Abstract:
A retractable ear bud module. The ear bud module is has a housing for holding an ear bud cable, an ear bud cable moveably mounted in the housing, the ear bud cable having a free end with at least one ear bud and a fixed end. A circuit board including a wireless receiver mounts in the housing for communicating with the electronic device. The wireless receiver electronically connects with the ear bud cable to transfer audio signals from the electronic device to the ear bud. A retraction mechanism mounts in the housing to retract and dispense the ear bud cable. The retraction mechanism includes a rotatable spool mounted in the housing, a spring recessed centrally within the spool, and an annular retainer circumscribing the spool to align the ear bud cable on the spool.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This patent application relates in subject matter to commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 13/405,132, 13/366,605 and 12/206,246, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to ear bud management mechanisms that dispense and retract ear bud cables, and cases that are connectable with ear bud management mechanisms. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Ear buds are devices that attach to the ear or head of a user to deliver sound directly to the ear in a personal way. Ear buds may attach to the pinna, lobule, or insert within the external auditory canal. Ear buds may also hang from the head and cover a portion of the ear. The sound delivered typically can be heard by the user, but others have difficulty hearing at the typical sound volume delivered. 
         [0004]    One benefit of using ear buds is that an electronic device may be distanced from a user&#39;s ear to minimize electro-magnetic fields, which are known to impair the electrical fields in the brain, sometimes causing headaches or heat buildup in the head. Another benefit is to minimize interference with ambient sounds. Yet another benefit is to minimize eavesdropping. Since an ear bud need not be held by a user, this frees the hands for other activities. 
         [0005]    Ear buds are commonly used with telephones, music players, computers and other portable, and non-portable, electronic devices. 
         [0006]    One major drawback of using wired ear buds with electronic devices is cord management. Cord management is a commonly experienced problem where the cord of the ear buds becomes tangled. Ear bud cords may be damaged by a frustrated user who attempts to hastily untangle the cord. Operating an automobile or other vehicle while experiencing cord management problems can be dangerous. What is desired is a better way of cord management which enables the user to readily extend and retract ear bud cables in an easy and reliable manner. 
         [0007]    CN101959097 assigned to Nantong Xining Design Service Co., Ltd., discloses an audio receiver for an earphone device that attaches to clothing. The receiver receives wireless signals and includes an earphone socket. The wireless signals are communicated via the earphone socket to earphone. This enables a remotely located electronic device to broadcast to the receiver, and the user to employ earphones to hear the broadcast. The earphone cables are stored in the receiver. Unfortunately, the cord management problem is not fully resolved. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 8,047,365 to Lin et al. discloses a folding case that has one side for holding an electronic device and another side that magnetically secures ear buds. The folding case includes electrical connections between the ear buds and the electronic device. The magnetic connection helps with ear bud management, and inhibits damage to the cord. 
         [0009]    While the state of the art shows a trend toward convenience of use of ear buds with electronic devices and cases for electronic devices, there is also a lack of effective ways for managing ear bud cables. What is desired is a way of managing ear bud cables that is convenient, safe and durable. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    A retractable ear bud module has a housing that removeably connects to a case for an electronic device. The housing holds an ear bud cable that is moveably mounted in the housing. The ear bud cable has a free end and a fixed end. At least one ear bud mounts on the free end. A circuit board having a wireless receiver mounts in the housing for receiving audio signals from the electronic device. The ear bud cable has a fixed end hard-wired to the wireless receiver to establish electronic communication between the wireless receiver and the ear bud. The ear bud cable cooperates with the wireless receiver to communicate audio signals between the electronic device and the ear buds. 
         [0011]    The housing includes a retraction mechanism mounted in the housing for selectively retracting and dispensing the ear bud cable, the retraction mechanism includes a spool rotatably mounted in the housing, a spring mounted centrally and recessed within the spool to selectively rotate the spool, and an annular retainer circumscribing the spool to align the spool within the housing and to align the ear bud cable on the spool. 
         [0012]    In one embodiment of the invention, the spool has a top level and a bottom level, the top level stores a first portion of the ear bud cable, and the bottom level stores a second portion of the ear bud cable. The ear bud cable has a fixed end hard-wired to the wireless receiver to establish a hard-wired electrical connection between the ear bud cable and the wireless receiver. 
         [0013]    The housing includes a pawl latch and switch assembly having a pawl latch and a switch. The pawl latch normally engages the spool and rotatably mounts in the housing. Actuation of the switch causes the pawl latch to release the spool to enable the spring to spin the spool to retract the ear bud cable. Preferably, the pawl latch and switch assembly is formed as a unitary structure. 
         [0014]    The housing includes a rechargeable battery and a charging port. The rechargeable battery mounts in the housing and in electrical connection with the wireless receiver to power the wireless receiver. The charging port electrically connects with the battery and mounts on the housing. 
         [0015]    The housing includes a hinged cover mounted on the housing for covering the ear buds when the ear buds are retracted and a volume control switch mounted on the housing for regulating audio output of the ear buds. The hinged cover inhibits entry of contaminants into the housing and keeps the ear buds clean. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    The present invention is described in terms of various examples as set forth in the drawings, in which: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a retractable ear bud mechanism attached to a case for an electronic device in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the retractable ear bud mechanism having a hinged cover in a closed configuration. 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  a perspective view of the retractable ear bud mechanism of  FIG. 2  having the hinged cover in an open configuration. 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the retractable ear bud mechanism with a port removed to display the spool of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a cutaway perspective view of the retractable ear bud mechanism as seen along the line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of the retractable ear bud mechanism of  FIG. 4 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]      FIG. 1  shows a case  10  in accordance with the present invention and a ear bud module  12 . The ear bud module  12  removeably attaches to the case  10 . The case  10  holds electronic device  14  having an audio output capability. The electronic device  14  is preferably a telephone, the music player smart phone, a tablet computer, or other computing device having audio output capability. 
         [0024]    In a preferred embodiment, the electronic device  14  is enabled with wireless audio output capability, for example a Bluetooth™™ communication module having a radio and a processor, where the radio transmits and receives audio signals via a host-less Bluetooth™ communication protocol such as defined by the trade organization, Bluetooth SIG, and other trade organizations. 
         [0025]    The ear bud module  12  removeably attaches to the case  10 . This removable attachment can include a clipped attachment that includes a press-fit between the ear bud module  12  and the case  10 . In an alternate embodiment of the invention the ear bud module  12  slidably connects to the case  10 . The use of a user actuated switch supplements the press-fit and slideable connection between the ear bud module  12  and the case  10  to enable a locking connection between the case  10  and the ear bud module  12 . 
         [0026]    The ear bud module  12  includes a housing  16  and an ear bud cable  18 , which retractably holds an ear bud cable  18 . The ear bud cable  18  has free ends  20   a  and  20   b  and ear buds  22   a  and  22   b  attached to the free ends  20   a  and  20   b , respectively. 
         [0027]    In one embodiment, the ear bud cable  18  is equipped with a microphone  19  to enable telephonic communication between the microphone  19  and an electronic device. 
         [0028]      FIG. 2  shows the ear bud module generally designated with the reference numeral  12 . The ear bud module  12  includes at least one clip  24  for removeably attaching the ear bud module  12  to a case. Preferably, the ear bud module  12  has more than one clip  24 . The ear buds  22   a  and  22   b  are shown in a retracted configuration. 
         [0029]    The ear bud module  12  has a cover  26  mounted on the housing  16  for covering the ear buds  22   a  and  22   b  when the ear buds  22   a  and  22   b  are retracted. The cover  26  is shown closed on the housing  16 . The cover  26  has two hinges  28   a  and  28   b  that assure alignment of the cover  26  on the housing  16  when the cover  26  is closed, and to enable the cover  26  to open. Preferably the cover  26  is made from transparent material to reveal the ear buds  22   a  and  22   b  when the cover  26  is closed. 
         [0030]    The housing  16  includes a control switch  30 , which includes a down volume actuator  32 , and up volume actuator  36  and a skip actuator  34 . The volume actuators regulate the volume of sound communicated to the ear buds  22   a  and  22   b.  The skip actuator  34  enables a user to selectively bypass an audio file when a series of audio files are streamed to the ear bud module  12  from an electronic device. 
         [0031]      FIG. 3  shows the ear bud module  12  with the cover  26  open. The cover  26  has a handle  38  to enable a user to open and close the cover  26 . As shown the handle  38  includes a recess defining an opening in the cover  26  sized to enable the finger of a user to insert into the cover  26  to grip and open the cover  26 . The hinges  28   a  and  28   b  restrict the cover  26  when it opens and limit the cover opening to approximately a 90 degree angle with respect to the housing  16 . Restricting the angle of the cover  26  when it opens enables the hinges  28   a  and  28   b  to be shaped so the hinges  28   a  and  28   b  only minimally protrude into the housing  16  during movement. Thus the hinges  28   a  and  28   b  are designed to minimize potential interference between the cover  38  and the ear buds  22   a  and  22   b.    
         [0032]      FIG. 4  shows the ear bud module  12  with a portion of the housing  16  removed. The ear bud module  12  includes a retraction mechanism  40  having including a rotatable spool  42 , a pawl latch and switch assembly  44 , a rechargeable battery  46 , a charging port  48  and a power switch  50 . 
         [0033]    The retraction mechanism  40  and the spool  42  enable the ear bud cable  18  to wrap around the spool  42  for stowing and dispensing the ear bud cable  18 . The ear bud cable  18  is a flat cable to minimize tangles and to maximize stowage capacity of the spool  42 . 
         [0034]    The pawl latch and switch assembly  44  normally engages the spool to enable the spool to extend a desired length of ear bud cable  18 . The pawl latch and switch assembly  44  includes a pawl latch  52  and a switch  54 . The switch  54  selectively disengages the pawl latch  52  from the spool  42 . The spool  42  includes a notch  52  that normally engages with the pawl latch  52  and cooperates with the pawl latch  52  to inhibit retraction of the ear bud cable  18 . Actuation of the switch  54  releases the pawl latch  52  from the spool notch  52  to enable the spool to retract and stow the ear bud cable  18 . 
         [0035]    The pawl latch  52  and the switch  54  are a unitary structure to form the pawl latch and switch assembly  44 , which pivotally mounts in the housing  16 . 
         [0036]    The charging port  48  enables recharging of the battery  46 . The battery  46  powers a wireless communication module integrated in the housing  16 , which wirelessly communicates with an electronic device. The power switch  50  selectively enables operation of the wireless communication module. 
         [0037]    The spool  42  defines a slot  68  that enables the ear bud cable  18  to extend through the spool  42 . The slot  68  has a spiral shape to enable the ear bud cable  18  to extend through the spool from a top level to a bottom level of the spool. The spiral shape enables the ear bud cable  18  to form slack that readily slides through the slot  68  when the ear bud cable is dispensed and retracted. 
         [0038]      FIG. 5  shows a cutaway view of the ear bud module  12  as seen along the line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 2 . The ear bud module  12  includes the charging port  48  electrically connected with the battery  46  via a circuit board  58 . The circuit board includes a processor  60  and a wireless receiver  62 . The wireless receiver  62  includes a circuit board having various circuitries including a Bluetooth™ radio for transmitting and receiving signals from an electronic device equipped with Bluetooth™ capability. It can be appreciated that the wireless receiver  62  can be readily adapted to communicate via various other protocols to enable wireless communication between an electronic device and the ear bud module  12 . These protocols can include UHF near field communication protocols, infrared communications protocols and other protocols capable of enabling two-way communication between an electronic device and an ear bud module. Instructions, in addition to audio signals, are communicated between the electronic device  14  ( FIG. 1 ) and the ear bud module  12 . 
         [0039]    The ear bud cable  18  has a middle portion that wraps around a top level  64  of the spool  42  and the middle portion also wraps around the bottom level  66  of the spool  42 . The spool  42  is configured with at slot  68  situated between the top level  64  and the bottom level  66  to enable the ear bud cable  18  to feed between the top level  64  and the bottom level  66  of the spool  42 . As the spool  42  unwinds ear bud cable  18  slackens in the top portion  64 , releasing additional length of ear bud cable  18  to the bottom level  66 . 
         [0040]    The retraction mechanism  40  includes the spool  42  and a retainer  70 . The retainer  70  circumscribes the middle portion of the ear bud cable  18  that wraps around the spool  42 . The retainer  70  mounts in the housing  16  with screws to retain the spool  42  in the housing and maintain alignment of the spool  42  in the housing  16 . 
         [0041]    The ear bud cable  18  has a fixed end  68  that is hard wired to the circuit board  58  to assure integrity of the audio signals communicated from the wireless receiver  62  of the circuit board  58  to the ear buds  22   a  and  22   b  ( FIG. 1 ). Preferably the hard wired connection between the circuit board  58  and the fixed end  68  is a solder joint. Although a hard wired connection between the fixed end  68  of the ear bud cable  18  and the circuit board  58  is described, alternate connections are possible; including a plug or other mechanism for interconnecting an ear bud cable  18  to a circuit board  58  that assures signal integrity can be used. 
         [0042]    The spool  42  includes a recessed portion on the bottom level  66  of the spool  42  which holds a spring  74 . The spring  74  is recessed in the spool  42  to minimize height of the housing  16 . A portion of the ear bud cable  18  wraps around the bottom portion  66  of the spool  42  and circumscribes the spring  74 . The arrangement of the ear bud cable  18  circumscribing the spring  74  on the bottom level  66  of the spool  42  minimizes height of the ear bud module. 
         [0043]      FIG. 6  is an exploded view of the ear bud module  12  of  FIG. 4 , including the housing  14 , the circuit board  58  with the wireless receiver  62 , the pawl latch and switch assembly  44 , a spring retainer  72 , the spring  74 , the ear bud cable  18 , the spool  42 , and the cover  26 . 
         [0044]    The spring retainer  72  is an annular plate that enables the spring  74  to slide freely when it coils and uncoils to rotate the spool  42 . 
         [0045]    The pawl latch and switch assembly  44  includes an actuator spring  78  and screw  80  that cooperate to bias the pawl latch and switch assembly  44  in a locking orientation to inhibit retraction of the ear bud cable  18  and counter-rotation of the spool  42 . Counter-rotation of the spool  42  retracts the ear bud cable  18 . Actuation of the switch  54  releases the paw latch  52  from the spool to enable the spring  74  to counter-rotate the spool  42  and thus enable retraction of the ear bud cable  18 . 
         [0046]    The housing  16  includes an axel  82  that is formed in the housing  16  to receive the spool  42 . A screw  86  and retainer  84  cooperate to screw the spool  42  on the axle  82  to hold the spool  42  in a fixed axial orientation, while enabling the spool  42  to rotate about the axel  82 . 
         [0047]    While the present invention is disclosed in terms of various embodiments, including preferred embodiments, it can be appreciated that the true scope of the invention is defined only by the appended claims.