Abstract:
A system for preventing earphones or ear buds, when separated from ears of a user, from falling to the floor or ground, or dangling. The system includes an endless loop of neckwear proportioned to closely fit about a neck of a user preferably above the collarbone and a first clasp having a void space which, at its maximum size, is sufficiently small to preclude a slippage of the earphones or ear buds through it and to maintain left and right earphone cords thereof proximally the neck and torso of the user.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 13/490,859, filed Jun. 7, 2012, which claimed the benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 61/644,627, filed May 9, 2012. Both applications are incorporated herein in their entirety under 35 USC 119(e) and 120. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to the field of in ear headphones, earphones and ear buds. 
         [0003]    Listening to music through headphones has become more and more common with the advent of MP3 players and smartphones. Ear headphones are a more compact, convenient, comfortable version of the over-ear headphone. But one drawback of the in-ear design is that earphones or ear buds frequently fall out of the user&#39;s ears. This is particularly common while involved in activity such as working-out at the gym, where sweat may gather in the ear of the listener, causing the earphones to slip-out. The within invention functions to catch ear buds or the like when they fall or they may be used to control the earphones when the listener wishes to remove them. 
         [0004]    There are numerous headphones on the market designed to overcome the problem, these by forcing the earphones to stay in the ear. They however tend to be bulky and uncomfortable. The present invention keeps ear buds or the like from falling on the floor or ground and prevents the wires thereof from becoming entangled in the legs of the user without sacrificing comfort, convenience, aesthetics or hygiene. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    There is provided a system for preventing earphones or ear buds, when separated from ears of a user, from falling to the floor or ground, or dangling unsafely. The system comprises an endless loop of neckwear proportioned to closely fit about a neck of a user preferably above the collarbone thereof. Said loop includes a first clasp having a void space, said void space at its maximum size sufficiently small to preclude a slippage of said earphones or ear buds therethrough and to maintain left and right earphone cords thereof proximally to the neck of a user. 
         [0006]    An object of the invention is to protect an user&#39;s earphones from dirt and bacteria by providing a system to avoid a system to avoid their contact with the floor of ground. 
         [0007]    A further object is to provide a system to reduce the need for cleaning or replacing the headphones as often, thus saving time and money. 
         [0008]    It is a yet further object to enhance user safety in the use of earphones and ear buds during exercise. 
         [0009]    The above and yet other objects and advantages will become apparent from the hereinafter set forth Brief Description of the Drawings, Detailed Description of the Invention and Claims appended herewith. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a prior art medallion suspension element for use with a necklace. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a view of the prior art suspension element of  FIG. 1  shown in use with a typical prior art necklace. The user thereof is also utilizing earphones and listening to music from an MP3 Player or Smartphone. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a view of the prior art, further to the view of  FIG. 2 , in which the earphones or ear buds of the user have detached or separated from the ears of the user. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a sketch, sequential to that of  FIG. 3 , showing the manner in which earphones or ear buds are able to slip through a suspension means of the type shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a schematic view in accordance with the present invention in which a necklace is provided with a first clasp and a second clasp, in which the first clasp thereof is shown in an open position and the second clasp in a closed position. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a view, sequential to that of  FIG. 5 , showing the engagement element of the first clasp before it engages earphone cords of the audio player. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a view, further to  FIG. 5  showing the appearance of the first clasp when closed including a void space thereby provided therein. 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a view, further to that of  FIG. 6  showing the clasp closed and a void space thereof fully engaging the left and right earphone cords between the earphones and the audio device. 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a view, further to  FIG. 8 , showing the manner in which earphones or ear buds are engaged by the first clasp of the system in the event that the earphones are removed from the ears of the user or are accidentally detached therefrom. 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  is a view, further to  FIG. 9 , showing the manner in which the void space of the first clasp can engage the earphones or ear plugs, preventing the falling thereof to the floor or ground. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0020]    The prior art, as is best known to the inventor, is reflected in U.S. Design Pat. No. 520,738 (2006) to Tarantino, which is a necklace having a pendant engaging clasp. Therein, the pendant may hold an audio device such as a cellular telephone. 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  is an enlarged view of the pendant or audio device engaging element  10  of Tarantino. As may be noted, this element includes a first loop  12  of necklace  14  (see  FIG. 2 ). Attached thereto is a small lobster-type clasp  16  from which depends a larger loop  18 . In  FIG. 2  may be seen the appearance of the article of Tarantino, if worn in connection with an audio device  20 , air buds  22 , left and right earphone cords  24  and an integrated earphone cord  26 . The cord  26  may of course be placed within loop  18  of the article of elements  12 / 16 / 18  of Tarantino. See  FIG. 1 . Integrated cord  26  will of course be placed through loop  18  by most users of the system as shown in  FIG. 2 . Sown in  FIG. 3  is the appearance of the system of Tarantino where earphones or earplugs  22  are disconnected from the ears  28  of the user. In such event, left and right earphone cords  24  and  25  will fall downward in the direction of floor or ground until a relative balance in mass between cords  24 ,  25  and ear buds  22  about a balance point within loop  18 , and audio device  20  and lower integrated earphone cord  26 , is achieved. In almost all cases, the result thereof will be that ear buds  22  and their associated cords  24  and  25  will extend substantially further downwardly to the floor or legs of the user than will the audio device  20  and integrated cord  26 . This, in itself, can give rise to a significant safety hazard should it occur in a gym or during exercise, in that cords  24 ,  25  and ear buds  22  may easily become entangled the equipment that an individual is exercising upon. 
         [0022]    Additionally, as shown in  FIG. 4 , if earphone cords  24  and  25 , and earphones/ear buds  22  do not become entangled in the equipment upon which one is exercising, an alternative result is shown, namely, that ear buds  22  will slip entirely through the large loose ring  28  in the article of Tarantino. This event is indicated by arrow  30 . Therein, earphones/ear buds  22  will readily slip through loop  18  in which the ear buds and cords  24 ,  25 , and a part of integrated cord  26  will certainly reach the floor or ground or have a yet higher probability of becoming entangled within machinery upon which the individual may be exercising. Minimally, earphones/plugs  22  become exposed to unhygienic conditions which will require the cleaning thereof and may be readily broken resultant of the fall to the ground or one stepping on them. 
         [0023]    Accordingly, a need has arisen for an improvement over systems such as that of Tarintino which assure that the earphones/ear buds with audio devices including MP3s and IPhones not present a risk to the user by reason of entanglement within the legs or exercise equipment or breakage by inadvertently stepping upon the earphones/buds  22  should they fall to the floor or ground in the manner shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0024]    Shown in  FIG. 5  is an endless loop of neckwear  32 , which may take the form of a necklace employed in the present system which is particularly proportioned to closely fit about the neck of a user and above the collarbone thereof, as may be seen in  FIG. 6 . At the front neckwear or necklace  32  is provided a first clasp  34  having, when closed, a void space  36  (see  FIG. 7 ) therein. As may be noted in  FIGS. 5 and 7 , clasp  34  is attached to necklace  32  by a small ring  38  and the clasp is opened (shown in  FIG. 5 ) by lever arm  40  of the clasp moving upwardly as shown by arrow  42  which in turn will cause arm  44  to open in direction  46 . In combination, namely, the closing of first clasp  34  is shown in  FIG. 7 . This occurs when arm  40  is depressed in direction  48 , thereby bringing arm  44  into its closed position against arm  50  of the clasp, thus creating void space  36 . The typical interior dimensions of void space  36  are X millimeters by Y millimeters, and the exterior dimensions of clasp  34  typically fall in a range of about 20 millimeters to about 33 millimeters. If the void space were a circle, its diameter would be about Z millimeters. 
         [0025]    First clasp  34  upon the front of the neck of a user is shown in the view of  FIG. 6 . However, further shown in  FIG. 6  is audio listening device  52  proportioned to fit into a pocket  54  of pants or trunks of a user. As may be further noted in  FIG. 6 , the length of respective left and right earphone/bud cords  24 / 25  in combination with integrated cord  27  provides sufficient slack for movement of the head and body of the user without excess or unnecessary slack which may, itself, present a safety issue in many exercise environments.  FIG. 6  further shows clasp  34  just prior to engagement of left and right earphone/bud cords  24 / 25 , just above a point  56  of the joinder thereof into integrated cord  27 . When cord  24  and  25  are so aligned, first clasp  34  is then closed in the manner shown in  FIG. 8 . Just above point  56  of joinder of left and right earphone cords  24 / 25 , unitary cord  27  continues onto audio device  52 . From  FIG. 8  may be appreciated the fundamental stability afforded to cords  24 ,  25 , and  27 . Thereby during normal use of the inventive system, the cords are kept close to the body of the user by reason of the dimension of endless loop of neckwear or necklace  32  above the collarbone of the user so that these wires and, with it, audio device  52  are not permitted to flop about the body of the user which, in itself, enhances the risk that earphones/buds  22  may fall out of the ears of the user and become entangled with the legs of the user or exercise equipment. See  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
         [0026]    As may be noted in  FIGS. 5 and 7 , neckwear  32  is also provided with a second clasp  58  which is typically situated behind the neck of the user and which may readily engage any of the links  60  of the necklace necessary to achieve a dimension of the necklace which will closely fit about the neck of the user and above the collarbone thereof (see  FIG. 6 ). Therefore, necklace  32  will preferably include multiple links  60  which may be engaged by second clasp  58  to accommodate users of different neck sizes. Alternatively, endless loop neckwear which consists of a single strip of material, such as leather, may simply be tied behind the neck of the user at a comfortable. 
         [0027]    In usage of the present inventive system, if earphones/buds  22  are either purposefully removed, or accidently detached from ears  62  of the user, the immediate result thereof is shown in  FIG. 9 , namely, that void space  36  of clasp  34  will simply engage the right earphone/bud cords  24 / 25  and hold the same within void space  36  of the clasp  34 . If, at that point, wires  24 / 25  to the ear buds  22  are not stabilized, or the user does not realize that the ear buds have fallen from his ears, the worst which can then occur is shown in  FIG. 10 , namely, is that earphones/buds  22  will simply engage void space  36  of the first clasp  34  since the dimension of such void space is less than the smallest aggregate dimension of earphones/buds  22 . In other words, the preferred interior dimension of void space  36 , namely, about 12 millimeters to about 15 millimeters or, alternatively, if the void space is essentially circular, a diameter of about 13.5 millimeters will preclude ear buds  22  from falling from clasp  34 , thereby avoiding the hazardous conditions which exist in prior art systems, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
         [0028]    It should be understood that various clasps, other than the so-called lobster clasp  34  shown herein may be readily employed to achieve the objects and functions of the present system as set forth above. 
         [0029]    While there has been shown and described above the preferred embodiment of the instant invention it is to be appreciated that the invention may be embodied otherwise than is herein specifically shown and described and that, within said embodiment, certain changes may be made in the form and arrangement of the parts without departing from the underlying ideas or principles of this invention as set forth in the Claims appended herewith.