is the slit  25  can be stretched to enlarge the slot  25  thus enabling earphones of varying sizes to be releasably secured to the apparatus  20 . The earphone set  10  therefore assumes a relatively compact configuration for ease of storage and transport.  
         [0033]      FIG. 4  shows an exploded assembly view of the apparatus of  FIG. 3  for attaching to the portable device  16 . The apparatus  20  is attached to the portable device  16  by plugging the jack  14  of the earphone set  10  into the socket  15  of the portable device  16 . Thus, the practice of coiling the cable  13  of the earphone set  10  around the portable device  16  when a user stops listening to content of the portable device  16  becomes unnecessary with the use of the apparatus  20 .  
         [0034]      FIG. 5  is a flow chart illustrating a method  200  for releasably securing the earphone set  10  to the apparatus  20  according to the first embodiment so that the earphone set  10  is in a relatively compact configuration for ease of storage and transport. The apparatus  20  is moved  201  along the cable extensions  13 , stopping at the earphone mounts  18 . Then, the cable  12  is coiled  202  around the first portion  24  of the cable strap  21  and each end  22  is folded  203  over the cable  12  to pass  204  each of the pair of earphones through the slot  23  of each of the ends  22 . After releasably securing the earphone set to the apparatus  20 , the jack  14  may be inserted into the socket  15  to attach the earphone set  10  to the portable device  16 . Consequently, the practice of coiling the cable  13  of the earphone set  10  around the portable device  16  when a user stops listening to content of the portable device  16  becomes unnecessary with the use of the apparatus  20 .  
         [0035]      FIG. 6  shows a cable coiling apparatus  50  for releasably securing the earphone set  10  to the apparatus  50  according to a second embodiment of the invention so that the earphone set  10  is in a relatively compact configuration for ease of storage and transport. The apparatus  50  comprises a cable strap  51  for coiling the cable  12  around a first portion  54  of the cable strap  51 .  
         [0036]     The cable strap  51  is detachably attached by a fastening device  59 . The strap  51  provides two ends  52 , each end  52  comprising a slot  53 . The fastening device  59  may be, for example, Velcro, press-studs, zips or snap fasteners. The slot  53  comprises a slit  55  extending adjacent from the slot  53 . The slot  53  may be of a shape such as, for example, a circle (as shown), a triangle, a quadrilateral, a polygon and the like. The slit  55  may be of a shape such as, for example a horizontal cut-out. The cable strap  51  may be made of an elastic material such as, for example, leather, vinyl, butyl, neoprene or any suitable types of polymers. The cable strap  51  comprises a sleeve  57  for securing the cable  12 . The sleeve  57  may be sized to prevent the apparatus  50  from moving down towards the jack  14 . Alternatively, the sleeve  57  may have an adjustable diameter to allow the passage of cables of different thickness. A first logo  60  may be printed onto the first portion  54 . The first logo  60  may be printed by a process such as, for example, silk screen printing. The first logo  60  may also be indented or embossed onto the first portion  54  of the apparatus  50 .  
         [0037]     The apparatus  50  may be attached to the earphone set  10  during the manufacture of the earphone set  10 .  
         [0038]     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the ends  52  are detachably attached via the fastening device  59  and the cable  12  is coiled around the cable strap  51 . Each end  52  is folded over the cable  12  to show a second logo  62  printed on the cable strap  51 . The second logo  42  may also be indented or embossed onto the cable strap  51 . Each of the earphones  11  are inserted through the slot  53 , the cable strap  51  enabling the slit  55  to stretch from a closed state  61 , thereby enlarging the slot  53  to receive each earphone  11 . The earphone set  10  is thus compactly secured to the apparatus  50 . After each of the earphones  11  is inserted through the slot  23 , the slit  55  resumes the closed state  61  to attach the earphone set  10  to the apparatus  50 .  
         [0039]      FIG. 8  shows a cable coiling apparatus  90  for releasably securing the earphone set  10  to the cable coiling apparatus  90  according to a third embodiment of the invention so that the earphone set  10  is in a relatively compact configuration for ease of storage and transport. The apparatus  90  comprises a cable strap  91  for coiling the cable  12  around a first portion  94  of the cable strap  91 . The cable strap  91  comprises a slot  93  at a first end  92  of the cable strap  91 .  
         [0040]     The slot  93  comprises a slit  95  extending adjacent from the slot  93 . The slot  93  may be of a shape such as, for example, a circle (as shown), a triangle, a quadrilateral, a polygon and the like. The slit  95  may be of a shape such as, for example a horizontal cut-out. The cable strap  91  may be made of an elastic material such as, for example, leather, vinyl, butyl, neoprene or any suitable types of polymers. The cable strap  91  comprises a sleeve  97  for securing the cable  12 . The sleeve  97  may be sized to prevent the apparatus  90  from moving down towards the jack  14 . An indicia may be printed onto the first portion  94 . The first indicia may be printed by a process such as, for example, silk screen printing. The_first indicia may also be indented or embossed onto the first portion  94  of the apparatus  90 .  
         [0041]     The apparatus  90  may be attached to the earphone set  10  during the manufacture of the earphone set  10 .  
         [0042]     As shown in  FIG. 9 , the cable  12  is coiled around the cable strap  91 . The first end  92  is folded over the cable  12  to show a second indicia  102  printed on the cable strap  91 . The second indicia  102  may also be indented or embossed onto the cable strap  91 . Each of the earphones  11  are inserted through the slot  93 , the elastic nature of the cable strap  91  enabling the slit  95  to stretch from a closed state  101 , thereby enlarging the slot  93  to receive each earphone  11 . After, the earphone set  10  is attached to the apparatus  90 . After each of the earphones  11  is inserted through the slot  93 , the slit  95  resumes the closed state  101  to releasably secure the earphone set  10  to the apparatus  90 .  
         [0043]      FIG. 10  shows an exploded assembly view of the apparatus  90  of  FIG. 8  for attaching to the portable device  16 . The apparatus  90  is attached to the portable device  16  by plugging the jack  14  of the earphone set  10  into the socket  15  of the portable device  16 . It is to be noted that the third embodiment may also be used for single earphone such as, for example, those used in hands-free kits  300  of mobile telephones as shown in  FIG. 11  with primary components of at least one earphone  302 , at least one microphone  304 , and a jack  306   
         [0044]     Whilst there has been described in the foregoing description preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the technology concerned that many variations or modifications in details of design or construction may be made without departing from the present invention.