Lanyard with tool coupled thereto and related system and method

• US 9,033,199 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2012
• Issued: 05/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Weber, Trent
• Primary Examiner(s): Nash, Brian D
• Application Number:
  US13/621,821
• Publication Number:
  US 20140076945A1
• Time in Patent Office: 974 Days
• Field of Search: 224/255, 224/257
• US Class Current: 224/255
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2005/006 comprising a suspension strap or lanyard
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 3/14 Carrying-straps; Pack-carrying harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/00 Holders or carriers for hand articles; Holders or carriers for use while travelling or camping
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

Attachment mechanisms may be employed to attach accessory devices to electronic devices. The attachment mechanisms may each include a displaceable post that is moveable between recessed and extended configurations. In the extended configuration an accessory may be attached to the displaceable post, whereas in the recessed configuration the displaceable post may be at least partially inaccessible. The accessory device may be a lanyard with a tool coupled thereto. The tool may be configured to engage a head of the accessory device to rotate the displaceable post and move the accessory device between the recessed configuration and the extended configuration. The tool may be embedded in the lanyard.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a lanyard defining an opening configured to engage a head of an attachment mechanism coupled to an electronic device to couple the lanyard to the electronic device; and

a tool coupled to the lanyard, the tool comprising an engagement mechanism configured to engage the attachment mechanism and be rotated by an end user of the tool to move the attachment mechanism from a recessed configuration to an extended configuration.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tool further comprises a backing plate with the engagement mechanism extending therefrom.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the backing plate is embedded in the lanyard.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the backing plate is positioned between a first layer and a second layer of the lanyard, and the engagement mechanism extends through the first layer.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tool clamps together a first portion of the lanyard and a second portion of the lanyard to form a loop.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the opening in the lanyard defines a major aperture configured to receive the head of the attachment mechanism therethrough and a minor aperture configured to engage a shaft of the attachment mechanism.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the tool comprises a wire that extends around a portion of the opening in the lanyard, and

wherein the engagement mechanism comprises a first end and a second end of the wire extending from an end of the lanyard and configured to engage a plurality of recesses in the attachment mechanism.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the tool comprises a substantially flat piece of metal configured to engage a slot in the attachment mechanism, the substantially flat piece of metal defining a hole therethrough that is aligned with the opening in the lanyard.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the lanyard further comprises a number of layers.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein the layers of the lanyard are formed of a material selected from the group consisting of fabric, nylon, plastic and rubber.

11. The apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein the lanyard further comprises a support member disposed between two of the layers of the lanyard, the support member being positioned within a portion of the lanyard that defines the opening of the lanyard and configured to strengthen the portion of the lanyard defining the opening.

12. A system, comprising:

an electronic device comprising an attachment mechanism comprising a head configured to move between a recessed configuration and an extended configuration; and

an accessory device comprising;

a lanyard defining an opening configured to engage the head of the attachment mechanism to couple the lanyard to the electronic device; and

a tool coupled to the lanyard, the tool comprising an engagement mechanism configured to engage the attachment mechanism and be rotated by an end user of the tool to move the attachment mechanism from the recessed configuration to the extended configuration.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the tool further comprises a backing plate with the engagement mechanism extending therefrom.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the backing plate is embedded in the lanyard.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the backing plate is positioned between a first layer and a second layer of the lanyard, and the engagement mechanism extends through the first layer.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the opening in the lanyard defines a major aperture configured to receive the head of the attachment mechanism therethrough and a minor aperture configured to engage a shaft of the attachment mechanism.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the tool comprises a wire, and

wherein the engagement mechanism comprises a first end and a second end of the wire extending from an end of the lanyard and configured to engage a plurality of recesses in the attachment mechanism.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the tool comprises a substantially flat piece of metal configured to engage a slot in the attachment mechanism, the substantially flat piece of metal defining a hole therethrough that is aligned with the opening in the lanyard.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the tool clamps together a first portion of the lanyard and a second portion of the lanyard to form a loop.