Abstract:
A device containing a retractable length of musician&#39;s cord and a carrying handle is provided. The cord is used to interconnect music equipment. The device is cost effective, portable and easy to use, and it reduces the problems of excess cord length and lost or tangled cords.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION DATA  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 29/217,524 filed Nov. 18, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. D527,038. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to musician&#39;s cords, which are the cables used by musicians to interconnect their electrical instruments (e.g. guitars, bass, keyboard, microphones, etc.) and associated sound equipment (e.g. mixing board, amplifiers, loudspeakers etc.). More specifically, it relates to an easily portable device that provides a retractable length of musician&#39;s cord.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     Modern musicians and musical groups utilize a variety of electrical cables to connect their various instruments to the associated sound equipment. For example, it is not uncommon for a single sound mixer to have one cable connected to the electric guitar, another to the bass, another to the keyboard, and still others to each of the microphones used by each musician. These electrical cables, conventionally referred to as musician&#39;s cords, are typically provided as individual loose cords with appropriate connectors at their ends, and musicians (and/or their sound technicians) typically carry these from gig to gig or from practice to practice to interconnect their instruments and sound equipment.  
         [0004]     Loose musician&#39;s cords are typically sold in a variety of lengths, and an individual musician will often carry several cords of various lengths. Cords of longer length provide greater freedom for the relative positioning of the equipment and for movement about the performance area (e.g. for the signer or guitarist who moves about stage). However, longer cords can be cumbersome to work with and increase the time to set up and tear down a set. Furthermore, excess cord length can be unsightly and it may present a tripping hazard, which can be a risk both to people and equipment. While wireless transmitters and receivers are available to reduce or eliminate the need for long lengths of music cords, such equipment is costly and can be subject to interference.  
         [0005]     It has been known to provide retractable electrical extension cords, for example to provide electrical power in different locations in a workshop. However, modern musicians and those that have been burdened with carrying lengths of individual loose music cord have not had the benefit of an easily portable device for addressing their music cord needs. The present invention addresses this need and provides an easily portable unit for establishing an electrical connection for musical instruments.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0006]     In one embodiment, what is described is a portable device for establishing a single connection between music and sound equipment, comprising: a housing retractably containing a first length of musician&#39;s cord, the first length extending from an opening in the housing and having a first music connector at its end; a second length of the musician&#39;s cord extending from the housing and having a second music connector at its end; and a carrying handle. In a preferred embodiment, no other musician&#39;s cord other than the first and second lengths extends from the housing. The carrying handle may be textured and there may be rubberized feet on the housing. A stop member may be mounted on the first length at a location spaced from the first connector for preventing the first connector from being retracted into the housing. The housing may be configured to define a rounded perimeter with the opening from which the first length extends being on the rounded portion of the perimeter. One of the connectors may be a male connector having an elongated post and a head with a reduced diameter portion between the post and the head.  
         [0007]     What is also described is a method of using a device to establish a connection between music equipment comprising: carrying a portable device to a desired location with a handle of the device; pulling a desired length of musician&#39;s cord from a housing of the device, the length being retractably mounted in the housing; connecting the musician&#39;s cord to a piece of music equipment; and connecting a second end of the cord to a second piece of music equipment to establish the connection. The device need not include any other music cord besides the cord between the first and second ends. The method may also include retracting the cord into the housing after use. Connecting the cord to music equipment may include inserting a male connector into a female receiver, the male connector including an elongated post and a head with a reduced diameter portion between the post and the head.  
         [0008]     What is also described is a portable device for establishing a connection between music and sound equipment, comprising: a housing retractably containing a first length of music cable, the first length extending from an opening in the housing and having a first music connector at its end; a second length of the music cable extending from the housing and having a second music connector at its end; and a carrying handle; wherein at least one of the first and second connectors is a male connector including an elongated post and a head with a reduced diameter portion between the post and the head. A stop member may be mounted on the first length for preventing the first connector from being retracted into the housing, and the first connector may be the male connector. In a preferred form, no other music cable besides the first and second lengths extends from the housing. In addition to the carrying handle, a loop for hanging the housing on a hook may also be provided.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a device containing retractable musician&#39;s cord.  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a left side elevational view of the  FIG. 1  device.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0011]     For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications in the described embodiments, and any further applications of the principles of the invention as described herein are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.  
         [0012]     With reference to the Figures, what is shown is a portable device  10  for establishing a single connection between music and sound equipment. Device  10  includes a housing  20 , a carrying handle  50 , and two lengths  30 ,  40  of music cord. The first length  30  has a first music connector  32  at its end, and the second length has a second music connector  42  at its end.  
         [0013]     The first length  30  is wound around a retracting spool (not shown) inside housing  20 , and the free end of first length  30  extends from an opening  24  in the sidewall  22  of housing  20 . A ball stop  34  sized larger than opening  24  is mounted on length  30  and a retaining clip  36  keeps the ball stop  34  in position along length  30 . When the retracting spool retracts to wind first length  30  into housing  20 , ball stop  34  serves as a positive stop to prevent complete withdrawal of the free end into housing  20 . As a result, first music connector  32  remains readily available for subsequent use.  
         [0014]     Sidewall  22  defines a generally circular perimeter of housing  22  between generally parallel upper  28  and lower surfaces  29 . A mounting loop  60  is provided on the sidewall  22  such that the housing  20  may be hung on a hook, and a number of rubber feet  26  are provided on the lower surface  29  of housing  20  for when housing  20  is placed on the ground. The device  10  is intended to be carried from gig to gig by a musician and the carrying handle  50  mounted on upper surface  28  has rubberized texturing  52 ,  54  to improve ergonomics when manually grasped.  
         [0015]     It is to be understood that, as with other types of retractable cords, the retracting spool (not shown) functions to allow a desired portion of the first length  30  to be pulled from the housing  30  and be available for use, wherein the cords  30  and  40  are in electrical communication. Then after use, the length  30  is retracted back into the housing. A variety of retracting mechanism are known to accomplish this purpose.  
         [0016]     It is also to be understood that both the music cord  30 ,  40  and the first and second connectors  32 ,  42  are of the type that are standard in the music industry for connecting musical instruments. For example, as illustrated, the first connector  32  is a male connector suitable for connection to, e.g. an electric guitar, and includes an elongated post  33  and a tip  35  with a reduced diameter region  37  between the post  33  and the tip  35 . As illustrated, the second connector  42  is a female connector of the type that would receive a male connector configured like the illustrated first connector  32 .  
         [0017]     While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character. Only certain embodiments have been shown and described, and all changes, equivalents, and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention described herein are desired to be protected. Thus, the specifics of this description and the attached drawings should not be interpreted to limit the scope of this invention to the specifics thereof. Finally, the prior design U.S. pat. No. D527,038 is herein incorporated by reference to the extent not inconsistent with the present disclosure.