U.S. patent application number 10/701002 was filed with the patent office on 2004-05-13 for retractable device holding assembly.
Invention is credited to Genuise, Coey K..
Application Number | 20040089759 10/701002 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 21842079 |
Filed Date | 2004-05-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040089759 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Genuise, Coey K. |
May 13, 2004 |
Retractable device holding assembly
Abstract
Retractable device holding assemblies are provided having a
retractor member including an extendible tether with an attachment
device connected at the free end thereof by an interlocking
attachment assembly thereof for securing an attachment to the body
of a utilitarian device.
Inventors: |
Genuise, Coey K.; (Glendale,
AZ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Dahl & Osterloth, LLP
Suite 3405
555 17th Street
Dever
CO
80202-3937
US
|
Family ID: |
21842079 |
Appl. No.: |
10/701002 |
Filed: |
November 3, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10701002 |
Nov 3, 2003 |
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10028194 |
Dec 19, 2001 |
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6641390 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
242/379 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45F 5/004 20130101;
F23Q 2/32 20130101; A45F 5/021 20130101; A45F 5/022 20130101; A45F
2005/002 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
242/379 |
International
Class: |
B65H 075/48 |
Claims
Accordingly, what is claimed is:
1. A retractable device holding assembly comprising: a retraction
member having a tether line secured at is proximal end to said
retraction member and biased interiorly of the retraction member in
a first position and extendible exteriorly of said retraction
member to a second extended position; attachment means secured to
the distal end of said tether line; and flexible, resilient polymer
ring means secured to said attachment means at distal end of said
tether line; whereby a utilitarian device is operatively removably
interposed within said ring means and responsive to movement
therewith upon extension and retraction of said tether line
relative to said retraction member.
2. A retractable device holding assembly according to claim 1 in
which said retraction member has a front surface and a rear surface
and a clip member operatively secured to said rear surface to
anchor said retractable member during operation thereof.
3. A retractable device holding assembly according to claim 1 in
which said ring means is adaptable to encircle the utilitarian
device which may be of various shapes and sizes.
4. A retractable device holding assembly comprising: a retraction
member having a tether line secured at is proximal end to said
retraction member and biased interiorly of the retraction member in
a first, retracted position and retractably extendible exteriorly
of said retraction member to a second, extended position; an
attachment device secured to the distal end of said tether line;
said attachment device including an encircling connection structure
adapted to be connected to a mating receptacle on a utilitarian
device; whereby when a utilitarian device is operatively connected
to said attachment device; said utilitarian device will be
extendibly and retractably responsive with said attachment device
to alternate extension and retraction movement of said tether line
relative to said retraction member.
5. An assembly according to claim 4 in which said encircling
connection structure is selected from the group consisting of: a
ring, a loop, a clip, and a hook.
6. An assembly according to claim 5 in which said hook is selected
from the group consisting of: a push-button hook, a snap hook, a
trigger hook and a C-clip.
7. An assembly according to claim 4 in which said receptacle is
selected from the group consisting of: an eye, a semicircular eye,
a structurally defined aperture, and a through-hole..
8. An assembly according to claim 4 in which said receptacle is a
structure selected from the group consisting of: an integrally
formed portion of the utilitarian device and a later secured
portion of the utilitarian device.
9. An assembly according to claim 4 in which said utilitarian
device is selected from the group consisting of a hand-held
utilitarian device, a cosmetic product, and a tool.
10. An assembly according to claim 9 in which said cosmetic product
is selected from the group consisting of lip balm and lipstick.
11. An assembly according to claim 9 in which said tool is selected
from the group consisting of a screwdriver, flashlight, lighter,
marker, writing device, pen and pencil.
12. A retractable device holding system comprising: a device
adapted to be held, the device including a reception member; and a
retraction member having: a tether line connected thereto; an
attachment apparatus connected to said tether line; whereby the
tether line has a proximal and a distal end; said proximal end
being secured to and within said retraction member and said distal
end being secured to said attachment apparatus; whereby the
attachment apparatus has an encircling attachment portion; whereby
the reception member of the device adapted to be held is adapted to
receive said encircling portion therein in hook and eye
relationship thereto; whereby upon attachment of said device
adapted to be held to said retraction member, said retraction
member allows said device to be moved between an extended
operational position and an inactive position adjacent said
retraction member.
13. A system according to claim 12 in which said encircling
connection structure is selected from the group consisting of: a
ring, a loop, a clip, and a hook.
14. A system according to claim 13 in which said hook is selected
from the group consisting of: a push-button hook, a snap hook, a
trigger hook and a C-clip.
15. A system according to claim 12 in which said receptacle is
selected from the group consisting of: an eye, a semicircular eye,
a structurally defined aperture, and a throughhole.
16. A system according to claim 12 in which said receptacle is a
structure selected from the group consisting of: an integrally
formed portion of the utilitarian device and a later secured
portion of the utilitarian device.
17. A system according to claim 12 in which said utilitarian device
is selected from the group consisting of a hand-held utilitarian
device, a cosmetic product, and a tool.
18. A system according to claim 17 in which said cosmetic product
is selected from the group consisting of lip balm and lipstick.
19. A system according to claim 17 in which said tool is selected
from the group consisting of a screwdriver, flashlight, lighter,
marker, writing device, pen and pencil.
20. A system according to claim 12 in which said retraction member
comprises: a housing; a cylindrical spool mounted for rotation
within said housing; a retractable spring means mounted in said
housing in operative relationship to said spool; and a tether line
secured to said spool and reeved there around and extending
therefrom for movement therewith; whereby said spring means is
compressed in response to the withdrawal of a length of said tether
from said housing and automatically decompressed when the
compression force is removed therefrom.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is a continuation of copending application Ser. No.
10/028,194, filed on Dec. 19, 2001, which is hereby incorporated by
reference herein.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a retractable device
holding assembly and more particularly to a retractable device
holding assembly which permits a utilitarian device to be attached
thereto and, once attached, to be extended for use and thereafter
retracted for compact storage adjacent the retractable device
holding assembly which may be disposed at a site of the user's
choosing.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Various apparatuses have been provided for retractably
securing a relatively small, utilitarian device from free-fall,
loss and/or breakage. However, an improvement in retractable device
holding technology would be desirable such as would make these more
economically producible, would minimize the number, kind and/or
complexity of connective parts, and/or which would make such
assemblies readily functional and/or adapted for use with many of
various alternative devices of diverse utilitarian functions often
of the hand-held type. It is toward achievement of these ends that
the present invention is directed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Provided here are a variety of embodiments of a retractable
device holding assembly including a retractor portion containing an
extendible tether having a connecting clip, ring or hook connected
at the free end thereof which is coactive with a clip receptive
portion integrally or otherwise substantially permanently connected
to a utilitarian device to form an interlocking attachment assembly
for securing the tether to the body of the utilitarian device.
[0005] These and other alternative embodiments, as may hereinafter
appear or as will be apparent to those skilled in the art,
represent exemplary embodiments of the present invention as can be
readily discerned from the following detailed description,
especially when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings
in which like parts bear like numerals throughout the several
views.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] In the drawings:
[0007] FIG. 1 is a side elevation of an exemplary retractable
device holding assembly embodiment of the present invention showing
a typical lighter or other utilitarian device in phantom;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a elevational view of a retractor member - ring
means assembly in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention;
[0009] FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the retractor member and
interlocking attachment assembly, partially broken away, of the
retractable assembly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;
[0010] FIG. 4 is an enlarged isometric view of an interlocking
attachment assembly like that shown in FIGS. 1-3;
[0011] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the spring-loaded retractor
assembly of FIGS. 1-3 showing an alternative lighter or like
utilitarian device in phantom;
[0012] FIG. 6 is a side elevation of an exemplary retractable
device holding assembly embodiment of the present invention showing
a typical utilitarian device in phantom;
[0013] FIG. 7 is a side elevation of another exemplary retractable
device holding assembly embodiment of the present invention showing
another typical utilitarian device in phantom;
[0014] FIG. 8 is a partially cut-away side elevation of an
alternative exemplary embodiment of a retractable device holding
assembly connection to an exemplary utilitarian device;
[0015] FIG. 9 is a partially cut-away side elevation of a further
exemplary alternative embodiment of a retractable device holding
assembly connection to an exemplary utilitarian device;
[0016] FIG. 10 is a partially cut-away side elevation of yet one
further exemplary alternative embodiment of a retractable device
holding assembly connection to an exemplary utilitarian device;
and
[0017] FIG. 11 is a partially cut-away side elevation of still yet
one further exemplary alternative embodiment of a retractable
device holding assembly connection to an exemplary utilitarian
device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] With reference to the drawings, various embodiments of
retractable device holding assemblies are shown and designated
throughout by the general reference numeral 10. Now with particular
reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, e.g., an assembly 10 is shown including
a retraction member 12 having a thread or tether line 14 extending
therefrom and responsive thereto. Tether line 14 has a proximal end
36 (see description of FIG. 5, infra) secured to the retraction
member 12 and a remote end 16 secured to an attachment means or
device 18. In a first embodiment, the attachment device is further
attached to and/or includes a flexible, resilient rubber or plastic
ring 20, which is adapted to in turn be mounted in circumscribing
relationship around the body portion 22 of a conventional
utilitarian device 24. In one embodiment, device 24 may be a
conventional lighter (see FIGS. 1 and 5) or device 24 may be of
another substantially conventional form such as a cosmetic, or lip
balm (see FIGS. 6 and 8-11) or a utilitarian tool (see FIG. 7).
[0019] As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 5, retraction member 12 has a
body portion 26 which is shown as cylindrical for illustrative
purposes only as it may be rectangular, triangular, oblong and the
like. Referring specifically to FIG. 5, body portion 26 is provided
with an internal retractor spring 28 which is anchored in a slotted
cylindrical portion 30 integrally formed with bottom portion 32 of
body portion 26 and is surrounded by a spool 34. The proximal end
36 of tether 14 is secured to spring 28 and wound about spool 34
for responsive co-action therewith when it is desired to extend or
retract tether 14 by pulling on or releasing tether 14 in
understood and/or understandable fashion.
[0020] Retracting member 12 further comprises a lower plate 38
insertable within the bottom portion 32 of body portion 26 to
support spool 34 for rotation thereupon and an upper plate 40 for
placement upon spool 34 to further facilitate the rotation thereof.
The upper or lid portion 42 of retraction member 12 is then secured
to lower portion 32 so that the extending portion 46 of upper
portion 42 complements the extending portion 48 of lower portion
32. Lower portion 32 has a groove 50 defined therein into which a
complementary shaped hollow spool member 51 is seated to coact
therewith or provide ready ingress and egress for tether 14 into
and out of its spring biased-coiled relationship around spool
34.
[0021] On the external face 44 of lower portion 32 of retraction
member 12 is secured a clip 52 for easy removable attachment of
retractor member 12 to the user's belt, pocket, purse, key ring,
cigarette pack or like position or location of the user's wearing
apparel or carried possession to provide an attractive, handy,
secure, and relatively inexpensive device repository where such a
repository is desired. One manner of securing clip 52 to bottom
member 32 is shown in FIG. 5 and comprises a resilient latch
portion which extends into the interior of bottom 32. Alternative
dispositions and members for the achievement thereof are possible
also, including for example, lanyard or necklace or key chain
embodiments.
[0022] Tether 14 may be formed of nylon or other durable synthetic
material and is provided with sufficient length to enable the user
to move the utilitarian device to the desired area of action; as
for example, if a cosmetic device, lip balm, cigarette lighter, or
the like, toward a position adjacent the user's lips, mouth or face
for application of the lip balm, cosmetic, or to light a cigarette
or like tobacco product. The movement could conceivably
alternatively be otherwise depending upon the utilitarian object,
e.g., if a tool or writing implement to a work position or writing
surface, or if a lighter, then perhaps alternatively to a birthday
cake candle, or like object requiring an active flame to create the
desired result, or in the case of a bartender or waitress, to
assist clientele in lighting their tobacco material.
[0023] As shown in FIGS. 1-3 and enlarged in FIG. 4, attachment
means 18 may in some embodiments include a tether anchor 56 having
an aperture (not shown) in the bottom thereof for receiving and
securing the distal end 16 of tether 14 and an integral loop
portion 62 formed on the opposite end thereof. A ring adjustment
means 64 shown as cubical in shape and having an opening 66 drilled
axially therethrough is dimensioned so as to receive a portion of
ring member 20 therethrough so as to provide a first loop 68 and a
second loop 70 on the far end thereof when ring 20 is compressed
and fed through opening 66 of ring adjustment means 64 or cinch 64
and is then attached to loop portion 62 of tether anchor 56 by
means of connecting ring 72. Extending loop 70 of ring 20, which
circumscribes the body 22 of a lighter 24 or the like, is thus
secured to tether 14 and hence retraction means 12.
[0024] While some of the foregoing assembly embodiments have been
described in terms including a lighter, many, if not all of the
embodiments herein can be and are intended to be equally useful in
controlling the whereabouts of similarly shaped and or sized
objects such as small flashlights, screwdrivers and similar tools,
marking pens, cosmetic products, lip balm, and like small and
lightweight items. Although handheld sizes and shapes are typically
useful herewith, other shapes and/or sizes of utilitarian objects
are also foreseeably useful with device holding assemblies as
described and equivalents thereof. Examples hereof are shown in
FIGS. 6 and 7 wherein alternative devices 24 are shown in
phantom.
[0025] As to the manner of usage and operation of the present
invention, it is believed that such is readily apparent from the
above description and accordingly no further discussion relative to
the usage and operation of the assembly is deemed necessary other
than to say that the selected device is used when the tether is
drawn a distance from the retraction device and may then be used
usually while maintaining one's grip thereupon. When the desired
task is complete, the selected device is either simply released or
manually guided/retumed to its retracted position while the spring
28 in retractor means 12 rewinds the tether 14 such that the
utilitarian device is returned to its at rest position adjacent
retraction device 12.
[0026] In some alternative embodiments (see e.g., FIGS. 8-11),
different means and/or structures may be used to effect the
connection of the utilitarian device to the retractable leash
assembly 12. In one such case, a reception member 80 may be used as
shown in FIGS. 8-11 wherein the reception member 80 is integrally
attached to and as a part of the body/housing/casing 22 of the
device 24 (e.g., formed therewith or built-in) or perhaps later
secured thereto (as by bonding, gluing or detachably secured as by
mechanical clipping and/or the like). The reception member or
receptacle 80 may then provide a structurally defined aperture
providing for receiving or reception of a ring 20 (FIG. 8) or loop
62 (FIG. 9) (or a ring like intermediate ring 72 (see FIGS. 4 and
8) directly connected to the receptacle 80), or a clip or hook
structure 82, 84 (FIGS. 10 and 11, respectively) which can be a
push-button hook connection member 82 or a snap hook 84 or a
trigger or C-clip or other type of encircling connection member.
These sorts of connections may also be referred to as hook and eye
connections. Note, to be an encircling member, the connection
device/member need not create a complete circle, rather merely
provide a device for sufficient penetration and/or retention.
Similarly, the receptacle 80 need not provide a fully enclosed
aperture, nor a complete through-hole, nor necessarily be circular
or semi-circular or any other particular shape, but for that it be
cooperative with and receive the connection member from the
retractable device 12.
[0027] In view of the foregoing, it is respectfully submitted the
present invention is new, useful and not obvious and that such
applications, modifications and alterations as may readily occur to
one having ordinary skill in the art to which this invention
pertains are included within the scope of this disclosure which is
limited only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.
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