Portable device with retractable musician's cord

Abstract

A device containing a retractable length of musician's cord and a carrying handle is provided. The cord is used to interconnect music equipment. The device is cost effective, portable and easy to use, and it reduces the problems of excess cord length and lost or tangled cords.

1 . A portable device for establishing a single connection between music and sound equipment, comprising: 
 a housing retractably containing a first length of musician's cord, the first length extending from an opening in the housing and having a first music connector at its end;    a second length of the musician's cord extending from the housing and having a second music connector at its end; and    a carrying handle;    wherein no other musician's cord other than the first and second lengths extends from the housing.    
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the carrying handle is textured.  
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of rubberized feet on the housing.  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising a stop member mounted on the first length for preventing the first connector from being retracted into the housing.  
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 4  wherein the stop member is mounted on the first length at a location spaced from the first connector.  
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the housing defines a rounded perimeter and the opening for the first length is in the rounded perimeter of the housing.  
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the connectors is a male connector having an elongated post and a head with a reduced diameter portion between the post and the head.  
   
   
       8 . A method of establishing a connection between music equipment comprising: 
 carrying a portable device to a desired location with a handle of the device;    pulling a desired length of musician's cord from a housing of the device, the length being retractably mounted in the housing;    connecting the musician's cord to a piece of music equipment; and    connecting a second end of the cord to a second piece of music equipment to establish the connection.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the device does not include any other music cord besides the cord between the first and second ends.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising: 
 retracting the cord into the housing after use.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising preventing complete retraction of the length into the housing with a positive stop mounted on the music cord.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein connecting the cord to a piece of music equipment includes inserting a male connector into a female receiver, the male connector including an elongated post and a head with a reduced diameter portion between the post and the head.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the male connector is on the retractable length of musician's cord.  
   
   
       14 . A portable device for establishing a connection between music and sound equipment, comprising: 
 a housing retractably containing a first length of music cable, the first length extending from an opening in the housing and having a first music connector at its end;    a second length of the music cable extending from the housing and having a second music connector at its end; and    a carrying handle;    wherein at least one of the first and second connectors is a male connector including an elongated post and a head with a reduced diameter portion between the post and the head.    
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 14  further comprising a stop member mounted on the first length for preventing the first connector from being retracted into the housing.  
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 15  wherein the first connector is the male connector.  
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 14  wherein no other music cable besides the first and second lengths extends from the housing.  
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 17  further comprising a loop for hanging the housing on a hook.