Cellular phone leash

• US 5,938,137 A
• Filed: 06/22/1998
• Issued: 08/17/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Harold T. Poulson
• Original Assignee: Harold T. Poulson
• Inventors: Poulson, Harold T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jillions, John M.
• Application Number:
  US09/100,999
• Time in Patent Office: 421 Days
• Field of Search: 242/379.2, 242/385.4, 242/384.7, 242/381.6, 242/404.3, 242/404.1, 119/796, 70/456 R, 248/330.1, 224/162, 224/268, 224/269, 379/441, 379/457
• US Class Current: 242/379.2
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2200/0516 Portable handheld communication devices, e.g. mobile phone, pager, beeper, PDA, smart phone
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/004 with an automatic spring reel
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/02 Fastening articles to the garment
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/48 Automatic re-storing devices

Abstract

A leash attached to the cell phone case and including a spring retractable leash cord in a housing pivotally attached to the belt will prevent dropping and damage to a cell phone in a case clipped to the belt. The leash housing is pivotally attached to a locking belt hook that cannot easily be accidentally removed.

Claims

1. A leash for a cellular telephone case that is normally suspended by a clip on the user'"'"'s belt and has an eye for attachment of a wrist strap, said leash comprising:

a hollow circular housing containing a spool of leash cord, said leash cord having one end passing through the edge of said housing and being removable attached to the eye on the cellular telephone case, said circular housing having an axis;

a spiral spring within said housing and attached to said axis and said spool for automatically winding said leash cord;

a belt hook pivotally attached to said housing; and

means in said belt hook for preventing accidental disengagement from a belt.

2. The leash for a cellular telephone case claimed in claim 1 wherein said belt hook is pivotally connected on said axis on an external surface of said housing.

3. The leash for a cellular telephone case claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for preventing accidental disengagement comprises a spring steel belt clip formed with parallel outer and inner legs with the end of the inner leg being bent into an acute angle to contact the outer leg.

4. A leash adapted to be attached to a cellular telephone case, said leash comprising:

a hollow circular housing containing a rotatable spool with a leash cord wound thereon, said leash cord having one end attached to said spool and one end passing through a hole in the edge of said housing and terminating in a snap hook, said rotatable spool being rotatable around a central axis of said housing;

spring means within said housing and attached to said axis and said spool for applying a leash cord rewinding bias to said spool; and

a belt hook pivotally attached to said housing at said axis, said belt hook being of a resilient metal with front and rear portions adapted to surround a belt, said rear portion being bent up against said front portion to form a lock which prevents accidental removal of said hook from a belt.