초록

A headset retraction device for a portable media player generally includes a base and an arbor, wherein the arbor is configured to rotate within a cavity defined by the base, and the arbor and base are cooperatively configured to wind a cord of the headset in a single plane.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A headset retractor comprising: a headset having one or more speakers for outputting sound, a connector to be inserted into a portable media player, and a cord having one or more conductors extending continuously between the one or more speakers and the connector;an arbor around which the cord is

1. A headset retractor comprising: a headset having one or more speakers for outputting sound, a connector to be inserted into a portable media player, and a cord having one or more conductors extending continuously between the one or more speakers and the connector;an arbor around which the cord is wound; anda spring coupled to the arbor to rotate the arbor for winding the cord;wherein the cord includes a retractable portion that is wound in a single plane about the arbor when retracted;wherein the spring is wound in a single plane that is generally coplanar with the single plane in which the cord is wound; andwherein the cord includes an inner winding and the retractable portion forms an outer winding, the inner winding and the outer winding being coplanar with the spring; andwherein the inner winding is wound clockwise in a first state of retraction of the cord and is wound counter-clockwise in a second state of retraction. 2. The headset retractor of claim 1, wherein: the headset retractor comprises a base that is configured as a removable case for a portable media player, the base defining a cavity therein; andthe arbor and the spring are disposed in the cavity, wherein the spring is configured to rotate the arbor relative to the base to wind the cord around the arbor. 3. The headset retractor of claim 2, wherein: the base comprises a first member and a second member defining at least a portion of the cavity;the first member includes an inner surface facing into the cavity and an outer surface facing an outer surface of a portable media player when the base is coupled thereto;the second member includes an inner surface facing into the cavity and an outer surface facing away from the outer surface of the portable media player when the base is coupled thereto;the arbor includes a generally planar portion having an inner surface and an outer surface, the outer surface of the arbor engaging the inner surface of the second member; andthe cord is positioned in the cavity and may contact the inner surface of the first member and the inner surface of the arbor. 4. The headset refractor of claim 3, further comprising a third member having an outer surface that is coplanar with the outer surface of the first member, wherein the first member is disposed within an aperture of the third member, and the cavity is defined by the first member, the second member, and the third member. 5. The headset retractor of claim 2, wherein the base includes an upper portion and a lower portion; and wherein the upper portion is configured to releasably couple to the lower portion so as to generally surround a periphery of the portable media player and retain the portable media player therein. 6. The headset retractor of claim 5, wherein the lower portion includes a cavity in which the arbor and the spring are disposed, and the upper portion includes an aperture that the cord extends through and that is configured to prevent the one or more speakers from passing therethrough. 7. The headset retractor of claim 2, wherein the base includes a first member and a second member defining therebetween a cavity in which the spring and the arbor are disposed; and wherein the second member includes a post extending into the cavity, the post being configured to couple to the first member to retain the spring between the first member and the second member and the arbor being configured to rotate about the post. 8. A headset refractor comprising: a headset having one or more speakers for outputting sound, a connector to be inserted into a portable media player, and a cord having one or more conductors extending continuously between the one or more speakers and the connector;an arbor around which the cord is wound; anda spring coupled to the arbor to rotate the arbor for winding the cord;wherein the cord includes a retractable portion that is wound in a single plane about the arbor when retracted;wherein the spring is wound in a single plane that is generally coplanar with the single plane in which the cord is wound; anda slide member coupled to the connector, the slide member being configured to slide the connector relative to a base of the retractor into and out of electrical connection with a port of the portable media player. 9. The headset retractor of claim 1, wherein: the cord has a generally constant cross section for a majority of a length of the cord, the cross section having a major dimension and a minor dimension that is less than the major dimension; andthe retractable portion of the cord is wound with the major dimension extending generally in an axial direction relative to the arbor. 10. The headset retractor of claim 9, further comprising a base defining a cavity containing the arbor and the spring and in which the cord is wound, wherein the base defines an opening configured to orient the major dimension of the cord in the axial direction as the cord is retracted into the cavity to be wound about the arbor. 11. The headset retractor of claim 10, wherein the opening of the base has a width that is greater than the minor dimension of the cord and is less than the major dimension of the cord. 12. The headset retractor of claim 10, wherein a stationary portion of the cord does not move relative to the base and extends radially outward across the retractable portion of the cord, the minor dimension of the stationary portion of the cord extending generally in the axial direction. 13. The headset retractor of claim 1, wherein the spring, the inner winding, and the outer winding are coaxial, the inner winding being disposed radially outward of the spring and the outer winding being disposed radially outward of the inner winding. 14. The headset refractor of claim 13, wherein the headset retractor includes a base that is configured as a removable case for a portable media player, the arbor is configured to rotate relative to the base, and a stationary portion of the cord is fixed relative to the base and extends radially outward from the inner winding across the outer winding. 15. A case for a portable media player comprising: a base configured to removably couple to the portable media player and having a first member and a second member defining a cavity therebetween; anda retraction mechanism having an arbor and a spring disposed in the cavity of the base, the spring configured to rotate the arbor relative to the base to wind a cord around the arbor;wherein the first member includes an inner surface facing into the cavity and an outer surface configured to be disposed against an outer surface of the portable media player when the case is coupled to the portable media player;wherein the second member includes an inner surface facing into the cavity and an outer surface configured to be held by a user when the case is coupled to the portable media player;wherein the arbor has an inner surface and an outer surface, the outer surface of the arbor engaging the inner surface of the second member; andwherein the cord is positioned in the cavity and may contact the inner surface of the first member and the inner surface of the arbor. 16. The case of claim 15, wherein: the cord includes one or more conductors extending continuously between one or more speakers and a connector;the cord includes a retractable portion that is wound in a single plane about the arbor when retracted; andthe spring is wound in a single plane that is generally coplanar with the single plane in which the cord is wound. 17. The case of claim 15, wherein the second member includes a generally circular recess, and the arbor rotates within the recess. 18. The case of claim 17, wherein the recess forms a first portion of the inner surface of the second member, and the second member defines a second portion of the inner surface of the second member which is disposed closer to the outer surface of the portable media player than and radially outward of the first portion of the inner surface of the second member; wherein a retracted portion of the cord is wound and positioned against the second portion of the inner surface of the second member. 19. The case of claim 15, further comprising a unitary locking member having a spring portion and a locking portion, wherein the arbor includes one or more teeth at an outer periphery thereof, and the spring portion biases the locking portion against one of the teeth of the arbor to prevent rotation thereof. 20. The case of claim 15, wherein the arbor includes an annular flange extending inward from the inner surface of the arbor, the flange defines a radially inner cavity in which the spring is generally positioned, and the cord includes a retractable portion that is configured to wind about the arbor radially outward of the flange. 21. The case of claim 15, wherein the cord is coupled at a first end directly to one or more speakers, and at a second end directly to a male connector configured to be received by the portable media player, the connector being movable relative to the base between a first position in which the connector is connected to the portable media player and a second positioned in which the connector is disconnected from the portable media player but is not fully removed from the portable media player. 22. The case of claim 15, wherein the arbor does not include a conductive portion for transferring an electronic signal between the connector and the one or more speakers. 23. The case of claim 15, wherein an input device is coupled to the cord and has a greater dimension than the cord. 24. The headset retractor of claim 8, wherein: the base is configured as a removable case for a portable media player, the base defining a cavity therein; andthe arbor and the spring are disposed in the cavity, wherein the spring is configured to rotate the arbor relative to the base to wind the cord around the arbor.