RETRACTABLE CORD DEVICE

Abstract: A retractable device (8) is provided for an earphone/microphone used with a cell phone. The device is formed of a housing (10) with one rewinding spool (30) for the earphone end of the cord with allowance for twisting of the connector end of the cord. The device with two spools (230) allow for independent rewinding of earphone end portion of the cord and the connector end portion of the cord on different spools and the confinement of a middle portion of the cord in reversible winding cavity with the ends of the middle portion of the cord fixed so that middle portion can wind and rewind in the reversible winding cavity without leaving the cavity.

Description: RETRACTABLE CORD DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to retractable cord devices and more particularly to retractable earphone devices for cellular phones. With the advent of cellular phones the use of an eaφhone, typically in conjunction with a microphone connected to the cell phone, has been very common so that the user can operate the phone hands free such as when driving, etc. Several eaφhone retraction devices have been marketed. Many of these devices include an eaφhone/microphone line and a separate line with a connector that connects to the cell phone. Some of these devices only provide retraction of the eaφhone/microphone cord length and not the connector cord length. Additionally, many of these devices twist the eaφhone cord during extraction and retrieval that complicates operation of the device. U.S. Patent No. 5,684,883 discloses one retraction device. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Broadly stated, the present invention is directed to a retractable device that will automatically retract and store a cable or cord such as a headphone. Specifically, this device allows for extraction and retraction of a one-piece continuous electrical cord, without twisting the cord. One end of the cord may be fixed and the other extracted and retracted or, both ends may be extracted and retracted independently and/or simultaneously. A retractable device in accordance with the present invention includes a circular housing, a continuous cord with a first eaφhone end portion, a second connector end portion, and a middle portion. At least a first winding spool is provided within the housing for winding the first end portion of the cord, a spiral spring urging the spool to wind the eaφhone end portion of the cord in a peripheral cavity of the spool with means for fixing the middle portion of the cord in the housing and openings for both the eaφhone cord and the connector cord. In accordance with the board aspect of the present invention, the retractable device can eliminate twisting of the eaφhone cord and appropriate regions are provided for allowing twisting of the connector cord. In accordance ith the preferred embodiment of the present inv ention, the retracting dev ice includes a rev ersible w inding cav itv located in the housing and rotatable about the housing axis for housing the middle portion of the cord Means are pro ided for fixing the opposite ends of the middle portion of the cord at two points w ithin the housing so that the middle portion can be rotated in opposite directions w πhin the rev ersible cavity responsiv e to rotation of the spools w ithout the middle portion of the cord leav ing the reversible inding cavity for av oiding twisting of the cord Other aspects of the present invention are the inclusion of means for separately engaging the spools for the eaφhone cord and the connector cord for retrieval of both end portions of the cord into the housing The present invention can operate two spools for retracting the opposite ends of the cord using one or two spπngs The invention also includes the incoφoration of the retracting mechanism into a telephone cradle, a belt clip, and/or a cellular battery These features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon a perusal of the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figs 1A and I B are top and bottom isometric views respectively of a retractable headphone device according to the present invention Fig 2 is a top plane view of the retractable cord de ice of Fig 1 Fig 3 is a side elevational view of the structure show n in Fig 2 taken along line 3-3 in the direction of the arrows Fig 4 is a cross sectional view of the structure of the first embodiment taken along line 4-4 in the direction of the arrows in Fig 3 Fig 5 A is an exploded view of the first embodiment of the invention Fig 5B is a view similar to Fig 5A show ing the inclusion of the cord Fig 6 A. is a perspectiv e v iew of the underside of the top shell of the device shown in Figs 1 -5 Fig 6B is an enlarged plane view of a portion of the structure show n in Fig 6 Λ designated bv line 6B-6B Fig 7 show s a series of frames illustrating the action of the cord in the re ersible w inding cav itv of the dev ice shown in Figs 1 -6 Fig 8 is a bottom perspectiv e view similar to Fig I B of an alternativ e second embodiment of the present invention Fig 9 is a side view of the alternativ e second embodiment of the present inv ention similar to Fig 3 Fig 10 is a cross sectional view of the structure shown in Fig 9 taken along line 10-10 in the direction of the arrows showing the alternativ e second embodiment of the present invention Fig 1 1 is an exploded view of the alternati e second embodiment of the present invention similar to Fig 5B Fig 12 is a cross sectional view similar to Fig 4 showing an alternative third embodiment of the present invention Fig 13 is an exploded view of the parts of the alternative third embodiment similar to Fig 5B Fig 14 is a cross sectional view similar to Fig 4 but of a fourth embodiment of the present invention Fig 15 is an exploded view of the fourth embodiment similar to Fig 5B Fig 16 is a perspective view similar to Fig 1 A but of a fifth embodiment of the present invention Fig 1 7 is a cross sectional view similar to Fig 4 but of the fifth embodiment of the present invention Fig 18 is an exploded view similar to Fig 5 A of the fifth embodiment of the present invention Fig 19 is a sectional view of a sixth embodiment of the present inv ention similar Figs 20. 21 and 22 are similar to Figs 1 A 4 and 5 A respectiv ely and illustrate a seventh embodiment of the present invention Figs 23 and 24 show two versions of alternativ e constructions of the structure shown m Fig 4 Figs 25. 26 and 27 which are similar to Figs 1 A 4 and 5B show a ninth embodiment of the invention utilizing tw o spools and one spnng Figs 28A and 28B are top and bottom perspecti e v iew s, respectiv ely , of the bottom spool in the embodiment illustrated in Figs 25-2" Figs 29A and 29B are perspective top and bottom view s, respectively, of the top spool in the embodiment illustrated in Figs 25-27 Figs 30, 31 and 32 are a perspective view . a cross sectional view and an exploded view , respectively, of the tenth and preferred embodiment of the present invention and similar to Figs 25, 26 and 27 Fig 30A is a bottom plane view of the structure shown in Fig 30 Figs 30A and 30B are a top and bottom view s, respectively, of the bottom shell. Figs 34A and 34A are top and bottom vie s, respectively, of the bottom spool, Figs 35A and 35B are top and bottom views, respectively, of a cord retainer. Figs 36A and 36B are top and bottom views of the top spool and Figs 37A and 37B are top and bottom view s, respectively, of the top shell of the tenth embodiment of the invention as those elements are arranged in ascending sequence in Fig. 32 Figs 38A and 38B are top and bottom views, respectively, of the ratchet buttons to clamp and release the extraction or return of the cord portions from and into the housing Fig 39A shows an exploded top perspective view of two buttons pπor to their combination assembly and Figs 39B shows a perspective bottom view of the two ratchet buttons in assembled position Fig 40 is a top view of one spool showing the position of the ratchet buttons for engagement with the ratchet teeth of the spools Fig 41 is an elevational sectional view similar to Fig 26 but illustrating an eleventh embodiment of the present invention Fig 42 is an elevational sectional view similar to Fig 41 but illustrating an embodiment in which the spπng is located in a cavity in between the radially inward reversible winding chamber and the radially outward wrapping cavities for the eaφhone end and connector end portions wound around separate spools Figs 43 and 44 are perspective views showing how the retractable cord dev ice of the present invention can be integrated into the cradle or dock of a cellular phone Fig 45A is a side view and Fig 45B is a perspective view showing how the retractable device can be integrated in a belt clip Figs 46 and 47 are perspectiv e v lew s showing how the retractable dev ice is used w ith a belt clip and w ith an automobile safety belt, respectively Figs 48A and 48B illustrate how the retractable cable device can be integrated into a cellular phone battery DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS The invention in all of the illustrated embodiments is directed to a retractable cord device 8 having a continuous cellular eaφhone/microphone w ire or cord 12 which can be retractably contained withm a housing 10 The first embodiment shown in Figs 1 -7 illustrates a single spool single spπng retractable cord device in which the connector end portion 12b. which has a connector element 18. extends through the middle of the top of the device Referπng now to Figs 1 -6, the retractable cord device 8 includes a continuous cord that extends through the retractable housing 10 and has appropπate phone communication components at opposite ends thereof. The cord 12 is typically composed of several conductors, for the eaφhone and so on, covered by the required insulation layers At an eaφhone end portion 12a of the cord an eaφhone 14 is connected and includes a speaker A microphone module 16 is located a short distance along the cord eaφhone end portion 12a from the eaφhone 14 At the other end portion 12b of the cord 12, a connector 18 is provided for connection to a particular mating connector on a cell phone Each manufacturer ' s eaφhone/microphone cord connector may be different It should be noted that the eaφhone cord 12 is a continuous cord from the microphone module 14 to the connector 18; that is, there are no breaks or discontinuities in the cord or wires that make up the cord In this descπption, fastening details such as screws, screw bosses or ultra-sonic welding details, have been omitted so as not to obscure the invention C omponents and fastening methods such as these are well known in the field of accessory design and would be obvious to a designer skilled in the art Obv iously, the housing and spool components shown in this disclosure would be miection-molded plastic Referring now more specifically to Figs 4-6. the housing 1 0 is made up of a bottom shell 20 which has a flat or inwardly concave bottom surface 20a with an integral penpheral flange portion 20b which are connected to a similar size top shell 70 which has a circular domed surface 70a mtegrallv connected to a circular peπpheral flanged portion 70b which mates w ith the flanged portion 20b of the bottom shell 20 The bottom shell includes a central spindle 21 that pro]ects tow ard the top shell 70 and engages a journal 71 on the inside surface of the top 70a, the bore of lournal 71 extending to an opening 19 in the top surface 70a of the top shell The central spindle 21 has a lower narrow slot 21 a at its lower end and a wider upper slot 21 b which extends to the free end of the spindle w hich seats in the journal 71 of the top shell A cord spool 30 which is positioned w ithm the bottom shell 20 has a central flat w all 30a extending from an aperture and an upw ardly pro] ecttng hub " 1 radially outw ard to a cord cavity wall 30b peφendicular to the flat wall 30a which cav itv wall 30b includes an outwardly extending lower annular flange 30c and an upper annular flange 30d The cavity wall 30b and penpheral flanges 30c and 30d define an outwardly opening eaφhone cord-wmding cavity 33 The upper annual flange 30d includes a seπes of spool stop slots 35, which engage a spool stop, descπbed below Below the central flat wall 30a of the spool 30 and radially inw ard from the cavity wall 30b is a spπng cavity 62 which houses a spiral spπng 60 The central or inner end 60a of the spπng is attached to the spindle 21 integral to the bottom shell 20 The spπng 60 is attached by inserting the bent end of the spπng 60 into the narrow slot 21 a in the base of the spindle 21 The outer end 60b of the spnng is attached to the inside wall of the spool in the spool cavity 62 Thus, if the spool is rotated in the direction of the arrow, shown Fig 5 A. the energy of rotation will be stored in the spring and can be used to rotatably return the spool to its original un ound state It should be noted that some pre-load would be added to the system so that when the cord is wound in the winding cavity as descπbed below, the spπng will still be wound slightly This provides a small retraction force that would be maintained on the cord 1 when it can no longer be pulled into the housing, say, by the fact that the microphone 16 is located in the earphone end oπfice 15 Fig 5B shows the routing of the eaφhone cord 12 through the mechanism From the connector 18 end the cord 12 enters the top of the housing through a circular opening 19 Here the cord 12 enters the w ide slotted portion 21 b of the spindle 1 This section of cord 12 is fixed at that point, that is, this section of the cord cannot De pulled through the spindle slot or the top shell 70 The second end of the middle portion 12c of the cord 12 is tightlv fixed w here it leav es the spindle 21 to enter the rev ersible w mdmg cavity 32 The middle portion 12c of the cord is w ound spirallv one plane in the rev ersible w mdmg cavitv 32 and is held wound in this single plane bv the rev ersible w inding constraint plate shown in Fig 5 A but not show n in Fig 5B for claπty As stated abov e, the first end of the middle portion 12c of the cord 12 then exits the rev ersible w inding cavitv 32 through cord slot 34 and enters the mam spool area The first end of the middle portion 12c of the cord 12 is fixed in the cord slot 34, that is. the cord cannot slide back and forth through this slot A fixed length middle portion 12c of the cord is thus spirallv wound and contained in the rev ersible inding cavity The cord then winds around the cavity wall 30b of the spool 30 in the eaφhone cord-windmg cavity 32 constrained by the flanges 30c and 30d In the retracted state, the majoπtv of the length of the eaφhone wire 12 is wound up and contained inside the retractable eaφhone housing 10 The microphone 16 may or may not be retracted inside the housing 10, depending upon the design of the eaφhone end oπfice 15 The spπng 60 is at its most unwound state, although it is still pre-wound to provide some additional retraction load in this state To use the eaφhone 14, the eaφhone 14 attached to the eaφhone end portion 12a of the cord 12 is pulled away from the housing 10 This action rotates the spool relative to the top and bottom shells 20 and 70 and winds the spring 60 This action also begins to unwind the spirally wound middle portion 12c of the cord 12 m the reversible w inding cavity 32 The direction of the spirally wound portion 12c in the reversible winding cavity 32 is such that as the eaφhone end of the cord is pulled out. the spiral untightens That is, the rotation causes the spiral to rotate in the direction opposite the spiral Thus, the coils of the cord begin to spread out radially from the spindle 21 , in the reversible winding cavity At a certain point, the part of the cord 12c that is fixed to the spindle 21 rev erses the direction of the spiral winding, and the middle portion 12c of the cord 12 in the reversible winding cavity 33 begins to wind up in the opposite direction This action is shown in a seπes of frames in Fig 7 Fig 7 sho s a model of this mechanism w ith a transparent housing In the model the one end of the middle portion 12c of the cord is fixed at the slot in the spool ( on the left side) The second end of the middle portion 12c is fixed at the spindle 21 , which in the model is the screw bodv rotatable ith respect to the spool 30 In frame 2, the spindle has rotated 180 = clockwise relative to the spool 30 Frames 3. 4 and 5 show the spindle 30 continuing to rotate clockwise It can be seen that the spiral wound middle portion 12c of the cord is loosening, the spirals are gro ing larger in radius and moving a ay from the center. Frames 5 and 6 show the moment when the second end of the middle portion 12c of the cord that is fixedly attached at the spindle change the direction of curvature. The middle portion 12 c of the cord begins to rewind, with the part of the cord that is still in the old spiral direction having its spiral direction changed at the "S " curve Finally, in frame 10, which is many more rotations than frame 9, the middle portion 12c of the cord has completely rewound but in the reverse direction of spiral. However, the spindle has only rotated in the clockw ise direction in frames 1 -10. In this way. a single continuous cord can be used in a system that takes up a long length of cord, without the cord twisting torsionally. and with one end fixed The other two frames 12 and 13, which are respectively an isometric view and a rear isometric view, are included to show the model in more detail. Depending upon the number of revolutions required to take up all of the length of a certain eaφhone cord, the mechanism disclosed here could function only rotating between the state of frame 1 and any of the other subsequent frames. For example, if half of the number of rotations were required, the spiral winding in the reversible winding cavity 33 need not reverse upon itself. In other words, half of the rotations would be used between frame 1 and frame 5. Again, a single continuous cord 12 can be used in a system that takes up a long length of cord 12. without the cord 12 twisting torsionally, and with one end fixed. It should be noted that in the prototype model shown in frames 1 - 12. the rear plate in the rear isometric view of frame 12 is fixed to the spindle (screw body) and rotates with the shaft. This design could work well with the rear plate fixed with respect to the outer housing so that the rear plate does not rotate. Likewise, the reversible winding constraint plate 37 could also be fixed with respect to the rotation or it could rotate. All of the disclosures in this document that utilize a reversible winding chamber design to eliminate the twist on the cord rely on the pπncipal disclosed in Fig. 7. The device in the embodiment of Figs. 1 -7 also contains a design for a latch mechanism. This design is included in all of the other embodiments of this disclosure unless an alternative latch mechanism is described. Referring now to Figs. 5A, 6A and 6B. the latch flexure is shown Fig 5A shows the top shell 70 from the top outside view Figs 6A and 6B show the underside of the top shell 70 There is a spool stop protrusion 74 on the side of the latch flexure 7 5 opposite the side that has the latch button 73 on the other side \\ hen the latch button 73ιs not being pressed the spool stop 74 extends into the space that is occupied by the top outer flange surface 30d of the spool, the surface containing the spool stop slots 35 When the spool 30 rotates so that the spool stop 74 can extend down into the spool stop slot 35. the spool 30 is prohibited from rotating The latch button 73 is a domed shaped feature that protrudes abov e the domed top 70a of the top shell 70 This protrusion allows the user to push the latch button 73 side of the flexure 75 down into the domed top surface 70a of the top shell 70 The thm flexure area 75 that connects the latch flexure 73 to the mam part of the top shell domed top 70a are loaded when the button is pressed, resulting m a torsional strain This rotates the spool stop side of the latch flexure out of the space of the spool stop slot 35. and the spool is free to rotate Each spool stop slot 35 includes an angled lead- at one edge Thus, when the cord 12 is being extracted, the spool stop 74 will flex do n into the spool stop slot 35 space but will πde up the angled edge, allowing the spool 30 to be rotated This provides a one-way ratchet function When the cord is finished being extracted, the spπng 60 w ill attempt to retract the spool 30, but the spool 30 will only retract back a partial rotation until the spool stop 74 flexes down into the net spool stop slot 35 The spool is thus prohibited from retracting until the flexure is depressed The hollow cyhndπcal space above the spool central flat all 30a and inside the cavity wall 30b forms a reversible winding cavity 32 for the middle section of the cord 12 descπbed below The cavity wall 30b includes a slot 34 for passage of the cord 12 from the eaφhone cord winding cavity 33 at the peπphery of the spool 30 and connection of one end of the middle portion 12c of cord 12 to the spool 30 It should be noted that any of the embodiments disclosed here could be used for both cellular phone eaφhones, as shown many of the embodiments, or the design could be used with audio headphones The cellular phone eaφhone has one speaker and an in-line microphone Audio headphones would have two speakers An alternative second embodiment of the present inv ention is illustrated in Figs 8- 1 1 This embodiment is similar in manv respects to the embodiment of Figs 1 -8 The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the spπng is above the spool, there is no reversible winding cavity, and a phone-type plug is built into and projects out of the dev ice at the connector end of the cord The elements of the second embodiment similai to corresponding elements in the first embodiment are designated w ith similar reference numbers but w ith an additional initial digit "1 " The phone lack body 1 18a is fixedly attached to the center of the spool 130 so that the axis of the metal lack protrusion 1 18 is on the axis of rotation of the spool 130 The phone jack 1 18- 1 18a rotates with the spool 130 so the phone jack must rotate in a mating lack connector 1 18b connected via a cable 1 1 8c to another connector 1 19 as shown in Fig 8 An alternative third embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Figs 12- 13 where the elements similar to the elements of the first embodiment are identified w ith similar reference numbers with the addition of an "2 " In the alternative third embodiment the reversible winding chamber 232 and the eaφhone cord winding cavity 233 are located in the same plane w ith the reversible winding cavity 232 radially mward from the eaφhone winding cavity 233 and with the spπng located in a spπng cavity 262 the same plane and in between the cavities 232 and 233 The inner end 260a of the spπng 260 is connected to an annular πb 220c of the bottom shell 220. and the spπng outer end 260b is connected to the cavity wall 230b of the spool 230 The operation of this third embodiment is such that when the eaφhone end portion 212a of the cord 212 is pulled out of the housing 210. it unwinds off the outer winding chamber 233 on the spool 230 The cord 212 is fixed at the point 212a 1 where it enters the inner reversible winding chamber 232 and at the point 212c ' where it exits tne inner reversible winding chamber 232 through the slot 221 b in the spindle 221 The cord 212 exits the outer winding chamber 233 through an orifice 215 In this third embodiment, the middle portion 212c of the cord 212 could also be constrained in one plane as in the first embodiment Figs 14 and 15 illustrate a fourth embodiment of the present invention and wherein the elements similar to the elements in the first embodiment in Figs 1 -7 are identified by numbers w hich begin with a "3 " This embodiment does not have a reversible winding cavity In the housing 310 of the fourth embodiment the eaφhone end portion 312a c the cord 312 is wound around the cavity wall 330b of the spool 330 m cavitv 333 The cord is fixed at the point 312a π w here it leav es the external w inding ca itv 333 at a cord slot 334 and is also fixed at a point 212b " w here it enters the slot 321 b in the spindle 321 Therefore, w hen the cord is extracted out of the housing 310. the length of cord 3 12 that is exiting the housing 310 through the spindle 321 is tw isted Likewise, w hen the latch is released and the spπng 360 rotates the spool 330 to w ind the eaφhone end portion 312a, the length of cord exiting the center device at opening 319 untwists A fifth embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Figs 16- 18 wherein the components have similar numbers to the components show n in the first embodiment of Figs 1 -7 with the addition of a number "4 " The fifth embodiment of the present invention shown in Figs 16-18 is similar to the fourth embodiment show n in Figs 14-15 where the cord is fixed internally but is allowed to twist or untwist externally when the spool 430 rotates In this embodiment the cord 412 can twist and untwist external to the ma housing 410 but still covered by an extemal cord cover 477 The connector end portion 412b of the cord 412 is connected to the external cord cover 477 just before exiting through the eaφhone end oπfice 415 so that the twisting section of the cord is located m the region 477a shown in Fig 17 A sixth embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Fig 19 which is substantially similar to the fifth embodiment but wherein the spindle 521 is foreshortened allowing the space there above to accommodate cord twist associated with a rotation of the spool 530 in a twist chamber 532 The device functions similar to the fifth embodiment where the spπng 560 is connected to the spool 530 and to the bottom shell 520 The spring is wound when the eaφhone end portion 512a of the cord 512 is extracted from the device and provides the retraction energy to wind the eaφhone end cord portion 512a back in the housing 510 For simplicity sake, the part of the cord 512 that extends from the outer winding chamber 533 to the cord twist chamber 532 is depicted as a thick black line The cord 512 is fixed at the point where it enters the cord twist chamber 532 from the outer winding chamber 533 and where it exits the device the top center 519 in the top shell 570 A seventh embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Figs 20-22 and wherein the spool 630 includes a domed upper surface w hich projects through an enlarged opening 61 9 1 in the top surface 670a of the top shell 670 and has a opening 630f w hich the connector end portion 612b is fixed The connector end portion 12b of the cord 12 rotates around as the spool 630 rotates Two alternative v ersions of a modification of the structure shown in Fig 4 are illustrated in Figs 23 and 24 Each of the housings 10 ' include similar bottom and top shells 20 ' and 70' respectively, with a spool 30 having an outer eaφhone cord inding cav ity 33 and a central reversible winding cavity 32 ' in Fig 23 and 32" in Fig 24 In each of the embodiments shown in Figs 23 and 24, the bottom shell 20 includes a vertical w all 20c' The inside end of the power spπng 60 ' is connected to the center section 30b' of the spool 30' The spπng outer end is connected to the vertical w all 20c' The embodiment of Fig 23 two winding constraints plates 37' keep the center winding spiral in one plane In the reversible winding cavity 32" m Fig 4, the connector end portion 1 7b' of the cord 12 ' is not constrained to one plane A ninth embodiment of the present invention utilizing dual independent spools and one spπng is illustrated m Figs. 25-28. Figs. 25-27 are views similar to Figs. 1A, 4 and 5A but showing a ninth embodiment of the present invention which mcoφorates dual independent spools and a single spπng Fig 25 shows a top view of the retractable cord device 708, the bottom view being a substantial mirror image of the top view Refemng to Figs 26 and 27, the reversible rewind device 708 includes a housing 707 made up of a bottom shell 720 having a slightly upwardly curved bottom surface 720a with an outer upwardly extending circular peπpheral flange 720b and a top shell 770 having a domed top surface 770a integrally connected to a circular peπpheral flange portion 770b which mates with the flange portion 720b of the bottom shell A bottom spool 730 has a circular wall 730a connected to a hollow cyhndπcal bottom spool hub/spindle 731 seated within and extending between recesses centered in the bottom surface 720a of the bottom shell and in the top surface 770a of the top shell 770 Lower and upper flanges 730c and 730d extend outwardly from the cavitv wall 730b defining there between the eaφhone cord-winding cavity 733 A top spool 740 is positioned above and centered w ith the bottom spool 730 and has a central flat wall 740a centrally apertured to rotate on the hub/spindle 731 of the bottom spool In the middle of its central w all 740a. the top spool 740 has a upwardly and dow nw ardly extending cavitv w all 740b which defines below the bottom w all 740a the reversible inding chamber 732 and above the bottom wall 740a the spring cavity 762 w here the spring 760 is housed w ith its inner end connected to the bottom spool hub/spindle ^3 1 and its outer end connected to the top spool cavity w all 740b. The upper spool cavity all 740b and lower and upper flanges 740c and 740d define a radially outwardly opening cavity 750 where the connector end portion 712b of the cord 712 is wound. An eaφhone end cord orifice 715 provides for extension and retraction of the eaφhone end cord portion 712a. and a connector end orifice 719 permits extension and retraction of the connector end portion 712b of the cord 712 with the cord portions 712a and 712b falling generally in the same plane as they are withdrawn and retracted into the housing 710. One end of the middle portion 712c of the cord is connected at 712d where the cord passes into the core of the spindle hub 731 from the reversible winding chamber 732 and also at 712e where that cord passes into the cavity 733 where the eaφhone end cord portion is wound. The other end of the middle portion 712c of the cord 712 is fixed at 712f where the cord passes from the reversible winding cavity 732 to the cavity 750 where the connector end portion 712b is wound. The coiled length of the middle portion 712c of the cord in the reversible winding cavity 732 allows each of the spools 730 and 740 to be rotated independently. If bottom spool 730 is rotated one way or another by pulling out or retracting the cord, top spool 740 rotates with respect to the bottom spool and the outer housing. Likewise, if top spool 740 is rotated by either retracting or extracting the cord 712 it also rotates with respect to bottom spool 730 and the other housings. Because the cavity wall 740b of the top spool and the hub/spindle 731 of bottom spool 730 are connected together by the dπving force of the power spπng 760, only one spπng is required. If either the cord on the top spool 740 or the cord on the bottom spool 730 is extracted, the spπng 760 is wound, and the extraction energy is stored in the spring 760. As in the other designs, the latch flexures 775 and latch buttons 773 are used to release each of the respective spools if they are wound Preventing the bottom and top spools 731 and 740. respectively, from unwinding relative to each other are the latches 774 on the inside surface of the bottom and to shells 72υ and 770, respectively, or a fullv retracted cord where the hardware at the end of the cord cannot be pulled further inside the housing 710. The embodiment in Figs 25-29 enables independent retraction and extraction of either or both ends of the coi d w hile maintaining a continuous cord intemallv Referπng now to Figs 30-40. there is sho n a tenth and preferred embodiment of the present invention w hich show s a retractable cord dev ice having t o spools and one spπng v ery similar to the construction of the embodiment illustrated in Figs 25-29 Similar reference numbers are used in Figs 30-40 as in Figs 25-29. except for the first digit of the reference numbers in the latter figures is changed to a "8 " The significant differences between the ninth and tenth embodiments are the provision of a central spindle 821 projecting upw ardly from the bottom surface 820a of the bottom shell 820 through the bottom spool hub 831 of the bottom spool 830 The bottom shell spindle 821 has a lo er large diameter 821 a and an upper smaller diameter 821 b which slidably receive correspondingly dimensioned inner surfaces on the bottom spool hub 831 In the tenth embodiment, the reversible winding chamber 832 is located in the same plan as and radially inward of the winding chamber 833 for the eaφhone end portion 812a of the cord 812 The inner end of the spπng 860 is connected to the upper end of the bottom spool hub 831 , and the outer end of the spπng 860 is connected to the cavity wall 840(b) of the top spool 840 One side of the bottom shell 820 and the top shell 870 are connected bv snaps 828 and 878 shown in Figs 32, 33a and 37b The bottom wall 830a of the bottom spool 830 includes a clip slot 822 formed by a clip flange 829a and a clip slot 829b best shown in Fig 833b The bottom and top spools 830 and 840 are provided with ratchet teeth 830e which can be selectively engaged by a pair of ratchet buttons 882 hich are spπng bias mounted on a rocker pin 83 each with ratchet arms 84 directed in opposite directions for engaging the ratchet teeth 830e of the opposite rotating bottom and top spools 830 and 840. respective with each button 882 including a guide web 85 for slidably engaging a spool as shown in Figs 40 The inner end of the eaφhone end portion 812a of the cord 812 passes through a cord slot 834 and is clamped in a strain relief cord clamp 834a in the outer periphery o the reversible winding chamber 832 in the bottom spool 830 A cord retainer 35 show n in Figs 32, 35 A and 35B receives and clamps the inner most end of the middle portior 812c of the cord 812 a cord retainer slot 835d between a central pπmarv hub 835a w hich is positioned on the bottom spool hub 83 1 and a secondary hub 835b spaced out ardly from the pπmary hub 835a The cord retainer 835 includes a cord retainer radial arm 836 that extends from the retainer primary hub 835a radially in a cable slot 835a the radial arm 836 through a cable slot 841 into the inner peπphery of the circular ca ity 850 near the outer peπphery of the top spool 840 where the connector end portion 812b of the cord is wound The operation of the retractable cord device of the tenth and preferred embodiment is very similar to that of the ninth embodiment where the spools rotate in opposite directions when the cords are withdrawn from the device and the ratchet arms 884 prevent rotation of the respective spools unless the rocker buttons 882 are depressed Referπng now to Fig 41 , there is shown an eleventh embodiment of the present invention very similar to the ninth embodiment of Figs 25-29 but having a separate pow er spring 960 and 960' for each of the two cable spools 930 and 940. respectively, instead of a single power spπng The top spool 960' connects at its larger radius end to the inside wall 940b of the spπng cavity 962' on the top of top spool 940 The small radius end of top spool spπng 960' connects to the spindle on bottom spool 930 The larger radius outer end of the bottom spool spπng 960 connects to the outer wall 930b of the spπng cavity 962 on the underside of bottom spool 930 The small radius end of the bottom spool spπng 960 connects to a journal 920c integral with the bottom shell 920 The bottom spool 930 also includes a channel on the bottom side for the cord to move from the spindle to the inding cavity 932 on the bottom spool side of the top spool 940 It should be noted that the top spool 940 and the bottom spool 930 can be configured so that the extraction and retraction of the cord ends can be in the same direction, or in opposite directions Fig 42 is an elevational sectional view similar to Fig 41 but showing another version of a two-spool retractable device utilizing a single spπng 1060 which is located radially in between the reversible winding chamber 1032 which immediately surrounds the central spindle and the outer cavity 1033 and 950 where the eaφhone cord portion 1012a and the connector cord portion 1012b are respectively w ound The spπng is attached at its large radius outer end to the inside of a top spool 1040 cavity wall 1040b The center smaller radius end of the spπng is attached to the w all 1040b ' of the lower spool As each of the end portions of the eaφhone cord 1012a and the connector cord 1012b are extracted from or retracted into each of the w inding cav ities 1033 and 1050 respectively, the two spools can rotate w ith respect to one another because of the slack length of cord that is fixedly attached to reside in the center rev ersible winding chamber 1032 The cord 1012 is fixedly attached at both spots w here it enters the reversible w inding chamber 1032 As the two spools 1030 and 1040 rotate, the w indings of the length of cord in the reversible winding chamber 1032 either wind up tighter or unwind, depending on the relative rotation of the top and bottom spools 1040 and 1030 It should be noted that the reversible winding chamber 1032 could be implemented so that the cord is constrained to wind and unwind in a single plane such as with a winding restraint plate like plate 37 shown in Fig 5A with reference to the first embodiment The retractable cord device of the present invention has many applications As shown in Fig 43, the cord retention device 1 1 10 may be mcoφorated into a cradle or a dock 1 1 1 1 that is made for a cellular phone In this embodiment, a dual independent retraction design is mcoφorated into the cradle 1 1 1 1 Before the cellular phone is snapped into the cradle the connector end 1 1 18 of the cord is extracted a small amount and plugged into the cellular phone Then the phone is snapped into the cradle 1 1 12 The user would then extract the eaφhone/microphone end of the cord 1 1 12a and don the eaφhone If the user wanted to pull the phone off the cradle 1 1 1 1. the connector end 1 1 18 of the cord would also independently extract Buttons on the side of the cradle 1 1 1 1 would activate the retraction of either the eaφhone end 1 1 12a or the connector end 1 1 12b of the cord This design can also incoφorate a retraction mechanism where only the eaφhone/microphone end 1 1 12a of the cord is extracted and retracted, as discussed above Fig 43 shows how the connector end 1 1 12b of the cord could be fixedly attached to the cradle 1 1 1 1 so that the user would make the connection to the retractable eaφhone simply by plugging the phone into the cradle Figs 45A and 45B show how a retractable dev ice can be integrated into a belt clip 1 1 1 7 with a clip portion 1 1 17a that is often used to wear a cellular phone Both the connector end 1 1 12b and the eaφhone end 1 1 12a would retract and extract independently Fig 46 shows a person using such a belt clip 1 1 1 7 w ith both ends extracted Fig 45 A show s the location of tw o buttons 1 173 that w ould activ ate the retraction of the indi idual cords Fig 47 also shows how a person driving a car w ould use the dev ice in accordance with the present invention such as the embodiment of Fig. 25 w ith the integrated belt clip 1 1 1 7 The retractable housing 710 can be clipped onto the seat belt When the user dons the seat belt, the connector end 712b is extracted and connected to the cell phone. The eaφhone end 712a is extracted and placed in the person ' s ear When the user leaves the car, both ends are extracted and the retractable device can either stay on the seat belt when it is retracted, or the user can take the retractable eaφhone dev ice with him. Fig 48 shows how the retractable cable device would be integrated into the cellular phone battery. In the embodiment of Fig 48 A both the connector and eaφhone retract independently. In the embodiment of Fig 48B the connector is fixedly attached to the battery housing and mates with the respective connector on the phone when the battery is attached There may be pass through connector if other signals, such as external antenna, are to be connected.

Claims: WH AT IS CLAIMED IS 1 A retractable dev ice comprising, in combination. a substantially circular housing having an axis, a continuous cord having a first end portion, a second end portion and a middle portion. at least a first winding spool rotatably mounted withm said housing and rotatable about said axis, said spool having an annual peπpheral cav ity for winding said first end portion of said cord, a spiral spring urging said winding spool to wind said first end portion of said cord in said peπpheral cavity of said spool, said housing having a first opening for passing said first end portion of said cord out of said housing on a path substantially tangential to said annual cavity and a second opening for passing said second end portion of said cord, and means within said housing for fixing said middle portion of said cord at least one point with respect to said housing or said spool 2 The winding device of claim 1 including a spindle positioned withm said housing and wherein said fixing means fixes said middle portion of said cord to said spindle 3 The w inding dev ice of claim 1 wherein said second opening lies on said housing 4 The winding dev ice of claim 3 including an open region for allowing said second end portion of said cord to twist as said second end portion moves relative to said housing 5 The w inding de ice of claim 4 w herein said open region is located w ithm said housing bet een said first inding spool and said second opening 6 The winding dev ice of claim 4 wherein said housing includes an external cord co er spaced from the outside surface of said housing ov er said second opening and extending to the peπpherv ot said housing, said second end portion of said cord fixed to said cord cov er adjacent said housing peπphery and said open region extending from said second opening to the location w here said second end portion of said cord is fixed to said cord cover 7 The winding dev ice of claim 3 including a phone jack connected to the second end portion of said cord and w ith the electrode end of said phone jack extending through said second opening 8 The winding device of claim 1 wherein said w inding spool includes a top surface which lies within an enlarged housing opening on said housing axis and said second opening is located in said top surface and aw ay from said housing axis 9 The winding device of claim 1 including a rev ersible-wmdmg cav ity located withm said housing and rotatable about said axis, said middle portion of said cord located within said reversible winding cavity 10 The winding device of claim 9 including a constraint plate holding the middle portion of said cord in a single plane in said reversible w inding cavity 1 1 The winding dev ice of claim 9 wherein said spπng and said reversible w inding cavity he in parallel planes 12 The winding device of claim 9 wherein said spring and said reversible w inding are positioned substantially in a common plane and are positioned radially from each other and said housing axis 13 The inding device of claim 9 including a second winding spool mounted within said housing and rotatable about said housing axis for w inding said second end portion of said cord in an annular peripheral cavitv of said second spool 14 The w inding device of claim 13 w herein said spiral spπng is connected to wind both said first and said second spools 15 The w inding dev ice of claim 13 including a second spiral spring to w ind said second end portion of said cord in said peripheral cav ity of said second spool 16 The retractable device of claim 13 including means for separately engaging said spools to control winding rotation thereof and the retπev al of said first and second end portions of said cord into said housing 17 The retractable device of 1 wherein said housing is built into a telephone cradle 18 The retractable device of claim 1 wherein said housing is built into a belt clip 19 The retractable device of claim 1 wherein said housing is built into a cellular phone battery 20 The retractable device of 13 wherein said housing is built into a telephone cradle. 21 The retractable device of claim 13 wherein said housing is built into a belt clip 22 The retractable device of claim 13 wherein said housing is built into a cellular phone battery 23 A retractable eaφhone cord device compnsing. in combination, a substantially circular housing having an axis, a continuous eaφhone cord having an eaφhone at one end, a cord connector at the other end and a middle portion, a first winding spool rotatably mounted within said housing and rotatably mounted with said housing and rotatable about said housing axis to w ind the eaφhone end portion of said cord in an annular peπpheral cav itv of said first spool, a second winding spool mounted within said housing and rotatable about said housing axis to wind the connector end portion of said cord in an annual penpheral cavity of said second spool, spring means urging said first and second w inding spools to w ind said eaφhone end portion of said cord in said peπpheral cav ity ot said first spool and said connector end portion of said cord in said peπpheral ca ity of said second spool , opening means in said housing for passing said eaφhone cord end portion and said connector cord end portion out of said housing on paths substantially tangential to the annular spool cavities. a rev ersible w inding cav ity located w ithm said housing and rotatable about said axis for housing said middle portion of said cord, and means for fixing the opposite ends of said middle portion of said cord at tw o points withm said housing so that said middle portion can be rotated in opposite directions ithin said reversible cavity responsive to rotation of said spools without said middle portion of said cord leaving said reversible winding cavity 24 The retractable device of claim 23 including spindle means on one of said spools and means for attaching one end of said spring means to said spindle means and the other end of said spnng means to the other of said spools 25 The retractable device of 23 wherein said housing is built into a telephone cradle 26 The retractable device of claim 23 w herein said housing is built into a belt clip 27 The retractable device of claim 23 wherein said housing is built into a cellular phone battery 28 The retractable device of claim 23 including means for separately engaging said spools to control w inding rotation thereof and the retrieval of said eaφhone and connector end portions of said cord into said housing 29 The retractable device of claim 23 w herein said spπng means includes a single spπng 30 The retractable dev ice of claim 23 w herein said spπng means includes tw o springs, each spnng connected to a different one of said spools 31 The retractable device of claim 23 wherein said spπng means and said rev ersible w inding cavity he in parallel planes 32 The retractable device of claim 23 wherein said spπng means and said rev ersible inding cav ity are positioned substantially in a common plane and are positioned radially from each other and said housing axis 33 The retractable de ice of claim 23 including a constraint plate holding the middle portion of said cord in a single plane in said rev ersible w inding cavity

Inventors: EDWARDS BRUCE PHILIP, JANIK CRAIG M, POUTIATINE ANDREW IVAN, EDWARDS, BRUCE, PHILIP, JANIK, CRAIG, M., POUTIATINE, ANDREW, IVAN
Applicants: SPECULATIVE PRODUCT DESIGN INC, SPECULATIVE PRODUCT DESIGN, INCORPORATED
Application year: 2000
Main classification: B65H75
IPC codes: A45C7, A45F3, A45F5, B65H75, H02G11, H04M1