Patent Publication Number: US-6912291-B2

Title: Structure of a receptacle for earphone wire

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   (a) Technical Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to an improved structure of a receptacle for earphone wire, and in particular, a receptacle for earphone wire allowing automatic switching ON and OFF of the earphone. 
   (b) Description of the Prior Art 
     FIG. 1  shows a conventional receptacle for earphone cord comprising a front shell  1  and a rear shell  2 , a retractable earphone cord  40  and a retracting device  3 . A retractable spring  32  located within the retractable device  3  causes a driving disc  31  to rotate and the earphone cord  40  is rolled and collected within the receptacle. However, the contact between a contacting disc  330  and a conductive disc  304  within the receptacle causes wears and thus the longevity of the conventional receptacle is reduced.  FIGS. 2 and 3  show a conventional receptacle for earphone wire, wherein when an earphone  4  is pressed into a notch  191  provided on the earphone seat  19 , the hook  193  extends outward and the restoration force of the hook  193  restricts and positions the earphone  4  to the earphone seat  19 . In this conventional structure, the earphone  4  has to be pressed into the earphone seat  19  and a push button is pushed so that the earphone wire  40  can be retained into the receptacle. It is troublesome with respect to operation, and further, there is no power switch provided to the receptacle or no separation of power switch, therefore it is very often that the power switch is not turned off when the earphone is not in used. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved structure of a receptacle for earphone wire which mitigates the above drawbacks, and provides an automatic switching ON and OFF. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved structure of a receptacle for earphone wire having a front shell and a rear shell, and a rolling disc, wherein the front shell contains a switching button, an interconnection rod urged against the switching button and a swinging rod which can actuate the rolling disc, and a pulling rod passed through the front shell capable of triggering the interconnection rod is provided to a clipping hook, the earphone seat is provided with a pushing rod pivotally mounted at the front shell, and the pushing rod passes through the front shell and interconnects with the swinging rod, thereby the withdrawing out or inserting in the earphone can control the switching button of the earphone or the rotating of the rolling disc so that the earphone can be automatically switching on or switching off. 
   Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved structure of a receptacle for earphone wire, wherein a shaft axle is provided to the front shell allowing the pivotal mounting of the rolling disc, the earphone wire and the connection wire pass through the top hole and the bottom hole provided on the top and bottom end of the front shell, a sliding hole is provided to the front shell along the pulling rod to pass through and slide within the sliding hole, and a pivot hole is provided to the front shell for the pivotal mounting of the pushing rod, and the interconnection rod is pivotally mounted on the inner side of the front shell. 
   A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved structure of a receptacle for earphone wire, wherein a clipping body is provided to the receptacle for mounting onto a belt of the user, and a top and bottom holes are respective formed at the top end and bottom end of the combination of the front shell and the bottom shell allowing the earphone wire and the connection wire to pass through. 
   Other object and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective exploded view of a conventional receptacle for earphone cord. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a conventional receptacle for earphone cord. 
       FIG. 3  schematically shows the implementation of the conventional receptacle for earphone cord. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective exploded view of the receptacle for earphone cord of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective exploded view of the receptacle for earphone cord of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  schematically shows the action of the clipping hook of the receptacle for earphone cord of the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  is a schematic view showing the pulling out of the clipping hook of an improved structure of a receptacle for earphone wire of the present invention. 
       FIG. 8  is a schematic view showing the clipping hook for controlling of the switch of an improved structure of a receptacle for earphone wire of the present invention. 
       FIG. 9  shows the pulling out of the clipping hook to control the rolling disc of an improved structure of a receptacle for earphone wire of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , there is shown a receptacle for earphone cord comprising a front shell  6 , a rear shell  7  enclosed a rolling disc  8  having a retracting earphone wire  70  and a connecting wire  50 , and an earphone seat  65  being provided to the front shell  6 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 6 and 7 , the front shell  6  has a shaft rod  60  for pivotal mounting of the rolling disc  8 , and the top and bottom end of the front shell  6  are provided with a top hole  61  and a bottom hole  62  allowing the passing through of the respective earphone wire  40  and the connecting wire  50 . A sliding hole  63  and a pivot hole  64  are also provided on the front shell  6  and the outer side of the front shell  6  is mounted with an earphone seat  65  by means of screw  650 . A notch  651  is provided on the earphone seat  65  in combination with the front shell  6  to form an opening to accommodate an earphone  4 . A U-shaped clipping hook  652  is provided within the earphone seat  65  and a buttoning section  654  is provided at the end portion of the inner side of the two clipping hooks  653  to allow the earphone  4  to be mounted thereto. A sliding hole  63  passes through the bottom end of one side of the clipping hook  653 , in communication to the pulling rod  655  of the front shell  6 . The pivot hole  64  of the front shell  6  has a push rod  656  and the push rod  656  can pass through the pivot hole  64  to drive a swinging rod  68  at the inner side of the front shell  6 . One end of the swinging rod  68  controls the rotating of the rolling disc  8  and is provided with a spring  69  having one end which presses against the front shell  6 . A connection rod  67  is pivotally mounted at the inner side of the front shell  6  and one end of the connection rod  67  presses against the switching button  66  on the front shell  6 , and one side of the connection rod  67  allows the pulling rod  655  to urge. Screw  73  is used to mount the rear shell  7  to the front shell  6 . A clipping body  70  is provided to the rear shell  7  for the clipping of the receptacle of the present invention onto a belt or the like wore by the user. The top and bottom end of the inner side of the rear shell  7  are provided with a top hole  71  and a bottom hole  72  to combine with the top hole  61  and bottom hole  62  of the front shell  6  to form a through hole for the earphone wire  40  and the connecting wire  50 . 
   The rolling disc  8  is provided circumferentially a rolling recess  80  for the rolling of the earphone wire  40 . One side of the rolling disc  8  comprises a spring recess  81  accommodate a rolling-type spring  85  and the other side of the rolling disc  8  comprises a recess  82  to accommodate a soft-coiled wire  86 . The outer side of the coiled wire  86  comprises a fastening board  87  mounted on the shaft rod  60  allowing the mounting of the rolling disc  8 . A protruded edge  83  is provided on the recess  82  and has a plurality of engaging slots  84  to engage with an interconnection rod  67  at one end. One end of the spring  85  is mounted to the rolling disc  8 , and the other end is mounted onto the shaft rod  60 . 
   The soft-coiled wire  86  is located within the recess  82  and has one end connected to the earphone wire  40 , and the other end is connected to the connection wire  50  passed through the fastening board  87 . 
   The earphone wire  40  is a cord extended from the earphone  4  being connected to one end of the coiled cord  83 . 
   The connection wire  50  is a wire extended from a connector  5 , and the connector  5  can be mounted with the output of a mobile phone or earphone  4  to transmit signals. One end of the connection wire  50  is connected to one end of the soft-coiled wire  50  passing through the fastening board  87 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 6 ,  8  and  9 , when the earphone  4  is inserted into the earphone seat  65 , the two sides  653  of the clipping hook  622  are extended outward so that the earphone  4  is inserted into the two sides of the hook  653 . The restoration force of the hook  653  causes the protruded portion  654  of the hook  653  to restrict the earphone. When the hook  653  is extended outward, the pulling rod  655  pushes the interconnection rod  67  at the side of the front shell  6  and one end of the interconnection rod  67  presses the switching button  66 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , when the earphone  4  is located within the bottom section of the clipping hook  652  the pushing rod  656  swings downward, the swinging rod  68  is dislocated from the engaging slot of the protruded edge  83  and the earphone wire  40  is automatically rolled within the rolling recess  80  due to spring force of the spring  85 . The connection wire  50  will not be rotated as the fastening board  87  is pivotally mounted on the shaft axle  60 , as shown in FIG.  9 . Thus the objectives of automatic switching ON of the earphone and the wire rolling are achieved. 
   Referring to  FIG. 7 , when the earphone  4  is withdrawn, the earphone  4  is dislocated from the earphone seat  65  as the protruded section  644  is extended outward. The pulling rod  655  located at one side of the hook  653  will be driven to drive the interconnection rod  67  at the inner side of the front shell  6 , and one end of the inter connection rod  67  presses the switching button  66  to switch ON the earphone. When the earphone wire  40  is pulled out subsequently, the rolling disc  8  will rotate and the spring  85  is thus become taut. At the same time, the soft-coiled wire  86  will surround onto the shaft rod  60 . When the earphone  40  is released, the engaging slot  84  is engaged by the swinging rod  68  so that the rolling disc  8  cannot rotate in the opposite direction and the earphone wire  40  is thus rolled up. As a result, the objective of switching OFF the earphone is achieved. 
   While the invention has been described with respect to preferred embodiments, it will be clear to those skilled in the art that modifications and improvements may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the invention is not to be limited by the specific illustrative embodiment, but only by the scope of the appended claims.