Granted Patent B2

US 9,414,146 · App. 14/940,943 · Granted Aug 9, 2016

Abstract

Claims (99)

1. A cord management and clip system in combination with an audio cord comprising an audio wire with a pair of earbuds at one end and an audio connection at an opposite end coupled to a wireless audio receiver comprising a housing, a wireless transceiver, a battery and a control interface, the system comprising:

a) a flexible band extending from a proximal end coupled to the housing of the receiver at an attachment point to a distal free end;

b) a free ferromagnetic button carried by the distal free end of the flexible band;

c) a fixed ferromagnetic button carried by the housing of the wireless audio receiver and spaced-apart from the attachment point of the flexible band;

d) a selectively operable and closable ring formed by the flexible band along with a portion of the housing of the wireless audio receiver with the free ferromagnetic button of the distal free end of the flexible band magnetically coupled to the fixed ferromagnetic button of the housing for enclosing and securing a portion of the audio cord wound around the housing of the wireless audio receiver and secured by the flexible band;

e) a clip formed by the flexible band along with the housing of the wireless audio receiver with the free ferromagnetic button of the distal free end of the flexible band magnetically coupled to the fixed ferromagnetic button of the housing with an article of clothing therebetween;

f) the system and the audio cord having a plurality of configurations, including:

i) a use configuration with the audio cord extending a longer length, and with the ring free of the audio cord or with the ring having a lesser number of passes of the audio cord extending through the ring;

ii) a wound storage configuration with the audio cord extending a shorter length than the longer length, and wound around the housing of the wireless audio receiver and through the ring and secured by the flexible band; and

iii) a clip configuration with the free ferromagnetic button of the distal free end of the band magnetically coupling to the fixed ferromagnetic button of the housing of the wireless audio receiver with the article of clothing therebetween.

2. The combination in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the wireless audio receiver is operable to receive audio data from a portable, hand-held computer, and transmit commands to the portable, hand-held computer, wherein the wireless audio receiver further comprises:

a processor coupled to the wireless transceiver and the battery;

the processor and the transceiver being configured to pair with the portable, hand-held computer, the processor being configured to:

establish a wireless connection between the wireless transceiver and the portable, hand-held computer;

receive audio data from the portable, hand-held computer with the wireless transceiver;

play the audio data through the pair of earbuds;

transmit a control signal to the portable, hand-held computer with the wireless transceiver to control transmission of audio data from the portable, hand-held computer, including advancing to a next audio data or advancing through the audio data; and

transmit a control signal to the portable, hand-held computer with the wireless transceiver to toggle the portable, hand-held computer to toggle between transmitting different audio data, including music and communication; and

wherein the control input further comprises a plurality of buttons coupled to the processor, the plurality of buttons comprising:

a power and play button configured to cause the processor to power on and off; pair with the portable, hand-held computer; play and pause music; and toggle between music and communication;

an up button configured to cause the processor to increase volume or advance to the next audio data or both; and

a down button configured to cause the processor to decrease volume or revert to a previous audio data or both.

3. A method for wearing the wireless audio receiver with the cord management and clip system in accordance with claim 1 , the method comprising:

a) separating the free ferromagnetic button of the distal free end of the flexible band from the fixed ferromagnetic button of the housing of the wireless audio receiver;

b) disposing the article of clothing between the flexible band and the housing; and

c) magnetically coupling the free ferromagnetic button of the distal free end of the flexible band to the fixed ferromagnetic button of the housing of the wireless audio receiver with the article of clothing therebetween.

4. A method for managing the audio cord with the cord management and clip system in accordance with claim 1 , the method comprising:

a) separating the free ferromagnetic button of the distal free end of the flexible band from the fixed ferromagnetic button of the housing of the wireless audio receiver;

b) winding the audio cord around the housing of the wireless audio receiver;

c) magnetically coupling the free ferromagnetic button of the distal free end of the flexible band to the fixed ferromagnetic button of the housing and securing the audio cord to the wireless audio receiver.

5. A wireless audio receiver device, comprising:

a) a housing;

b) a wireless transceiver disposed in the housing;

c) a battery disposed in the housing and coupled to the wireless transceiver;

d) a control interface carried by the housing;

e) an audio cord comprising an audio wire with a pair of earbuds at one end and an audio connection at an opposite end coupled to the housing;

f) a flexible band extending from a proximal end coupled to the housing at an attachment point to a distal free end;

g) a free ferromagnetic button carried by the distal free end of the flexible band;

h) a fixed ferromagnetic button carried by the housing and spaced-apart from the attachment point of the flexible band;

i) a ring formed by the flexible band along with a portion of the housing of the wireless audio receiver with the free ferromagnetic button of the distal free end of the flexible band magnetically coupled to the fixed ferromagnetic button of the housing for enclosing and securing a portion of the audio cord wound around the housing of the wireless audio receiver and secured by the flexible band;

j) a clip formed by the flexible band along with the housing of the wireless audio receiver with the free ferromagnetic button of the distal free end of the flexible band magnetically coupled to the fixed ferromagnetic button of the housing with an article of clothing therebetween;

k) the flexible band and the audio cord having a plurality of configurations, including:

i) a use configuration with the audio cord extending a longer length, and with the ring free of the audio cord or with the ring having a lesser number of passes of the audio cord extending through the ring;

ii) a wound storage configuration with the audio cord extending a shorter length than the longer length, and wound around the housing of the wireless audio receiver and through the ring and secured by the flexible band; and

iii) a clip configuration with the free ferromagnetic button of the distal free end of the band magnetically coupling to the fixed ferromagnetic button of the housing of the wireless audio receiver with the article of clothing therebetween.

6. The device in accordance with claim 5 , wherein the flexible band is longer than a distance from the attachment point to the fixed ferromagnetic button of the housing so that the flexible band bows in a convex arcuate shape when the free ferromagnetic button of the distal free end of the flexible band is magnetically coupled to the fixed ferromagnetic button of the housing.

7. The device in accordance with claim 5 , further comprising the proximal end of the flexible band extending substantially perpendicular from the housing.

8. The device in accordance with claim 5 , further comprising an aperture in the housing, and the proximal end of the flexible band extending from inside the housing, and out of the aperture in the housing.

9. The device in accordance with claim 5 , further comprising a protrusion in the housing and the fixed ferromagnetic button being carried by the protrusion of the housing.

10. The device in accordance with claim 5 , wherein the attachment point of the proximal end of the flexible band is located at one end of the housing, and the fixed ferromagnetic button is located at an opposite end of the housing, and the flexible band extends substantially a length of the housing.

11. The device in accordance with claim 5 , wherein the proximal end and the free distal end of the flexible band are enlarged with respect to an intermediate portion of the flexible band.

12. The device in accordance with claim 5 , wherein the flexible band is a solid polymer band.

13. The device in accordance with claim 5 , wherein the plurality of configurations of the system and the audio further comprises:

i) a loop storage configuration with the audio cord extending a shorter length than the longer length, and wrapped into a loop with a greater number of passes of the audio cord extending though the ring than the lesser number of passes, and with the audio cord looping through and around the ring; and

ii) a bundle storage configuration with the audio cord extending a shorter length than the longer length, and wrapped into a bundle with a greater number of passes of the audio cord extending through the ring than the lesser number of passes, and with the audio cord extending back and forth through the ring.

14. The device in accordance with claim 5 , further comprising:

a plurality of ferromagnetic buttons arrayed along at least a portion of a length of the flexible band to form a plurality of different sized rings.

15. The device in accordance with claim 5 , further comprising:

a tab or flap extending beyond the distal free end of the flexible band and free of the free ferromagnetic button therein.

16. The device in accordance with claim 5 , wherein the wireless audio receiver is operable to receive audio data from a portable, hand-held computer, and transmit commands to the portable, hand-held computer, wherein the wireless audio receiver further comprises:

a processor coupled to the wireless transceiver and the battery;

the processor and the transceiver being configured to pair with the portable, hand-held computer, the processor being configured to:

establish a wireless connection between the wireless transceiver and the portable, hand-held computer;

receive audio data from the portable, hand-held computer with the wireless transceiver;

play the audio data through the pair of earbuds;

transmit a control signal to the portable, hand-held computer with the wireless transceiver to control transmission of audio data from the portable, hand-held computer, including advancing to a next audio data or advancing through the audio data; and

transmit a control signal to the portable, hand-held computer with the wireless transceiver to toggle the portable, hand-held computer to toggle between transmitting different audio data, including music and communication; and

wherein the control input further comprises a plurality of buttons coupled to the processor, the plurality of buttons comprising:

a power and play button configured to cause the processor to power on and off; pair with the portable, hand-held computer; play and pause music; and toggle between music and communication;

an up button configured to cause the processor to increase volume or advance to the next audio data or both; and

a down button configured to cause the processor to decrease volume or revert to a previous audio data or both.

17. A wireless audio receiver device, comprising:

a) a housing;

b) a wireless transceiver disposed in the housing;

c) a battery disposed in the housing and coupled to the wireless transceiver;

d) a control interface carried by the housing;

e) a flexible band extending from a proximal end coupled to the housing at an attachment point to a distal free end;

f) a free ferromagnetic button carried by the distal free end of the flexible band;

g) a fixed ferromagnetic button carried by the housing and spaced-apart from the attachment point of the flexible band;

h) a ring formed by the flexible band along with a portion of the housing of the wireless audio receiver with the free ferromagnetic button of the distal free end of the flexible band magnetically coupled to the fixed ferromagnetic button of the housing; and

i) a clip formed by the flexible band along with the housing of the wireless audio receiver with the free ferromagnetic button of the distal free end of the flexible band magnetically coupled to the fixed ferromagnetic button of the housing with an article of clothing therebetween.

18. The device in accordance with claim 17 , further comprising:

a) an audio cord comprising an audio wire with a pair of earbuds at one end and an audio connection at an opposite end coupled to the housing;

b) the audio cord having a plurality of configurations, including:

i) a use configuration with the audio cord extending a longer length, and with the ring free of the audio cord or with the ring having a lesser number of passes of the audio cord extending through the ring;

ii) a wound storage configuration with the audio cord extending a shorter length than the longer length, and wound around the housing of the wireless audio receiver and through the ring and secured by the flexible band; and

iii) a clip configuration with the free ferromagnetic button of the distal free end of the band magnetically coupling to the fixed ferromagnetic button of the housing of the wireless audio receiver with the article of clothing therebetween.

19. The device in accordance with claim 17 , wherein the flexible band is longer than distance from the attachment point to the fixed ferromagnetic button of the housing so that the flexible band bows in a convex arcuate shape when the free ferromagnetic button of the distal free end of the flexible band is magnetically coupled to the fixed ferromagnetic button of the housing.

20. The device in accordance with claim 17 , further comprising an aperture in the housing, and the proximal end of the flexible band extending from inside the housing, and out of the aperture in the housing.

21. A wireless audio receiver device, comprising:

a) a housing with a wireless transceiver and a battery disposed therein;

b) an audio cord comprising an audio wire with a pair of earbuds at one end and an audio connection at an opposite end coupled to the housing;

c) a flexible band coupled to the housing at a proximal end and extending to a distal free end;

d) a flexible band extending from a proximal end coupled to the housing at an attachment point to a distal free end;

e) a free ferromagnetic button carried by the distal free end of the flexible band;

f) a fixed ferromagnetic button carried by the housing an spaced-apart from the attachment point of the flexible band;

g) the flexible band and the housing forming a ring for enclosing and securing a portion of the audio cord wound around the housing of the wireless audio receiver and secured by the flexible band;

h) the flexible band and the housing forming a clip capable of gripping an article of clothing in the magnetic coupling; and

wherein the attachment point of the proximal end of the flexible band is located at one end of the housing, and the fixed ferromagnetic button is located at an opposite end of the housing, and the flexible band extends substantially a length of the housing.

Assignments (7)