Abstract:
A cartridge for managing an ear bud cable includes a housing having an input jack that is electronically connectable to an audio-source and a hub electrically connected with the input jack. A spool rotatably mounts on, and is electrically connected with, the hub. A power gear mounts in the housing and in contact with the spool for rotating the spool. The power gear defines a recessed interior. An ear bud cable wraps at least partially around the spool. A power gear spring mounts within the recessed interior of the power gear to minimize the size and, particularly, the thickness of the cartridge. In an alternate embodiment, the spool includes a recessed portion and a spool power spring mounts within the recessed portion of the hub. In yet another embodiment, the spool and the power gear both have recessed portions that hold a power spring.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
       [0001]    This invention claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/447,816, which was filed 1 Mar. 2011, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to ear bud cables and particularly to devices for dispensing and retracting ear bud cables. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Ongoing research indicates a relationship between prolonged exposure to cell phone radiation and illness. The risk of illness decreases significantly where cell phones are used at a distance from the user. Positioning a cell phone even a few inches away the ear can greatly reduce harm from cell phone radiation. 
         [0004]    There are several ways to manage the health risks associated with prolonged cell phone use. One way is to use a speakerphone and hold the phone at a distance. However, many do not want their phone conversations overheard, or to disturb others with a loud two way conversation. Additionally, prolonged use of the speakerphone can greatly reduce battery life. 
         [0005]    Another way to reduce health risks associated with cell phone use is to use a Bluetooth headset. The energy radiated by a phone with a typical Bluetooth headset is orders of magnitude less than a cellular phone signal, which typically is communicated between the cell phone and a distant cell phone tower. One drawback of a Bluetooth headset is that there is often a reduction in sound quality when compared to the sound quality of wired connections. Audiophiles also demand stereo sound, which is unavailable with single-ear bud Bluetooth headset models. 
         [0006]    Yet another way to reduce health risks is to use a wired headset. Wired ear buds may, for example, insert into a user&#39;s ear, hang on the ear, or hang on the head. Ear buds are energy efficient and have lessened health risks due to radiation. When two ear buds are used, stereo sound is possible. 
         [0007]    One major drawback of using wired ear buds with portable consumer electronics devices and telephones is cord management. Cord management is a commonly experienced problem where the cord of the ear buds becomes tangled and may be damaged by a frustrated user who attempts to hastily untangle the cord. Operating an automobile, a bicycle, or other vehicle while experiencing cord management problems can be dangerous. What is desired is a better way of cord management which enables the user to readily extend and retract ear bud cables in a rapid and reliable manner. What is also desired is a cartridge for cord management that is small in size and thickness. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention includes a cartridge for managing an ear bud cable includes a housing having an input jack that is electronically connectable to an audio-source. A hub is fixed in the housing, the hub being electrically connected with the input jack. A spool rotatably mounts on the hub, the spool being electrically connected with the hub. A power gear mounts in the housing and in contact with the spool for rotating the spool. The power gear defines a recessed interior. An ear bud cable wraps at least partially around the spool. 
         [0009]    A power gear spring mounts within the recessed interior of the power gear to minimize the size and, particularly, the thickness of the cartridge. 
         [0010]    In an alternate embodiment, the hub includes a recessed portion and a hub power spring mounts within the recessed portion of the hub. In this embodiment, the power gear and the spool are a single unit to minimize the size of the cartridge. 
         [0011]    In yet another embodiment, the spool and the power gear both have recessed portions that hold a power spring. The spool power spring and the power gear power spring cooperate to rotate the spool. 
         [0012]    The invention also encompasses a power gear for use in a cartridge for managing ear bud cables. The power gear includes an exterior having gear teeth, an interior that is recessed for holding a power spring, and a spring mounted in the interior for rotating the power gear. 
         [0013]    The power gear is generally circular in shape to provide consistent torque. The spring, according to one aspect of the invention is a spiral torsion spring. The power gear has a textured interior, which mates with the spring to enable the spring to be adjustably mounted in the power gear. Preferably, the spring has a hooked end. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a cord management cartridge in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the cord management cartridge retracting an ear bud cable. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  shows an exploded perspective view of a cord management cartridge. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  shows bottom perspective view of a power gear having a recessed interior with a power spring. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of a cartridge having a power gear and a spool with a power spring. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]      FIG. 1  is a cartridge generally designated by the reference numeral  10 . The cartridge  10  includes housing  12 , a spool  14 , a power gear  16 , a rotary damper gear  18 , an input jack  20 , an electrical connector  22 , an ear bud cable  24 , ear buds  26  and a hub  28 . 
         [0020]    The hub  28  is fixed within the housing  12 . The spool  14  rotatably mounts on the hub  28 . Rotation of the spool  14  dispenses and retracts the ear bud cable  24  from the housing  12 . 
         [0021]    The rotary damper gear  18  is rotatably mounted within the housing  12 . The rotary damper gear  18  mates in operative engagement with the spool  14  so that the rotary damper gear  18  presses against the spool  14 . In particular, both the rotary damper gear  18  and the spool  14  each have a periphery. The periphery of the rotary damper gear  18  and the periphery of the spool  14  press against each other in a direction tangential to the respective peripheries, and may press against each other in a radial fashion. The rotary damper gear  18  and the spool  14  mate so that free rotation of the spool  14  is inhibited by the rotary damper gear  18 . 
         [0022]    In this way, the rotary damper gear  18  limits the maximum angular velocity of the spool  14 . Limiting the angular velocity of the spool  14  protects the cartridge  10  from damage. Limiting the angular velocity of the spool  14 , in cooperation with the rotary damper gear  18  pressing against the spool  14  inhibits misalignment of the spool  14  to maximize durability of the cartridge  10 . Preferably the rotary damper gear  18  and the spool  14  include peripheral gear teeth which mate to further improve alignment to optimize movement of the moving components, and improve cartridge  10  reliability. 
         [0023]    When gear teeth are used, improved tangential pressure is achieved between the spool  14 , the rotary damper gear  18  and the power gear  16 . An element of radial force is also applied between these elements when one of the elements misaligns. Thus the function of the gears includes maintaining alignment of the spool  14 . Improved alignment of the spool increases the reliability of the cartridge  10 . 
         [0024]    Although the use of the power gear  16  in a rotary damper gear are disclosed here in it can be appreciated that many ways of providing power to the spool  14  can be devised. Furthermore many ways of regulating the angular velocity of the spool  14  can also be provided. For example at dampening mechanism may include a leaf spring mounted within the housing which presses on the peripheral surface of the spool  14  can create sufficient frictional force to dampen rotation of the spool  14 . 
         [0025]    Additionally a power mechanism such as a spiral power spring can be mounted on the housing with respect to the spool  14  so that the spring directly contacts the spool  14  and thereby powers the spool. 
         [0026]    Furthermore, linkages such as a chain, a belt, or other mechanical transmission mechanism can be used to regulate rotation of the spool. 
         [0027]    The ear bud cable  24  wraps at least partially around the spool  14 . The ear bud cable  24  as a first end attached within the spool and a second and attached to ear buds  26 . The ear bud cable  24  is flat to optimize alignment of the cable  24  within the spool  14  when the cable is retracted and dispensed. Utilizing a flat cable  24  minimizes the thickness of the cable to maximize the length of the cable that can be wrapped around the spool  14 . The flat cable  24  minimizes entanglement of the cable  24 , as compared to the use of a round cable. 
         [0028]    The cartridge  10  utilizes the power gear  16  to selectively rotate the spool  14 , or to assist in spool  14  rotation. The power gear can be externally actuated by a switch operated by a user, or by pulling the cable  24  in the way traditional window shade works. In particular, a quick pull of the cable  24  causes the power gear and the spool  14  to retract the cable  24 , and a slower pull of the cable  24  enables the power gear and the spool to dispense the cable  24 . The power gear  16  can be calibrated to assist in response a desired pressure applied on the cable  24 . 
         [0029]    Rotation of the power gear  16  in one direction retracts the cable  24 . Counter rotation of the power gear  16  dispenses the cable  24 . The power gear  16  has a periphery which presses against the periphery of the spool. Preferably the power gear  16  has peripheral gear teeth which mate with the peripheral gear teeth of the spool  14  to improve alignment and reliability of the cassette  10 . The power gear  16  is spring biased to apply consistent torque to the spool  14 . Applying consistent torque to the spool  14  helps to maintain a relatively constant angular velocity of the spool  14 . The cooperation of the power gear  16  and the rotary dampening gear  18  assure that a constant angular velocity of the spool  14  will be achieved to cartridge  10  reliability. 
         [0030]      FIG. 2  shows rotation of the power gear  16  causing counter rotation of the spool  14 , which retracts ear bud cable  24  in the direction of the arrow  30 . The rotary damper gear  18  rotates in response to rotation of the spool  14  to regulate the angular velocity of the spool  14  as well as the rate of retraction of the ear bud cable  24 . Regulation of the rate of retraction of the ear bud cable  24  increases reliability of the cartridge  10  by inhibiting misalignment of the cable  24  within the spool  14 . 
         [0031]    Although the rotary damper gear  18  and the power gear  16  are shown as separate elements, it can be appreciated that the function of these two elements can be combined into a single element to minimize size and weight of the cartridge  10 . 
         [0032]    The cable  24  has a width “w” and a thickness “t”. The cable  24  is flat and the thickness “t” is thinner than half of the width “w”. Preferably, the thickness “t” is minimized to enable cartridge  10  to maximize the amount of cable  24  that can be managed by the cartridge  10 . 
         [0033]    The cable  24  preferably includes a microphone for use with telephonic applications. The microphone enables the input jack to simultaneously function as an output jack. 
         [0034]      FIG. 3  shows the cartridge  10  including the housing  12  and a cover  32 , which encloses the housing  12 . The housing includes a hub  28  within the housing  12  the hub  28  is sized to receive the spool  14  in operative engagement. The hub  28  includes electrical connectors  52 , which communicate electronically with the input jack  20 . 
         [0035]    The power gear  16  defines peripheral gear teeth  36  and includes a power gear spring  42  to actuate the power gear  16 . The power gear spring  40  attaches to the housing  12  and to the power gear  16  to selectively apply torque to the power gear  16 . Ideally, the torque would be uniform in magnitude. 
         [0036]    When the power gear spring  40  applies torque to the power gear  16  the power gear  16  rotates the spool  14  to selectively retract or dispense the cable  24 . When the spool  14  rotates the rotary damper gear  18  regulates the angular velocity of the spool  14  the rotary damper gear  18  includes gear teeth  38  defined on the periphery of the rotary damper gear teeth  38  meet with peripheral gear teeth  34  of the spool  14 . In particular, the spool  14  has two sets of peripheral gear teeth  34  that parallel each other and simultaneously meet with the gear teeth  38  of the rotary damper gear. 
         [0037]    The cartridge  10  also includes a rotary damper  43  attached between the housing  12  and the rotary damper gear  18 . The rotary damper  43  is fixed within the housing  12  and includes a rotatable axle for receiving the rotary damper gear  18 . The axle enables rotation of the rotary damper gear  18  on the axle. The rotary damper  43  regulates angular velocity the rotary damper gear  18  thus regulating angular velocity of the spool  14 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 4  shows a bottom view of a power gear  16  having a recessed interior  60 . The recessed interior  60  may be partially recessed or completely hollow. The power gear  16  has both internal and external gear teeth. The power gear spring  40  mounts within the recessed interior  60 . 
         [0039]    The power gear spring  40  has a hooked end  64 . The recessed interior  60  is textured. The texture, preferably, includes gear teeth  62  that mate with the hooked end  64  of the power gear spring  40 . Accordingly, the tension of the power spring  40  is adjustable by selectively positioning the hooked end  64  against a desired position within the recessed interior  60 . 
         [0040]    The power gear  16  includes a centrally mounted hub  66 . The power gear spring  40  attaches to the hub  66 . The hub  66  may be a separate element or may be integrated into the power gear  16 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 5  shows an embodiment of the cartridge  10  having the power gear  16  mounted on a hub  66 . The hub  66  is formed as part of the cartridge  10 . The power gear  16  is shown in operative engagement with the spool  14 . The spool  14  includes a recessed interior  72  and a spool power spring  70  mounted in the recessed interior  72 . Preferably the spool power spring  70  is a spiral torsion spring. The recessed interior  72  may be partially recessed or completely hollow. Accordingly, the power gear  16  and the spool power spring  70  cooperate to rotate the spool  14 . The power gear  16  provides supplemental torque to the spool. 
         [0042]    Having a power spring  70  recessed in the spool  14  and in the power gear  16  minimizes the size of the cartridge  10 . In an alternate embodiment, the power gear  16  is eliminated further minimizing the size of the cartridge  10 . 
         [0043]    While the present invention is disclosed in terms of various embodiments, including preferred embodiments, it can be appreciated that the true scope of the invention is defined only by the appended claims.