Abstract:
A wire winder includes a body configured to anchor a wire and such that the wire extends from the body. The body is at least partially surrounded by a rotatable bobbin journalled on the body. The wire is windable onto the body within the rotatable bobbin from a direction substantially aligned with a bobbin axis. The bobbin rotation is indexed by coaction between at least one projection or depression on the body and at least one depression or projection on the bobbin.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from prior Malaysian Patent Application Nos. PI20064061, filed Aug. 30, 2006, and P120071056, filed Jul. 3, 2007, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention generally relates to winding mechanisms for wires, cords, cables, or similar elongate articles. More particularly the invention relates to winding mechanisms for small gauge electronic cables or support cords such as are used on headphones. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Articles such as cable winding mechanisms are known, see for instance JP-A-H09-154196 which describes a plug mounted cable drum with a gear or handle wound drum having a detent mechanism. JP-A-H07-312484 similarly shows a spring tensioned winding drum with a detent mechanism which may be incorporated in mechanisms such as keyboards and telephones. 
         [0004]    Such winders do not provide mechanisms which are as simple as possible, requiring slip rings or sockets to make contact with the outgoing conductors, a carefully journalled axle to rotate the winding drum around and a carefully crafted detent mechanism to stop the cord unwinding unless required. 
         [0005]    Therefore a need exists for a solution to the problem of providing a simple easily constructed method of winding cords or cables. 
         [0006]    It is acknowledged that the term ‘comprise’ may, under varying jurisdictions, be attributed with either an exclusive or an inclusive meaning. For the purpose of this specification, and unless otherwise noted, the term ‘comprise’ shall have an inclusive meaning—i.e. that it will be taken to mean an inclusion of not only the listed components it directly references, but also other non-specified components or elements. This rationale will also be used when the term ‘comprised’ or ‘comprising’ is used in relation to one or more steps in a method or process. 
         [0007]    The term ‘cords’ is used in this specification to include cords, cables, wires and other elongate flexible tendons. 
         [0008]    The present invention provides a solution to the above and other problems which offers advantages over the background art. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The invention relates to a cable or cord winder consisting of a body to which a cable or cord may be anchored and from which the cable or cord may extend and which body is at least partially surrounded by a rotatable bobbin journalled upon the body, the cable being windable onto the body within the rotatable bobbin from a direction substantially aligned with the bobbin axis, wherein the bobbin rotation is indexed by coaction between at least one projection or depression on the body and at least one depression or projection on the bobbin. 
         [0010]    In one embodiment, the bobbin has an external cylindrical surface and internal axially spaced surfaces bearing on the body. 
         [0011]    In another embodiment, one axially spaced surface consists of multiple fingers extending into contact with the body, the cord or cable passing out of the bobbin between two adjacent fingers of the multiple fingers. 
         [0012]    The number of multiple fingers may be four. 
         [0013]    The cord or cable may extend from the body aligned in the direction of the bobbin axis and pass slidably into the body within the bobbin. 
         [0014]    In an embodiment, the bobbin has an internal bobbin projection slidably engagable with the cord or cable to wrap it around the body as the bobbin is rotated on the body. 
         [0015]    In another embodiment, the projection or depression on the body consists of a flexible projection and the depression or projection on the bobbin consists of multiple projections. 
         [0016]    In one embodiment, the body has a single projection and the bobbin has eight projections. 
         [0017]    In a further embodiment, the projection or depression on the body consists of multiple projections and the depression or projection on the bobbin consists of a fixed projection and the bobbin is flexibly mounted to the body. 
         [0018]    In a yet further embodiment, the bobbin may be rotated in either direction. 
         [0019]    The winder may be supported by a strap. 
         [0020]    Alternatively, the invention may be said to lie in a method of winding a cable comprising providing a body with at least one cylindrical portion, providing a bobbin rotatable on the cylindrical body portion the bobbin having at least one hole providing external access through a side of the bobbin to a toric space within the bobbin, providing a detent mechanism resisting rotation of the bobbin on the body, and rotating the bobbin relative to the body to wind a cable through the side of the bobbin onto the body. 
         [0021]    In a further exemplification, the invention lies in a method of winding a cable comprising providing a body with at least one cylindrical portion, providing a bobbin rotatable on the cylindrical body portion the body portion having at least one hole providing external access to a space within the bobbin, providing a detent mechanism resisting rotation of the bobbin on the body, and rotating the bobbin relative to the body to wind a cord or cable through the one hole to the space within the bobbin. 
         [0022]    The method may include providing a finger extending from the bobbin and engaging the cable with the finger to align the cable on the body within the bobbin. 
         [0023]    In yet a further exemplification, the invention lies in a cable or cord winder consisting of a body to which a cable or cord may be anchored and from which the cable or cord may extend and which body is at least partially surrounded by a rotatable bobbin journalled upon the body, the cable being windable onto the body within the rotatable bobbin from a direction substantially aligned with the bobbin axis, wherein the bobbin rotation is indexed by coaction between at least one projection or depression on the body and at least one depression or projection on the bobbin and the bobbin has an internal bobbin projection slidably engagable with the cord or cable to wrap it around the body as the bobbin is rotated on the body wherein the internal bobbin projection extends a loop around the body portion on which the cable or cord is wrapped. 
         [0024]    In yet a further exemplification, the invention lies in a cable or cord winder consisting of a body to which a cable or cord may be anchored and from which the cable or cord may extend and which body is at least partially surrounded by a rotatable bobbin journalled upon the body, the cable being windable onto the body within the rotatable bobbin from a direction substantially aligned with the bobbin axis, wherein the bobbin rotation is indexed by coaction between at least one projection or depression on the body and at least one depression or projection on the bobbin and the bobbin has an internal bobbin projection slidably engagable with the cord or cable to wrap it around the body as the bobbin is rotated on the body wherein the internal bobbin projection extends a single strand of cord or cable around the body portion on which the cable or cord is wrapped. 
         [0025]    Alternatively, the invention may lie in a cable winder assembly having axially arranged two cable or cord winders of the different kinds referred to in each of the paragraphs above. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0026]    These and other features of as well as advantages which characterize the present invention will be apparent upon reading of the following detailed description and review of the associated drawings. 
           [0027]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first version of a cord winder; 
           [0028]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional exploded view of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 4  is a top view of the take up member of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0031]      FIG. 5  is a top view of the bobbin member without the take up member in place; 
           [0032]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the winder with the majority of the bobbin ghosted; 
           [0033]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional assembled view of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0034]      FIG. 8  is a view of a support cord for use in the cord winder; 
           [0035]      FIG. 9  is a general perspective view of a second version of a cord winder; 
           [0036]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the central portion of the second cord winder with the bobbin ghosted; 
           [0037]      FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view in the vertical plane on line A-A of  FIG. 10 ; and 
           [0038]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the cord winder in use. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0039]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the cord winding apparatus to which the present invention is applied is attached to end portions of a strap  1  by which a user suspends a small-sized electronic apparatus such as portable telephone set from the neck or the like. The cord winding apparatus winds in and out a loop-shaped cord  2  attached to the electronic apparatus. 
         [0040]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the cord winding apparatus  10  to which the present invention is applied includes a body member  11  to which end portions  1   a ,  1   a  of the strap  1  are secured and to which the loop-shaped cord  2  is secured and which takes up the loop-shaped cord  2 , a cord winding member  21  for wrapping the loop-shaped cord around the body member  11 , and a bobbin member  31  attached to the cord winding member  21 . 
         [0041]    The body member  11  includes, at a fixing portion  12  thereof for fixing end portions of the strap  1  and the loop-shaped cord  2 , a core portion  13  around which the loop-shaped cord  2  is to be wrapped, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
         [0042]    The fixing portion  12  is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape and forms part of an outer housing. The fixing portion  12  has formed on an upper face thereof an attaching recessed portion  14  to which the opposite end portions  1   a ,  1   a  of the strap  1  which overlap with each other are to be attached. The strap  1  is a flexible material and has attaching holes  14   a ,  14   a  formed at the end portions  1   a ,  1   a  thereof. The attaching recessed portion  14  is sized such that the end portions  1   a ,  1   a  of the strap  1  can be inserted and held therein. The attaching recessed portion  14  has through-holes  14   b ,  14   b  formed on side faces opposed to each other near the bottom face of the recess. Further, the attaching holes  14   a ,  14   a  for fixing the strap  1  to the attaching recessed portion  14  are formed near the end portions  1   a ,  1   a  of the strap  1 . The end portions  1   a ,  1   a  of the strap  1  are inserted in the attaching recessed portion  14  with the end portions  1   a ,  1   a  overlapping with other and are aligned with the attaching holes  14   a ,  14   a . A fixing pin  14   c  is force fitted into the through-holes  14   b ,  14   b  and the attaching holes  14   a ,  14   a  to fix the strap  1  to the body member  11 . The strap  1  is thereby attached, for example, in a loop-shaped configuration to the fixing portion  12 . Further, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , an insertion hole  15   a  formed in a radial direction with a first recessed portion  15   b  and a second recessed portion  15   c  formed continuously on the opposite sides of the insertion hole  15   a  are provided as means for fixing the loop-shaped cord  2  to the body member  11 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the cord  2  is fitted with the end portions thereof held in a lined up state into the insertion hole  15   a  from the second recessed portion  15   c  side and an end portion knot or stopper  15   d  is formed at an end portion of the cord  2  on the first recessed portion  15   b  side to prevent the loop-shaped cord  2  from slipping out of the insertion hole  15   a.    
         [0043]    Accordingly, from the second recessed portion  15   c , the loop-shaped cord  2  is led out to the core portion  13  side. It is to be noted that, in the case of  FIG. 3 , the end portion  15   d  includes a knot so as to retain the end portions. The end portion processing portion  15   d  may be formed from a caulking member to secure the opposite ends of the loop-shaped cord  2  as shown in  FIG. 8  where a caulking member  15   a  retains the end of loop  2 . 
         [0044]    The core portion  13  of a substantially cylindrical shape is formed on a lower face of such a fixing portion  12  of body member  11  as described above. The core portion  13  has a slit  16   a  formed in an axial direction, and has a through-hole  16   b  formed at a middle portion thereof in a radial direction in such a manner as to open into slit  16   a . The loop-shaped cord  2  is led out from the second recessed portion  15   c  and is inserted into a through-hole  16   b  formed so as to extend to the slit  16   a  in a radial direction of the core portion  13 , and passes through the slit  16   a  and is led out from an end portion of the core portion  13 . 
         [0045]    The core portion  13  has a half-divided state because of the slit  16   a  thereof, and half bodies  17   a ,  17   a  of the core portion  13  can be resiliently displaced in a radial direction. Further, locking projections  17   b ,  17   b  for attaching the body member  11  to the cord winding member  21  are formed as outwardly directed projections of the half bodies  17   a ,  17   a  of the core portion  13 . In addition, a stopper projection  18  for restricting the range of rotation of the cord winding member  21  and the bobbin member  31  relative to the body member  11  is formed at a root portion of the core portion  13 . 
         [0046]    The cord winding member  21  to which the body member  11  as described above is attached is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape as seen in  FIGS. 2 to 4 , and an retaining plate  22  is attached to the bobbin member  31  on the inner side of the cord winding member  21 . An end portion of the core portion  13  of the body member  11  is inserted into a central opening  22   a  of the substantially annular retaining plate  22  through resilient displacement of the half bodies  17   a ,  17   a , and the locking projections  17   b ,  17   b  are locked at peripheral portions of the opening  22   a  of the retaining plate  22 . Consequently, the cord winding member  21  is attached for rotation on the body member  11  in a state wherein it is prevented from coming off. The substantially tubular cord winding member  21  has a stop  23  formed at an opening end thereof on the body member  11  side for engaging with the stopper projection  18 . Accordingly, the cord winding member  21  may be rotated, for example, within a range in which the stopper  23  does not engage with the stopper projection  18  of the body member  11 , for example, over approximately 90° to 270° with respect to the body member  11 . In other words, the range of rotation of the cord winding member  21  is determined taking the location and size of stopper projection  18  and the stopper  23 , the length of the loop-shaped cord  2 , the adjustment amount of the length of the loop-shaped cord  2  to be led out from the end portion of the bobbin member  31  and so forth into consideration. 
         [0047]    Further, a tooth  24  is formed on the substantially cylindrical cord winding member  21  such that it projects to the inner side as shown in  FIG. 6 . When the cord winding member  21  is attached to the body member  11 , the tooth  24  engages with the loop-shaped cord  2  which extends from the second recessed portion  15   c  of the fixing portion  12  to the through-hole  16   b  of the core portion  13 . Then, when the cord winding member  21  is rotated in the direction indicated by an arrow mark in  FIG. 6  relative to the body member  11 , the tooth  24  winds the cord  2  on the core portion  13 . A projection  24   a  is formed on a face of the tooth  24  on the body member  11  side. The projection  24   a  slidably engages with a lower face of the fixing portion  12  around the core portion  13 . Protrusions  24   b  are formed, for example, radially on the lower face of the fixing portion  12  with which the projection  24   a  slidably engages, around the core portion  13 . Accordingly, when the cord winding member  21  is rotated relative to the body member  11 , the projection  24   a  of the tooth  24  moves along the protrusions  24   b  formed on the lower face of the fixing portion  12  around the core portion  13  thereby to provide a click feeling to the user. 
         [0048]    The bobbin member  31  is a member which is attached integrally to the cord winding member  21  and rotates integrally with the cord winding member  21  with respect to the body member  11 , and forms part of an outer housing together with the fixing portion  12  of the body member  11 . The bobbin member  31  serves as an operating section when the user performs a rotating operation for taking up or taking out the loop-shaped cord  2 . The bobbin member  31  includes a collar  32  which surrounds the lower portion of body member  11  and to which the cord winding member  21  is attached, and a lead out portion  33  for leading out the loop-shaped cord  2 . 
         [0049]    A plurality of engaging projections  25 ,  25  on cord winding member  21  engage with slots  34 ,  34  on the inner circumference of collar  32  to cause tooth  24  to rotate integrally with the bobbin member  31 . The cord winding member is retained by projections  26  which snap fit over projections  36  on the collar  32 . 
         [0050]    The collar  32  is sized so that the cord winding member  21  is accommodated in the collar  32  and the top face  12   a  of the fixing portion  12  of the body member  11  which projects like a flange is exposed to the outside. Engaging grooves  34 ,  34  are formed on an inner circumferential face of the attaching portion  32  in such a manner as to engage with the engaging projections  25 ,  25  formed on an outer circumferential face of the cord winding member  21 . 
         [0051]    The lead out portion  33  is formed so as to have a reduced diameter from that of the attaching portion  32 , and an opening  35  for leading out the loop-shaped cord  2  to the outside is formed at an end portion of the lead out portion  33 . The opening  35  is partitioned in two by a partitioning portion  35   a , and the loop-shaped cord  2  is led out from leading openings  35   b ,  35   b . In particular, the loop-shaped cord  2  forms a loop  2   a  on the outside of the opening  35  and can be taken up until the loop  2   a  of the loop-shaped cord  2  is caught by the partitioning portion  35   a  so that the end of the loop  2   a  does not enter the inside. 
         [0052]    It is to be noted that a substantially similar effect can be achieved even if the partitioning portion  35   a  is not provided at the opening  35  of the bobbin member  31  as described above but provided at the opening  22   a  in the attaching plate  22  of the cord winding member  21 . 
         [0053]    In order to assemble such a cord winding apparatus  10  as described above, as shown in  FIG. 3 , first the cord winding member  21  is snap fitted so that the projections  26  rides over the engaging portion  36  of the bobbin member  31  until the engaging projections  25 ,  25  of the cord winding member  21  are engaged with the engaging grooves  34 ,  34  of the bobbin member  31  thereby to integrate the cord winding member  21  and the bobbin member  31  with each other. 
         [0054]    Then, end portions of the single cord  2  which is not in a loop-shaped state are individually inserted into the leading openings  35   b ,  35   b , and then, in a state wherein the end portions are lined up, they are inserted into the opening  22   a  of the attaching plate  22  of the cord winding member  21 . Further, the end portions of the cord  2  are led out from the end portion of the core portion  13  of the body member  11  through the through-hole  16   b  past the slit  16   a , and then are led out from the second recessed portion  15   c  to the first recessed portion  15   b  through the insertion hole  15   a . Thereupon, the loop-shaped cord  2  which extends from the second recessed portion  15   c  of the fixing portion  12  to the through-hole  16   b  of the core portion  13  is engaged with the tooth  24 . The end portions of the cord  2  are then tied to each other at the first recessed portion  15   b  so that the cord  2  exhibits a loop-shaped state. The end portion  15   d  has a greater diameter than the insertion hole  15   a  so that the cord does not slip through the insertion hole  15   a.    
         [0055]    Thereafter, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the body member  11  is inserted into the cord winding member  21  attached to the bobbin member  31 , and the end portion of the core portion  13  is inserted into the central opening  22   a  of the attaching plate  22  through resilient displacement of the half bodies  17   a ,  17   a  so that the body member  11  is attached to the cord winding member  21 . Then, the body member  11  is attached to the bobbin member  31  such that the through-holes  14   b ,  14   b  for securing the core portion  13  to the strap  1  and the first and second recessed portions  15   b ,  15   c  for securing the loop-shaped cord  2  are hidden by the bobbin member  31  and a stepped portion on the lower side which forms the top face  12   a  abuts with the upper side opening end of the attaching portion  32  of the bobbin member  31 . 
         [0056]    It is to be noted that the strap  1  may be attached to the body member  11  before or after the body member  11  is attached to the cord winding member  21 . 
         [0057]    An operating method for the cord winding apparatus  10  having a configuration as noted above is described with reference to  FIGS. 6 and 7 . In order to take up the loop-shaped cord  2  led out from the end portion of the bobbin member  31 , the cord winding member  21  attached to the bobbin member  31  is rotated in one of the opposite directions with respect to the body member  11 . Consequently, the tooth  24  with which the loop-shaped cord  2  extending from the second recessed portion  15   c  of the fixing portion  12  to the through-hole  16   b  of the core portion  13  is engaged wraps the loop-shaped cord  2  around the core portion  13  of the body member  11  together with rotation of the cord winding member  21  which rotates together with the bobbin member  31 . Consequently, the loop-shaped cord  2  led out from the opening  35  of the bobbin member  31  is taken up to reduce the length thereof from the opening  35 . Thereupon, the loop-shaped cord  2  can be taken up until it is caught by the partitioning portion  35   a  of the opening  35 . 
         [0058]    On the other hand, in order to let out the loop-shaped cord  2  led out from the opening  35  at the end portion of the bobbin member  31 , the cord winding member  21  attached to the bobbin member  31  is rotated in the other one of the opposite directions with respect to the body member  11 . Consequently, the loop-shaped cord  2  wrapped around the core portion  13  of the body member  11  is slackened and may be taken out to the outside automatically or if the user pulls the loop-shaped cord  2  led out from the opening  35  of the bobbin member  31 . 
         [0059]    When rotating the bobbin member  31   a  detent feeling is provided to the user as the projection  24   a  of the tooth  24  moves along the concave and convex configuration formed on the lower face of the fixing portion  12  around the core portion  13 . 
         [0060]    As described above, according to the cord winding apparatus  10  to which the present invention is applied, by rotatably operating the bobbin member  31 , the length of the loop-shaped cord  2  led out from the end portion of the bobbin member  31  for attaching a small-sized electronic apparatus such as a portable telephone set can be varied to a desired length by the user using the tooth  24  of the cord winding member  21  attached integrally to the bobbin member  31 , within the confines of movement available with stops  18  and  23 . 
         [0061]    Referring now to a second version of the winder in  FIG. 9 , a perspective view of a cord winder is shown and consists of a body  11  and a winding bobbin portion  32  with cords  39 ,  40  each to an earphone. The winder may be suspended by a lanyard  2  and has an electrical cord  38  to a supply source, the cord being windable around a central cylindrical portion  13  to be retained within the bobbin portion. Bobbin  32  has an external cylindrical surface with fingers  37  which substitute for an axial collar, extending in to a groove at the tip of cylindrical portion  13  to prevent the cord  38  from being trapped between the two and to journal the rotation. 
         [0062]    Rotation of the bobbin  32  will either wind or unwind cord  38  from storage around cylindrical portion  13 . 
         [0063]      FIG. 10  shows the operative end of the cylindrical portion in more detail with an extended cylindrical surface  62  between the open end of the storage portion and a scrolled projecting surface  43  which both limits the storage extent and acts to retain the winding bobbin as best seen in conjunction with  FIG. 11 . The inner end of scrolled surface  43  ends in an outwardly biased flexible tooth  44  and a journaling surface  45  extends around remainder of the body inside scrolled surface  43 . 
         [0064]    As shown in the cross-section  FIG. 11  bobbin  32  has surface projections  24   b  which are preferably rounded and which coact with flexible tooth  24   a  to provide indexing of the rotation of the bobbin  32  on body  11 , the projections  24   b  and tooth  24   a  allowing rotation in either direction but preventing inadvertent movement. 
         [0065]    Projections  24   b  of are of such a size that they may be forced over surface  43  for assembly but are then trapped laterally within the scrolled surface for rotation on journaling surface  45 , with the outer end of the bobbin  32  journalled by the coaction of fingers  37  on surface  33 . The projections therefore act as an abbreviated collar delimiting the inward extent of the bobbin  32 . 
         [0066]    Body  11 , which is preferably assembled from two halves, may contain electronic circuit board  46  to allow connection of cables and anchoring of the inner end of cable  38 . 
         [0067]    As shown in  FIG. 12  the supply cord  38  may be substantially contained within the winder bobbin  32 . 
         [0068]    While the drawings show four fingers  37  on the bobbin a lesser or greater number may be used, consistent with easy rotation of the bobbin on the body  11 , and may consist of a solid collar with a single slot for the cable. 
         [0069]    While one flexible tooth  24   b  is shown more may be used if it is desired to provide a balanced bias to the bobbin location on body  11 . 
         [0070]    It is to be noted that the strap  1  may be of the type wherein an accessory or the like is attached thereto, and the article to be attached to the loop-shaped cord  2  is not limited to a small-sized electronic apparatus. 
         [0071]    The two variations of the invention described above allow the winding of a cord, wire or cable axially of a winder with, respectively, the cord passing through the device rotation axis, or entering the winder offset from the device rotation axis. If desired both embodiments may be included in a single mechanism, allowing adjustment of both a supporting cord for a suspended item and the cord of a headset plugged in to the item. 
         [0072]    It is to be understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the various embodiments of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and functioning of various embodiments of the invention, this disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail so long as the functioning of the invention is not adversely affected. For example the particular elements of the cord winder may vary dependent on the particular application for which it is used without departure from the scope of the present invention. 
         [0073]    In addition, although the preferred embodiments described herein are directed to a cord winder for headsets or earphones, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the teachings of the present invention can be applied to other systems such as cable winders for larger mechanisms such as irons and hand drills, without departing from the scope and objective of the present invention. 
         [0074]    The cord winder of the invention is used in the field of consumer electronics to present a user with an adjustable length of cable or cord for a portable appliance.