Retracting tether for cell phones, pagers and PDA's

• US 7,665,684 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2002
• Issued: 02/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hammerhead Industries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hammerhead Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Collin, Kenneth S. Jr., Salentine, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): RIVERA, WILLIAM ARAUZ
• Application Number:
  US10/216,043
• Publication Number:
  US 20030042348A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,755 Days
• Field of Search: 242/378, 242/379, 242/379.2, 242/371, 242/400, 242/402, 242/384.7, 242/381.6, 242/404.1
• US Class Current: 242/379.2
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2005/026 with a pin having an enlarged head detachably connected to a fastening device, e.g. to a pin receiving slot
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2200/0516 Portable handheld communication devices, e.g. mobile phone, pager, beeper, PDA, smart phone
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/00 Holders or carriers for hand articles; Holders or carriers for use while travelling or camping
• 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

Abstract

A retractable tether is disclosed which may be used in conjunction with personal communication devices (such as a Cell Phone, Pager or PDA) mounting system for the prevention of loss or damage. The retracting tether may be clipped to a belt, pants or purse next to the location in which the device is being held or stored. The retractable tether allows the device to be easily used while connected to the retracting tether. Should the device be dropped or dislodged from it'"'"'s clip mount, holster or storage pocket, the retracting tether prevents the device from hitting the ground thereby preventing loss or damage to the device. A separation mechanism is also incorporated to allow the device to be easily removed from the retractable tether.

Claims

1. A retractable tether, comprising:

a tether housing;

a cable within said tether housing, said housing having a hole from which said cable extends, said cable having a stop on its end that extends from said housing hole, said stop being larger than said housing hole to prevent said cable from fully retracting into said housing;

a spring within said tether housing which urges retraction of said cable;

a flexible lanyard attached to said stop and arranged to be attached to a personal article, said personal article capable of being mounted in proximity to said tether housing, said flexible lanyard having a length greater than the distance between said mounted personal article and said tether housing such that said cable is not extended from said housing, and said cable is not under tension, by said mounted personal article, said lanyard having a length such that it does not substantially hang below said personal article and tether housing when said personal article is mounted in proximity to said tether housing; and

a mounting mechanism on said tether housing, wherein said spring has sufficient tension to prevent said cable from extending from said housing under the weight of said attached personal article, wherein said mounting mechanism comprises a retaining section mounted to said tether housing, said retaining section having a central hole, said housing having a locking post inserted into said central hole without passing into said tether housing, with said retaining section rotatable around said post.

2. The tether of claim 1, wherein said mounting mechanism mounting said tether housing with said housing hole directed up, said cable prevented from extending from said housing under the weight of said personal article.

3. The tether of claim 1, wherein said lanyard comprises a rope or string.

4. The tether of claim 1, wherein said mounting mechanism is arranged to mount said retractable tether to a belt.

5. The tether of claim 1, wherein said mounting mechanism comprises a tension blade having a first and second end, said first end connected to said tether housing, with the second end opposite said first end and adjacent to said housing, at least part of said blade urged against said housing and arranged so that a belt is capable of being held between said blade and said housing.

6. The tether of claim 1, further comprising a blade tab at its second end that is positioned such that it extends between said blade and said housing to provide a stop to prevent the retractable tether from sliding off a belt after said retractable tether is mounted on the belt.

7. The tether of claim 1, wherein said personal article is a cell phone or pager mounted to a belt and said retractable tether is mounted adjacent to said object on a belt.

8. The tether of claim 7, wherein said retractable tether is mounted adjacent to said personal article within a distance less than the length of said tether so that said cable is not retracted from said housing when said object and retractable tether are in their mounted position.

9. The tether of claim 8, wherein said retractable tether is arranged so that said cable extends from said housing in an upward direction for use of said cell phone or pager without substantially bending said cable.

10. The tether of claim 1, further comprising a separating mechanism to allow for said object to be separated from said retracting tether.

11. The tethering of claim 1, wherein tether housing is rotatable about said mounting mechanism.

12. A retractable tether, comprising:

a tether housing;

a cable within said tether housing, said housing having a hole from which said cable extends, said cable having a stop on its end that extends from said housing hole, said stop being larger than said housing hole to prevent said cable from fully retracting into said housing;

a spring within said tether housing which urges retraction of said cable;

a rotatable mounting mechanism mounted on an outside surface of said tether housing for mounting said tether housing, said tether housing being rotatable about said mounting mechanism without interfering with or having components that pass into said tether housing, said cable being extendible from said tether housing at different angles depending on the orientation of said tether housing; and

a personal article attached to said cable at said stop by a fixed length flexible lanyard, said spring being strong enough such that said cable does not extend from said tether housing under the weight of said personal article, said personal article mounted in proximity to said tether housing said flexible lanyard having a length greater than the distance between said mounted personal article and said tether housing such that said cable is not extended from said housing, and said cable is not under tension, by said mounted personal article, said lanyard not substantially hanging below said personal article and tether housing when said personal article is mounted in proximity to said tether housing.

13. The tether of claim 12, further comprising a lanyard attached to said stop at one end and attached to said personal article at its other end.

14. The tether of claim 13, wherein said retractable tether is mounted adjacent to said object within a distance less than the length of said lanyard so that said cable is not retracted from said housing when said object and retractable tether are in their mounted position.

15. The tether of claim 13, further comprising a separating mechanism to allow for said object to be separated from said retracting tether.

16. The tether of claim 12, wherein said retractable tether is arranged so that said cable extends without substantially bending said cable.