Abstract:
To assist headphones and headphone cords from becoming tangles, a connection source is made part of a first speaker enclosure and a connection target is made part of a second speaker enclosure.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Personal media devices are popular devices. The devices usually communicate to users through personal speakers which are often in the form of headphones so that the user can enjoy hearing the media or broadcast with minimal disruption to those nearby. Headphones have advanced from bulky, heavy devices to small bud-like devices that fit and stay within the ear of a user. However, most headphones have cords or wires to communicate signals to the speakers inside the headphones. The cords or wires often become tangled and in some cases, the headphones themselves become entangled. As headphones have become smaller and lighter weight, the problem of tangled wires continues. In addition, when headphones are not playing, often there is no convenient way to store the headphones. For headphones that operate wirelessly, there is a tendency for the individual headphones to become separated and lost. Finally, headphones usually have dedicated right and left speakers and trying to determine which speaker is the right speaker and which is the left speaker can be a challenge, especially when the speakers are small. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0002]    To assist headphones and headphone cords from becoming tangled or wireless headphones from becoming separated and lost, a connection source is made part of a first speaker enclosure and a connection target is made part of a second speaker enclosure. The connection source connects to the connection target to keep the speaker enclosures from becoming tangled. In addition, one or more alignment devices and one or more alignment targets may be added to the first and second speaker enclosures to assist that the speakers maintain a desired position together. The alignment devices may also indicate whether a speaker enclosure is a right speaker enclosure or a left speaker enclosure. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         [0003]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of a set of personal speakers; 
           [0004]      FIG. 2  is an illustration of a set of personal speakers with a magnet as the connection source; 
           [0005]      FIG. 3  is an illustration of a set of personal speakers with an alignment device and an alignment receiver; and 
           [0006]      FIG. 4  is an illustration of a set of personal speakers with an alignment device, an alignment receiver, a second alignment device and a second alignment receiver. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
       [0007]    Although the following text sets forth a detailed description of numerous different embodiments, it should be understood that the legal scope of the description is defined by the words of the claims set forth at the end of this patent. The detailed description is to be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possible embodiment since describing every possible embodiment would be impractical, if not impossible. Numerous alternative embodiments could be implemented, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this patent, which would still fall within the scope of the claims. 
         [0008]    It should also be understood that, unless a term is expressly defined in this patent using the sentence “As used herein, the term ‘______’ is hereby defined to mean . . . ” or a similar sentence, there is no intent to limit the meaning of that term, either expressly or by implication, beyond its plain or ordinary meaning, and such term should not be interpreted to be limited in scope based on any statement made in any section of this patent (other than the language of the claims). To the extent that any term recited in the claims at the end of this patent is referred to in this patent in a manner consistent with a single meaning, that is done for sake of clarity only so as to not confuse the reader, and it is not intended that such claim term by limited, by implication or otherwise, to that single meaning. Finally, unless a claim element is defined by reciting the word “means” and a function without the recital of any structure, it is not intended that the scope of any claim element be interpreted based on the application of 35 U.S.C. § 112, sixth paragraph. 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of a speaker set  100 . The speaker set  100  may be for use within an ear such as a set of ear buds. The speaker set  100  may have a first speaker enclosure  105  and a second speaker enclosure  110 . The enclosures  105   110  may be made out of a plastic or other appropriate material where the material is light but durable. Each speaker enclosure  105   110  may contain a speaker  115 . As is known, the speaker  115  may be a film or other semi-rigid material attached to a magnet that moves in response to inputs to create sound. The speaker  115  may be of a size to fit inside the speaker enclosures  105   110 . 
         [0010]    The first speaker enclosure  105  may also have a connection source  120  for connecting the first speaker enclosure  105  to the second speaker enclosure  110 . In one embodiment, the connection source  120  may be a magnet. Magnets are well known. The magnet may be chosen to exert sufficient force to attract a connection target  125  that may be part of the second speaker enclosure  110  such as a material that is attracted to a magnet or another magnet. However, the magnet may not have sufficient force to affect the magnets inside the speakers  115 . The connection source  120  may also be a male Velcro piece (small, stiff hooks) and the connection target  125  may be a female Velcro piece (small loops that are caught by the small, stiff hooks). In another embodiment, the connection source  120  may be a T-shaped project and the connection receiver  125  may be a slot shaped opening in which the T-shaped projection is inserted and twisted to connect the two speaker enclosures  105   110  together. Other connection sources  120  and targets  125  are contemplated. 
         [0011]    The first speaker enclosure  105  may have a first stem  130  and the second speaker enclosure  110  may each have a second stem  135 . In one embodiment, both the first stem  130  and second stem  135  have a length longer than a width making the stems  130   135  appear rectangular in shape. Of course, other shapes would be acceptable as long as the speaker enclosures  105   110  may still fit comfortably within an ear of a listener. The stems  130   135  may be integrated into the speaker enclosures  105   110  (molded from the same piece of plastic, for example) or may be separate pieces that are attached to the speaker enclosures  105   110 . In one embodiment, the surface of the stems  130   135  opposite of the speaker  115  may be flat such that the stems  130   135  may have a flat surface of the first stem  130  connecting to a flat surface of a second stem  135 . In another embodiment, the first stem  130  may be concave and the second stem  135  may be convex and the stems  130   135  may rest within each other. Other arrangements for the stems  130   135  are possible and contemplated. 
         [0012]    In one embodiment, a magnet is the connection source  120  and is part of the first stem while the connection target  125  is part of the second stem. The magnet may be housed within the first stem  130  or may be attached to the first stem  130 . Similarly, the connection target  125  may be made entirely of a material that is attracted by the magnet, the material that is attracted by the magnet may be housed within the second stem  135  or the material that is attracted by the magnet may be attached to the second stem  135 . 
         [0013]    In the embodiment where the first stem  130  and second stem  135  are longer than they are wide, the connection source  120  also may have a length longer than a width and the connection source  120  may be disposed along the length of the first stem  130 . Related, the connection target  125  may have a length longer than a width and the connection target  125  may be disposed along the length of the second stem  135 . The result of such an arrangement may be that the length of the first stem  130  may be attracted to the length of the second stem  135  such that the first stem  130  and second stem  135  may align and the speaker in the first speaker enclosure  105  will be aligned opposite of the speaker in the second speaker enclosure  110 .  FIG. 1  may be an illustration of the stems  130   135  aligning and the speakers  115  being aligned opposite each other. 
         [0014]    As is known, magnets have north poles and south poles and north poles are attracted to south poles and south poles are attracted to north poles. Referring to  FIG. 2 , in the embodiment where the connection source  120  is a magnet and the connection target  125  is a magnet, the magnets may be installed such that the magnet in the first stem  130  has the north end  200  of the magnet closest to the speaker  115  and the magnet in the second stem  135  has the south end  210  of the magnet closest to the speaker  115  such that a speaker  115  end of the first speaker enclosure  105  may be attracted to the speaker  115  end of the second speaker enclosure  110  rather than have the speaker  115  end of the first stem  130  attracted to the non speaker  115  end of the second stem  135 . 
         [0015]    As a result of the connection source  120  and connection target  125 , the first speaker enclosure  105  and the second speaker enclosure  110  may be attached to each other such that they will be more manageable. For example, a first cord  140  and a second cord  145  and the first speaker enclosure  105  and second speaker enclosure  110  may be less likely to become tangled as the first speaker enclosure  105  and second speaker enclosure  110  will be connected and they will not swing around each other, becoming tangled. In addition, the connection source  120  and connection target  125  may be used to hold the speaker enclosures  105   110  together when the first cord  140  and second cord  145  are wrapped around an object, such a user&#39;s neck, hang from a hook, be wrapped around a book, etc. In an embodiment where there is no first cord  140  and second cord  145  such as when the speakers operate wirelessly using a receiver inside each speaker enclosure  105   110 , the connection source  120  and connection target  125  may be used to keep the first speaker enclosure  105  and second speaker enclosure  110  together when not in use. 
         [0016]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , in another embodiment, the first speaker enclosure  105  may have an alignment device  300  for aligning the first speaker enclosure  105  with the second speaker enclosure  110 . The alignment device  300  may fit into an alignment receiver  310  on the second speaker enclosure  110 . The alignment device  300  may be a nub or raised circle and the alignment receiver  310  may be a circular depression in which the nub fits without excess force or excessive play. In another embodiment, the nub may be a square, triangular or rectangular shape (with related shaped receivers  310 ) such that the nub will have less rotation than a circular numb. In yet another embodiment, the alignment device  300  may be a finger like projection and the alignment receiver  310  may be a slot or hole in which the finger may fit without excessive force or excessive play. Of course, other alignment devices are possible. 
         [0017]    The alignment device  300  in the first speaker enclosure  105  may be located at a first end of the first stem  130  and the connection source  120  may be located at an end at an end opposite of the alignment device  300 . For example, in  FIG. 3 , the alignment device  300  may be located in the first stem  130  in the end opposite the speaker  115  and the connection source  120  may be located near the speaker  115  end of the first stem  130 . Related, the alignment receiver  310  may be located in the second stem  135  in the end opposite the speaker  115  and the connection target  125  may be located near the speaker  115  end of the second stem  135 . As a result of such an arrangement, the stems  130   135  may line up as in  FIG. 1 . In addition, with two sources of alignment (the connection source  120 /connection target  125  and the alignment device  300 /alignment receiver  310 ) the stems  130   135  will be less likely to twist or rotate. Of course, the alignment device  300 /receiver  310  may be at the end of the stems  130   135  near the speakers  115  and the connection source  120 /connection target  125  may be at the end of the stems  130   135  opposite the speakers  115 . In one embodiment, by placing the magnet at a point as close to the end of the enclosures  105   110  (near the speaker  115  end) as possible, the length of loose structure may be limited and the reduction of twisting and tangling may be maximized. 
         [0018]      FIG. 4  may be yet another embodiment of the speaker set  100 . In this embodiment, the first speaker enclosure  105  may have the alignment device  300  and a second alignment device  400  and the connection source  120  while the second speaker enclosure  110  may have the alignment receiver  310 , a second alignment receiver  410  and the connection target  125 . The alignment device  300  may be located at a first end of the first speaker enclosure  105  and the second alignment device  400  may be located at an opposite end of the first end of the first speaker enclosure  105 . Related, the alignment receiver  310  may be located at the first end of the second speaker enclosure  110 , the second alignment receiver  410  may be located at an end opposite of the first end of the second speaker enclosure  115 . In addition, the connection source  120  may be located in the first stem  130  and the connection target  125  may be located in the second stem  135 . As a result, the alignment device and the alignment receiver may fit together and the second alignment device and the second alignment receiver may fit together such that the first stem and second stem are in alignment and that the first speaker is opposite the second speaker. 
         [0019]    As mentioned previously, there are a wide variety of potential alignment devices to be the alignment device  300  and the second alignment device  400 . In one embodiment, the alignment device  300  or the second alignment device  400  may be magnets. In another embodiment, the alignment device  300  or second alignment device  400  may be a nub and receiver combination of virtually any shape. In yet another embodiment, the alignment device  300  or second alignment device  400  may be fingers that fit into receivers  310 ,  410  such as a slot or a hole designed to receive the finger. In addition, the receiver  310 ,  410  may have a lining which may have grip to ensure the alignment device  400  stays inside the receiver  310 ,  410  when desired but can be separated with sufficient effort. Of course, the various alignment devices may be mixed and matched into a variety of different embodiments. 
         [0020]    An additional benefit of the alignment device  300 , the second alignment device  400 , the alignment device receiver  310  or the second alignment device receiver  410  may be that the various alignment apparatus may be installed in a predictable manner to indicate to a user which speaker enclosure  105 ,  110  is the right speaker enclosure and which is the left speaker enclosure. For example, if the alignment device  300  is a nub, the nub may be consistently installed on the right or first speaker enclosure  105 . As a result, a user can tell which speaker enclosure ( 105  or  110 ) is the right speaker enclosure ( 105  or  110 ) and which is the left speaker enclosure ( 105  or  110 ) by feel and without looking at the speaker enclosures ( 105  or  110 ). Similarly, the alignment devices  300  or  400  such as fingers or T-shaped connectors may provide tactile feedback to indicate which speaker enclosure  105 ,  110  is left or right. 
         [0021]    Although the forgoing text sets forth a detailed description of numerous different embodiments, it should be understood that the scope of the patent is defined by the words of the claims set forth at the end of this patent. The detailed description is to be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possible embodiment because describing every possible embodiment would be impractical, if not impossible. Numerous alternative embodiments could be implemented, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this patent, which would still fall within the scope of the claims. 
         [0022]    Thus, many modifications and variations may be made in the techniques and structures described and illustrated herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present claims. Accordingly, it should be understood that the methods and apparatus described herein are illustrative only and are not limiting upon the scope of the claims.