Patent Application
20130202146
The present invention is concerned with an electronic apparatus or system and in particular an electronic apparatus having an audio function and provided with a connection cable and earphone management.
Over the past twenty to thirty years, there have been numerous developments on electronic audio apparatus and systems, and in particular portable electronic audio apparatus and systems. In the 80's, “walkmans” were very popular although they were rather bulky and heavy such that carrying them around would be quite inconvenient. In the early 90's, compact disc players had taken over walkmans. Then in the late 90's, portable MP3 players had for a period of time become very popular. Nowadays, many cellular phones or portable digital devices are equipped with built-in functions of providing audio, e.g. outputting music, to an earphone through a connection cable. One feature that hasn't changed is that when using such electronic audio devices as music or audio players, a connection cable connected to the devices at one end and to an earphone at the other end is still often widely used.
The length of such connection cable is usually substantial such that the cable is long enough to extend from an earphone worn by a user by the ear and the electronic audio apparatus typically located in a pocket of a garment of the user or a bag carried by the user. One common problem is that when the apparatus is not in use, and the apparatus together with the connection cable is put away in a bag, the connection cable becomes easily tangled up. It is rather cumbersome and time-consuming trying to untangle the connection cable. Further, seeking to untangle the connection cable in a rush might even damage the connection cable.
The present invention seeks to address this problem or to some extent to minimize the problem, or at least to provide an alternative to the public.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic apparatus comprising a main body, an ear phone and a connection cable with a substantial length for connecting the ear phone to the main body, wherein the apparatus further comprises a device to releasably secure the ear phone and/or the connection cable to the apparatus to minimize the connection cable from tangling up, and wherein the securing device includes i) a mounting means having a surrounding wall defining a first cavity with a width slightly larger than the width of the connection cable for releasably mounting a section of the connection cable to the apparatus and/or ii) a recess for releasably securing the ear phone to the apparatus.
Preferably, part of the surrounding wall may take the form of a flexible or resilient finger which, in use, is adapted to flex slightly to facilitate the section of the connection cable entering or exiting from the first cavity. The mounting means may, or may be alternatively, provided with a surrounding wall defining a second cavity with a width large enough to accommodate two sections of the connection cable. The first and second cavities may be adjacent each other and separated by a divider.
In an embodiment, the securing device may take the form of a C-shape structure, a notch-like structure or a slot structure. The structure may be protruded from a side of the apparatus. In an alternative embodiment, the structure may be recessed into a side of the apparatus.
In another embodiment, the securing device may be provided on a surface of the apparatus.
In one embodiment, the apparatus may further comprise a protective cover or a casing and the securing device may be provided on a surface of the cover or the casing.
Preferably, the recess of the structure may be sized and shaped to provide a tight fit to accommodate ends of the earphone for releasably securing the earphone to the apparatus. In one embodiment, the recess may be provided on a surface of the apparatus.
In a different embodiment, the apparatus may further comprise a cover or a casing and the securing device may be provided on a surface of the cover or the casing.
The recess of the structure may be configured to form an indentation or a cavitation provided on a rear surface of the apparatus.
Embodiments of the present invention are now described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawing in which:
a is a schematic diagram showing a front view of an embodiment of the present invention in the form of a cellular phone;
b is a rear view of the cellular phone of
a to 3c are schematic diagrams showing three different manners a connection cable is secured to a cellular phone;
a is a schematic view showing an exemplary electronic apparatus, generally designated 2. The device is a cellular phone equipped with an audio function. The cellular phone is provided with an audio jack receiver located at an upper end of the phone 2. The apparatus 2 is also provided with an audio set 4 including a pair of earplugs 6, 8 and a connection cable 10 connecting the audio jack 4 and the earplugs 6, 8 such that electrical signals are transmitted from the apparatus 2 to the audio jack 4 and then to the earplugs 6, 8 via the connection cable 10. The connection cable 10 has a substantial length. It can be envisaged that the connection cable 10 would be easily tangled up, for example, when the apparatus 2 together with the connection cable 10 is put in a backpack.
The apparatus 2 is provided with a device 12 for releasably securing the connection cable 10 to a rear surface 14 thereof, as can be seen in
While in this embodiment the securing device 12 is in the form of a clip, other similar securing devices, such as a notch-like securing device may be used. Similarly, a structure formed into a slot may be provided to a surface of the apparatus. The slot can function similarly to accommodate a section of the connection cable 10 and to secure the connection cable 10 to minimize random movement of the cable or tangling of the cable.
a illustrates an apparatus 42 similar the apparatus 2 in
b and 3c show apparatus 62, 82 similar to the apparatus 42 in
The present invention as depicted in the above embodiments demonstrates a convenient way of managing connection cables in an electronic audio device. It can be appreciated that the use of winding system is avoided so as to minimize the chance of damaging the earplugs in the event of over winding.
It should be understood that the above only describes the preferred embodiments according to the present invention, and that modifications and alterations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention.
