Abstract:
A portable, flexible cover connected between a source of signals such as an MP3 player and headphones, the flexible cover comprising a substantially flat and flexible surface encapsulating a conductor yet substantially resting on a surface or on the body of a wearer and have a design to mask the conductor and minimize tangling thereof.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/486,983, filed May 17, 2011, the contents of which is incorporated herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to flexible conductor covers for electronics, one use of which is with portable music devices. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0005]    Electrical and electronic devices such as personal devices, telephones, even desk lamps, usually have loose conductors between a source of sound or data or a wall socket and the device receiving such input. Such loose conductors are not only unsightly, they can often get snagged, pull the electronic devices loose or otherwise become entangled. 
         [0006]    Fixed conductor covers already exist, primarily for physical permanent attachment to a floor or wall to mask or hide conductors, preventing their loose hanging and also preventing potential tangling, tripping or the like. These prior art conductor covers are rigid and are generally physically fixed to a flat surface under which the conductors, cables or power lines are hidden. 
         [0007]    There exists a need for conductor covers, especially with portable music devices and the like, so as to cover loose, dangling wires in an efficient manner, allowing adaptability of the cover to a surface or to an environment, Such a flexible conductor cover may also be of unique artistic design to both enhance the masking of the conductor, the general attractiveness of the cover and the functionality of adapting the cover to any suitable environment whether large or small. The cover of this invention is not intended to be physically permanently attached to a fixed flat device, but is intended to be used as desired in random environments where covering such conductors is desirable. This invention is desired as directed to one specific embodiment, that is portable music devices, but the flexible, adaptable conductor cover may be used in many other environments, as will be briefly described within this specification. 
         [0008]    Portable music devices, such as iPods and MP3 players, are ubiquitous in today&#39;s world. Rarely can one walk a few feet on a crowded street, or ride public transportation, without seeing someone listening to such a device. 
         [0009]    As is well known, one listens to such device using a set of earphones, which comprise fine, insulation-covered wires and earphones having so-called ear buds which lodge in the ear. These wires are rather delicate, hang from the body, and easily catch on clothing, buttons, and other objects, and are susceptible to tangling easily pulling the ear buds out of the ear. 
         [0010]    As such, there has long been a need for a means to protect these wires from possible damage. In addition, not only do they easily tangle because of the thinness and free dangling of such wires, but such thinness can be eliminated and such cables will have enhanced functionality and an enhanced appearance. 
         [0011]    An object of this invention is to provide a sheath or covering for electrical conductors especially used with portable music devices which minimizes the susceptibility of such conductors to dangling or loosely hanging and becoming easily tangled or caught. 
         [0012]    Another object of this invention is to provide such a sheath or covering which itself masks the conductor and provides a suitable and attractive appearance thereby enhancing the overall experience of utilizing portable music devices. 
         [0013]    Still another object of this invention is to provide such a sheath or covering which may include active electronic elements thereby not only providing conductivity but also independent electrical functionality enhancing the desirability of such a cover. 
         [0014]    Another object of this invention is to provide such a sheath or covering which is portable, flexible, of sufficient mass to rest on a flat surface or to conform and rest on a portion of the body but adaptable to be easily lifted, removed and otherwise placed in other environments. 
         [0015]    Yet another object of this invention is to provide such a sheath which may be worn as an article of clothing which provides both functionality and concurrently independently provides an attractive appearance. 
         [0016]    Other objects, advantages and features of this invention will become more apparent from the following description. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    The above objects are accomplished by providing a sheath or covering for an electrical conductor which is flexible, susceptible to being of an attractive design, portable, so as to be easily lifted from wherever it might be currently covering conductors, and otherwise serving to connect an electrical signal entering from one end of the cover and exiting from the other end of the cover. In one specific embodiment, the cover covers a conductor carrying signals between a sound source and earphones, with the sheath comprising bulk and size thereby converting the prior art thin wire to a planar surface susceptible of an appearance which hides the conductor carrying capability of the sheath and enables the sheath to substantially securely allow the conductor to operate without its easily being tangled or caught, thereby ensuring continuous conductor operation. 
         [0018]    One approach to creating such a sheath is to encapsulate an electronic wire within such a sheath or covering, with the sheath having flexibility and plasticity so as to be able to drape on the body of the wearer. Another alternative is forming such a cover or sheath out of flexible electronics, allowing for conductivity, sheath formation and active elements. 
         [0019]    In accordance with the teachings of this invention, the cover is formed with a silhouette and is flexible enough to drape on the body of the wearer eliminating easy tangling and catching. In addition, such silhouettes are susceptible to being formed of various shapes and symbols enhancing the overall appearance and functionality of ubiquitous portable music devices. 
         [0020]    In further accordance with the teachings of this invention, this portable, flexible conductor cover or sheath may be used in any environment suitable for ease of utilization, such as on a desk, a floor, by musicians, or otherwise where easily applicable. 
         [0021]    The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts and processes, which will be exemplified in the constructions and processes as hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims. 
         [0022]    Additionally, such sheaths or covers may comprise conductors and integrated active elements which are integrally formed in such flex circuits to enable such covers or sheaths to have independent functionality, such as carrying RFID chips, housing LEDS&#39;s, or comprising a flat LCD screen. Other embodiments and features will be described or will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of the prior art set of earphones; 
           [0024]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  are front plan views of a first embodiment of the sheath of the present invention used with portable music devices; 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  is a front plan view of a second embodiment of the sheath of this invention being worn; 
           [0026]      FIG. 4  is a front plan view of a third embodiment of the sheath; 
           [0027]      FIG. 5  is a front plan view of a fourth embodiment of this invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the sheath or cover of this invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 7  is a front plan view of a fifth embodiment of this invention in which a screen is enclosed as part of the cover. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0030]    Turning now to the figures,  FIG. 1  is a plan view of a prior art portable music device  10  and cables  16 ,  18  and  20  for use with such a portable music device. 
         [0031]    While this invention is described with relationship to portable music devices, it is understood the general teaching of a flexible, portable conductor cover susceptible of independent, unique esthetic design and functionality represents the underlying invention set forth herein. 
         [0032]    Referring again to  FIG. 1 , the prior art portable music device includes a right earphone  12  and a left earphone  14 , both connected to a branching point  16  by insulated wires or conductors  18 . From the branching point  16 , the two wires  18  are joined into a common wire or conductor  20  which is connected to a plug  22  of a design which is universally compatible with portable music devices of many manufacturers. 
         [0033]    Referring back to  FIG. 1 , wires  18  and  20  are drawn with dashed-line segments to suggest that the relative lengths of wires  18  and  20  may vary. Typically, wire  20  may be longer than wires  18 , which basically leads to branching point  16 . But this need not be the case, as cable  20 , it will be seen, may be quite short in some embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0034]    It will be recalled that one purpose of the present invention is to protect and provide additional bulk to cables  18 ,  20 , between plug  22  and the earphones thereby making them less prone to tangling and inadvertently pulling the earphones out of the ears. 
         [0035]    Generally this is accomplished by the present invention providing a sheath or cover for branch point  16  and conductors  18  with the cover masking the branch point and conductors yet providing sufficient bulk and surface to partially drape on the user and protect the conductors from snagging, yet also providing an attractive design which also masks its functionality. One might even think there are no wires between the sound source and earphones. 
         [0036]    One way to create or produce such a sheath or cover is to utilize conventional flexible circuits which are generally passive conductors formed of a thin copper layer sandwiched between insulating layers forming a substantially flat assembly. Flexible circuits are described at Wikipedia.com. 
         [0037]    The present invention provides such a flexible cover or sheath which essentially comprises conductors carrying electrical signals between a sound source and earphones which replace all or a portion of the thin cables  16  and  18  shown in  FIG. 1 . The flexible cover or sheath of the present invention is provided with sufficient size and bulk and is thin enough to rest or be draped on the body of the user thereby conforming the cable to the body and minimizing the general loose hanging, unmanageable cables shown in  FIG. 1 , which often become tangled, dislodged and are unwieldy. 
         [0038]    Turning to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , there is provided a front perspective view of the cover or sheath  50  of this invention. This embodiment of the present invention includes a set of earphones  12  and  14  connected to the conductors cove red with cover  50 . Earphones  12  and  14  are disposed within the respective ears of subject  52  in  FIG. 2A . A portable music device  54  is connected to plug  22  and the end of wire  20 , and may conveniently be disposed within a pocket  55 , as shown. It will be understood that the conductor  20  continues within cover  50  to branching point  16 , where it splits into conductors  18 . Conductor  20  connects with earphones  12  and  14  with either an encapsulated conductor sandwiched between outer layers or as part of the conductive layer described above regarding flexible circuits. 
         [0039]      FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  5  are front plan perspective views of alternative embodiments of the present flexible conductor sheath or cover of this invention. 
         [0040]      FIG. 3  illustrates the flexible cover  50  having the appearance of a common article of clothing, such as a scarf. The outer layers of the flexible cover may comprise a fabric having a pattern and scarf shape  32  as shown in  FIG. 3 , thereby substantially masking the conductor yet allowing it to conveniently drape on the body of the wearer. This cover  32  substantially eliminates the loose hanging manner of the prior art cable of  FIG. 1 . Earphones  12  and  14  are connected to the scarf  32  but are substantially unseen. 
         [0041]      FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention in which the flexible cover  50  may be formed to be a well known symbol, such as a Coca-Cola bottle  42 . This symbol  42  is in a flat form with large bulk and its otherwise flat structure will rest against the chest of the wearer, thereby minimizing the likely disengagement of the conductors from the headphone, The cover has wire  20  extending to the music source and conductors  18  extending to earphones. 
         [0042]      FIG. 5  is yet another embodiment of the present invention in which the conductor between the sound source and headphones is carried in but one of a plurality of decorative thin tail like structures  44  thereby further masking the conductor and ensuring minimization of inadvertent catching and tangling of the conductor. 
         [0043]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of one approach to produce sheath or cover  50 . Covering  50  is molded from a flexible, pliable, and resilient polymeric resin material  52 , such as a silicone rubber. Covering  50  is molded with a passage  60  which is accessible through a gap  62 . When wires  18 ,  20  are disposed within the covering  50 , they are pressed through gap  62  into passage  60 . Gap  62  may subsequently be sealed with an adhesive, through the use of heat, or through other means. Alternatively, where the gap  62  is sufficiently narrow, where, for instance, the two sides of the gap  62  are in contact with one another, wires  18 ,  20  may be held within passage  60  mechanically without any sealing means. This embodiment allows the cover or sheath  50  to be formed of any desired ornamental appearance including those shown in  FIGS. 2-5 . 
         [0044]    The field of flexible circuits is well known and continuing to develop and encompasses flat circuits having a flat cable or flat band appearance in which both active and passive elements may be integrated to provide suitable electrical circuits. 
         [0045]    The present invention may incorporate flat LCD&#39;s to form a screen on the surface of the cover or sheath. Multek is a source of flat LCD displays as is Fujitsu which provides flat and flexible LCD screens. 
         [0046]      FIG. 7  is a front plan view of another embodiment of this invention in which the cover or sheath  50  includes a screen  70 . If the portable music device includes video, the screen may show such video while the portable music device is operating. Additionally, with portable personal devices increasing in use, diversity and applications, one could watch his/her favorite DVD, computer stored video, or any other desired video, with the active circuits encapsulated within cover sheath  50  having screen  70  shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0047]    Additionally, flat LED&#39;s can be employed as a visual display or manually controlled volume control. Such flat LED&#39;s are available from Samsung and is known as the Flexible OLED screen. Sony also offers an LED screen known as a flexible full color paper screen. 
         [0048]    An RFID device may be integrated within the cover  50  of the present invention so that a user&#39;s unique identifying codes may be carried in an inconspicuous yet ubiquitously available manner. The RFID codes could be limited to specific information concerning music or other related information, but could also include personal identifying information such as bank codes, etc., to enable the flat cover or sheath of this invention to provide a multitude of uses in a hidden manner, especially as shown in  FIGS. 3-5 . 
         [0049]    Additionally, a mini cellphone having a camera, such as a Nokia N97 could be incorporated in cover  50 . 
         [0050]    The cover  50  of the present invention is intended to bear or rest on the body of a person and be located between a source of sound and the earphones. On the other hand, the flexible circuit (cover) of the present invention could also be formed as a wristband and carry the above identified active elements and or RFID chips. 
         [0051]    Lithium batteries are becoming increasingly thin, flat and flexible, and such batteries can be integrated within the cover of this invention to provide suitable power for active elements integrated therein. Such a flexible battery is available from Solicare Inc. and comprises an ultrathin flexible lithium battery sold under the Flexion brand. 
         [0052]    One common flexible circuit construction is a flexible foil which laminates thin copper strips between two layers of PET. In accordance with the teachings of this invention, thin outer layers may be attached to the PET layers and such outer layers may comprise fabric or suitable designs thereby giving the appearance of an item of clothing rather than an electronic cable. An example of such material is that provided by Shawmut Corp. and is headliner fabric suitable to being bonded to conventional flexible circuits forming cover  50  of this invention. 
         [0053]    As described above, this invention utilizes flexible electronics also known as flex circuits, which is a technology for assembling electronic circuits by mounting such circuits on flexible plastic substrates, such as polyimide, PEEK, or transparent conductive polyester. Flex circuits can also be screen printed silver circuits on polyester. The present invention primarily uses flexible foil circuits to form cables by laminating very thin copper strips between two layers of PET. These PET layers, typically 0.05 mm thick are coated with an adhesive which is thermosetting and will be activated during the lamination process. 
         [0054]    The present invention takes advantage of the size, bulk and thinness of flex circuits by providing conductors to connect a sound source to earphones with the flex circuits or the flexible cover actually resting on the body of the wearer. This largely eliminates the type of kinking, twisting or other undesirable aspects of the loose hanging wires shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0055]    While the present invention is shown with an embodiment of portable music players, the beneficial applications of such conductors may also be employed in other environments. These could include USB cables, guitar and keyboard cables, microphone and speaker cables, RCA connector cables, power lines, desk set telephones and lamps, and the like. 
         [0056]    In summary, the present invention is directed to a flexible, portable cover or sheath for conductors susceptible of individual esthetic design and appearance having the conductor connected to a source of signal, whether power, video, audio or the like at one end and connected to the device to receive such a signal, whether earphones, a desk lamp, an acoustic guitar or any other environment in which the portable, flexible conductor cover of this invention can serve to both mask the conductors, prevent such conductors from being tangled or otherwise being unwieldy and independently provide an attractive appearance further masking the functionality of such cover or sheath. 
         [0057]    It should be understood that the preferred embodiment was described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly legally and equitably entitled.