Cord winder device

Abstract

A device for winding, storing, tangle prevention, and protecting cords and/or cables is described. The device for winding a cord includes a frame having a cord access aperture for receiving the cord. The frame also includes an inner spool and a concentrically located spring, such as a flat coil spring, operatively connected to a catch mechanism for engaging the cord. The spring is adapted for winding the cord around the inner spool upon engaging the cord with the catch mechanism and releasing a spring control, such as a ratchet and pawl, that serves to secure tension in the spring. Methods associated with such a device are also described herein.

1 . A device for winding a cord, the cord bendable to form a looped portion, the device comprising:
 a front housing connected to a back housing and a cord receiving opening positioned therebetween;   an axle including a first end fixedly connected to the back housing and a spring anchor to operably interconnect the axle to a first end tab of a drive spring;   a spool including:
 an aperture to receive a second end of the axle; 
 a spring engaging member connected to a second end tab of the drive spring; 
 a plurality of grasping members positioned radially around at least a portion of an outer surface of the spool, the plurality of grasping members adapted for engaging the looped portion of the cord; and 
 a plurality of inwardly facing spool teeth positioned radially around at least a portion of an inside perimeter of the spool; and 
   a pawl that is selectively moveable from a first position to a second position, the pawl including:
 an aperture to receive a mating projection on the front housing; 
 a projection on a front surface of the pawl to operably interconnect the pawl to a spring release mechanism associated with the front housing; and 
 a plurality of pawl teeth on at least a portion of the pawl, wherein the plurality of pawl teeth operably engage the plurality of spool teeth, and wherein, when the pawl is in the first position, the plurality of pawl teeth are engaged with the plurality of spool teeth; 
   wherein, when the looped portion of the cord is engaging at least one grasping member of the plurality of grasping members and is pulled in a direction opposite from a winding direction while substantially simultaneously activating the spring release mechanism, the plurality of pawl teeth disengage from the plurality of spool teeth and the pawl is moved to the second position; and   wherein, when the cord is released, the drive spring at least partially unloads and causes the spool to rotate in a winding direction, which causes the cord to wind onto the spool.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the cord is wound onto the spool until at least one of three events occurs: (1) the cord is fully wound onto the spool; (2) the cord is pulled again to cause the plurality of pawl teeth to reengage the plurality of spool teeth; or (3) the spring release mechanism is deactivated. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of spool teeth are oriented at an angle of about 25 degrees to about 45 degrees with respect to a vertical axis. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of a front spool side and a back spool side adapted to connect to a portion of the spool. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the drive spring is a coil spring adapted to provide at least about 0.5 inch-pounds of torque. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the spring release mechanism is a button. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the front housing and back housing are interconnected by at least one of a strut, a pin, a screw, a rivet, a clamp, and a threaded fastener. 
     
     
         8 . An assembly, comprising:
 headphones including a cord; and   a winder for winding the cord, the winder including:
 a first housing member connected to a second housing member and a cord receiving opening positioned therebetween; 
 an axle including a first end fixedly connected to the second housing member and means for operably interconnecting the axle to a means for biasing; 
 means for rotating a looped portion of the cord, the means for rotating including:
 means for grasping the looped portion of the cord; 
 means for interconnecting to the axle and the means for biasing; and 
 means for preventing rotation in a first direction while allowing rotation in a second direction; and 
 
 means for selectively disengaging the means for rotating, the means for selectively disengaging selectively moveable from a first position to a second position, the means for selectively disengaging including:
 means for interconnecting to the first housing member; and 
 means for slidably engaging the means for preventing rotation; 
 
 wherein, when the looped portion of the cord is operably engaged with the means for grasping, the means for slidably engaging is engaged with the means for preventing rotation and the means for selectively disengaging is in the first position; 
 wherein, when the looped portion of the cord is engaging the means for grasping and is pulled in a direction opposite from a winding direction and substantially simultaneously a bias release mechanism is activated, the means for slidably engaging disengages the means for preventing rotation and the means for selectively disengaging is moved to the second position; and 
 wherein, when the cord is released, the means for biasing at least partially unloads and causes the means for rotating to rotate in a winding direction, which causes the cord to wind onto the means for rotating. 
   
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 8 , wherein when the means for biasing at least partially unloads and causes the means for rotating to rotate in a winding direction, the cord is wound onto the means for rotating until at least one of three events occurs: (1) the cord is fully wound onto the means for rotating; (2) the cord is pulled again; or (3) the bias release mechanism is deactivated. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 8 , further including extracting a desired length of the cord from the winder by exerting a force on the looped portion of the cord such that as the means for rotation rotates the means for preventing rotation slidably engages the means for slidably engaging in a ratchet configuration, and wherein the cord extraction re-loads the means for biasing. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the means for preventing rotation are spool teeth oriented at an angle of about 25 degrees to about 45 degrees with respect to a vertical axis. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the means for biasing is a coil spring. 
     
     
         13 . A winder for winding a cord, the cord separable from the winder, the winder comprising:
 a selectively moveable pawl;   a spool that selectively rotates relative to the pawl; and   a biased member connected to the spool, the pawl having at least a first position and a second position operably associated therewith;   wherein, when in the first position, the biased member is loaded and a plurality of pawl teeth associated with the pawl are engaged with a corresponding plurality of spool teeth associated with the spool, wherein the pawl is moved from the first position to the second position by pulling the cord operably associated with the spool in a direction opposite to a winding direction, and wherein, when in the second position, the plurality of pawl teeth are disengaged from the plurality of spool teeth; and   wherein, when in the second position, the biased member is at least partially unloaded by activating a spring release mechanism and releasing the cord, which causes the spool to rotate, which causes the cord to wind onto the spool.   
     
     
         14 . The winder of  claim 13 , wherein the biased member is a coil spring adapted to provide at least about 0.5 inch-pounds of torque. 
     
     
         15 . A method for selectively winding a cord, comprising:
 folding the cord;   operably engaging a portion of the folded cord with a grasping member of a winder;   pulling on the cord to cause at least one pawl tooth of a pawl of the winder to disengage from at least one spool tooth of a spool of the winder; and   activating a spring release mechanism operably associated with the pawl to at least partially unload a spring of the winder such that the spool rotates to wind the folded cord around the spool.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising deactivating the spring release mechanism to stop further spool rotation and spring unloading. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein, when the folded cord is fully wound around the spool, two end portions of the folded cord are collocated and substantially adjacent. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising extracting the cord from the winder to a desired length by pulling the folded cord such that as the spool rotates and the cord extraction re-loads the spring. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising removing the cord entirely from the winder, wherein, when the cord is entirely removed, the spring remains in a loaded state. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the grasping member is at least one of a hook and a v-shaped, friction engaging member. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the spring release mechanism is activated by moving a button from a first position to a second position. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the button cannot move from the first position to the second position unless the cord has operably engaged a grasping member, and, substantially simultaneously, a tension on the cord is exerted in a direction opposite from a winding direction and activating the button, and thereby preventing accidental spin-out. 
     
     
         23 . A device for winding a cord, comprising:
 a frame having a cord access aperture for receiving the cord, the frame including an inner spool and a concentrically located spring operatively connected to a catch mechanism for engaging the cord;   wherein the spring is adapted for winding the cord around the inner spool upon engaging the cord with the catch mechanism and releasing a brake operatively securing a tension in the spring.