Apple Invents a Simple EarPod Carrying Case
On August 29, 2013, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that reveals a new EarPod carrying case accessory. I don't know about you, but untangling my EarPod cable is always a dance I hate. Now Apple's lead accessory product designer Kurt Stiehl has come up with a solution for that.
Apple's New EarPod Carrying Case Solution
Apple's invention relates to cases for storing accessories, and in particular, to a cable storage case having one or more articulating doors that can restrain a cable. It can also hold an associated object which may be attached to the cable such as EarPods.
In broad terms, a cable storage case provides a housing designed to enable an orderly accommodation of a cable or a cabled item. The cabled item can include an object and an associated cable, which can be attached to the object. The case is provided with one or more articulating doors.
For example, the case can be designed to store cabled items such as headphones, power cords, fishing line, sailing equipment, audio/visual equipment, telecom/networking products, jewelry, medical devices, toys, and games.
The case can simultaneously enclose the object and restrain the associated cable. The case has a base having an interior recess for storing the object and one or more peripheral recesses along the perimeter of the base that form respective winding areas for wrapping the associated cable.
One or more doors are pivotably attached to the base so as to removably cover at least a portion of the winding areas to restrain the cable therein. One or more doors can be hinged on either side, bottom, or in the middle of the base. The one or more doors can also cover at least a portion of the interior recess of the base to secure the object in the interior recess.
Patent Credits
Apple credits Kurt Stiehl and Jack Wanderman as the inventors of this patent application which was originally filed in Q1 2012.
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Hi Mcarter, thanks for the feedback.
I currently use something like this already for when I'm working out. It's not just a carrying case. You can use your earpods on one end and the connector in your iPod or iPhone on the other end. Then you control the right amount of slack in the middle with this accessory so that it's just right for your activity whatever it is.
So in that application, I think it's good. It's something that Apple should just include with your purchase of a new iDevice. Yet knowing Apple, they'll make you pay for it. We'll see.
Cheers
Posted by: Jack Purcher | August 29, 2013 at 08:06 AM
Looks simple and cool but honestly I still think people would just not bother using it. I know loosely coiling them up into my pocket sucks for the lifespan of them but it's easier than carrying ca case around. The case would be used at home maybe :)
Posted by: Mcarter | August 29, 2013 at 07:54 AM