Abstract:
An improved retractable modem cord device wherein a window in the front face of the case of the device is provided, through which a design, such as a pattern, inscription, or logo can be seen. When a retractable cord of this device is pulled out of the case it causes the design to rotate or spin. Likewise, when the cord is retracted back into the case of the retractable modem cord device, the design spins. Thus, anyone observing the retractable modem cord device will see the spinning design. It is believed this spinning design will be interesting to observers, thus lending special appeal to the device.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of a prior application entitled “Retractable Badgeholder With Spinning Display” which was assigned Ser. No. 09/595,124 and filed Jun. 16, 2000. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND  
         [0002]    1. Technical Field  
           [0003]    This invention relates to a retractable modem cord, and more specifically to such a modem cord incorporating a spinning display.  
           [0004]    2. Background Art  
           [0005]    Most modern computers include a modem device for connecting the computer to the telephone system. Typically, this is done using a standard telephone cable (or cord as it is usually referred to) constructed of an insulated cord containing conductors with plugs at either end, typically so-called RJ-11 connectors. One of the connectors is plugged into a socket on the computer that interfaces with the modem device and the other connector is plugged into a similar socket in the room in which the computer is being used. This latter socket interfaces with the telephone system. Typically, these sockets are so-called RJ-11 jacks. Alternately, the modem can be a stand-alone device which is connected to the computer. In such a case, one of the connectors is plugged into a jack on the modem device, in lieu of the computer, and the other end is plugged into the telephone system jack. In a home or office setting where the computer is typically a desktop computer, a dedicated telephone cord is used to make the above-described connection. It is usually plugged into the computer and the telephone jack and left undisturbed.  
           [0006]    However, with the increased popularity of mobile computing, desktop computers are replaced with laptop, notebook, or hand-held computers. A user of such portable computing devices connects the device to the telephone system at whatever location he or she may be at the time, such as hotel rooms, airport waiting areas, and a myriad of other locations. To make the connection, the user must have a telephone cord, as described above. While, a standard telephone cord is often carried around by the user for this purpose, these cords can be somewhat cumbersome. Particularly, a user will typically have to coil the telephone cord to make it convenient for storing and transporting. The coiled cord must then be un-coiled for use. Often the cord becomes unraveled during storage, thereby making it difficult to retrieve. In addition, in the process of uncoiling the cord, it often becomes tangled, and must be untangled in order to use it. Recently, convenient devices for preventing these types of problems have come into use. The device is often referred to as a retractable model cord.  
           [0007]    A retractable modem cord is a device having a case inside of which is a reel with a modular-type telephone cord wrapped around it. The reel is configured such that either of the free ends of the cord, which are connected to the aforementioned telephone plugs or connectors, protrude from the case and can be pulled away from the case, thereby rotating the reel, and allowing the cord to un-wrap from the reel. As the cord unwraps from the reel, both end of the cord are extended from the case, even if only one of the cord ends is pulled. The cord is permanently attached at approximately mid-length to the reel so that the cord is never fully extracted from the retractable modem cord case. However, most of the cord can be pulled from the case and used to connect a user&#39;s computing equipment to the telephone system, as described above. The reel is spring loaded in that as the cord is being pulled from the case, a spring comes under tension. This spring would retract the cord back into the case, if the reel could rotate freely in the opposite direction than it was rotated to extend the cord. However, this is temporarily precluded from happening by a locking device which allows the reel to rotate in the direction necessary to extend the cord, but not in the reverse direction. Thus, once extended the cord remains so while in use. Once the user is done with the cord and has disconnected it from the computing device and the telephone system jack, a manually-activated release accessible from the outside of the case is used to release the reel locking mechanism. The spring which is still under tension then rotates the reel in a “take-up” direction and the two halves of the cord are automatically reeled back into the case. The openings in the case through which the two halves of the cord extend and retract, as well as the pathway from the reel to the openings are configured to cause the cord to wind onto the reel smoothly without kinking or tangling. The case can then be easily stored and transported by the user. Thus, it can be seen that the retractable modem cord eliminates the problems of having to coil and uncoil the telephone cord, as well as the problems associated with the cord becoming unraveled during storage or tangled when being uncoiled.  
           [0008]    The above-described retractable modem cord devices are relatively inexpensive to manufacture and have become popular as promotional products where a design or logo is imprinted on the outside of the case where it is visible to the user and others. These designs and logos are intended as advertising and as a bonus make what could otherwise be an inconspicuous device into an item of interest to bystanders, thus making the device a source of free publicity for the company or organization whose design is imprinted on the outside of the device.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0009]    The present invention is directed toward an improvement to the existing retractable modem cord devices described above. This improvement involves creating a window in at least one face of the case of the device, through which a design, such as a pattern, inscription, or logo can be seen. When the cord of this improved retractable modem cord device is pulled out of the case it causes the design to rotate. Likewise, when the cord is retracted back into the case, the design spins. Thus, anyone observing the retractable modem cord device will see the spinning design. It is believed this spinning design will be even more interesting to observers, thus lending special appeal to the improved retractable modem cord device.  
           [0010]    More specifically, the retractable modem cord device according to the present invention includes a case having a viewing port on its front side through which a rotating display plate can be seen. This viewing port can be open to the outside, or if desired, it could be formed using a transparent window. The display plate has a design on its exterior facing side which is visible from the outside through the viewing port. The retractable modem cord device also includes a telephone cord, which in one mode is fully retracted within the case with the exception of the two free ends of the cord that extend outside the case through separate openings in its periphery. The two ends of the cord terminate in the previously-described telephone-type connectors. The connectors are larger than the openings in the periphery of the case, and so the free ends of the cord are prevented from retracting completely into the case. In the fully retracted mode, the tension applied to the cord is sufficient to hold the connectors against the periphery of the case. In addition, there are two nooks formed in the case just outside of the openings through which the ends of the cord extend. Each connector is housed within the confines of a different one of the nooks when the cord is completely retracted. The result is that in the retracted mode, the connectors are held within the nooks, which provides a degree of protection to the connectors during storage and transport of the retractable modem cord device. The cord can be manually extended from the case by a user, so that the cord can be used to connect the modem associated with a computing device to the telephone system. Specifically, the cord is manually extended from the case by a user pulling on either of the two ends of the cable via the connector. The connectors are still readily accessible when housed in the nooks so as to allow a user to grasp one or both of the connectors to pull on them and extend the cord. In the case where the user pulls on just one of the connectors, the end not pulled is extended automatically, thereby extending both ends of the cord simultaneously. In this way the two ends of the cord are played out, with the case of the device remaining approximately at the mid-point of the extended length of the cord. The retractable modem cord device also includes a locking and release mechanism that has lock which once the cord has been extended by the user prevents the cord from retracting back into the case, despite the influence of the tension on the cord. Thus, the user pulls the cord to the desired length, or to its fully extended length, and then lets go of the connector(s). The lock of the locking and release mechanism prevents the cord from being retracted. The user then plugs the connectors into the modem jack on a computing device (or directly into the modem if it is a stand-alone unit) and into the telephone system jack, respectively. When the user is done using the modem connection, he or she unplugs the respective connectors, and manually activates a release that is part of the locking and release mechanism. This release is used to release the lock, thereby allowing the cord to be retracted back into the case under the influence of the tension on the cord.  
           [0011]    Whenever, the cord is extended or retracted, the aforementioned display plate rotates, thus providing an interesting spinning design. The design on the display plate can be incorporated in a number of ways. For example, the design could be formed as part of the exterior facing surface of the plate, such as by embossing or engraving. The design could also be formed over the surface of the exterior facing side of the display plate. This could be accomplished using paint or ink. Alternately, the display plate could be made using a label and a backing plate. In this later case, the design would be on a front side of the label which acts as the exterior facing side of the display plate. This label is attached to the backing plate by its back side to complete the display plate.  
           [0012]    The case of the retractable modem cord device can have any desired shape. For example, the case when viewed from its front side can have a shape approximating a circle, ellipse, or some form of a polygon (e.g., a triangle, square, rectangle, hexagon, etc., or a combination thereof). The viewing port can also take on any desired shape, and need not be the same as the case. Likewise, the display plate can have any desired shape, although a circular disc shape is preferred to facilitate its rotation within the case. In one version of the present retractable modem cord device, the display plate is flush with the interior surface of the case adjacent the viewing port. In another version, the viewing port is an opening in the case and the display plate extends through the opening. Typically, with this latter version, the display plate extends only far enough to be flush with the exterior surface of the case adjacent the viewing port, although this need not be the case if it is desired that the display extend outside the case. 
       
    
    
       [0013]    In addition to the just described benefits, other objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description which follows hereinafter when taken in conjunction with the drawing figures which accompany it.  
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    The specific features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1A is a front view of a retractable modem cord device according to the present invention.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1B is a side view of a retractable modem cord device according to the present invention.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2A is view of the components making up some of the internal mechanisms of the retractable modem cord device of FIGS. 1A and 1B, as viewed looking into the interior of the cover of the device.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2B is view of the components making up some of the internal mechanisms of the retractable modem cord device of FIGS. 1A and 1 B, as viewed looking into the interior of the back piece of the device.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 2C is partially cut-away view of the retractable modem cord device of FIGS. 1A and 1B looking into the device from the back side thereof and showing some of the components making up the device.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 3 is an exploded, side view of the reel and display disk of the retractable modem cord device of FIGS. 1A and 1B. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0021]    In the following description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIGS. 1A and 1B depict a retractable modem cord device  10  embodying the present invention. Generally, the retractable modem cord device  10  has a case  12  inside of which is an extendable and retractable telephone cable  14 , which is usually referred to as a telephone cord. The terms cable and cord will be used to mean the same thing for the purposes of this description. The telephone cord  14  is a standard insulated telephone cable having embedded conductors positioned in a planar, parallel relationship and encapsulated within a thin, ribbon-like jacket that acts to insulate each conductor for the others. In addition, this ribbon-like jacket facilitates the cord  14  being wound up onto a reel as will become apparent later. The general shape of the case  12 , as best shown in FIG. 1A, can be described as having three sections. The first section, which is opposite the end of the case  12  where the ends of the cord  14  extend, is semi-circular. The middle section is approximately rectangular with sides that flare outwardly away from the first section. The last section is again semi-circular, but with a smaller diameter, and centered on the end of the middle section opposite the first section. As best seen in FIG. 1B, the width of the last section is open, with the exception of a central wall  16  extending perpendicularly away from the end of the second section to the outside edge of the last section. This structure results in the formation of two nooks  18  which house connectors  20  attached to the ends of the cord  14 . The middle section, also has two rectangular openings  30   a  and  30   b  on either side of the aforementioned central wall  16  of the last section. These openings  30   a  and  30   b  lead to the interior of the case  12 , and are the exit points for the ends of the cord  14 . The connectors  20  that are attached to each end of the cord  14  are larger than the openings  30   a  and  30   b  and so act to prevent the cord  14  from completely retracting into the case  12 . While the appearance of the case  12  has been described in connection with a tested embodiment of the present retractable modem cord device  10 , it can have any shape desired, such as an elliptical shape (e.g., oval) or polygonal shape (e.g., triangular, square, rectangular, hexagonal, etc.), or any combination of shapes, as desired. The only requirement is that it have internal spaces capable of accommodating the reel and locking mechanisms that are to be described shortly.  
         [0023]    As will be explained later in this description, the cord  14  is under tension from within the case  12  such that it tends to want to retract into the case. In a fully retracted mode, the connectors  20  attached to the ends of the cord  14  are pulled against the exterior of the case  12  within the aforementioned nooks  18 . These open nooks  18  provide a degree of protection to the connectors  20  during storage, while still making the connectors readily accessible so that a user can pull one or both of them out of their respective nook  18  with ease.  
         [0024]    The retractable modem cord device  10  is operated by a user pulling one or both of the connectors  20  away from the case  12 . The cord  14  contained within the case  12  is played out as the user pulls. It is noted that the length of the cord  14  is can be any length, but should be made long enough to accommodate attaching a computing device to a telephone system jack that is located within a reasonable distance from the computer. For example, in tested embodiments of the present invention, the cord  14  was made approximately 8 feet long. The user can stop pulling at any point up to where the entire length of the extendable portion of the cord  14  is extended from the case  12 . Whenever the user stops pulling, a locking and release mechanism  22  prevents the cord  14  from retracting into the case, despite the tension placed on the cord. Thus, when the user has pulled a length of cord out of the case  12  that is sufficient to connect his or her computing device (or stand-alone modem) to a telephone system jack, the user stops pulling. The cord  14  remains extended during use. When the user is finished using the cord  14 , he or she disconnects the connectors  20  from the computing device and telephone system jack, and activates a release  24  (see FIG. 2A) of the locking and release mechanism  22 . This releases a lock  26  (see FIG. 2A) of the mechanism  22  that was preventing the tension on the cord  14  from retracting the extended portion back into the case  12 . As a result the cord  14  is pulled into the case  12  and the connectors  20  are seated into their respective nooks  18 . The retractable modem cord device  10  can then be conveniently stored and transported until it is needed again.  
         [0025]    A display  28 , such as a design, pattern, inscription, or logo (collectively referred to hereinafter as a design), is visible from one face of the case  12  which will be designated the front face for the purposes of this description. When the cord  14  is pulled out of the case  12  or retracted back into the case, the display  28  rotates thereby providing an interesting visual presentation to anyone looking at the retractable modem cord device  10 . In other words, someone observing the device will see the spinning design. This spinning design will draw the attention of an observer who may not have otherwise been focused on it. It is believed that purchasers of retractable modem cord device  10  devices will find the spinning design more interesting than the conventional models.  
         [0026]    Having generally described the exterior appearance, components and operation of a retractable modem cord device  10  embodying the present invention, the internal mechanisms for achieving the automatic retraction of the cord  14  or locking of the cord in an extended position, and the spinning of the display  28  will now be presented. It is noted that this internal mechanism is only an example of one preferred embodiment and it is not intended that the present invention be limited to just this embodiment. Rather, any mechanisms that extend and retract the cord  14 , and causes the display  28  to spin when the cord  14  is extended or retracted, could be substituted. The important aspect is that the display  28  rotates, not particularly how it is made to rotate.  
         [0027]    Referring to FIGS.  2 A-C, the case includes a back piece  102 , and a cover  104 , each of which is can be formed from molded plastic, metal or any other appropriate casing material. The cover  104  has an opening  106  through which the display can be seen. Optionally, the opening  106  can be bridged with a transparent window (not shown) to prevent contaminants from getting into the interior of the case, or as in tested embodiments of the present invention the display can extend from the interior of the case through the opening  106 , thereby sealing the opening to some extent. It is noted that while the opening  106  in the cover  104  is shown as being circular, and should be circular for those embodiments where the display extends through the opening, it can have other desired shapes in those embodiments where the display is completely internal to the case.  
         [0028]    The back piece  102  of the case has a centrally-located slotted post  110  that protrudes up perpendicularly from its inner wall  112 . A reel  114  is disposed within the interior space of the case. The reel  114  has a disc shaped wall  116 , with a central hole  118  (as best seen in FIG. 2C). A tube  120  extends out from the exterior-facing side of the wall  116  along the peripheral edge of the central hole  118 . The central hole  118  and the interior diameter of the tube  120  slightly exceeding that of the slotted post  110 . The reel  114  is free to rotate about the slotted post  110  within the interior space of the case owing to the diameter of the slotted post being slightly smaller than that of the central hole  118  of the reel and the interior diameter of the tube  120 .  
         [0029]    Two, semi-circular, crescent-shaped projections  108  also protrude out from the exterior-facing side of the wall  116 , and surround the tube  120  without touching each other. These crescent-shaped projections  108  extend out the same distance as the tube  120 . A circular cavity is formed between the radially inward facing walls of the projections  108  and the exterior of the tube  120 . In addition, because the crescent-shaped projections  108  do not touch, pathways are formed from opposite sides of the circular cavity to the outside of the crescent-shaped projections. The tube  120  and crescent-shaped projections  108  form a structure that is used to anchor the cord  14  at approximately its mid-length. Essentially, the cord  14  enters through one of the pathways, is routed around the outside of the tube  120  within the central cavity, and out the opposite pathway. The reel  114  is installed onto the slotted post  110 , and the tube  120  and projections  108  of the reel abut the interior facing wall  112  of the back piece  102 , so as to define a spool structure  122  onto which the cord  14  is wound. Specifically, the cord  14  is wound around a hub created by the outside walls of the crescent-shaped projections  108 . The two lengths of the cord  14  that extend out of the aforementioned pathways on opposite sides of the hub, are wrapped around the hub such that the two lengths interlace. The space bounded by the hub, the exterior face of the reel&#39;s disc-shaped wall  116 , and the interior facing wall  112  of the back piece  102 , form the take-up portion of the aforementioned spool structure  122 . This space is made large enough such that both lengths of the cord  14  that extend from the hub can be completely wound up within the space, expect for a short portion at their ends that extend from spool structure  122  and through the openings  30   a  and  30   b  where they are attached to the connectors. A separation post  124  having an approximately triangular cross-section, as best seen in FIG. 2B, extends from the interior facing wall  112  of the back piece  102  just inside and approximately between the openings  30   a  and  30   b  in the case. The ends of the two length of the cord  14  exit the spool structure  122  just adjacent the separation post  124 , and are routed on either side of the post and out the openings  30   a  and  30   b . The end of the length of the cord  14  that is on the outside of the wound cord  14  is routed through the closer of the two openings  30   a  and  30   b , and the other end is routed through the further opening.  
         [0030]    The reel  114  also has an annular wall  126  that extends out from the interior face of the reel&#39;s disc-shaped wall  116 . The annular wall  126  defines a nearly circular central cavity having a diameter somewhat smaller that the disc-shaped wall  116 , and through the middle of which extends the slotted post  110 . A wind-up spring  128  is disposed within the central cavity defined by the annular wall  126 . The spring  128  can be made of any resilient material, such as spring steel. The inner end of the spring  128  is secured in place by threading it through and around a slot in the slotted post  110 . The spring  128  forms a convoluted winding within the central cavity. The outer end of the spring  128  is folded around a retaining post  130  that extends from the interior face of the reel&#39;s disc-shaped wall  116  near the periphery of the central cavity so as to secure the outer end of the spring  128  to the reel  114 . Thus, the inner end the spring  128  is secured to the back piece  102  via the slotted post  110 , and the outer end of the spring is secured to the reel  114 .  
         [0031]    As stated previously, the cord  14  is under tension and only the connectors keep it from fully retracting into the case. This tension on the cord  14  is created by the spring  128 . Essentially, a wind-up spring wants to uncoil. Because one end of the spring  128  is anchored to the case via the slotted post  110  of the back piece  102  and the other end is attached to the reel  114 , the result is a rotational force on the reel about the slotted post. Depending on how the spring  128  is attached between the slotted post  110  and the reel  114 , the direction of the rotational force may be either clockwise or counterclockwise. Either direction is acceptable, as long as the cord  14  is wrapped around the reel  114  in the direction opposite of the rotational force on the reel. In this way the rotational force tends to want to wrap the cord  14  further onto the reel  114 . In the embodiment of the retractable modem cord device  10  depicted in FIGS.  2 A-C, the cord  14  is wound in a clockwise manner looking down into the interior of the back piece  102 , and the spring  128  is configured to place a counterclockwise rotational force onto the reel  114 . It is noted that if the situation is reversed, the cross-sectional shape of the separation post  124  should also be reversed to accommodate the ends of the cord  14  coming off of the spool structure  122  from the other direction.  
         [0032]    In a fully retracted mode, the spring  128  is wound tight enough to ensure the connectors are captured within the nooks, but no so tight that the connection between the connectors and the cord  14  is jeopardized or that it becomes difficult to pull the cord out of the case against the spring  128 . As the cord  14  is pulled out, the reel  114  rotates in relation to the case in a direction that causes the spring  128  to wind even more tightly. Accordingly, when the user releases the extended cord  14 , the spring tension causes the reel  114  to rotate in the opposite direction so as to take up the cord  14  into the take-up space of the spool structure  122  in the interlaced manner described previously. As mentioned previously, the cord  14  remains extended once pulled from the case to a desired length (up to its full extended length). This is accomplished with the aforementioned locking and release mechanism that prevents the reel  114  from rotating under the spring force until a release  24  is activated by the user. The locking and release mechanism is best illustrated in FIG. 2A. The lock  26  is installed on the interior facing wall  132  of the cover  104 . Essentially, it is a lever  134  having a pivot hole  136  near its mid-length. A lever extension  138  extends from one end of the lever  134  toward the opening  106  in the cover  104  at approximately a 45 degree angle. The lever  134  is installed onto a pivot post  140  protruding from the interior facing surface  132  of the cover  104  via its pivot hole  136  at a point offset from the opening  106  toward the periphery of the case and nearer to the edge of the case having the openings  30   a  and  30   b  than the opening  106 . A small coil spring  142  is connected at one end to a spring post  144  that extends from the interior face  132  of the cover  104  near the periphery of the case and further away from the edge of the case having the openings  30   a  and  30   b . The other end of the spring  142  is attached to the lever  134  at a point closer to the opening  106  than the pivot hole  136 . This configuration causes the spring  142  to pull the lever extension  138  up toward the opening  106 . The result is that the distal end of the extension  138  contacts the outside surface of the reel&#39;s annular wall  126 . Two diametrically opposed ramp-like protrusions  146  extend radially out from the outside surface of the annular wall  126 . The protrusions  146  are ramp-like in that there is an incline section originating at the outside surface of the annular wall  126  and sloping outward from the wall, and an abutment section that extends from the end of the incline section radially back to the annular wall. The incline section is oriented such that when the reel  114  is rotated in the direction which extends the cord  14  (e.g., counterclockwise when looking down into the interior of the cover  104  in the tested embodiments of the present invention), the lever extension  138  rides up the slope of the incline and back onto the outside surface of the annular wall section. Thus, the cord  14  can be pulled from the case without interference by the lock  26 . However, when the user releases the extended cord  14  and the spring  128  begins to retract the cord, the reel  114  rotates only a few degrees (i.e., about  180  degrees maximum) before the lever extension  138 , which is riding along the outside surface of the annular wall  126 , comes into contact with the abutment section of one of the ramp-like protrusions  146 . The force of the wound spring  128  rotates the end of the lever  134  opposite the lever extension  138  against a stop block  148  of the release  24  associated with the locking and release mechanism, thereby precluding it from rotating any further. As the lever extension  138  is long enough to still be in contact with the abutment section of the ramp-like protrusion  146 , the rotation of the reel  114  is stopped and the portion of the cord  14  extended from the case at that point remains extended. The release  24  has an external slider  150  that is situated against the outside surface of the case adjacent a slot opening  152  (as best seen in FIG. 2B) in the side of the case that is formed by mating cut-out portions in the back piece  102  and cover  104 . The external slider  150  is connected via a bridge piece  154  that extends through the slot opening  152  to an internal slider  156  that slides along the interior surface of the side of the case. The aforementioned stop  148  resides at the end of the internal slider  156  nearest the end of the case containing the openings  30   a  and  30   b . The bridge piece  154  of the release  24  does not fill the entire slot opening  152 , and is pushed against the end of the slot opening closest to the end of the case containing the openings  30   a  and  30   b  by the force of the reel  114  on the lever extension  138 . To release the reel  114  so as to allow it to rotate under the influence of the wind up spring  128  and retract the cord  14 , the user slides the external slider  150  away from the end of the case  12  containing the openings  30   a  and  30   b . The release  24  moves along the slot opening  152 , thereby pushing the end of the lock lever  134  with the stop block  148 , and rotating the lever about the pivot post  140  against the force of the coil spring  142  so as to pull the lever extension  138  up and over the abutment section of the ramp-like protrusion  146 , thereby freeing the reel  114  to rotate. The reel  114  will continue to rotate and retract the cord  14  until either the cord is fully retracted and the connectors stop the reel from rotating or the user lets go of the release  24  and the coil spring  142  pulls the end of the level extension  138  back against the annular wall  126  where it eventually contacts the abutment section of one of the ramp-like protrusions  148 , thereby stopping the rotation of the reel.  
         [0033]    Referring to FIG. 3, the aforementioned display preferably takes the form of a disc  158  that is fitted to the reel  114  over its the annular wall  126 . Thus, the disc  158  encloses the central cavity of the reel  114  and covers the wind-up spring (not shown). The interior facing side of this disc  158  is attached to the reel  114  via any appropriate method (e.g., adhesives, mechanical fasteners, etc.), preferably at its interface with the annular wall  126 . In tested embodiments of the retractable modem cord device, the interior facing side of the disc was configured with two diametrically opposed posts  160  that extend from the periphery of the interior facing side of the disc. The location of these posts  160  is made to correspond with the location of the ramp-like protrusions  146  on the reel  114 , which in the tested embodiments were hollow (as best seen in FIG. 2B) so that the disc posts  160  could be inserted into them. Thus, with the disc  158  installed onto the reel  114  with the posts  160  inserted into the hollows of the ramp-like protrusions  146 , the disc is forced to rotate with the reel, just as it would if attached to the reel by any of the other methods mentioned previously. The exterior facing side of the disc  158  is visible via the opening  106  of the cover  104  (see FIG. 2A), or through the optional transparent window, as the case may be. In the former version of the disc  158 , the exterior facing surface can be made flush with the interior wall  132  of the cover  104 , or it can have a stepped configuration such that a central plateau extends up through the opening  106  (as in tested embodiments of the present invention and shown in FIG. 3). The central plateau would typically extend a distance that makes it flush with the exterior surface of the cover  104 , however, this need not be the case. The aforementioned design is disposed on the exterior facing side of the disc  158 , where persons viewing the retractable modem cord device can see it. This can be accomplished in a variety of ways. For example, the design can be formed as part of the surface of the disc  158 , such as by embossing or engraving, or it can be formed on the surface of the disc, such as by the use of paints, inks, etc. Or alternately, a label or sticker having the design formed thereon could be attached to the exterior facing side of the disc  158 . Since the disc  158  displaying the design is attached to the reel  114 , it will rotate with the reel when the cord  14  is extended from or retracted into the case, thereby providing the interesting display discussed previously. It is noted that if a transparent window is employed, the window itself could include design elements that complement or complete the design on the disc  158 . It is further noted that while it is preferred that the display take the form of a circular disc  158 , other shapes are feasible as long as they do not interfere with the rotation of the reel  114  within the case.  
         [0034]    While the invention has been described in detail by reference to the preferred embodiment described above, it is understood that variations and modifications thereof may be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. For example, while the present invention has been described in the context of a retractable modem cord device, the spinning display could be adapted to other devices as well. For example, other cables used to connect computers, and particularly the so-called mobile or portable computing devices, to various external devices, are often carried by a user. For instance, cables used for network connections such as RJ-11/RJ-45 network cables, or Universal System Bus (USB) cables, or IEEE 1394 cables (i.e., firewire cables), are often carried by a user. It would be possible to make these cables into retractable cable devices in a manner similar to the retractable modem cord device. Further, these devices can be configured with a spinning display as well.