System and Method for Protection and Storage of Small Electronic Components

Abstract

A small case that can be injection-molded from liquid silicone rubber or a similar elastomer that protects earbuds or other components from damage and manages the wire to prevent tangling. The case has an integral pocket that holds most styles of earbuds or other items with several optional fingers that are flexible and compliant. The earbuds or other component can be inserted into the pocket and the fingers close over the earbuds or other items thereby protecting and/or retaining them. The wires can then be fed through one of the slots and wrapped around a spool. A reversible cover can then be flipped to a closed position to cover and retain the wire.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A pliable device for storing earbuds comprising:
 a pocket sized to contain earbuds formed by a wall adapted to also act as a spool, said spool containing one or more slots;   one or more fingers attached to said wall separated by said slots, said fingers extending over said pocket;   a reversible cover covering said spool in a closed configuration and exposing said spool in an open configuration;   said device being adapted such that, with the cover in said open configuration, the fingers are flexible and compliant allowing insertion of earbuds; following insertion, the fingers close over the earbuds, wherein the earbuds or other items are protected, and wires or cables can then be wound around said spool and retained by closing the cover.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said reversible cover peels back away from said spool to change from said closed configuration to said open configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  wherein after earbud wires are wound around said spool, an earbud jack can be contained within said cover in the closed configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3  adapted to de-reel said earbud wire or cables from said spool in the closed configuration when said wire, jack or earbud is pulled. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 2  wherein after earbud wires are wound around said spool, an earbud jack can be contained within said cover in the closed configuration. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5  adapted to de-reel said wire from said spool in the closed configuration when said wire, earbud or jack is pulled. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1  made from injection-molded liquid silicone rubber. 
     
     
         8 . A pliable device for storing one or more component having a cord comprising:
 a pocket sized to contain said component formed by a wall adapted to also act as a spool, said spool containing one or more slots;   one or more fingers attached to said wall separated by said slots, said fingers extending over said pocket;   a reversible cover covering said spool in a closed configuration and exposing said spool in an open configuration;   said device being adapted such that, with the cover in said open configuration, the fingers form a pocket allowing insertion of said component, wherein said cord can then be wound around said spool.   
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8  wherein said reversible cover peels back away from said spool to change from said closed configuration to said open configuration. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 8  adapted to de-reel said cord from said spool in the closed configuration when said cord is pulled. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 9  adapted to de-reel said cord from said spool in the closed configuration when said cord is pulled. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 8  wherein said component is one or more earbuds. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 8  wherein said device is injection-molded silicone rubber. 
     
     
         14 . A storage container for one or more components having a spool that forms a pocket, said pocket adapted to retain the component in the pocket and adapted to allow a wire, cable or cords from the component to be wound around the spool. 
     
     
         15 . The storage container of  claim 14  further comprising a reversible cover that opens to expose the spool and closes to cover the spool and retain the wires. 
     
     
         16 . The storage container of  claim 14  wherein said component is one or more earbuds. 
     
     
         17 . The storage container of  claim 15  wherein said cover and spool are adapted to allow the wire to de-reel when the wire is pulled. 
     
     
         18 . The storage container of  claim 17  wherein said component is one or more earbuds and the wire is an earbud wire. 
     
     
         19 . The storage container of  claim 14  wherein the spool has a plurality of slots adapted to pass said wire from the component to the outside of said spool. 
     
     
         20 . The storage container of  claim 14  wherein said container is injection-molded liquid silicone rubber. 
     
     
         21 . The storage container of  claim 14  further comprising one or more fingers adapted to cooperate with said spool in retaining said component.