Earbud Cord Stays

Abstract

A cord stay attachable to a garment in order to guide the cord from an electronic device to ear buds or other listening devices for on or over the ear and to maintain the cord against the garments

1 . A cord stay comprising:
 a planar substrate and   a first aperture in the planar substrate which defines a flap,   wherein the flap is movable between an open position wherein the flap is extended out of the plane of the planar substrate and a closed position wherein the flap is in the same plane as the planar substrate.   
     
     
         2 . The cord stay according to the  claim 1 , further comprising at least a second aperture, wherein the second aperture is positioned in the flap. 
     
     
         3 . The cord stay according to the  claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of the second aperture extends to an edge of the flap so that a cord is insertable into the aperture. 
     
     
         4 . The cord stay according to the  claim 2 , wherein the first aperture at least partially defines the second aperture. 
     
     
         5 . The cord stay according to the  claim 2 , wherein the second aperture is circular or oval. 
     
     
         6 . The cord stay according to the  claim 2 , further comprising at least a third aperture, wherein the third aperture is positioned in the flap. 
     
     
         7 . The cord stay according to the  claim 6 , wherein at least a portion of the third aperture extends to an edge of the flap so that a cord is insertable into the aperture. 
     
     
         8 . The cord stay according to the  claim 6 , wherein the first aperture at least partially defines the third aperture. 
     
     
         9 . The cord stay according to the  claim 6 , wherein the third aperture is circular or oval. 
     
     
         10 . The cord stay according to the  claim 6 , wherein the third aperture is positioned substantially directly below the second aperture. 
     
     
         11 . The cord stay according to  claim 1 , wherein first aperture includes a continuous slit that defines at least three side of a rectangular shape. 
     
     
         12 . The cord stay according to  claim 11 , wherein the flap is attached to the planar substrate along a fourth side of the rectangular shape. 
     
     
         13 . The cord stay according to  claim 1 , wherein first aperture does not extend to an outer edge of the planar substrate so that the flap defined by the first aperture is defined within an interior of the planar substrate. 
     
     
         14 . A cord stay consisting essentially of:
 a planar substrate;   a first aperture in the planar substrate which defines a flap; and   a second aperture positioned in the flap,   wherein the flap is movable between an open position wherein the flap is extended out of the plane of the planar substrate and a closed position wherein the flap is in the same plane as the planar substrate.   
     
     
         15 . A cord stay comprising:
 a planar substrate; and   a first aperture in the planar substrate wherein at least a portion of the first aperture extends to an edge of the planar substrate so that a cord is insertable into the aperture.   
     
     
         16 . The cord stay according to the  claim 15 , wherein the first aperture includes a circular or oval portion defined within the interior of the perimeter of the planar substrate, and a slit that extends between circular portion and the edge of the planar substrate. 
     
     
         17 . The cord stay according to the  claim 16 , further comprising at least a second aperture. 
     
     
         18 . The cord stay according to the  claim 17 , wherein the second aperture includes a circular or oval portion defined within the interior of the perimeter of the planar substrate, and a slit that extends between circular portion and the edge of the planar substrate. 
     
     
         19 . The cord stay according to the  claim 18 , wherein the second aperture is positioned substantially directly below the first aperture. 
     
     
         20 . The cord stay according to the  claim 19 , wherein the slit of the first aperture and the slit of the second aperture extend to a same edge of the planar substrate. 
     
     
         21 . The cord stay according to the  claim 19 , wherein the slit of the first aperture and the slit of the second aperture extend to different edges of the planar substrate. 
     
     
         22 . A cord stay consisting essentially of:
 a planar substrate; and   a first aperture in the planar substrate wherein at least a portion of the first aperture extends to an edge of the planar substrate so that a cord is insertable into the aperture,   wherein the first aperture includes a circular or oval portion defined within the interior of the perimeter of the planar substrate, and a slit that extends between circular portion and the edge of the planar substrate.   
     
     
         23 . A cord stay consisting essentially of:
 a planar substrate; and   a first aperture in the planar substrate wherein at least a portion of the first aperture extends to an edge of the planar substrate so that a cord is insertable into the aperture,   a second aperture in the planar substrate wherein at least a portion of the second aperture extends to an edge of the planar substrate so that a cord is insertable into the aperture,   wherein each of the first aperture and the second aperture include a circular or oval portion defined within the interior of the perimeter of the planar substrate, and a slit that extends between circular portion and the edge of the planar substrate.   
     
     
         24 . The cord stay according to the  claim 1 , wherein the cord stay includes a flexible and resilient material that will retain its original shape after being flexed. 
     
     
         25 . The cord stay according to the  claim 24 , wherein the flexible and resilient material is thermoplastic polyurethane or silicone. 
     
     
         26 . The cord stay according to the  claim 1 , wherein the cord stay has a thickness from about 0.5 to about 4 millimeters. 
     
     
         27 . The cord stay according to the  claim 1 , wherein the cord stay has a thickness from about 1 to about 2 millimeters thick. 
     
     
         28 . The cord stay according to the  claim 1 , wherein the cord stay has a length from about 10 to about 50 mm and a width from about 10 to about 50 millimeters. 
     
     
         29 . The cord stay according to the  claim 1 , wherein the cord stay has a length from about 20 to about 30 mm and has a width from about 10 to about 20 millimeters. 
     
     
         30 . The cord stay according to the  claim 1 , wherein the cord stay has a length between 10-20 mm and has a width between 10-20 millimeters. 
     
     
         31 . A method for securing a cord to a garment comprising:
 providing a cord stay including
 a planar substrate; and 
 a first aperture in the planar substrate wherein at least a portion of the first aperture extends to an edge of the planar substrate so that a cord is insertable into the aperture. 
   securing the cord stay to the garment.   
     
     
         32 . The method for securing a cord to a garment according to  claim 31 , wherein securing the cord stay includes sewing the cord stay to the garment. 
     
     
         33 . The method for securing a cord to a garment according to  claim 32 , wherein securing the cord stay to the garment includes sewing the cord stay to the garment along at least a single edge of a perimeter of the cord stay. 
     
     
         34 . The method for securing a cord to a garment according to  claim 32 , wherein securing the cord stay to the garment includes sewing the cord stay to the garment along a perimeter of the cord stay. 
     
     
         35 . The method for securing a cord to a garment according to  claim 31 , wherein securing the cord stay to the garment includes attaching the cord stay to the garment with hook and loop fasteners.