Systems and methods for storing a cable
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorTrent Weber
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods for storing a cable are provided. The casing may be configured to naturally coil and to uncoil when one or more forces are applied to the casing. The casing may include an opening that may lead to a channel that may run longitudinally through a length of the casing. At least a portion of the cable (e.g., a headphone cable or in-ear earphone cable) may be stored in the casing by longitudinally aligning the cable with the casing, and inserting various portions of the cable through the opening and into the channel.
Claims22
For storing a cable, a casing comprising:
- a self-coiling structure having a predetermined length and comprising a curved outer surface, a retaining cavity, and a channel, the retaining cavity and the channel being adjacent to each other and extending along the predetermined length, and the channel being operative to enable the cable ingress to and egress from the retaining cavity;
- wherein the casing is operative to:
- self-coil in the absence of an externally applied force;
- and
- uncoil when subjected to an externally applied force, and wherein the size of the retaining cavity varies throughout the predetermined length of the structure.
A casing for storing a cable comprising:
- a curved outer surface;
- and
- a longitudinal cavity for storing at least one component of the cable, wherein:
- the longitudinal cavity forms an inner surface of the casing;
- the casing is:
- at least partially coiled when no external force is applied to the casing;
- and
- at least partially straight when the external force is applied to the casing;
- the longitudinal cavity comprises a first cross-sectional area at a first portion of the casing;
- the longitudinal cavity comprises a second cross-sectional area at a second portion of the casing;
- and
- the first cross-sectional area is larger than the second cross-sectional area.
A casing of for storing a cable comprising:
- a curved outer surface;
- and
- a longitudinal cavity for storing at least one component of the cable, wherein:
- the longitudinal cavity forms an inner surface of the casing;
- the casing is:
- at least partially coiled when no external force is applied to the casing;
- at least partially straight when the external force is applied to the casing;
- and
- the curved outer surface comprises at least one protrusion for storing a particular component of the cable.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.