Computer housing with retracting headphone cable

A computer housing is provided. The computer housing includes a front panel with an opening formed thereon. A cable winding assembly is disposed within the computer housing and includes a stop member, a cable winding member, two support members, and an elastic rope. The cable winding member includes a jack receiving hole and at least one stop member receiving means formed on an outer circumferential surface thereof for accommodating a headphone jack and the stop member respectively. The stop member can be inserted through the opening. The two support members are attached to a bottom panel of the computer housing and include bearing holes formed threreon for supporting the cable winding member and allowing a rotation of the cable winding member. The elastic rope includes two ends fastened respectively to the cable winding member and one of the support members and is capable of being wound when the cable winding member rotates.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to computer housings and, more particularly, to a computer housing capable of retracting a headphone cable connected thereto.

2. General Background

Nowadays, personal computers are widely used. Personal computers including desktop computers for household use, are generally referred to as home computers. Home computers are often used for playing DVDs or CDs for entertainment. In some circumstances, when a user is enjoying the DVDs or CDs using a home computer, an earphone is needed to avoid disturbing others. The earphone can be removed from the computer or still kept connecting to the computer after use.

However, if the earphone is removed from the computer, it would not handy and convenient for use next time. If the earphone is still kept connected to the computer, the earphone cable usually becomes tangled and is not convenient for use.

Accordingly, there is a need to provide a desktop computer housing to solve the problems stated above.

SUMMARY

The invention relates to a computer housing. In an exemplary form, the computer housing includes a front panel with an opening formed thereon. A cable winding assembly is disposed within the computer housing and includes a stop member, a cable winding member, two support members, and an elastic rope. The cable winding member includes a jack receiving hole and at least one stop member receiving means formed on an outer circumferential surface thereof for accommodating a headphone jack and the stop member respectively. The stop member can be inserted through the opening on the front panel. The two support members are attached to a bottom panel of the computer housing and include bearing holes formed thereon for supporting the cable winding member and allowing a rotation of the cable winding member. The elastic rope includes two ends fastened respectively to the cable winding member and one of the support members. The elastic rope is capable of being wound when the cable winding member rotates and capable of driving the cable winding member to rotate back when it unwinds.

Other features and advantages will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional features and advantages are included within this description, are within the scope of the present invention, and are protected by the accompanying claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1is an isometric view of a computer housing100in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The computer housing100includes a front panel110with an opening111formed thereon. In one embodiment, the opening111is a horizontal slot.

FIGS. 2 through 4show a cable winding assembly200disposed within the computer housing100. The cable winding assembly200is used for retracting a cable of an earphone (not shown) into the computer housing100. In one embodiment, the cable winding assembly200is secured to a bottom panel of the computer housing100. The cable winding assembly200includes a first support member210, a second support member220, a cable winding member230, an elastic rope240, and a stop member250.

The first support member210and the second support member220are secured to the bottom panel of the computer housing100for supporting the cable winding member230. The first support member210is L shaped and has a vertical wall211with a bearing hole212formed thereon.

The second support member220includes a vertical wall221and a base222. A bearing hole223and a guiding groove224are formed on the vertical wall221. The guiding groove224extends from a side surface of the vertical wall221and communicates with the bearing hole223. A chamber225is formed on the bottom end of the base222. The chamber225is defined cooperatively by a top wall226and three sidewalls (not labeled). A through hole227is formed on the top wall226and communicates with the chamber225.

FIGS. 5 and 6illustrate the cable winding member230. The cable winding member230includes a rotating surface231and two side ends232,233. The cable winding member230also includes a first shaft234at the side end232and a second shaft235at the side end233. The two shafts234and235are coaxial.

A plurality of stop member receiving means236and a jack receiving hole237are formed on the rotating surface231. The jack receiving hole237is used for accommodating an earphone jack (not shown). In the illustrated exemplary embodiment shown in theFIGS. 5 and 6, the stop member receiving means236is in the form a plurality of grooves. Each of the grooves extends longitudinally along the axis of the two shafts234and235. In another embodiment shown inFIG. 8, the stop member receiving means236is in the form of a plurality of holes formed on the rotating surface231.

A wire receiving hole238is formed on the first shaft234. A through hole239is formed, extending approximately perpendicularly to the axis of the second shaft235, on the cylindrical surface of the second shaft235. The wire receiving hole238communicates with the jack receiving hole237, such that conductive wires can be guided out through the wire receiving hole238to connect with a motherboard (not shown) disposed within the computer housing100.

The first shaft234and the second shaft235are respectively received in the bearing holes212and223. The cable winding member230is thus held in position and can be rotated freely with respect to the first support member210and the second support member220.

The elastic rope240is made of elastic material and extends through the through hole239and the through hole227and two ends of the elastic rope240are attached to the second shaft235and the second support member220respectively. In one embodiment, the elastic rope240, when in a free state, is slightly stretched.

One end of the elastic rope240, which is attached to the second shaft235, is formed with a head241that has a larger diameter than that of the through hole239, such that the head241can be retained above the through hole239. At the other end, the elastic rope240may be attached to the second support member220by a knot (not shown) and the knot can be accommodated in the chamber225of the second support member220.

The stop member250, in one exemplary embodiment, is a flat panel and can be pushed through the opening111of the front panel110and then can be inserted into the guiding groove224. The stop member250slides along the guiding groove224until being received in the stop member receiving means236. In another exemplary embodiment shown inFIGS. 7 and 8, the stop member250is a thin stick.

In the process of pulling the earphone cable out, the cable winding member230rotates and thus the elastic rope240is winded around the second shaft235. After the earphone cable, which is pulled out of the computer housing100and has a suitable length, the cable winding member230can be stopped by inserting the stop member250into the stop member receiving means236and the suitable length of earphone cable is kept out of the computer housing100.

When the stop member250is pulled out of the stop member receiving means236, the cable winding member230is rotated back by the spring force applied by the elastic rope240. The earphone cable, which is kept out of the computer housing100, is thus retracted into the computer housing100with the rotation of the cable winding member230.