U.S. patent application number 13/503409 was filed with the patent office on 2012-11-01 for garment for use with portable electronic devices connected with wiring to one or more earphones.
Invention is credited to Samir Kupinic.
Application Number | 20120272431 13/503409 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43921164 |
Filed Date | 2012-11-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120272431 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kupinic; Samir |
November 1, 2012 |
GARMENT FOR USE WITH PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES CONNECTED WITH
WIRING TO ONE OR MORE EARPHONES
Abstract
The invention provides a garment which allows a user to manage
through the garment wiring extending between one or more earphones
and a portable electronic device.
Inventors: |
Kupinic; Samir; (Keilor
Downs, AU) |
Family ID: |
43921164 |
Appl. No.: |
13/503409 |
Filed: |
October 27, 2010 |
PCT Filed: |
October 27, 2010 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/AU2010/001438 |
371 Date: |
April 23, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/129 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04R 1/1033 20130101;
A41D 1/002 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/129 |
International
Class: |
A41B 3/00 20060101
A41B003/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 26, 2009 |
AU |
2009905221 |
Claims
1. A garment for use with a portable electronic device connected
with wiring to one or more earphones; the garment including a body
having a collar; and wherein the collar includes a guide mechanism
which extends at least partly along a length of the collar and
which assists in movement of a wire connecting at least one of the
earphones to the portable electronic device between an extended
position at which the respective earphone is capable of being
engaged with an ear of a user and a storage position at which the
respective earphone is stored en in the collar; whereby the guide
mechanism guides the movement of the wire relative to the collar
thereby to cause the wire to be drawn in a predetermined path;
wherein the guide mechanism extends from a first end of the collar
to an opposed, second of the collar; and wherein the guide
mechanism includes a plurality of pulleys which are secured at
spaced apart locations along the length of the collar.
2. (canceled)
3. (canceled)
4. A garment according to claim 1 wherein the positions of each of
the plurality of pulleys are chosen in order to assist movement of
a wire of one of the earphones to be drawn along the predetermined
path adjacent the collar.
5. A garment according to claim 1 wherein the collar is formed to
have at least one strip of material; and wherein the at least one
strip of material includes an outer side to which the at least
three pulleys are secured; and wherein the outer side is lined with
a material which reduces friction which may be caused by movement
of the wires of the earphones across the outer side.
6. A garment according to claim 1 wherein the collar is formed to
have a first strip of material and a second strip of material which
extends from the first strip of material and which is moved
relative to the first strip of material so that the second strip of
material lies adjacent the first strip of material thereby to
create an inner cavity between the adjacent first and second strips
of material; and wherein the guide mechanism operates inside the
inner cavity.
7. (canceled)
8. (canceled)
9. A garment according to claim 1 wherein each of the at plurality
of pulleys includes a first casing, a second casing, and a pulley
wheel which is mounted between the first and second casings for
rotational movement about a central axis of the pulley wheel;
wherein one of the first and second casings includes a spindle to
which the pulley wheel is mounted for rotational movement about the
central axis; wherein the second casing carries the spindle.
10. (canceled)
11. (canceled)
12. A garment according to claim 9 wherein the first casing
includes a pair of spaced apart side walls each of which extends
partly around a periphery of the first casing thereby creating an
opening at opposed ends of the first casing between the spaced
apart side walls; and wherein fitment of the pulley wheel on the
spindle between the first and second casings allows a wire of one
of the earphones to extend through the first casing between one of
the two spaced apart side walls and a pulley wheel side.
13. (canceled)
14. (canceled)
15. A garment according to claim 9 wherein at least the first
casing includes a number of spikes which anchors each pulley of the
plurality of pulleys onto the collar thereby to reduce the
likelihood of pivotal rotation of each of the at least three
pulleys when mounted to the collar about a longitudinal axis of the
spindle.
16. A garment according to claim 1 wherein the collar includes a
storage cavity on each end of the collar which allows an earpiece
of the one or more earphones to be stored onto the collar; and
wherein each earpiece of the one or more earphones is stored inside
the respective storage cavity when the one or more earphones are
moved to the storage positions.
17. A garment according to claim 16 wherein each of the storage
cavities has an entrance which is on one side of the collar and an
exit which is on an opposed, second side of the collar thereby
allowing the wiring to extend through the collar and an internal
pathway or passage allows the wiring connecting the portable
electronic device with the earphones to be concealed inside the
garment.
18. (canceled)
19. A garment according to claim 17 wherein the internal pathway
has a maximum cross sectional diameter which varies along a length
of the internal pathway thereby to form at least one organizing
section in the internal pathway which has an entrance at one end
and an exit at an opposed, second end; and wherein the entrance and
exit each having a maximum cross sectional diameter which is less
than a maximum cross sectional diameter of an intermediate section
and whereby the intermediate section is capable of accommodating
coiling of the wiring when opposed ends of the wiring are moved
towards each other while the entrance and exit each restricts
coiling of a section of the wire extending through the entrance and
exit respectively.
20. (canceled)
21. A garment according to claim 17 wherein the internal pathway
includes at least two organizing sections.
22. (canceled)
23. (canceled)
24. A garment according to claim 17 wherein the internal pathway
includes a storage pocket which is accessible from an outside of
the garment and into which the wiring is pulled when the one or
more earphones are moved from the extended position to the storage
position; and wherein the storage pocket includes an entrance
through which an interior of the storage pocket is accessible; and
wherein the entrance is openable and closable thereby to
selectively allow access to the interior of the storage pocket.
25. (canceled)
26. (canceled)
27. A garment according to claim 24 wherein the storage pocket is
positioned at an upper end of the pathway; and wherein the storage
pocket includes a storage pocket entrance which allows the wiring
to extend from the outside of the garment into the internal pathway
through the storage pocket.
28. (canceled)
29. A garment according to claim 27 wherein the internal pathway
includes a clamp mechanism which secures the wiring to the garment
whereby the clamp mechanism is used to anchor the wiring to the
garment after a user has determined a desired extended position for
each of the one or more earphones and whereby the user of the
garment is able to determine when each of the one or more earphones
has been moved to the extended position by pulling on the
respective earphones until the wiring pulls on the clamp
mechanism.
30. (canceled)
31. (canceled)
32. A garment according to claim 29 wherein the clamp mechanism is
positioned inside the internal pathway adjacent the storage pocket
whereby the wiring is anchored to the garment at a point which is
next to a storage pocket exit.
33. A garment according to claim 32 wherein the storage pocket
includes a wire control guide which allows a user of the garment to
readily locate and grip wiring housed inside the storage pocket;
and wherein the wire control guide includes a first wire control
point which is adjacent to a storage pocket entrance whereby the
wiring extends directly from the storage pocket entrance to the
first wire control point so that the user is able to locate and
grip the wiring at the first wire control point when the user
wishes to pull on the wiring to move the one or more earphones to
the storage positions.
34. (canceled)
35. A garment according to claim 33 wherein the wire control guide
includes a second wire control point which is adjacent to a storage
pocket exit and wherein the first and second wire control points
are in close proximity to each other so that regardless of the
extent of coiling of the wiring housed by the storage pocket, the
user is able to locate and grip the wiring after the user has
located the first and second wire control points.
36. A garment according to claim 35 wherein the first and second
wire control points are positioned immediately below an entrance of
the storage pocket whereby the user can really locate the first and
second wire control points inside the storage pocket.
37. (canceled)
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention generally relates to a garment and more
particularly is concerned with a garment which is designed to hold
and carry a portable electronic device which is connected to one or
more earphones using one or more wires.
[0002] Although the invention may be applied to any type of
portable electronic device including PDAs, MP3's, cell phones, or
the like, for convenience sake it shall be described herein in
terms of a phone/MP3 player.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
[0003] Currently in widespread use are portable electronic devices
which allow a user to play music for the users enjoyment through
one or more earpieces. Generally these earpieces are connected to
the portable electronic device using one or more wires. In use the
wires extend from the portable electronic device to a head of the
user over clothing worn by the user. Although this is normally the
most convenient way of connecting the earpieces with the portable
electronic device, the positioning of the wires outside the
clothing quite often leads to the wires getting in the way of
duties, for example while working or exercising, or hooking onto
objects in close proximity to the user. This could result in the
user having to stop what the user is doing to untangle or unhook
the wires from the object. In worst cases momentum prevents the
user from stopping before the earpieces are ripped from the user's
ears which can be quite painful.
[0004] Consequently, in an attempt to reduce the likelihood of the
wiring associated with portable electronic devices catching
accidentally onto objects, garments have been devised which allow
at least a portion of the wires to be accommodated inside the
garment. An example of such a garment is detailed in U.S. Pat. No.
7,519,192 having a hooded portion which includes a number of
passageways one of which extends around a border of the hooded
portion. The wires of the earphones are threaded through the
passageways thereby reducing the likelihood of the wires catching
accidentally onto an object. However, given the construction of the
passageways, it can be quite difficult to thread the earphone wires
correctly through the interconnecting passageways. Furthermore, the
portion of the earphone wires extending from a rear of the hood or
cap of this invention, in some versions of the invention, is left
exposed which could result in the exposed wire catching onto an
obstacle especially one which a user might have difficulty in
seeing such as one behind the user. Additionally, when the wires
are fully extended from the portable electronic device to the
earpieces such as when the earpieces are engaged with the ears of
the user, it can easily happen that movement of the user's head,
hood or cap is restricted due to the tugging of the head, hood or
cap through the fully extended wire on the portable electronic
device located elsewhere on the garment.
[0005] A further development in garment designs is the
incorporating of a wire which is permanently secured to the garment
and which allows a portable electronic device to be connected to
the cable of the garment without requiring the cable to be inserted
and removed each time when needed. An example of such a garment can
be found in WO 2008/081312 which includes a cable which is
permanently secured to the garment and which allows, at one end of
the cable, a portable electronic device to be electrically
connected to the cable. An opposed end of the cable can be
electrically connected to earphones of the portable electronic
device. This allows music produced by the portable electronic
device to be played through the earphones without requiring the
earphones to be directly connected to the electronic portable
device. This invention suffers from a number of drawbacks including
requiring a multi-type adapter which allows the cable to be
engageable with different types of portable electronic devices.
Also, connecting a typical earphone to the opposite end of the
cable would lead to wires of the earphone dangling in front of the
user which increases the chance of these wires catching onto
obstacles.
[0006] In other developments in garments the focus was on the
interconnectivity of the portable electronic device with the
garment structures. An example of such a garment can be found in US
patent publication number 2006/0280322 which provides a system for
interfacing electronic devices with a garment having at least one
connector, a conductive material, and at least one user interface.
As the at least one connector, conductive material and user
interface are permanently secured to the garment, use of such a
garment over an extended period of time quite possibly lead to
these components becoming inoperative due to extensive and
prolonged use. When this happens, the garment most likely will have
to be disposed of due to the integral connection of these
components to the garment. Furthermore, the use of the garment may
be limited to specific portable electronic devices which have
appropriate connections which allow the portable electronic devices
to connect with the componentry of this garment. This may be
undesirable.
[0007] Generally problems associated with existing garments capable
of being used with portable electronic devices include lacking
convenient management of the headphone wires, earpieces or other
components which are associated with these portable electronic
devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to at
least partly overcome or ameliorate at least one of the
disadvantages of the prior art.
[0009] The invention broadly provides a garment which allows wiring
connecting the portable electronic device to one or more earphones
to be managed on the garment including at least one of the
following: [0010] providing a guide mechanism which allows the
wiring to be moved along a predetermined path relative to a collar
of the garment; [0011] providing an internal pathway on the garment
which includes at least one organizing section which controls the
coiling of the wiring inside the internal passage; and [0012]
providing a clamp mechanism the use of which allows the user to
readily determine when one of the one or more earphones have been
moved to an extended position.
[0013] In one embodiment, the invention extends to a garment for
use with a portable electronic device connected with wiring to one
or more earphones; the garment including a body having a collar;
and wherein the collar includes a guide mechanism which extends at
least partly along a length of the collar and which assists in
movement of a wire connecting at least one of the earphones to the
portable electronic device between an extended position at which
the respective earphone is capable of being engaged with an ear of
a user and a storage position at which the respective earphone is
stored on the collar; whereby the guide mechanism guides the
movement of the wire relative to the collar thereby to cause the
wire to be drawn in a predetermined path.
[0014] Within the meaning of this specification the term "earphone"
is meant to include any reference to an electronic earpiece which
is capable of producing sound from an electronic signal and which
is capable of being suspended from an ear of a user including
inserting the earpiece into the ear canal of the ear or hooking or
clipping the earpiece onto an outer part or auricle of the ear.
[0015] Within the meaning of the specification the term "wiring"
includes any reference to wiring which may consist solely of wiring
extending between the earphones and the portable electronic device
or which may include other componentry including microphones and
other types of controls such as volume controls, automatic
retraction controls or the like.
[0016] The guide mechanism may extend from a first end of the
collar to an opposed, second of the collar.
[0017] The guide mechanism may include at least three pulleys which
are secured at spaced apart locations along the length of the
collar.
[0018] The positions of the pulleys are chosen in order to assist
movement of a wire of one of the earphones to be drawn along the
predetermined path adjacent to the collar.
[0019] The collar may be formed to have at least one strip of
material; and wherein the at least one strip of material includes
an outer side to which the at least three pulleys are secured. The
outer side may be lined with a material which reduces friction
which may be caused by movement of the wires of the earphones
across the outer side.
[0020] The collar may be formed to have a first strip of material
and a second strip of material which extends from the first strip
of material and which is moved relative to the first strip of
material so that the second strip of material lies adjacent the
first strip of material thereby to create an inner cavity between
the adjacent first and second strips of material. In one embodiment
of the invention, the guide mechanism operates inside the inner
cavity.
[0021] Each of the at least three pulleys may be secured at least
on one side of the first strip of material thereby guiding the
movement of the wire relative to the collar inside the inner
cavity.
[0022] Each of the at least three pulleys may be secured at each
side to one of the first and second strips of material thereby to
increase the rigidity of the collar through the at least three
pulleys.
[0023] Each of the at least three pulleys may include a first
casing, a second casing, and a pulley wheel which is mounted
between the first and second casings for rotational movement about
a central axis of the pulley wheel.
[0024] One of the first and second casings may include a spindle to
which the pulley wheel is mounted for rotational movement about the
central axis. In one embodiment of the invention, the second casing
carries the spindle.
[0025] The first casing may include a pair of spaced apart side
walls each of which extends partly around a periphery of the first
casing thereby creating an opening at opposed ends of the first
casing between the spaced apart side walls. Fitment of the pulley
wheel on the spindle between the first and second casings allows a
wire of one of the earphones to extend through the first casing
between one of the two spaced apart side walls and a pulley wheel
side.
[0026] The first and second casings may be secured to each other
using a threaded member. The threaded member may also be used to
secure one end of each of the three pulleys to the collar.
[0027] An opposed, second end up of each of the three pulleys may
be secured to the second strip of material of the collar using a
clip or snap button.
[0028] At least the first casing may include a number of spikes
which anchors each pulley of the at least three pulleys onto the
collar thereby to reduce the likelihood of pivotal rotation of each
of the at least three pulleys when mounted to the collar about a
longitudinal axis of the spindle.
[0029] The collar may include a storage cavity on each end of the
collar which allows an earpiece of the one or more earphones to be
stored onto the collar. Each earpiece of the one or more earphones
may then be stored inside the respective storage cavity when the
one or more earphones are moved to the storage positions.
[0030] The storage cavities may have an entrance which is on one
side of the collar and an exit which is on an opposed, second side
of the collar thereby allowing the wiring to extend through the
collar.
[0031] The garment may further include an internal pathway or
passage which allows the wiring connecting the portable electronic
device with the earphones to be concealed inside the garment.
[0032] The internal pathway may have a maximum cross sectional
diameter which varies along a length of the internal pathway
thereby to form at least one organizing section in the internal
pathway which has an entrance at one end and an exit at an opposed,
second end. The entrance and exit each having a maximum cross
sectional diameter which is less than a maximum cross sectional
diameter of an intermediate section and whereby the intermediate
section is capable of accommodating coiling of the wiring when
opposed ends of the wiring are moved towards each other while the
entrance and exit each restricts coiling of a section of the wire
extending through the entrance and exit respectively.
[0033] The internal pathway may include at least two organizing
sections.
[0034] The maximum cross sectional diameter of the intermediate
section may be equal to the maximum cross sectional diameter of the
internal pathway.
[0035] The maximum cross sectional diameter of each of the entrance
and exit may be slightly greater than a maximum cross sectional
diameter of an input connector of the wiring and with which the
wiring is capable of being connected to the portable electronic
device.
[0036] The internal pathway may include a storage pocket which is
accessible from an outside of the garment and into which the wiring
is pulled when the one or more earphones are moved from the
extended position to the storage position.
[0037] The storage pocket may include an entrance through which an
interior of the storage pocket is accessible.
[0038] The entrance may be openable and closable thereby to
selectively allow access to the interior.
[0039] The entrance may include a zip fastener which includes a
zipper which is movable between opposed ends of the zip fastener
thereby to open or close the entrance.
[0040] The storage pocket may be positioned at an upper end of the
pathway.
[0041] The storage pocket may include a storage pocket entrance
which allows the wiring to extend from the outside of the garment
into the internal pathway through the storage pocket.
[0042] The internal pathway may include a clamp mechanism which
secures the wiring to the garment whereby the clamp mechanism is
used to anchor the wiring to the garment after a user has
determined a desired extended position for each of the one or more
earphones and whereby the user of the garment is able to determine
when each of the one or more earphones has been being moved to the
extended position by pulling on the respective earphones until the
wiring pulls on the clamp mechanism.
[0043] The clamp mechanism may include an upper section, a lower
section, and a securing mechanism with which the upper and lower
sections are capable of being detachably secured to each other.
[0044] The upper and lower sections may be manufactured from a
material which fictionally engages with the wiring.
[0045] The clamp mechanism may be positioned inside the internal
pathway adjacent the storage pocket whereby the wiring is anchored
to the garment at a point which is next to a storage pocket
exit.
[0046] The storage pocket may include a wire control guide which
allows a user of the garment to readily locate and grip the wiring
housed inside the storage pocket.
[0047] The wire control guide may include a first wire control
point which is adjacent to the storage pocket entrance whereby the
wiring extends directly from the storage pocket entrance to the
first wire control point so that the user is able to locate and
grip the wiring at the first wire control point when the user
wishes to pull on the wiring to move the one or more earphones to
the storage positions.
[0048] The wire control guide may include a second wire control
point which is adjacent to the storage pocket exit and wherein the
first and second wire control points are in close proximity to each
other so that regardless of the extent of coiling of the wiring
housed by the storage pocket, the user is able to locate and grip
the wiring after the user has located the first and second wire
control points.
[0049] The first and second wire control points may be positioned
immediately below the entrance of the storage pocket whereby the
user can really locate the first and second wire control points
inside the storage pocket.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0050] In order that the invention can be more readily understood
the invention is further described by way of example with reference
to the accompanying drawings.
[0051] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a garment according
to the invention.
[0052] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation showing on an enlarged
scale a collar of the garment.
[0053] FIG. 3 is a schematic representation showing on an enlarged
scale a storage pocket of the garment.
[0054] FIG. 4 is a schematic representation showing a variation of
the collar of FIG. 2.
[0055] FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2 of the collar showing in
dotted outline the construction of storage cavities of the collar
in which an earphone can be stored.
[0056] FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of a pulley of a guide
mechanism of the garment which is associated with the collar.
[0057] FIG. 7 is a schematic representation showing the components
of the pulley.
[0058] FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of a variation of the
pulley.
[0059] FIG. 9 is a schematic representation of a clamp mechanism of
the garment which is used to secure to the garment wiring
connecting one or more earphones to a portable electronic
device.
[0060] FIG. 10 is a schematic representation showing a wire control
guide of the garment.
[0061] FIG. 11 shows a variation of the garment.
DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
[0062] FIG. 1 of the accompanying representations illustrates a
garment 10 according to the invention. The garment includes a body
12 including a collar 14 and two bottom pockets 16.
[0063] The body 12 is fabricated out of a variety of materials
and/or a combination of a variety of materials including nylon,
polyester, cotton, leather, microfiber, wool as well as fabric
blends known by those skilled in the art.
[0064] Attached to the collar 14 is a guide mechanism 20 which
includes five pulleys 22 each of which having a construction shown
in FIGS. 6 and 7. The collar is formed from a first strip of
material 24 and a second strip of material 26 which extends from
the first strip material and which is movable relative to the first
strip of material thereby giving the collar a folded configuration
28 shown in FIG. 1. The guide mechanism 20 operates inside an inner
cavity 30 which is formed between the first and second strips of
material when the collar is in the folded configuration. It should
be noted that the construction of the collar shown in FIG. 1 is
used as an example and should not be seen as limiting. Accordingly,
the collar can be constructed only from the first strip of
material.
[0065] The collar 14 has a first end 34 and an opposed second end
36 each of which carries a storage cavity 38. The storage cavity is
designed to allow earphones 40 which are connected with wiring 42
to a portable electronic device 44 stored inside one of the bottom
pocket 16. The storage cavity is lined with a material which
reduces friction. Referring in particular to FIG. 5, the storage
cavity includes an entrance 48 which is positioned on an outer side
50 of the collar 14. An exit 52 of the storage cavity is positioned
on an inner side 54 of the collar which defines the inner cavity
30. Thus, the inner cavity therefore extends from the outer side 50
to the inner side 54 of the collar thereby allowing the wiring 42
to extend through the collar.
[0066] Returning to FIG. 1, each of the earphones 40 is shown in a
storage position 58 at which the earphone is stored on the collar
14. In the illustrated example a stem 60 of each earphone 40 is
shown to be slotted into the storage cavity 38. However, as
mentioned hereinabove, the storage cavities are designed to allow
each of the earphones 40 to be completely inserted into a
respective storage cavity and the illustration should not be
therefore seen as limiting.
[0067] The garment 10 further includes an internal pathway 64 which
extends from an upper position 66 of the garment to a lower
position 68 which is adjacent the bottom pockets 16. The internal
pathway includes a number of organizing sections 70 each of which
includes an entrance 72 and an exit 74 which lie at opposed ends of
an intermediate section 76. The internal pathway has a maximum
cross sectional diameter 80 which varies from the upper position 66
to the lower position 68 across the organizing sections 70.
[0068] It should be noted that adjacent organizing sections 70
share a common restriction 82 so that an exit 74 of one organizing
section will be an entrance 72 of a following organizing
section.
[0069] The intermediate section 76 has a maximum cross sectional
diameter 84 which is substantially equal to the maximum cross
sectional diameter 80 of the internal pathway 64. However, the
entrance 72 and the exit 74 has a maximum cross sectional diameter
86 which is less than the maximum cross sectional diameter 84 of
the internal pathway. The maximum cross sectional diameter 86 is
suitably chosen to allow an input connector 88 of the wiring 42 to
pass through the entrance and exits.
[0070] The internal pathway 64 further includes a storage pocket 92
which in this example is shown to be positioned close to the upper
position 66. However, this should not be seen as limiting as the
position of the storage pocket can be altered according to
requirement and can equally be positioned closer to the lower
position 68.
[0071] The internal pathway 64 also includes a clamp mechanism 94
which is positioned below the storage pocket 92. FIG. 3 is an
enlarged view of the storage pocket and the clamp mechanism. The
storage pocket has an entrance 96 which is openable and closable
using a zipper 98 of a zip fastener 100. In this Figure the zipper
is shown to be moved to position at which the entrance is open
thereby exposing an underlying wire control guide 104 which is
positioned inside the storage pocket 92. The wire control guide
includes a first wire control point 106 and a second wire control
point 108.
[0072] The wiring 42 enters the storage pocket 92 through a storage
pocket entrance 110 and exits the storage pocket through a storage
pocket exit 112. The storage pocket entrance is positioned relative
to the collar so that the wiring extends substantially directly
from the inner cavity 30 to the storage pocket entrance. Thus, in
this instance the storage pocket entrance has a dual function of
being the entry point to the storage pocket as well as to the
internal pathway 64. However, as is shown in FIG. 10, the internal
pathway might have an internal pathway entrance 114 which is
separate to the storage pocket entrance.
[0073] After entering the storage pocket 92, the wiring 42 extends
through the first and second wire points 106 and 108 whereafter the
wiring exits the storage pocket 92 through the storage pocket exit
112.
[0074] Referring in particular to FIGS. 3 and 9, the clamp
mechanism 94 has upper and lower sections 118 and 120 and a
securing mechanism 122 which is used to detachably secure to each
other the upper and lower sections. The upper and lower sections
are connected to each other at opposed ends 124 by sewing or using
another suitable technique. In the illustrated example the lower
section is secured to a portion 126 of fabric used in the
fabrication of the internal pathway 64 so that the upper and lower
sections of secured to the garment 10. The securing mechanism is in
the form of a snap button 128 which includes male and female
portions 130 and 132 each of which is secured respectively to the
lower section 120 and the upper section 118. A passage 134 is
defined between the upper and lower sections which allow the wiring
42 to pass in between the upper and lower sections. In the
illustrated example the wiring is shown to consist of two separate
wires 136 and 138 each of which passes on one side of the snap
button 128 through the passage. It should be noted that the wires
136 and 138 can be joined to each other as is typically the case
for wiring of earphones close to the input connector 88. The clamp
mechanism can therefore the used on any section of the wiring
42.
[0075] FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate in greater detail the construction
of the pulleys 22 of the guide mechanism 22 according to one
embodiment of the invention. FIG. 8 illustrates a variation 22A of
the pulley which is shown in use in FIG. 2.
[0076] The pulley 22 is constructed from a first casing 142, a
second casing 144 and a pulley wheel 146. The first casing is in
the form of a base of 148 which carries a pair of spaced apart side
walls 150 each of which extends partly along a periphery 152 of the
base. An opening 154 is defined at each end 156 of the base between
the two spaced apart side walls. The base further includes a socket
158 which allows a free end 160 of a spindle 162 extending from the
second casing to be registered with the socket. The spindle will
therefore be anchored at both ends, i.e. at one end to the second
casing and at an opposed end to the first casing through the
socket, when the pulley is assembled as is shown in FIG. 6.
[0077] A bore 164 of the spindle 160 is threaded thereby allowing a
fastener 166 to be threadedly engaged with the spindle. A free end
168 of each side wall 150 carries a stub 170 which is profiled to
fit snugly into locating formations 172 of the second casing. The
pulley wheel 146 has a passage 174 which extends on a central axis
through the pulley wheel.
[0078] FIG. 6 shows an assembled pulley 22 secured to the first
strip of material 24 of the collar 14. The fastener 166 is
registered with a washer 178 whereafter the fastener is threadedly
engaged with the threaded bore 164 of the spindle 162. Thus, a
screw head 180 of the fastener is located on one side of the first
strip of material with the first and second casings 142 and 144
enclosing the pulley wheel 146 located on an opposed side of the
first strip of material. The base 148 carries a number of spikes
182 which dig into to the first strip of material as the fastener
is tightened onto the spindle thereby reducing the likelihood of
the first casing 142 rotating about the fastener. The second casing
144 is locked onto the first casing through the registering of the
stubs 170 of the first casing with the locating formations 172 of
the second casing. This interlocking between the first and second
casings provides a rigid housing 184 within which the pulley wheel
146 can freely rotate about the spindle 162.
[0079] The pulley 22 is assembled by registering the fastener 166
with the socket 158 after the fastener has been fitted to the
washer 178. The pulley wheel 146 is fitted to the second casing by
slotting the spindle 162 into the passage 174. The wiring 42, in
this instance the wire 138, is located on an outer groove 186 of
the pulley wheel. The fastener is thereafter threadedly engaged
with the bore 164 and is tightened to ensure a tight fit between
the base 148 and the first of material 24. The washer 178 is
dimensioned to provide a backing for the base and in particular a
support for the spikes 182. The wiring 138 extends through the
openings 154 so that longitudinal movement of the wire is assisted
by rotational movement of the pulley wheel.
[0080] In use of the garment 10 a user, not shown, secures one of
the wires 136 and 138 using the pulleys 22 to the collar 14 as is
shown in FIG. 1. A respective earphone 40 is pushed through the
respective storage cavity 38 so that the earphones are accessible
from the outer side 50 of the collar 14. The input connector 88 is
also fed through the internal pathway 64 from the storage pocket
entrance 110 until exiting from an internal pathway exit 188. The
wiring 42 is then capable of being electronically connected to the
portable electronic device 44 positioned inside the bottom pocket
16. While wearing the garment 10 the user pulls the earphones until
each earphone can be inserted into a respective ear of the user
with a desired amount of play in the wiring 42 extending between
the storage cavities 38 and the ears of the user. The user then
secures the wiring to the garment through the clamp mechanism 94.
It should be noted that the wiring extends through the storage
pocket 92 in the manner described herein before so that the wiring
is registered with the first and second wire control points 106 and
108.
[0081] After the user is finished using the earphones 40, the user
moves the earphones from an extended position, at which the
earphones are engaged with a respective ear of the user, to the
storage positions shown in FIG. 1. This is achieved by accessing
and pulling on the wiring 42 extending through the storage pocket
92. The locating of the wiring inside the storage pocket is
assisted through the wire control guide 104 as the wiring extends
through the first and second wire control points 106 and 108. Since
the first and second wire control points are located immediately
below the entrance 96, the user merely has to stick a finger
through the entrance in order to correctly locate a portion of the
wiring inside the storage pocket. The user then pulls on the wiring
thereby retracting the earphones 40 to the storage positions 58
with the assistance of the guide mechanism 20. Thus, the wiring
needed for the earphones to move from the storage positions to the
extended positions is stored inside the storage pocket when the
earphones are in the storage positions. Depending on requirement,
the user may wish to totally hide the earphones. When this is
required, the user merely pushes the earphones into the respective
storage cavity 38 thereby to conceal the earphones inside the
collar 14.
[0082] When the user wishes to use the earphones 40, the user
retrieves the earphones from the storage cavities and pulls on the
earphones thereby causing the wiring 42 to be drawn out of the
storage pocket 92. The user can readily determine when the
earphones have been moved to the extended positions when the
earphones cannot longer be moved further away from the collar 14.
It should be noted that the user has previously determined the
correct operating lengths in wiring extending between the storage
cavities and the ears of the user before securing the wiring to the
garment through the clamp mechanism 94. Therefore, the examiner
will immediately become aware once the earphones have been moved to
the respective extended positions when the user no longer can pull
the earphones further away from the garment when the wiring starts
putting on the garment 10 through the clamp mechanism 94.
[0083] The inner cavity 30 and the internal pathway 64 including
the storage pocket 92 are lined with a material which reduces
friction which may be caused through the longitudinal movement of
the wiring 42 inside these parts of the garment 10. This lining in
combination with the guide mechanism 20 assists in the wiring 42
smoothly moving longitudinally inside these parts. Furthermore, the
lining of the inner cavity in combination with the pulleys 22 of
the guide mechanism assists the user in moving the earphones 40
without a great deal of difficulty between the storage and extended
positions. The ease of movement inside the inner cavity also
reduces the likelihood of the wiring tugging on the collar 14 when
the earphones are moved between the storage and extended
positions.
[0084] Long pieces of wiring often have the tendency to coil up
when stored. Primarily the coiling of the wiring is caused through
the rotating of the wiring about a longitudinal axis of the wiring
or when a portion of the wiring be stuffed into a confined space.
Coiling of the wiring increases the difficulty in managing the
wire. At least these difficulties are aimed to be at least partly
addressed by the construction of the storage pocket 92 and the
internal pathway 64.
[0085] The organizing sections 70 of the internal pathway assist in
reducing the likelihood of extended sections of the wiring 42
forming one coiling mass. Each entrance 72 and exit 74 of the
organizing sections reduces the likelihood of the wiring extending
through these parts forming a coil as the entrances and exits have
been reduced maximum cross sectional diameter when compared to the
intermediate sections 76. The increased maximum cross sectional
diameter of the intermediate sections is more likely to accommodate
the coiling of the wiring. However, since the internal pathway
contains a number of organizing sections, the coiling of the wiring
may occur in the number of different intermediate sections thereby
reducing the likelihood of excessive coiling occurring in one part
of the wiring.
[0086] As described hereinabove, stored inside the storage pocket
92 when the earphones are in the storage positions is the wiring 42
required to allow the earphones 40 to be moved from the storage
positions to the extended positions. However, since the storage
pocket is a confined space, the wiring housed inside the storage
pocket would be prone to coiling. Furthermore, the user may decide
to store other components of the user inside the storage pocket
which could lead to the storage pocket becoming cluttered. The
threading of the wiring through the first and second wire control
points assists the user in readily locating the wiring inside the
storage pocket. However, there is a further particular benefit in
making use of the wire control guide 104 inside the storage pocket.
The first and second wire control points allow the user to
correctly identify a portion 192 of the wiring (see 10) which
allows the user to pull the earphones further towards the storage
positions 58. This could be required when the user initially only
moved the earphones 40 partly towards the storage positions and the
user subsequently wishes to move the earphones completely to the
storage positions. When this happens the wiring already contained
inside the storage pocket may make it difficult for the user to
correctly identify what part of the wiring the user must grip in
order to pull the earphones further towards the storage positions.
Using the wire control guide 104 the user merely has to locate at
least the first wire control point 106 in order to know that
putting on the wiring extending downwardly from the first one
control point will result in movement of the earphones 40 towards
the storage positions.
[0087] FIG. 8 illustrates the pulley 22A which is, as mentioned
hereinabove, a variation of the pulley 22. Like reference numerals
are used to designate like components between the pulleys 22 and
22A. The fastener 166A is made to have a length so that an end 194
projects from the second casing 144. This allows a first part 196
of a snap pin to be secured to the end 194. Referring in particular
to FIG. 2, a second part 198 of the snap pin is secured to a
portion of the garment 10 which underlies the collar 14.
Accordingly, some of the second parts will be secured on the first
strip of material 24. This allows the pulleys 22A to be secured at
both ends to the garment thereby increasing the rigidity of the
collar. Thus, the integrity of the collar is improved by clipping
the second strip of material 26 through the pulleys 22A onto the
first of material 24 and adjacent parts of the garment. The
improved integrity reduces the likelihood of the collar buckling
when the wiring 42 is moved longitudinally inside the inner cavity
30.
[0088] FIG. 11 shows a variation 310 of the garment according to
the invention. Like reference numerals are used to designate like
components between the comments 10 and 310. In FIG. 11 the garment
includes a pocket 312 which is positioned on the garment close to
the upper position 66. This allows the portable electronic device
44 to be stored on the garment at a position which is adjacent to
the storage pocket 314. The clamping mechanism 94 is positioned
between the storage pocket 314 and the pocket 312 thereby allowing
the wiring 42 to be still secured to the garment 310. However, the
internal pathway 316 does not have the organizing sections. In this
variation the use of the wire control guide 318 only has the first
wire control point 106 which allows the user to readily determine
which part of the wiring 42 the user has to grip in order to pull
the earphones 40 towards the storage positions 58.
[0089] FIG. 4 illustrates a variation 14A of the collar. Like
reference numerals are used to designate like components between
the collar 14 and 14A. The guide mechanism 20 is mounted inside the
collar 14A. Thus, the pulleys 22 of the guide mechanism 20 are not
readily visible. The first and second strips of material 24A and
26A of fabricated from a number of layers which can be separated in
order to access an internal collar cavity 202 which houses the
guide mechanism 20. A collar base 204 is openable thereby to allow
access to the internal collar cavity. This allows the wiring to be
registered with the pulleys. The collar base is typically sealed
using strips of Velcro.TM.. The collar 14A further includes a
number of snap pins 206 which allow the second strip of material
26A to be secured to the first strip of material 24A to improve the
rigidity of the collar 14A. The layers used in the construction of
the first and second strips of material may be lined on an inner
side with a material which reduces friction thereby assisting the
movement of the wiring through the collar.
[0090] Furthermore, the internal pathway and storage pocket may be
lined on both sides with a friction reducing material thereby
assisting in movement of the wiring 42 through these components.
Such lining may assist in a user of the garment pulling the wiring
42 from the storage pocket for example when a safety belt is
strapped over the storage pocket.
[0091] The invention provides a garment which allows a user to
manage the wiring connecting one or more earphones to a portable
electronic device. The garment includes a guide mechanism which is
associated with a collar of the garment which assists in the
movement of the wiring relative to the collar. Movement in the
wiring is typically required to allow the earphones to move between
an extended position, at which the earphones are engageable with
ears of the user, and a storage position at which the earphones are
stored on the collar. The garment further includes an internal
pathway which includes a number of organizing sections which
reduces the likelihood of a substantial portion of the wiring
forming one coil. The internal pathway further includes a storage
pocket which houses the wiring needed to allow the earphones to be
moved from the storage positions to the extended positions. Once
the user has measured a desired length of wiring required to extend
from the storage pocket to the earphones attached to the ears of
the user, the wiring is secured to the garment through a clamp
mechanism thereby allowing the user in subsequent movements of the
earphones from the storage to extended positions to readily
determine when the earphones have been moved to the extended
positions. The clamp mechanism therefore indicates to the user when
the earphones have been moved to the extended positions by
preventing further movement of wiring from the storage cavities
carried by the collar. The storage pocket further includes a wide
control guide which assists the user in readily locating and
identifying a correct portion of the wiring required to move the
earphones from the extended position to the retracted
positions.
[0092] While we have described herein a particular embodiment of a
garment for use with portable electronic devices connected with
wiring to one or more earphones, it is further envisaged that other
embodiments of the invention could exhibit any number and
combination of any one of the features previously described.
However, it is to be understood that any variations and
modifications which can be made without departing from the spirit
and scope thereof are included within the scope of this
invention.
* * * * *