IP Library Granted Patent US 10,225,639
Granted Patent B2
US 10,225,639 · App. 15/180,019 · Granted Mar 5, 2019

Cable retraction system

Inventor: John T. Merenda (New York, NY)
Assignee: ADVANCED ACCESS TECHNOLOGIES LLC
H04R1/1033A45C11/00A45C13/02A45C15/00B65H75/4431B65H75/4434G06F1/1656H04M1/0258H04M1/6058A45C2011/002A45C2011/003B65H2701/3919H02J7/0054H04M1/15H04M1/185H04R1/1025H04R5/033
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,225,639
App. No.
15/180,019
Granted
Mar 5, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A retractable storage system for a handheld electronic device includes at least one cable with a plug head and an end piece, and at least one retractable mechanism to retract and store the cable. The retractable mechanism has a groove track system to control a rotational movement of the retractable mechanism. The retractable mechanism has a first area to store a retractable length of the cable and a second area to store a component of the retractable mechanism. Preferably, the groove track system has a groove track component to enable and disable the rotational movement of the retractable mechanism.

Claims (37)

1. A retractable storage system for a handheld electronic device, comprising:

at least one cable with a plug head and an end piece;

at least one retractable mechanism to retract and store said at least one cable, said at least one retractable mechanism comprises a groove track system to control a rotational movement of said at least one retractable mechanism;

wherein said at least one retractable mechanism comprises at least two areas, a first area configured to store a retractable length of said at least one cable and a second area configured to store a component of said retractable mechanism;

wherein the first area is generally coplanar with the second area; and

wherein said at least one retractable mechanism further comprises electrical contacts or slip rings to electrically connect at least two sections of said at least one cable.

2. The retractable storage system of claim 1 , wherein the groove track system further comprises a groove track component to enable and disable the rotational movement of said at least one retractable mechanism.

3. The retractable storage system of claim 2 , wherein the groove track component is at least one ball bearing.

4. The retractable storage system of claim 2 , wherein the groove track component is at least one rod, latch or pin.

5. The retractable storage system of claim 1 , wherein said groove track system is partially located on a rotating reel of said at least one retractable mechanism.

6. The retractable storage system of claim 1 , wherein said retractable mechanism further comprises a third area configured to store a power spring.

7. The retractable storage system of claim 6 , wherein the first area and the second area are coplanar on a single plane with the third area.

8. The retractable storage system of claim 1 , wherein the groove track component is activated in response to said at least one cable being pulled from said at least one retractable mechanism.

9. The retractable storage system of claim 1 , further comprising one or more storage chambers, and at least one battery mounted inside one of the storage chambers to charge at least one of the handheld electronic device and at least one accessory item.

10. The retractable storage system of claim 9 , wherein said battery is electrically connected to said cable of said retractable mechanism and wherein said cable is configured to charge at least one of an external electronic device and an external battery.

11. The retractable storage system of claim 10 , wherein said external electronic device is at least one of a headphone and an earbud.

12. The retractable storage system of claim 1 , further comprising an actuation system to disconnect or connect an electrical signal between the plug head of said at least one cable and a port of the handheld electronic device.

13. The retractable storage system of claim 1 , wherein the end piece is located in a first section of said at least one cable and the plug head is located in a second section of said at least one cable, and the electrical contacts or slip rings are configured to move or rotate the first section of said at least one cable independent of the second section of said at least one cable while maintaining an electrical connection.

14. The retractable storage system of claim 1 , wherein said second area stores at least one power spring.

15. The retractable storage system of claim 14 , further comprising a spring housing configured to removably secure said power spring to said retractable mechanism.

16. The retractable storage system of claim 1 , wherein the end piece is one of the following accessory items: an earbud, earphone, headphone or audio plug.

17. A retractable storage system for a handheld electronic device, comprising:

at least one cable with a plug head and an end piece;

at least one retractable mechanism for retracting and storing said at least one cable;

wherein said at least one retractable mechanism comprises at least two areas, the first area is configured to store a retractable length of said at least one cable and the second area is configured to store an excess portion of said at least one cable and functions as a cable expansion chamber;

wherein the first area is generally coplanar with the second area; and

wherein said cable expansion chamber allows the retractable storage system to utilize a continuous cable with no breaks between the end piece and the plug head.

18. The retractable storage system of claim 17 , wherein the retractable length and the excess portion of said at least one cable are circularly wound in the first and second areas.

19. The retractable storage system of claim 17 , wherein the retractable length and the excess portion of said at least one cable in the first and second areas are circularly wound in opposite directions.

20. The retractable storage system of claim 17 , wherein said first and second areas are connected via an aperture through which the retractable length of said at least one cable and the excess portion of said at least one cable are connected.

21. The retractable storage system of claim 17 , wherein said retractable mechanism further comprises a third area configured to store a power spring.

22. The retractable storage system of claim 21 , wherein the first area and the second area are coplanar on a single plane with the third area.

23. The retractable storage system of claim 17 , further comprising one or more storage chambers, and at least one battery mounted inside one of the storage chambers to charge at least one of the handheld electronic device and at least one accessory item.

24. The retractable storage system of claim 23 , wherein said battery is electrically connected to said cable of said retractable mechanism and wherein said cable is configured to charge at least one of an external electronic device or an external battery.

25. The retractable storage system of claim 24 , wherein said external electronic device is at least one of a headphone and an earbud.

26. The retractable storage system of claim 17 , wherein the end piece is one of the following accessory items: an earbud, earphone, headphone or audio plug.

27. The retractable storage system of claim 18 , wherein said at least one retractable mechanism further comprising further comprises a groove track system to control a rotational movement of said at least one retractable mechanism.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 29, 2017
From: HYBRID SKILLZ INC.
To: ADVANCED ACCESS TECHNOLOGIES LLC
Reel/Frame 041772/0385 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 11, 2016
From: MERENDA, JOHN T
To: HYBRID SKILLZ INC.
Reel/Frame 038963/0865 →
Continuity (13)
Continuation In Part 14740179 · Jun 15, 2015
Continuation In Part 14711735 · May 13, 2015
Continuation 14503467 · Oct 1, 2014
Continuation 14182645 · Feb 18, 2014
Continuation 13872157 · Apr 29, 2013
Continuation PCTUS2013038599 · Apr 29, 2013
Continuation In Part 29430245 · Aug 23, 2012
Continuation In Part 29430245 · Aug 23, 2012
Continuation In Part 29417184 · Mar 30, 2012
Provisional Application 62174667 · Jun 12, 2015
Provisional Application 62012334 · Jun 14, 2014
Provisional Application 61639968 · Apr 29, 2012
Related Publication 20160295312A1 · Oct 6, 2016