Neckpiece Cable Tethering for Earpiece Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cables from earpieces cause annoyance and entanglement during movement or non-upright postures due to weight and inertia, leading to 'pull-out' and entanglement issues, and existing solutions like ear-hooks and clips are uncomfortable and ineffective in securing cables.
Innovation Solution
A user-worn neckpiece with tethering elements that securely hold cables near the neck, minimizing cable length and weight, allowing for adjustable slack to accommodate movement without entanglement, and can store or attach additional components like batteries and sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If cables are extended to connect earpiece to electronic device, then connectivity is achieved, but cable entanglement and annoyance increase during movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the cable management function from the earpiece itself and relocates it to a neckpiece worn around the user's neck. The cable is tethered at the neckpiece rather than at the earpiece, separating the cable attachment point from the earpiece to eliminate entanglement issues during movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The neckpiece acts as an intermediary device between the earpiece and the electronic device. It provides a intermediate attachment point for the cable, allowing the cable to be secured away from the earpiece while maintaining connectivity to the electronic device.
2Adaptability or versatility
If cable length is increased to allow movement, then range of motion is improved, but weight and inertia cause pull-out of earpiece
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the weight-bearing function from the earpiece and relocates it to the neckpiece. By tethering the cable at the neckpiece rather than the earpiece, the earpiece is relieved of the cable's weight and inertia, preventing pull-out during movement while still allowing sufficient range of motion.
3Reliability
If ear-hooks or clips are used to secure earpiece, then retention is improved, but user comfort deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the retention function from the earpiece and relocates it to the neckpiece. The neckpiece worn around the neck provides secure retention of the cable and earpiece without requiring uncomfortable ear-hooks or clips, improving user comfort while maintaining reliability.
4Reliability
If cable-mounted clips are used to secure cable, then cable attachment is achieved, but considerable length of unsupported cable remains causing entanglement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the cable attachment point from the cable itself and relocates it to the neckpiece. By tethering the cable at the neckpiece worn around the neck, the cable is secured at a location that minimizes the length of unsupported cable, preventing entanglement while maintaining secure attachment.
Data Source
AI summary
A neckpiece wearable by a user includes opposing arm segments operatively connected to each other and configured such that each arm segment defines a tethering element configured to removably retain a cable to the neckpiece. The arm segments may be arranged to retain the neckpiece to the user's neck intermediate the shoulders and jaw of the user, such that the neckpiece when worn by the user is not in contact with the user's shoulders and/or is not supported in position by the user's shoulders. An access opening allows the user to don and doff the neckpiece, and is preferably less than 35% of the perimeter of the neckpiece. The neckpiece may include a grasping interface to exert a grasping pressure on the user's neck. The neckpiece may include a physiological sensing element. The arm segments may be formed of wire. A connecting element may detachably connect the opposing arm segments.