US20130119181A1

US20130119181A1 - Cord storage device

Info

Publication number: US20130119181A1
Application number: US13/296,540
Authority: US
Inventors: Eagle Fan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-11-15
Filing date: 2011-11-15
Publication date: 2013-05-16

Abstract

A cord storage device is provided, including a clip element, a rotation element and a press element. The clip element further includes a first clip plate and a second clip plate, the peripheries of the two clip plates are partially connected so that a non-closed clipping space is formed between the two clip plates. The rotation element is located on the first clip plate, with the majority of the rotation element located on the outer side of the first clip plate. The rotation element and outer wall of the first clip plate form a wound cord space in-between. The press element is located inside the space between the first and the second clip plates. The press element will move due to the rotation element. When the rotation element rotates in a particular direction, the press element will move toward the second clip plate synchronously.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a cord storage device, and more specifically to a cord storage device having space to store wound cord and able to fasten to edge of fabric by clipping.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Portable electronic devices provide convenience for people to use everywhere for audio applications, such as, mobile phone, MP3 players, and so on. To avoid interfering with others in public or enjoy hand-free convenience, many users would use accessories like earphone or microphones to connect to portable electronic devices.
However, the cord connecting the accessories and the portable devices are usually hanging to cause inconvenience and pose potential danger if accidentally twined or tangled with other objects.
While some accessories are designed with a cord storage part for controlling the length of the cord usage, the majority of accessories currently available in the market do not come with such designs. The present invention is to provide a solution to the accessories without a cord storage device to increase the convenience of the accessory usage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a cord storage device that can conveniently clip to the edge of a fabric, such as, collar, opening of a pocket or fly front of a shirt. The cord storage device further provides a wound cord space for storing the wound cord so that the cord will not be dangling when using earphone or microphone with the mobile phone or MP3 player.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a cord storage device using screw fastening to fasten firmly the cord storage device to the fabric. The part of the cord storage device that extends inside the clothes is thin and flat to prevent discomfort upon contact. In addition, the design of the cord storage device is esthetic as a decorative item on the clothes.
To achieve the objects, the present invention includes a clip element, a rotation element and a press element. The clip element further includes a first clip plate and a second clip plate, the peripheries of the two clip plates are partially connected so that a non-closed clipping space is formed between the two clip plates. The rotation element is located on the first clip plate, with the majority of the rotation element located on the outer side of the first clip plate. The rotation element and outer wall of the first clip plate form a wound cord space in-between. The press element is located inside the space between the first and the second clip plates. The press element will move due to the rotation element. When the rotation element rotates in a particular direction, the press element will move toward the second clip plate synchronously.
The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood from a careful reading of a detailed description provided herein below with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention can be understood in more detail by reading the subsequent detailed description in conjunction with the examples and references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of the cord storage device of the present invention clipping on clothes pocket;

FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the cord storage device of the present invention clip on a fabric; and

FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of the cord storage device of the present invention clipping on clothes collar.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 show a schematic view, a side view and a cross-sectional view of the present invention respectively. A cord storage device of the present invention includes a clip element 1, a rotation element 2 and a press element 3. Clip element 1 further includes a first clip plate 11 and a second clip plate 12, and the peripheries of first clip plate 11 and second clip plate 12 are partially connected so that a non-closed clipping space 13 is formed between the two clip plates. Rotation element 2 is located on first clip plate 11. Rotation element 2 and outer wall of first clip plate 11 form a wound cord space 20 in-between. Press element 3 is located inside space 13 between first clip plate 11 and second clip plate 12. Press element 3 will move due to rotation element 2. When rotation element 2 rotates in a particular direction, press element 3 will move toward second clip plate 12 synchronously.
The following describes each element of the present invention in details. Clip element 1 includes first clip plate 11 and second clip plate 12, with the peripheries of first clip plate 11 and second clip plate 12 partially connected to a minimum extent so that non-closed space 13 can allow the fabric to enter in-between easily. First clip plate 11 includes a protruding neck 111 with outer diameter smaller than first clip plate 11. The center of neck 111 has a hole 112 with inner screw mark for engaging rotation element 2. Inner wall of first clip plate 11 facing second clip plate 12 has concave trench 113 for housing press element 3. Second clip plate 12 has a via hole 121, located at a location corresponding to press element 3 to enhance the effect of clipping the fabric tightly. Alternatively, a concave trench or rough inner wall surface can substitute hole 121 on second clip plate 12 to achieve the same effect.
Rotation element 2 includes a turnable button 21 and an extension segment 22 extending downward from turnable button 21. Turnable button 21 in the present embodiment is a round disc, but is not limited to this embodiment. Turnable button 21 has a gap 211 of a long stripe shape. Gap 211 allows a cord wound inside wound cord space 20 to extend outward and further fastens the cord. Outer wall of extension segment 22 has outer screw marks 23 for engaging inner screw marks of hole 112. Extension segment 22 includes a fasten element 24 at one end. Fasten element 24 is to couple press element 3 to the end of extension segment 22 so that press element 3 can still rotate freely. Therefore, fasten element 24 can be a rivet, plug or a screw. In the present embodiment, fasten element 24 is a plug.
Press element 3 moves inside space 13 and has a shape of a round disc and coupled to the end of extension segment 22. Press element 3 can be stored inside concave trench 113 of first clip plate 11. When rotation element 2 rotates in a particular direction, rotation element 2 moves toward first clip plate 11 because of the screw marks so that press element 3 enters space 13 and moves towards second clip plate 12 subsequently.
FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of the present invention clipping the opening of a pocket on clothes. When in use, rotation element 2 must rotate to the top position, and then fabric 4 of the pocket is placed in space 13 between first clip plate 11 and second clip plate 12. Refer to FIG. 5. Fabric 4 is preferred to be near the connected part of first clip plate 11 and second clip plate 12. Then, rotation element 2 rotates in a particular direction. Initially, press element 3 will rotate synchronously. After press element 3 contacts fabric 4, the rotation stops because of friction. However, press element 3 continues to move toward second clip plate 2. Finally, fabric 4 is pressed tightly between press element 3 and second clip plate 12. In the present embodiment, because of hole 122, fabric 4 is tightly pressed between wall of the hole and press element 3 for better effect. In this manner, the cord storage device of the present invention is fastened to the edge of the pocket opening. Cord 61 of accessory, such as, earphone 61, of portable electronic device 7 can be wound inside wound cord space 20 and cord 61 can extend from gap 211 of rotation element 2 to fasten the position of cord 61. This achieves perfect storage of cord 61. In addition, as shown in FIG. 6, cord storage device of the present invention can also clip on the collar of clothes, and the portable electronic device can be placed inside the pants pocket. Therefore, there is no restriction on where the cord storage device must clip on the clothes.
In the present embodiment, press element 3 moves in a linked manner by rotation element 2. Through the use of hole 112 with inner screw marks on first clip plate 11, the rotation of rotation element 2 can move press element 3 toward second clip plate 12. However, this embodiment is only illustrative, instead of restrictive. Other equivalent design of having screw marks on press element or rotation element can also achieve the same effect and thus is also within the scope of the present invention.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details described thereof. Various substitutions and modifications have been suggested in the foregoing description, and others will occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, all such substitutions and modifications are intended to be embraced within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A cord storage device, comprising a clip element, a rotation element and a press element

wherein said clip element further comprising a first clip plate and a second clip plate, peripheries of said first clip plate and said second clip plate partially connected so that a non-closed clipping space formed between said two clip plates;

said rotation element located on said first clip plate, with a majority part of said rotation element located on outer side of said first clip plate, said rotation element and outer wall of said first clip plate forming a wound cord space in-between; and

said press element located inside said space between said first and said second clip plates, said press element moving in a linked manner by said rotation element, when said rotation element rotating in a particular direction, said press element moving toward said second clip plate synchronously.

2. The cord storage device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rotation element comprises a turnable button and an extension segment extending downward from said turnable button, said extension segment passes said first clip plate and extends into said space, and said press element is moved in said linked manner by said extension segment of said rotation element.

3. The cord storage device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said press element is coupled to an end of said extension segment of said rotation element.

4. The cord storage device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said extension segment of said rotation element penetrates said first clip plate, outer wall of said extension segment forms outer screw marks and corresponding wall on said first clip plate forms inner screw marks, said rotation element is engaged to first clip plate via said extension segment in a screw manner.

5. The cord storage device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said turnable button of said rotation element has a gap of a long stripe shape.

6. The cord storage device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second clip plate of said clip element has a via hole, located at a location corresponding to said press element.

7. The cord storage device as claimed in claim 1, wherein inner wall of said second clip plate facing said press element forms a concave trench, located at a location corresponding to said press element.

8. The cord storage device as claimed in claim 1, wherein inner wall of said second clip plate facing said press element is a rough surface.