The subject of the invention is a device for storing an earphone cable having a case, a bottom cover attached to the case, a cable outlet; a drum connected to the case by a shaft for rotating the cable; and a spiral spring placed in the drum for enabling adjustment of tension. The invention is also the method for using the device.

The state of the art includes the following solutions.

Chinese utility model number CN202663527 U describes an earphone cord winding-proof mechanism. It consists of a base, a damping spring, a stopping pawl, a ratchet, a wind spring, earphone cords, a rotating shaft mounted to the ratchet, and a bracket. The spring is fixed between ratchet and the rotating shaft. The device of the utility model has the beneficial effect that the undesirable winding, curling and breaking of the earphone cords can be avoided. An important difference is however, that the model does not include a housing for protecting the earphones. Application number US2012314896 Al from the United States discloses a retractable audio cord device. It contains a plurality of internal components; a retraction button attached to the surface of the housing, where the retraction button activates a spool within the housing; a set of receivers around an edge of the housing, where the set of receivers enable a set of cords to extend and retract from the housing; a pair of earphone cords extending from the set of receivers, where the pair of earphone cords retract into the housing and wraps around the spool when the retraction button is pressed. The connection cord retracts into the housing and wraps around the spool when the retraction button is pressed. Korean patent number KR101292337 B l describes an earphone storage device. It enables the user to adjust the length of an earphone to a desired length and to conveniently store the earphone. Due to its embodiment there is not enough place to store any kind of earphone in it. Another disadvantage of the invention is that the earphone cannot be changed and replaced. When removing the cover, the spring can easily fall out and the whole device will come apart and fall to pieces. So the invention does not provide a replaceable earphone but a built-in earphone in the case.

The invention of US application number US5422957 A provides a cable take-up, which permits the cable to slacken when withdrawn to its desired length. The cable take-up includes a cylindrical case and a plug mechanically attached to the case and extending axially from the case, within the case, a cable is wound onto a rotating spool biased by a spring to retract the cable. A ratchet prevents the cable from retracting and a release for the ratchet is accessible from outside of the case.

US patent number US8811646 Bl describes a retractable earphone set consisting of a protective housing, pair of cables is wound around a spring wheel. Holding down the first push button enables a user to extend the pair of cables, and thus the pair of earphones, for use as desired, pulling each of the pair of cables to move the first spring wheel assembly against the action of the spring. To retract the pair of cables, and thus retract the pair of earphones to a position most proximal to the housing, the first push button is depressed. As novelty an integral built-in speaker is designed to operationally communicate with a cellular telephone among other audio equipment.

Utility model number CN202679574 U comprises an earphone and a connecting wire, and the tail end of the connecting wire is provided with a snail shell shaped snail circle, a rotating shaft is arranged at an axle center of the snail circle, and the connecting wire is fixedly wound on the rotating shaft. Besides the fancy design the utility model misses any elaborate solution like a (pawl) ratchet mechanism.

US application number US2008192975 Al comes from Sony and comprises a winding device such as a reel, and assembly is facilitated without using jigs when a commutation mechanism relaying to a D/U on the other side through a passage cord is installed. The winding method does not determine any specific housing or case.

Utility model number CN203851177 U from China discloses a handset case with a retractable earphone cord, which comprises a handset case body. The bottom of the handset case body is provided with a groove. A cylindrical stator is arranged in the center of the groove. The earphone cord is wound on a spring disc. The upper end of the groove is provided with a baffle plate. Sealing and fixing can be achieved through the baffle plate. The handset case with the matching high-sound-quality earphone cord is connected with a 3.5 earphone interface.

Chinese utility model no. CN202602725 U provides an earphone retractable device which is destined specially for use inside a mobile phone. The earphone retractable device comprises an upper cover, a lower cover and a retractable device, wherein the lower cover comprises a locking cavity and a storage cavity adjacent to the locking cavity; and the retractable device comprises a locking piece and a wire-winding piece. The device has to be small to be integrated in a phone therefore misses any elaborate technical solution like a ratchet mechanism. Korean application number KR20120117522 A shows a winding mechanism that is pretty simple. A winding roll of the winding means is pivotally combined with the inner center of the case. The title "all-in-one case and earphone" refers to the case containing a sterilisation means sterilising an earphone speaker.

Korean application number KR20000063791 A focuses on a two-way type winding function of earphone cord. It comprises a winding case that is opened at both side surfaces and includes a winding roll rotatable with relation to a shaft in the center such that middle parts of earphone cords are inserted into cord insertion holes of the winding roll and the earphone side cord. The mechanism automatically arranges cords of earphone in a case for preventing damage and messy appearance of the cords.

The problem to be solved is that an earphone case is needed that can store any types of earphone. The case should protect the cable and provide safe storage and also allow the user to control the length of the earphone cord. A professional and universal case is needed that can be used for sport, travel and other activities, while providing room for a retractable earphone and preventing the cables to get tangled.

The purpose of the invention is to eliminate the faults of known solutions and to create a compact retractable earphone storing device where the cables are easy to change and replace due to the insertion mechanism, that allows to adjust tension and length, handles most types of earphones, can automatically unwind the cable, can divide cables in halves, prevents the cords from getting tangled and provides safe storage for earphones so that they operate for a long time. The inventive step is based on the recognition that it is advantageous to use ratchet mechanism to provide adjustable length and tension for the cables, can automatically unwind the cable and create an insertion mechanism that allows placing almost any types of earphones in the case simply and very fast; as well as to create a compact device according to claim 1.

According to the above purpose, the most general implementation form of the solution according to the invention is described in claim 1. The most general form of the procedure of use is described in claim 5. The individual implementation forms are described in the subclaims.

The invention is presented in more detail by examples of implementation, using drawings. On the following drawings,

Figure 1 shows the front of the device in perspective view,

Figure 2 shows the back of the device in perspective view,

Figure 3 shows a disassembled perspective view, and

Figure 4 shows the section of the device.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The device comprises a case 1 that is equipped with a clip 9 to enable comfortable usage. The clip 9 is detachable and allows the user to attach the device on the clothes or to other possible items. The clip 9 is mounted on the bottom cover 7. The case 1 also has a cable outlet 11 where the earphone cord can leave the case 1.

Figure 2 is also a perspective view, now showing the back side of the device. Bottom cover 7 is attached to the case 1. A removable clip 9 is mounted on the bottom cover 7 to allow the user to attach the device on clothes, etc. In the middle of the bottom cover 7 there is a removable cable cover member 8 that enables the cable to be easily inserted or replaced. Cable cover member 8 can be easily disassembled. The required length of the cable will be available from cable outlet 11. On this drawing the drum 6 inside the device is also visible. The drum 6 can rotate and retract the cord according to the user's request. Furthermore, the drum 6 holds the cable and divides it into halves.

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the earphone storage apparatus in disassembled condition. This figure helps to understand and observe every part of the device. The device comprises a case 1, the case 1 has a cable outlet 11 that gives enough place for the earphone cord to move and leave the case 1 without getting hurt or tangled. Bottom cover 7 is being attached to the case 1 to cover and protect the items inside the case 1. The bottom cover 7 is equipped with a removable clip 9. There is a detachable cable cover member 8 that allows the user to insert a cable in the case 1. After finishing replacing the cord the cable cover member 8 can be pressed in the hole of the bottom cover 7. The cord is rotated by the drum 6. The drum 6 has further the role to comprise a spiral spring 5 and to prevent the cord from being tangled. The case 1 has a shaft in its center, that is used for the drum 6 rotations. The spiral spring 5 is attached to the drum 6 at one end and the shaft at the other end. The switch 3 works with the help of torsional spring 2. The drum 6 has teeth and due to those teeth it works like a gear in the ratchet mechanism. The switch 3 works like a pawl in the ratchet mechanism and does not allow the drum 6 to rotate in the other direction. When the switch 3 is pressed, the drum 6 can rotate freely, in any direction. Switch button 4 has a push fit which holds the switch 3 on shaft.

Figure 4 shows the bottom of the device when the cover member is removed. The cover member is the middle, removable part in the bottom cover 7 and makes the replacement of the earphone cords possible. This illustration makes drum 6 is visible and the drawing also shows the rotation direction 12. The device works based on ratchet mechanism, the drum 6 is the gear and the switch 3 is the pawl. The switch 3 restricts rotation backwards. However, when the switch 3 is pressed, the drum 6 can rotate freely. Almost any type of earphone cable 10 can be inserted. The cable 10 leaves the device through the cable outlet 11. During the normal use of the device we perform the following steps. At first we remove the cable cover member 8 to make room for inserting an earphone cord. Before inserting the cable 10, we rotate the drum 6 approximately 16-17 times in order to create tension in the spiral spring 5. Then we insert the cable 10 in the drum 6, with one side to the upper part of drum 6 and the other side to the lower part of drum 6. After inserting the cable around the drum 6 we place the cable cover member 8 back and press it until it fits in the bottom cover 7 perfectly. Then we press the switch 3. With this movement we release the drum 6 and the drum 6 will rotate, and the cable 10 will be completely pulled inside the drum 6. Pressing switch 3 automatically retract the cable 10 on drum 6. If we want to retract the cable 10, we need to pull both ends of the cable 10 simultaneously. This way we can pull the cable 10 out of the case 1. While pressing switch 3, drum 6 can rotate also in this direction. After retracting the cable 10 we release the switch 3 and the rotation will be restricted again. Hence the cable 10 remains retracted and spiral spring 5 remains stretched. When changing the earphones, we need to remove cable cover member 8 and fully stretch cable 8 and then take it out. The presented device has numerous advantages. The device is a compact earphone case that is able to retract the cables without getting them hurt. The earphone storage is able to handle most types of earphones available in market. The cable insertion mechanism is uniquely designed, easy to operate. The ratchet mechanism provides easy usage and allows the user to set the required tension of the cable. One of the most important advantages of the invention is that it prevents the cable from being tangled. Another advantage of the device is it can easily control the length of the earphone. Due to the separated cable passage the earphones are in protected situation providing long life for them. The device is a professional, universal earphone case that can be used in all over the world with different types of earphones. With the help of the clip mounted on the cover the user can attach the case on his belt or clothes. If one cord was from the wrong quality and stops working, the device can still work, the user has to simply replace the old cable with a new one. Due to this important advantage, this invention can operate for a long time because its condition does not depend on the quality of the earphone. A great advantage is that the apparatus makes it very easy and fast to change the earphone in the case so the user can change the earphone every day according to his mood or the colour of his clothes. Maybe the biggest advantage is that the case is able to accommodate any brand of earphones and can automatically unwind the cord. The invention is not restricted to the above-described embodiment. In addition to the above examples, the invention may be implemented within the scope of protection in other forms and with other manufacturing procedures.