WO2011104577A2

WO2011104577A2 - Retractable earpiece for transportation means audio device

Info

Publication number: WO2011104577A2
Application number: PCT/IB2010/002874
Authority: WO
Inventors: Wasfi Alshdaifat; Eida Almuhairbi
Original assignee: Wasfi Alshdaifat; Eida Almuhairbi
Priority date: 2010-11-05
Filing date: 2010-11-05
Publication date: 2011-09-01
Also published as: WO2011104577A3; CN103210633A; CN103210633B

Abstract

Transportation means do not have built-in retractable earpieces (20) assemblies, a design for a retractable earpiece, stored inside a pocket of the automobile door panel, and the seat armrest (24) in planes., is a solution. Earpiece (20) wire (25) from one end is attached to the tension reel (39) which is enclosing a developed design of a smaller size lightweight wavy spiral spring (40) biased to the retraction protective built-in housing, in a small size, that protect the earphones from being misplaced away. Pulling the wire (25) will rotate the tension reel (39) in a way that will create a two expansion motions for the spiral wavy spring (40), the two types of motion offers a shortened spring which saves space... Further a ratchet lock system (56) with cylindrical teeth and ratchet arm end is provided to cancel the use of the conventional release button.

Description

Retractable Earpiece for

Transportation Means' Audio Device Description of the Invention

Technical Field of Invention

This invention relates to a compact design of an earpiece used in transportation with a retracting mechanism depending on wavy-spiral spring to prevent the wire tangling, and to store it safely in a built-in housing, located inside a small casing pocket inside the seat arm in airplanes, trains, buses, ships., or the door panels in automobiles.

Background Art

Audio devices, portable or fixed, such as AM/FM radios, tape players, and CD players, have gained a wide-spread wherever we go, homes, offices, vehicles, trains, planes, even they join us while walking, running- Typically these devices includes a head set for personal use, to avoid disturbing other nearby persons, the headset plugs into the device, and worn by the user, while the user can join other activities.

Most of the headsets are connected to the device through two wires, that are normally manually wound around the headset when not in use, and unwound and plugged into the audio device when it is in use. This means that the user need to manually wound and unwound the wire in an untidy way, which will cause many tangling and kurls or knots in the wire, these with time wilieither lower the wire performance or damage the wire, and are also inconvenient and time consuming.

In recent years, manufacturesrs started supplying many portable electronic devices with retractable headsets, including a retractable reel and cardie for the headset, normally when the headset is to be used, the wire is pulled from inside the housing untill it reaches a length where it is locked in it, and the headset can be used, when the headset is not to be used, the wire is released and retracted into the housing automatically. But, in planes, trains and automobiles we did not find retractable headsets or earpieces, even these are supplied with audio systems, in the planes, the hostess need to distribute the headsets that are packaged in plastic bags to all the passengers, where they need to tear and open the bags, then unwind the wire, plug it in the audio device socket, when finished, the passengers need to return it to the hostess who need to spend a time in collecting it without the bags, where it will be placed in a collection box where they become tangled, in order to reuse the headsets thay need to be untangled, and to be winded again, and re-casing it in the bags, this is a time consuming job for both the passenger and laborious for the hostess, futher it is inconvenient and will finally lower the age of the wire. In trains the same is happening, in automobiles the passengers and the driver are forced to hear the same song, program., because there are no audio comfort zones in the automobile, that the driver can use one as in planes where a headset is used, while at the same time each passenger in the vehicle can use his own headset, and turn on whatever channel he prefers, with the suitable sound volume.

Recently some planes used the big size headsets installed in the side of the arm rest, with the wire retracted through a retractable means, but this solution solved part of the problem, where the headset remained hanged out of a one safe box or pocket protecting it from friction and shocks, furthermore, this solution also divided the headset assembly into two, so the solution was not a compact design in a one safe pocket or box built-in a suitable selected original empty housing, and it was not carrying any further step in developing a new spring retarder design.

All of the upper mentioned problems, including the lack of integrated or built-in retractable audio headsets in the transportaion means are covered in this invention.

A search of the prior art did not disclose any patents that reads directly on the claims of the instant invention; however, the following references were considered related:

US 2004/0218770 A1 Audio Device With Retractable Earpiece, Nov. 4, 2004. 3,984,645 Lightweight Headset And Retractable Cord, Oct 5, 1976 Spool, US 2006/0092773 A1, Media Device with Retractable Earpiece, May, 4, 2006. US 2003/0224839 A1, Mobile Communication Device with a Retractable Headset kit and Automatic Call Control, Dec. 4, 2003. US D 457,516, S, Retractable Headset Housing, May. 21, 2002. 4,765,481 Packaged Airlines Headsets, Aug. 23, 1988. US 2004/0136543 A1, Audio Headset , Jul. 15, 2004. 6,094,496, Vehicle Seat Headrest Incorporating, Jul. 25, 2000. Speakers and Extensible/Retractable Microphone. US 2008/0057857, Wireless Headset with Bypass Mechanism, Mar. 6, 2008.

In all these mentioned inventions we can find that the headsets or earpieces for the audio systems or phones are using a retractable means for the wires built-in inside a housing with the a space for the earpiece or without it, but it still did not offer for transportation audio devices an expanded solution for a compact assembly with a housing in a suitable empty place enclosing the earpieces and the retractable mechanism, which need to have a newly developed retractable spring, where it did not offer a built-in design inside a selected empty place inside the arm rest or the door panel in transportation means.

Disclosure of Invention

Brief Description

The present invention made a compact built-in design for a retractable earpiece, that can be stored inside a pocket of the automobile door pannel, and in the arm rest of the passenger seat in planes, trains, ships..

The cord from one end will be attached to the tension reel which is enclosing a developed design of a wavy spiral spring biased to the retraction protective built-in housing, in a small size, that protect the earphones from being misplaced away.

To draw the cord to substantially a full extension, the earpiece is grasped and pulled by the user to a suitable length, followed by a slight release, thereby actuating tension being applied by a reel lock button against a retraction mechanism. Subsequently, pulling the cord little out and releasing it, will trigger actuation of the cord retracting mechanism, to force the cord to be completely wound into the retraction protective housing. The coil spring may be wound within the take-up reel in an opposite direction to the winding of the cable about the reel, so that when the cable is wound up, the coil of the wavy spiral spring is in a contracted condition, and when the cable is extended, the coil is in an expanded condition.

Brief Description of Drawings:

FIG. 1 (A, B): Illustrates the seat armrest in airplane, train, ship, bus... where the earpiece assembly is built-in, with the cover in closed and open positions.

FIG. 2 (A, B): Illustrates the seat armrest in airplane, train, ship, bus... where the earpiece assembly is installed on armrests with no integrally manufactured built-in designs.

FIG. 3: Illustrates the earpiece assembly location in the door panel in automobile... where the earpiece assembly is built-in.

FIG. 4: Illustrates a physical modeling for the effective length that a small wavy spiral spring can develop.

FIG. 5: Illustrates a three dimensional view of the disassembled parts of the earpiece apparatus.

FIG. 6: Illustrates a three dimensional view of the tension reel showing the lower side of it

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

In order to make it easy to carry out the invention, a detailed description of the parts of the invention supported with figures is provided here, where the figures of the parts are arranged sequentially from the general outer views to the inner main items. Each part has many features, since in the case here there are many pages of interfering parts drawings, we made it easy to read, by referring to each feature with a number included in the parts description text and in the parts numbering list (parts index), the numbering of parts features is indicated here by starting it sequentially from number 20. Whenever a part feature appears in the text, it will be directly assigned its required serial number. As example in FIG. 1, the parts features are arranged sequentially from number 20 to 21, 22, 23... which include features signs.

The detailed description of operation which follows, will describe how the mentioned parts will work, when it is assembled.

Parts drawings description:

1- Earpiece assembly location in the seat arm FIG. 1:

As shown in the figure, the earpiece (20) assembly (21) is having a housing (22) and an up-down slideable cover (23), both located and built- in inside the front edge of the passenger seat armrest (24), in airplane, train, ship or bus..., the armrest (24) is selected because it is reachable, not causing blocking of other passengers passages when the wires (25) are expanded, also the arm rest (24) is rigid and is the place for the time being where the audio devices controls (26) and connectors (27) are installed.

While in Fig. 1 (A) the cover (23) is closed, it appears over it an earpiece label (28) resembling the earpiece (20), to make it easy for the passenger to locate and reach it Furthermore, audio controls (26) are appearing on the figure near the earpiece (20) assembly (21). In (Fig. 1. B), when the cover (23) is opened (slide down) by pushing its knob (29), where it will move inside the groove (30) which is built-in inside the assembly pocket (31), as a result the real earpiece (20) will appear, located over the mechanism (32) housing (33).

The earpiece (20) can be pulled out with the passenger two fingers. Note that the earpieces (20) are separated from the inner mechanism (32) by the housing (33), where this housing (33) will not only prevent the earpieces (20) from being stuck inside the mechanism (32), but also protect the mechanism (32) inner parts from dust, dirt, leaking fluids.. Furthermore, note that this housing (33) has a small gap (34) for the passage of the wire (25) from inside towards the earpiece (20). - Earpiece assembly supplied and installed in conventional armrests where the earpiece assembly is installed on armrests with no integrally manufactured built-in designs. FIG. 2:

The earpiece (20) assembly (21) is either supplied here by the hostess to the passengers to install it, or installed permanently. The housing (35) of the assembly (21) has at its both sides, spring plate arms having a shape of rectangular spring plates (36), which have an inner sponge lining pads (37). So that when the housing (35) is aligned with the armrest (24) and pushed downward, it will slide on it, the spring arms (36) will get wider and their inward tension will fix it firmly on the armrest (24), while the sponge lining pad (37) will protect the armrest (24) from being scratched, Fig. 2 (A) also shows the earpieces (20), the audio controls (26) and the connectors (27) for the earpiece audio plug connector (38), while Fig. 2 (B) shows a rough inner view of the earpieces (20) mechanism (32) inner parts location, where the main parts inside are the tension reel (39) and the wavy spiral spring (40). - Earpiece assembly location in the door panel, FIG. 3:

As shown in the figure, the earpiece (20) assembly (21) is having a housing (41) and an horizontal slideable cover (42), both located and built-in inside the inner trim (43) of each door panel in the automobile, the housing (41) top side or a nearby place in the trim (43) of the door pannel can include also audio control buttons (44), downside efge of the housing (41), a wire (45) is connecting the audio device with the earpieces (20) assembly (21). - A physical modeling for the effective length that a small wavy spiral spring can develop, Fig. 4:

The spiral wavy spring (double-spring) (40) is here a modification on the original flat plate spiral springs, which are used for retracting wires, cables, cords... in the first part of (Fig. 4. A) a wavy spring (46) is made in steps: 1- a straight elastic wire (47) is prepared, 2- the wire (47) is bent to a wavy shape (46) of suitable calculated wave length and width. 3- the wavy wire (46) is prepared for compression. 4- the wavy wire (46) is compressed, where here it can be noted how a straight elastic wire (47) of 8.8 cm length is changed to a compressed wavy wire (48) with 1 cm length, while it still having the option to return back to its original shape and length.

The second part of Fig. 4 shows how normally a one coil (49) of a normal spiral spring with (1 cm) diameter (π cm) perimeter, develops a one coil (50) of a tension reel (39) with 3 cm diameter (3ττ cm) perimeter.

The third part of Fig. 4 shows that to make one coil (51) of the compressed wavy spring (46) in part 1, we need nearly (π) pieces of it, these pieces after welded in one coil (51) of 1 cm diameter as in the contracting shape of the normal spiral springs, these if expanded, it will not only develop a one (3π cm perimeter) tension reel (39) coil (50) as in part 2, but it will develop two kinds of motion: the first which appear in the upper part of part 3, where the (π cm) compressed wire (46) will develop three expanded lengths of a wavy wire (46) with the total indicated lengths that will develop to multi tension reel (39) coil rotations (50), while at the same time being rounded around a 1 cm circle (coil) (49), this will give it another extra length which will develop to a one coil (50) of a tension reel (39) with a three cm diameter as in part 2.

In total, if the compressed wavy spring (46) is having the opportunity to be expanded to 4 times its wavy compressed length (51), each 1 cm of the wavy spring (46) will equal a circle of (4/ττ) coils, as in the prior paragraph, we found that to surround a circle of (1 cm) diameter with a wavy spring (46) of (1cm) length, we need (π) springs (46), and so because each (1 cm) compressed wavy wire (46) is assumed to develop a length of (4 π) coil (50), the (π) length will develop (4/ττ) x (π) = 4 coils

(50) , these 4 coils (50) with the extra mentioned coil (50) are created when rotating the straight length of the compressed spring (46) around a coil

(51) of 1 cm diameter, will add up in total to 5 coils (50), and so the final result here is that while a one coil (49) of the normal spiral spring develop to a one coil (50) of a tension reel (39), the design of the developed compressed wavy spring (40) develops each of its coils (51) to five coils (50) at maximum equal to a size of five tension reels (39) sizes, as example, a three feet conventional earpiece wire require a conventional spiral spring plate of 1 ft length, while in the spiral wavy spring (40), a three feet length of earpiece (20) wire, requires a spiral wavy spring (40) of (1 foot / 4 to 1 foot / 5) length.

Such a design will not only save material, but its use should not be limited to retracting mechanisms in audio systems, but all similar areas of use specially larger lengths.

The short comings of this design which is the expectation that the spring wavy parts may stuck in each other, can be solved easily by manufacturing it so that a small safety distance is to be created between its coils in the contraction stage in addition to lubricating it slightly and making its edge more round (smoothed carefully), that will serve in getting a smooth double spring action, or in another way a double types of movements from wavy spiral spring (40). - A three dimensional view of the disassembled parts of the earpiece apparatus FIG. (5, 6).

The earpiece (20) assembly (21) has its mechanism (32) included inside a housing (33), which is divided into two pieces, the upper one is the housing cover (52), and the lower one is the housing base (53). On the housing base (53) the core of the design is mounted, the wavy spiral spring (40), which is connected from its center side to the groove (54) inside the center rod (55), while it is connected from its other free end to the tension real (39), which is mounted around it.

The ratchet lock system (56) here is designed by creating an array of short cylindrical teeth (57) on the top surface of the tension reel (39) which engages with a ratchet arm (58), having its end side also cylindrical, the ratchet arm (58) is supported by a return spring (59). When the earpiece wire (25) is pulled, the angle of the ratchet arm (58) will allow it to glide on the ratchet teeth (57) without engaging, when the wire (25) is slightly and slowly released, the ratchet arm (58) return spring (59) will work to force the ratchet arm (58) cylindrical end to engage in-between the ratchet teeth (57) where a suitable space in-between the ratchet teeth (57) is calculated to receive the ratchet arm (58) cylindrical end, the result here will be prohibiting the tension reel (39) from moving, and hence the wire (25) of the earpiece (20) will get standstill.

If the earpiece (20) wire (25) is pulled slightly and released suddenly, the ratchet arm (58) will be released from the ratchet teeth (57), and after the sudden release the accelerated motion of the tension reel (39), will not allow the return spring (59) force of the ratchet arm (58) to be capable to have the enough strength and time to overcome the accelerated gliding of the ratchet teeth (57) to get a space to set engaged in-between, and so the tension reel (39) depending on the higher retard force of the wavy spiral spring (40) over the return spring (59) will rewind back the earpiece (20) wire (25). This cylindrical design of ratchet teeth (57) and ratchet arm (58) end saved the need for a release button to disengage the ratchet arm (58) as in the conventional designs.

The ratchet arm (58) is supported on the base housing (53) through a rigid rod (60), while the tension reel (spool) (39) is enclosed between the upper and lower housing covers (52, 53).

The electrical wire connections can be done using the conventional type: the conductive wiring (61) coming from the audio device and audio controls (26) in the seat armrest (24), or from the door panel speaker are entered through the lower housing (53), where it is distributed to each of the required conductive traces (62) through points (63) soldered to the base of the lower housing (53) e.g: a, b, and c, which are soldered to the corresponding circuits in the earpiece connector wire (25), these points are connected to a concentric conductive traces (64), which are in direct and permanent contact with the lower base (53) of the tension reel (38) (Fig. 6), through spring wiper contacts (65), which are connected to the earpiece wire from its other end (66), which is penetrating the tension reel (39) towards the spring wiper contacts (65).

Note that (Fig. 6) is making it clear that the spiral wavy spring (40) in Fig. 5 is not in contact with the upper housing (52), where a shield plate (67) is covering it from its top side, furthermore the spiral wavy spring (40) is not in contact with the lower housing base (53), where the brushes or springs wipers (65) carrier plate (68) is located in-between the wavy spiral spring (39) and the lower housing base (53) where the concentric conductive traces (64) are located.

Detailed Description of Operation

Method of operation:

The method of operation described here is for the earpiece (20) assembly (21) built-in passenger seat armrest (24) is taken as example, but should not be limited to it.

1- Opening the housing's (22) cover (23):

The housing's (22) cover (23) is opened by sliding it down inside its groove (30) pocket (31); this can be carried out by pushing down the cover's (23) knob (29).

2- The earpiece (20) will appear, with two fingers of the passenger the earpiece (20) can be picked up and pulled out until the suitable length of the wire is pulled, the user then slightly and slowly release the wire (25), which will stop at the selected length, and he/she can attach the earpiece (20) to his ears.

3- With both fingers the user can in one finger switch on one of the radio control buttons (26) between the radio stations, while using the other finger he can adjust the volume.

4- When the user wishes to stop listening, he need just to remove the earpiece (20) from his ears, slightly he/she need to pull the wire then release it at once, the ratchet lock system 56 will release the wire (25), and the wire (25) be rewinded due to the reverse rotation of the tension reel, which is leaded by the retard of the wavy spiral spring (40).

5- The slideable cover (23) is pulled up through its knob (29) and closed. Industrial Applicability

In addition to all mentioned reasons before about the important needs for transportation means audio device with retractable earpiece and the modes for carrying out it, the subject invention has the following benefits:

1- Small in size and light in weight.

2- Comfortable, laborious, simplified, compact design, storable, built-in.

3- Easy usage: using simple tools and mechanism it minimizes time of installing and removing.

4- Workable: the right place for installing

5- Compact, built-in, safe, attractive design.

6- Takes minimal space.

7- Avoids entanglement.

Parts Drawings Index:

20 Earpiece

21 Earpiece Assembly

22 Housing

23 Cover

24 Armrest

25 Wire

26 Audio device controls

27 Connector

28 Earpiece label

29 Knob

30 Groove

31 Pocket

32 Mechanism

33 Mechanism housing

34 Small gap

35 Housing

36 Rectangular spring plates

37 sponge pads

38 Plug connector

39 Tension reel

40 Wavy spiral spring

41 Housing

42 Slideable cover

43 Trim

44 Audio controls Wire.

Wavy wire

Straight elastic wire

Compressed wavy wire 1 cm diameter coil

3 cm diameter coil

1 cm diameter wavy coil Upper housing cover Lower housing cover Groove

Center rod

Ratchet lock system

Ratchet teeth

Ratchet arm

Return spring

Rigid rod

Conductive wiring

Conductive traces

Conductive points

Concentric conductive traces Spring wiper contacts Wire end - scarier plate side Shield plate

Carrier plate Citations

Patent Number Title Issue date

3,984,645 Lightweight Headset And Retractable Cord Oct. 5, 1976

Spool

4,765,481 Packaged Airlines Headsets Aug. 23, 1988 6,011 ,686 Audio Device for a Portable Computer Jan. 4, 2000 6,082,656 Electronic Device with Retractqable Cord Jul. 4, 2000 6,094,496 Vehicle Seat Headrest Incorporating Jul. 25, 2000

Speakers and Extensible/Retractable

Microphone

6,131,042 Combination Cellular Telephone Radio Oct. 10, 2000

Receiver And Recorder Mechanism For

Vehicles

US 2001/0035242 A1 Integrated Headset-Case for Wireless Nov. 1 , 2001

Phones

US D 457,516, S Retractable Headset Housing May. 21 , 2002 US 2002/0193151 A1 Cell Phone Retractable Earpiece Dec 19, 2002 US 6,633,770 B1 Telecommunication Device Holster Having Oct. 14, 2003

A retractable Earpiece Assembly Integrated

With the Holster

US 2003/0224839 A1 Mobile Communication Device with Dec. 4, 2003

A Retractable Headset kit and Automatic

Call Control

US 6,712,304 B1 Cellular Communication Device With Integral Mar. 30, 2004

Headset Retraction Assembly

US 2004/0136543 A1 Audio Headset Jul. 15, 2004 US 2004/0218770 A1 Audio Device With Retractable Earpiece Nov. 4, 2004 US 2004/0256188 A1 Retractable Cable Assemblies and Devices Dec. 23, 2004

Including the Same

US 6,988,687 B2 Mouse Cable Rewind Apparatus Jan. 24, 2006 US 2006/0035684 A1 Two-Way Audio Communication Device Feb. 6, 2006

And Method of Manufacturing

US 2006/0092773 A1 Media Device with Retractable Earpiece May, 4, 2006 US 2008/0057857 Wireless Headset with Bypass Mechanism Mar. 6, 2008

Claims

1- A compact earpiece (20) assembly (21) built-in passenger seat armrest (24) in transportation means or automobile door panel trim (43) compromised from:

a pocket in the tip of the armrest (24) or driver door panel trim (43) near the door speaker

a slideable cover (23) covering the housing (22)

an earpiece (20) extending out of the housing (22)

a mechanism housing (33) enclosing the inner parts, mainly the reel (39), the earpiece wire (25), ratchet lock system (56), and the wavy spiral spring (40)

a tension and retraction wavy spiral spring (40) enclosed in the spring reel (39)

2- The compact earpiece (20) assembly (21) in claim 1 wherein the pocket is a natural empty location selected for installing the assembly (21) near the door speaker wiring in the door panel trim (43), and near the tip inside the passenger armrest (24) where the audio controls (26) and connectors (27) are located.

3- The compact earpiece (20) assembly (21) in claim 1 wherein the slideable cover (22) covering the earpiece (20) assembly (21) is a thin plastic plate pushed manually using a pushing knob (29) to move it through a groove (30).

4- The slideable cover (22) in claim 3 wherein the cover (22) is used for covering and protecting the earpiece (20) assembly (21), actuating a pocket illumination when opened, and having a label (28) adhered to its surface resembling an earpiece (20).

5- The compact earpiece in claim 1 wherein the mechanism (32) is enclosed in a housing (33) with the earpiece (22) wiring (25) bypassed in the same location to the wiring of the conventional earpiece arm rest connectors, considering cancelling the arm rest conventional earpiece external connectors (27). 6- The compact earpiece (20) in claim 1 wherein the mechanism (32) is enclosed in a housing (41) with the earpiece (20) wiring (20) connected to the nearby door panel audio speaker.

7- The compact earpiece (20) in claim 1 wherein an audio control (26) the same as in airplanes is installed in the door panel trim (43) of the automobile, just directly near the compact earpiece (20) assembly (21) and the door speaker.

8- The compact earpiece (20) in claim 1 wherein the wavy spiral spring (40) is the core of the earpiece (20) retraction mechanism design, and replacing the conventional flat spiral spring design for saving space and weight

9- The wavy spiral spring (40) in claim 8 wherein it is made from a two dimensional flat wavy normally compressed spring, and folding it to a normally compressed spiral shape with a slight pitch separating the coils. 10-The wavy spiral spring (40) in claim 8 wherein the spring's original elastic wire is cylindrical, glazed smoothly and lightly lubricated before installation for preventing jamming.

1 - The wavy spiral spring (40) in claim 8 wherein the spring has a two types of extension and retraction movements, one in a spiral way direction and one elongating and extending or compressing the wavy curls along the length of the spiral spring.

12- The compact earpiece (20) in claim 1 wherein the same assembly (21) is enclosed in a housing (35) with a metallic plate arm spring (36) have inner lining sponge pads (37) to be installed in the conventional arm rests with no integrally built-in retractable earpiece designs.

13- The earpiece (20) assembly in claim 12 wherein a short wire with a plug connector (38) extending out of the housing (35) to be plugged in the audio connector (27).

14- The earpiece (20) assembly (21) in claim 1 wherein the ratchet lock system (56) is having a cylindrical ratchet teeth and a ratchet arm with a cylindrical end design, to engage and disengage without the use of the conventional release button. 15- A method of extracting and returning a retractable transportation audio earpiece (20) compromising:

opening the housing's (22) cover (23);

extracting and pulling with two fingers the earpiece (20);

releasing slightly and slowly the wire (25); to stop at the selected length; pulling the wire and releasing it at once;

rewinding the wire (25) due to the reverse rotation of the tension reel (39), which is leaded by the retard of the wavy spiral spring (40).

pulling up the slideable cover (23) using its knob (29) and closing it.