Rotatable retracting apparatus

• US 6,966,519 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2003
• Issued: 11/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hammerhead Industries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hammerhead Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Collin, Kenneth S. Jr., Salentine, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, JOHN QUOC
• Application Number:
  US10/461,084
• Publication Number:
  US 20040035897A1
• Time in Patent Office: 894 Days
• Field of Search: 242/379, 242/379.2, 242/588.1, 242/399.2, 242/399, 224/197, 224/269, 224/666, 224/667, 224/668, 224/669, 224/930, 224/162
• US Class Current: 242/379
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2200/0516 Portable handheld communication devices, e.g. mobile phone, pager, beeper, PDA, smart phone
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2200/0558 Keys
• 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: A45F 5/021 to the belt
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 224/93 Attached to animate bearer

Abstract

A retracting tether apparatus is disclosed comprising a retractor housing having a locking post on its outside surface. The apparatus also includes an attachment mechanism, such as a belt clip, for attaching to a body and a retaining section, the attachment mechanism being integral to the retaining section. The retaining section has a retaining section hole sized to mate with the locking post and the locking post has a mechanism for holding the post in the retaining section hole. The inside surface of the retaining section hole rides on an outside surface of the locking post to provide for smooth rotation of the retractor housing in relation to the retaining section.

Claims

1. A rotation device, comprising:

a base having a locking post, said base being mounted to a first body;

an attachment mechanism for attaching to a second body;

a retaining section, said attachment mechanism integral to said retaining section, said retaining section having a retaining section hole sized to mate with said locking post, said locking post having a mechanism for holding said post in said retaining section hole, the inside surface of said retaining section hole riding on the outside surface of said locking post to provide for smooth rotation of said retaining section in relation to said base wherein said attachment mechanism comprises a U-shaped belt clip mounted to said retaining section, wherein said retaining section further comprises a tange and said belt clip further comprising a slot, said tange arranged to mate with said slot to at least partially close the opening in said belt clip.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said locking post comprises a plurality of circumferential tabs, each of which is flexible toward the post'"'"'s longitudinal axis.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said mechanism for holding said post in said retaining section hole comprising a plurality of radial tab lips, each of which is integral to a respective circumferential tab and arranged to hold said retaining section on said post.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said retaining section further comprises mounting holes, said attachment mechanism comprising a mechanism from the group consisting of a plurality of screws, bolts, pins or rivets, to pass through said mounting holes.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said base further comprises a planar section with said locking post mounted to the center of said planar section.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein said planar section further comprises a plurality of mounting slots and a plurality of screws, each of said screws arranged to turn into said body through a respective one of said slots to mount said base to said first body.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein said planar section is mounted to said first body by one of the methods from the group consisting of gluing, welding and molding.

8. The device of claim 5, wherein said planar section further comprises a raised riding surface on the surface of said planar section adjacent to said retaining section, said riding surface contacting said retaining section and allowing for smooth rotation of said retaining section in relation to said base.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein said post can be detached from within said retaining section hole by a lateral force on said base, without damaging said post.

10. A retractable tether device, comprising:

a retractor housing;

a locking post on the outside surface of said retractor housing;

an attachment mechanism for attaching to a body; and

a retaining section, said attachment mechanism integral to said retaining section, said retaining section having a retaining section hole sized to mate with said locking post, said locking post having a mechanism for holding said post in said retaining section hole, the inside surface of said retaining section hole riding on an outside surface of said locking post to provide for smooth rotation of said retractor housing in relation to said retaining section wherein said attachment mechanism comprises a belt clip mounted to said retaining section wherein said retaining section further comprises a tange and said belt clip further comprising a slot, said tange arranged to mate with said slot to at least partially close the opening in said belt clip.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a planar section with said locking post mounted to the center of said planar section, said planar section mounted to said retractor housing.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein said planar section further comprises a plurality of mounting slots and a plurality of screws, each of said screws arranged to turn into said retractor housing through a respective one of said slots to mount said base to said retractor housing.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein said planar section further comprises a raised riding surface on the surface of said planar section adjacent to said retaining section, said riding surface contacting said retaining section and allowing for smooth rotation of said retaining section in relation to said base.

14. The device of claim 10, wherein said post can be detached from within said retaining section hole by a lateral force on said retractor housing, without damaging said post.

15. The device of claim 10, wherein said retractor housing comprises an internal cable that is capable of being extended from said housing against the force of a spring and said cable retracting into said housing when said extending force is removed.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the extending force on said cable causes said retractor housing to rotate in relation to said retaining section so said housing is aligned with said extended cable.

17. The device of claim 15, further comprising a device attached to said cable, the weight of said device causing said retractor housing to rotate until said housing is directed downward.

18. The device of claim 10, wherein said locking post comprises a plurality of circumferential tabs, each of which is flexible toward the post'"'"'s longitudinal axis.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein said mechanism for holding said post in said retaining section hole comprising a plurality of radial tab lips, each of which is integral to a respective circumferential tab and arranged to hold said retaining section on said post.