Abstract:
In an apparatus for controlling an earpiece cable, the apparatus has a housing of the earpiece cable. The housing has a first curve, such as a roller, for guiding the earpiece cable and a second curve for guiding the earpiece cable. Furthermore the housing has a handle for moving the curves so that when the earpiece cable is pulled out of the housing the curves are arranged to approach each other and when the earpiece cable is pulled back into the housing the curves are arranged to distance themselves from each other.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is the U.S. National Stage of International Application Number PCT/FI2006/000003 filed on Jan. 2, 2006 which was published in English on Jul. 12, 2007 under International Publication Number WO 2007/077285. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The invention concerns an apparatus for controlling an earpiece cable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    In mobile headsets, there are typically at least one or two cables. If the headset is Bluetooth based headset, there is generally one cable coming from electronics to ear. In a normal, phone attachable, headset, there is also a cable from the phone to headset electronics. In any event, these cables turn out to be inconvenient. The cable entangles and grabs into the user. Thereby, the cable can be rather inconvenient. Furthermore, the cable is quite difficult to store, to roll, or to hideout somewhere. 
         [0004]    A known solution has been a nick in the headset. Another know solution has been some kind of neckband, wherein the cable has been hidden inside the band. However, there has not been any good mechanism to control the cable properly. 
         [0005]    Yet another known solution in patent publication WO 03/103255 describes a carrying device, e.g. neck ribbon for mobile phone. The headset cable is attached as a part of the neck ribbon. However, the solution is limited because the phone and headset must be hanging on the neck of the user. 
         [0006]    Furthermore, the solution is not so compact and the cables might still hang uncomfortably. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    It is therefore the object of the invention to provide an apparatus for more comfortable control of the earpiece cable. 
         [0008]    In accordance with an aspect of the invention there is being provided an apparatus for storing an earpiece cable, the apparatus comprising 
         [0009]    a housing of the earpiece cable, the housing comprising 
         [0010]    a first set of curves for guiding said earpiece cable, a second set of curves for guiding said earpiece cable, wherein the sets are arranged to move so that, when the earpiece cable is pulled out of the housing, the sets are arranged to approach each other and, when the earpiece cable is pulled back into the housing, the sets are arranged to distance themselves from each other. 
         [0011]    In various embodiments, the cable is arranged to make small curves inside the housing. When the cable is pulled out, the cable moves along the curves and distance between the curves changes so that hidden cable comes out from the housing. When it is desired to pull the cable back inside the housing, there is a puller, which adjusts the distance so that the cable runs back inside the housing. 
         [0012]    The cable is easy to pull out and in. The cable control apparatus is not a big and clumsy component, but maintain the textile-like feel and look. The apparatus is further more suitable for flexible and soft, textile based applications. Thus, the cable can be partly hidden. The apparatus and the housing are thin and possibly soft in some embodiments. The apparatus does not necessarily need expensive components. Furthermore, the apparatus is rather reliable. Yet furthermore the apparatus is convenient to place onto the user, and accordingly it does not hinder the user so much as known solutions. 
         [0013]    Yet further embodiments of the invention have been specified in the dependent claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0014]    The invention will now be described, by way of examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1   a  is a perspective view of an apparatus for controlling an earpiece cable, wherein the cable has been pulled back into the housing in accordance with the invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 1   b  is a perspective view of the apparatus, wherein the cable has been pulled out of the apparatus in accordance with the invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of the apparatus in accordance with the embodiment of  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b;    
           [0018]      FIG. 3   a  is a plan view of the embodiment of  FIGS. 1   a,    1   b  and  2  with portions removed to show internal structure, wherein the cable has been pulled back into the housing; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3   b  is a plan view of the embodiment of  FIGS. 1   a,    1   b  and  2  with portions removed to show internal structure, wherein the cable has been pulled out of the apparatus; and 
           [0020]      FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b  are plan views showing a further embodiment of the apparatus with portions removed to show internal structure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0021]      FIG. 1   a  has been briefly referred above and depicts an apparatus  100  for controlling an earpiece cable  101 . An earpiece  102  of the mobile headset (not shown completely) is attached to the cable  101 . The cable  101  is pulled into the housing  106  of the apparatus  100  in the embodiments of  FIG. 1 . The apparatus  100  has a handle  103  for pulling the cable  101  into the apparatus. Furthermore, the apparatus  100  has a hole  104  in the housing  106 , through which part of the cable  101  can enter or leave the housing  106 . Thus the cable  101  can be pulled into the apparatus  100  via the hole  104 . The apparatus  100  is suitable for flexible and soft, textile-based applications, where there is needs to hide the cable  101 . The apparatus  100  can furthermore be thin and soft. The apparatus  100  comprises also a cleft  105 . The apparatus  100  can be comfortable attached, for example to clothes by the cleft  105 . Due to relative small physical size and slim design of the apparatus  100 , it is comfortably hanging on the clothes of the user. 
         [0022]    Various further embodiments of the invention use the shape and design of the apparatus  100  for attaching the apparatus to the user&#39;s clothing. Alternatively, hook and loop materal (e.g., Velcro) or a magnet can be used for attaching the apparatus to the user. 
         [0023]    Referring now to  FIG. 1   b,  there is being depicted the apparatus  100 , wherein the cable  101  has been pulled out of the housing  106 . The handle  103  is moved into the housing  106  as shown in the  FIG. 1   b.  Further part of the cable  101  has come out the housing  106 , thereby enabling the user to use the earpiece  102 . 
         [0024]    In various further embodiments, the freedom of the placement of the apparatus  100  is rather convenient. Generally, it will not hinder the user due to the free placement as long as the length of the cable  101  is enough. 
         [0025]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of the apparatus  100  in accordance with the embodiment of  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b  of the invention. 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIG. 3   a,  the cable  101  has been pulled back into the housing  106  in accordance with various further embodiments of the invention. The housing  106  has cable  101 ′ inside. The cable  101 ′ inside the housing  106  is entangled with rollers  110 ′ and  110 ″. Each roller  110 ′,  110 ″ comprises a curve, which guides the cable  101 ′ inside the housing  106 . The rollers  110 ,  110 ″ can be rotatable. Thus the rollers  110 ′,  110 ″ can be rotatably attached to the housing  106  by an axis (not shown). Alternatively rollers  110 ′,  110 ″ can be fixedly attached to the housing  106 . Thus the cable  101 ′ may slide along the surface of the rollers  110 ′,  110 ″. The rollers  110 ′ are placed within the housing  106  so that at least one roller  110 ′ is situated close to the end near the hole  104  and at least one roller  110 ″ is situated close to the end near the handle  103 . An example of the placement of the rollers is shown in  FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b.  It should be noted that the amount of the rollers and curves, respectively, may vary. Five rollers are shown on  FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  only as an example. 
         [0027]    Referring again to  FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b,  the rollers  110 ″ are connected to the handle  103  by a junction. Thereby, the movement of the handle  103  moves the rollers  110 ″ respectively. Furthermore, the distance between the rollers  110 ′ and  110 ″ varies by the movement. As shown from the example of  FIG. 3   a,  cable  101 ′ is stored within the housing  106  by the placement of the rollers  110 ′ and  110 ″, i.e. by a distance between the rollers  110 ′ and  110 ″. The cable  101 ′ is attached to the housing from an end by a terminal  112 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 3   b  depicts the cable  101 ″ having been pulled out of the housing  106 . The distance between the rollers  110 ′ and  110 ″ has reduced. A part of the cable  101 ″ has been pulled out of the housing  106 . Thereby the part of the cable  101 ″ outside the housing  106  has prolonged. The earpiece  102  is now better able to be placed into the user&#39;s ear. The user can adjust the distance by the movement of the handle  103 . A part of the handle  103  also enters the housing  106 . 
         [0029]    Turning to  FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b,  therein illustrated is a further embodiment of the apparatus  100 . The cable  101 ′ inside the housing  106  is guided by guides  114 ′,  114 ″. Guides  114 ′,  114 ″ slidably receive the cable  101 ′ so that the cable  101 ′ can slide along the surface thereof. Each guide  114 ′,  114 ″ is of a curve shape. The guides  114 ′,  114 ″ are placed within the housing  106  so that at least one guide  114 ′ is situated close to the end near the hole  104  and at least one guide  114 ″ is situated close to the end near the handle  103 . It should be noted that the amount of the guides and curves, respectively, may vary. Three guides are shown in  FIG. 4  only as an example. The guides  114 ″ are connected to the handle  103  by a junction. Thereby, the movement of the handle  103  moves the guides  114 ″ respectively. Furthermore, the distance between the guides  114 ′ and  114 ″ varies by the movement. As shown from the example of  FIG. 4   a,  cable  101 ′ is stored within the housing  106  by the placement of the guides  114 ′ and  114 ″, i.e. by the distance between the guides  114 ′ and  114 ″. The cable  101 ′ is attached to the housing from an end by a terminal  112 ′. 
         [0030]      FIG. 4   b  also shows the cable  101 ″ having been pulled out of the housing  106 . The distance between the guides  114 ′ and  114 ″ has reduced. A part of the cable  101 ″ has been pulled out of the housing  106 . Thereby the part of the cable  101 ″ outside the housing  106  has prolonged. The user can adjust the distance by the movement of the handle  103 . A part of the handle  103  also enters the housing  106 . 
         [0031]    In various embodiments, the curvesformed by rollers  110 ′,  110 ″ or guides  114 ′,  114 ″ guide the cable  101  have a slithery surface so that the friction is such that the cable can slide along the surface. Furthermore, the angle of the curves is such that the cable  101  does not get stuck etc. When rotatable rollers  110 ′,  110 ″ are used, the angle and the friction are not so meaninful factors. In various further embodiments, the curve can also be flexible so that it bends when the cable  101  is pulled or pushed. 
         [0032]    The housing  106  can be made of textile or fabric in the various embodiments. Therefore, the housing  106  fits very well with the clothing. The housing can also be firm material such as plastic etc. 
       Ramifications and Scope 
       [0033]    Although the description above contains many specifics, these are merely provided to illustrate the invention and should not be construed as limitations of the invention&#39;s scope. It should be also noted that the many specifics can be combined in various ways in a single or multiple embodiments. Thus it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the apparatuses and processes of the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.