Rotatable retracting apparatus

• US 7,478,776 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2005
• Issued: 01/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hammerhead Industries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hammerhead Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Collin, Kenneth S. Jr., Salentine, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Langdon; Evan H
• Application Number:
  US11/270,905
• Publication Number:
  US 20060054729A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,167 Days
• Field of Search: 242/379, 242/379.2, 242/399, 242/399.2, 242/588.1, 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 first and second opposing sides, said first side having a planar section with a locking post that protrudes from the center of said planar section, said base being mounted to a first body with said second side of said base facing said first body such that said locking post extends away from said first body and does not pass into said 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 to allow said first body to rotate about said attachment mechanism without said locking post interfering with internal portions of said first body.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said attachment mechanism comprises a U-shaped belt clip mounted to said retaining section.

3. 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.

4. The device of claim 3, 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.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein said planar section is mounted to said first body by one of the methods from the group consisting of gluing, welding and molding.

6. The device of claim 3, 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.

7. 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.

8. The device of claim 7, 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.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein said post can be detached from within said retaining section hole by a lateral force on said post.

10. A rotation device, comprising:

a base having a locking post that protrudes from an external surface of said base, said base being integral to a first body that is disposed opposite said external surface of said base, said post extending from said base and away from said first body;

a retaining section having a mechanism for mounting to a second body and 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, to allow said first body to rotate about said attachment mechanism without said post passing into said first body.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein said base further comprises a planar section with said locking post mounted to the center of said planar section, said planar section being mountable to said first body.

12. The device of claim 10, 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.

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

15. The device of claim 14, 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.

16. The device of claim 10, wherein said post can be detached from within said retaining section hole by a lateral force on said post.