Apparatus for secure display of small electronic devices having an essential signal or power cord

Abstract

There is provided an apparatus for secure display of a portable electronic device wherein the device has an attached electrically conductive cable that is integral to the device and essential to the operation thereof, the device cable having a first end connected to the device and a second end, and an intermediate section, the apparatus comprising: device support means normally supporting the device and means for extending and retracting the device cable. The means for extending and retracting the cable includes pulley means having a first set of pulleys having a fixed position and a second set of linearly movable spring loaded pulleys. As the device is moved from the device support the second set of pulleys is urged towards the first set of pulleys thereby extending the device cable against the resistance of the spring loading, thereby creating retractive force for retraction of the cable. When the device is released the cable is retracted to the device support until halted by a cable stop. Headsets and earbud sets are examples of devices that are suitable for display on the apparatus.

1 . Apparatus for secure display of a portable electronic device wherein said device has an attached electrically conductive cable that is integral to said device and essential to the operation thereof, said device cable having a first end connected to said device and a second end, and an intermediate section, said apparatus comprising:
 Device support means normally supporting said device,   means for extending and retracting said device cable with said extending and retracting means attached to said device support means,   means for securing a section of said device cable proximate to said second end thereof to said display apparatus, and   
       said intermediate section being engaged by said cable extending and retracting means, wherein said cable is normally retracted and wherein said extending and retracting means allows said device cable to be extended, thereby permitting a potential customer to move said device to a location remote from said device support means to be examined, and wherein said extending and retracting means retract said device cable when said device is released by said potential customer. 
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said extending and retracting means comprise pulley means. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said extending and retracting means comprise a spring loaded pulley means. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein said pulley means comprises a first set of pulleys having a fixed position and a second set of linearly movable spring loaded pulleys. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein said cable further comprises means to connect to a signal source. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein said cable further comprises means to connect to a power source. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein said signal source comprises media player means connected to said connection means. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6  further comprising a power source connected to say connection means. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said cable further comprises means to halt retraction of said cable. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said device support means further comprises means to receive said means to halt cable retraction. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said device support means further comprises means to receive said device. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said device is selected from the group of devices consisting of headsets having at least one earphone and earbud sets having at least one earbud. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein said device is selected from the group of devices consisting of headsets having at least one earphone and earbud sets having at least one earbud. 
     
     
         14 . Apparatus for secure display of a portable electronic device wherein said device has an attached electrically conductive cable that is integral to said device and essential to the operation thereof, said device cable having a first end connected to said device and a second end, and an intermediate section, said apparatus comprising:
 Device support means normally supporting said device,   means for extending and retracting said device cable wherein said extending and retracting means comprises pulley means attached to said device support means,   means for securing a section of said device cable proximate to said second end thereof to said apparatus, and   
       said intermediate section being engaged by said pulley means, wherein said cable is normally retracted and wherein said pulley means allows said device cable to be extended, thereby permitting a potential customer to move said device to a location remote from said display support means to be examined, and wherein said pulley means retract said device cable when said device is released by said potential customer. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein said pulley means comprise a spring loaded pulley means. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein said pulley means comprises a first set of pulleys having a fixed position and a second set of linearly movable spring loaded pulleys. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein said cable further comprises means to connect to a signal source. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein said signal source comprises media player means connected to said connection means. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein said cable further comprises means to connect to a power source. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19  further comprising a power source connected to say connection means. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein said cable further comprises means to halt retraction of said cable. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21  wherein said device support means further comprises means to receive said means to halt cable retraction. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22  wherein said device support means further comprises means to receive said device. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein said device support means further comprises means to receive said device. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein said device is selected from the group of devices consisting of headsets having at least one earphone and earbud sets having at least one earbud. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 23  wherein said device is selected from the group of devices consisting of headsets having at least one earphone and earbud sets having at least one earbud. 
     
     
         27 . Apparatus for secure display of a portable electronic device wherein said device has an attached electrically conductive cable that is integral to said device and essential to the operation thereof, said device cable having a first end connected to said device and a second end, and an intermediate section, said apparatus comprising:
 Device support means normally supporting said device,   means for extending and retracting said device cable wherein said extending and retracting means comprises pulley means attached to said device support means,   means for securing a section of said device cable proximate to said second end thereof to said apparatus, and   Media player means connected to said second end,   
       said intermediate section being engaged by said pulley means, wherein said cable is normally retracted and wherein said pulley means allows said device cable to be extended, thereby permitting a potential customer to move said device to a location remote from said display support means to be examined, and wherein said pulley means retract said device cable when said device is released by said potential customer. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 27  wherein said pulley means comprise a spring loaded pulley means. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 27  wherein said pulley means comprises a first set of pulleys having a fixed position and a second set of linearly movable spring loaded pulleys disposed at a distance from said fixed pulley set. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 29  wherein each pulley set has at least one pulley and wherein said cable forms at least one loop encompassing and contacting said at least one pulley of each set thereby coupling the rotation of said pulleys, so that as said device is moved to said remote location said second set of pulleys is urged towards said first set of pulleys thereby extending said cable, with said urging resisted by said spring loading thereby creating retractive force for retraction of said cable. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 27  wherein said cable further comprises means to halt retraction of said cable. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 31  wherein said device support means further comprises means to receive said means to halt cable retraction. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 32  wherein said device support means further comprises means to receive said device. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 27  wherein said device support means further comprises means to receive said device. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 27  wherein said device is selected from the group of devices consisting of headsets having at least one earphone and earbud sets having at least one earbud. 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 34  wherein said device is selected from the group of devices consisting of headsets having at least one earphone and earbud sets having at least one earbud.