Chair with retractable cable unit

Abstract

A chair that includes a cable unit with a connection plug for a portable media unit. A cable housed in the cable unit can provide a signal from the media unit to a device such as a speaker or video panel located in or near the chair. In addition, the cable can provide a power source and control signals to the media unit. The cable can be retractable and move between an extended position where it can be operably attached to the media unit or a retracted position.

1 . A chair comprising: 
 a cable unit, the cable unit including a connection cable with a plug adapted to be connected to a portable media-unit to provide an audio signal to the chair, wherein the cable is movable between an extended position and a retracted position, wherein a portion of the cable is extended outside of the cable unit in the extended position.    
   
   
       2 . The chair of  claim 1 , wherein the cable unit is retractable.  
   
   
       3 . The chair of  claim 1 , wherein the cable unit is removable.  
   
   
       4 . The chair of  claim 1 , wherein the cable unit has another plug on the cable to operably connect the cable to the chair.  
   
   
       5 . The chair of  claim 1 , wherein the cable unit in the chair has a cover adapted to allow access to the cable unit.  
   
   
       6 . The chair of  claim 1 , wherein the cable unit includes a spool on which a section of the cable is wrapped in the retracted position.  
   
   
       7 . The chair of  claim 1 , wherein the cable unit includes a tensioning spring communicating with a spool for wrapping the cable in a retracted position.  
   
   
       8 . The chair of  claim 1 , wherein the cable unit includes a ratchet to hold the cable in the extended position.  
   
   
       9 . The chair of  claim 1 , wherein the plug is a stereo plug.  
   
   
       10 . The chair of  claim 1 , wherein the chair has a holder adapted for a portable musical unit.  
   
   
       11 . The chair of  claim 1 , wherein the chair detects when the plug is connected to a portable media unit.  
   
   
       12 . The chair of  claim 1 , wherein the chair has an audio source.  
   
   
       13 . The chair of  claim 1 , including a port that can removably receive the cable unit.  
   
   
       14 . The chair of  claim 1 , wherein the chair has at least one speaker and the audio signal is provided to the speaker.  
   
   
       15 . The chair of  claim 1 , wherein the chair is a massage chair.  
   
   
       16 . The chair of  claim 15 , wherein the massage chair uses the audio signal to control a massage.  
   
   
       17 . The chair of  claim 1 , wherein the cable unit is in an arm rest.  
   
   
       18 . A chair comprising: 
 at least one speaker; and    a cable unit, the cable unit including a connection cable with a plug adapted to be connected to a portable media unit to provide an audio signal to the speaker, wherein the cable is movable between an extended position and a retracted position, wherein a portion of the cable is extended outside of the cable unit in the extended position.    
   
   
       19 . A method for manufacturing a chair comprising: 
 attaching a cable unit receptacle to an arm of the chair,    attaching a speaker to the chair,    assembling the chair such that the cable unit is adapted to communicate a signal to the speaker.    
   
   
       20 . The method for manufacturing a chair of  claim 19 , further comprising inserting into the cable unit receptacle a cable unit, the cable unit including a connection cable with a plug adapted to be connected to a portable media unit to provide an audio signal to the speaker, wherein the cable is movable between an extended position and a retracted position, wherein a portion of the cable is extended outside of the cable unit in the extended position.