Patent Application
20210127817
The field of the invention relates to storing devices for storing earphones.
Modern earphones—particularly wireless earphones such as AirPods™ brand earphones available from Apple, Inc.—are easily to misplace because of their small size. Although small, such devices can be expensive. What is needed, therefore, is a device that can easily store such earphones on a user's clothing or headwear to prevent loss of the earphones.
The above and other needs are met by an apparatus for storing earphones comprising a substantially flat main body; a first attachment member attached to the main body proximate a first end of the first attachment member and proximate a back end and first side of the main body, and extending substantially parallel to the main body providing a first space between the main body and the first attachment member; a second attachment member attached to the main body proximate a first end of the second attachment member and a proximate a back end and second side of the main body, and extending substantially parallel to the main body providing a second space between the main body and the second attachment member; a first hump attached to the main body including a first aperture wherein the first hump is located proximate the back end of the main body; a second hump attached to the main body including a second aperture wherein the second hump is located proximate the back end of the main body; a first loop extending through the first aperture and configured for receiving an earphone through the first elastic loop; and a second loop extending through the second aperture and configured for receiving an earphone through the second elastic loop.
The apparatus may further include a first block in line with the first hump wherein the first block is located proximate a front end of the main body, and a second block in line with the second hump wherein the second block is located proximate a front end of the main body.
The apparatus may further include a first catch located proximate a second end of the first attachment member and facing toward the main body, and a second catch located proximate a second end of the second attachment member and facing toward the main body.
The summary provided herein is intended to provide examples of particular disclosed embodiments and is not intended to cover all potential embodiments or combinations of embodiments. Therefore, this summary is not intended to limit the scope of the invention disclosure in any way, a function which is reserved for the appended claims.
Further features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure will become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, appended claims, and accompanying figures, wherein elements are not to scale so as to more clearly show the details, wherein like reference numbers indicate like elements throughout the several views, and wherein:
The figures are provided to illustrate concepts of the invention disclosure and are not intended to embody all potential embodiments of the invention. Therefore, the figures are not intended to limit the scope of the invention disclosure in any way, a function which is reserved for the appended claims.
The earphone holder 10 includes a substantially flat main body 12. A first attachment member 14A is attached along a lower surface 15 of the main body 12 proximate a first end 16A of the first attachment member 14A and proximate a back end 18 and first side 20A of the main body 12, and extending substantially parallel to the main body 12 providing a first space 22A between the main body 12 and the first attachment member 14A. A second attachment member 14B is attached along the lower surface 15 of the main body 12 proximate a first end 16B of the second attachment member 14B and proximate the back end 18 and second side 20B of the main body 12, and extending substantially parallel to the main body 12 providing a second space 22B between the main body 12 and the second attachment member 14B. The spacing between the attachment members 14 and the main body 12 is such that the earphone holder 10 will fit tightly to a hat or other clothing item as shown, for example, in
The main body 12, first attachment member 14A, and second attachment member 14B are preferably formed as a single unit via polymer molding techniques known to persons having ordinary skill in the art. The main body 12, first attachment member 14A, and second attachment member 14B are preferably made of a polymer material such as a plastic, but they can be made of other materials as well such as, for example, rubber, metal or wood. Although only two attachment members 14 are shown and discussed, the earphone holder 10 may have one or more additional attachment members such as, for example, a third attachment member extending parallel to and between the first attachment member 14A and the second attachment member 14B.
As shown in
A first loop 28A extends through the first aperture 26A and is configured for receiving an earphone through the first elastic loop 28A as shown in
The earphone holder 10 may further include a first block 30A in line with the first hump 24A wherein the first block 30A is located proximate a front end 32 of the main body 12, and a second block 30B in line with the second hump 24B wherein the second block 30B is located proximate the front end 32 of the main body 12. The first block 30A and the second block 30B are preferably formed together with the main body 12, first attachment member 14A, second attachment member 14B, first hump 24A and the second hump 24B when the earphone holder 10 is manufactured and all of these components are preferably made of the same material.
The earphone holder 10 may further include a first catch 34A located proximate a second end 36A of the first attachment member 14A and facing toward the main body 12, and a second catch 34B located proximate a second end 36B of the second attachment member 14B and facing toward the main body 12.
The earphone holder 10 is designed to be easily manufactured and to be attachable to many different objects. Whichever object is selected, a portion of the selected object extends into the first space 22A and the second space 22B. The first catch 34A and the second catch 34B help the earphone holder 10 maintain a grip on the selected object. However, the spacing alone between the attachment members 14 and the main body 12 is preferably sufficiently narrow so that there is a tight fit regardless of whether the first catch 34A and second catch 34B are present. One advantage of the earphone holder 10 described herein is that it can be easily and quickly disengaged with a first selected object and then engaged with a second selected object. A user can select where on his or her clothing or accessorie(s) that he or she would like to attach earphones for the maximum amount of convenience and/or comfort. Although wired earphones are shown in
The foregoing description of preferred embodiments of the present disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. The described preferred embodiments are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the scope of the disclosure to the precise form(s) disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments are chosen and described in an effort to provide the best illustrations of the principles of the disclosure and its practical application, and to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the concepts revealed in the disclosure in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the disclosure as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.
This application is a nonprovisional patent application which claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/929,423 entitled “Apparatus for Storing Earphones” which was filed on Nov. 1, 2019, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62929423 | Nov 2019 | US |
