U.S. patent application number 11/437401 was filed with the patent office on 2007-12-06 for ornamental leash for portable objects and devices.
Invention is credited to Mary Bennett, Mary Maron.
Application Number | 20070277352 11/437401 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38788447 |
Filed Date | 2007-12-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070277352 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Maron; Mary ; et
al. |
December 6, 2007 |
Ornamental leash for portable objects and devices
Abstract
An ornamental leash for linking a portable object to a user or
auxiliary structure where the leash is a flexible, elongate member
having a first end including a first fastener, a second end
including a second fastener and a body portion, wherein the first
fastener can be manipulated to link to one of the second fastener,
the portable object, the user or the auxiliary structure, and the
second fastener can be manipulated to link to one of the first
fastener, the portable object, the user or the auxiliary structure.
A plurality of hollow bodies are penetrated by the elongate member
to form an ornamental appearance. A variety of fasteners can be
used, and include both hooks and loops. Embodiments of the
invention further include a lanyard adapted to removably engage the
portable object at one end and the ornamental leash at an opposite
end. The lanyard may also include a plurality of hollow bodies
between the two ends.
Inventors: |
Maron; Mary; (Medina,
WA) ; Bennett; Mary; (Medina, WA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GRAYBEAL, JACKSON, HALEY LLP
155 - 108TH AVENUE NE, SUITE 350
BELLEVUE
WA
98004-5973
US
|
Family ID: |
38788447 |
Appl. No.: |
11/437401 |
Filed: |
May 18, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
24/298 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45F 2200/0516 20130101;
A45F 5/00 20130101; A45F 5/02 20130101; Y10T 24/31 20150115; A45F
2005/006 20130101; A45C 13/30 20130101; A45F 2005/002 20130101;
A45C 3/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
24/298 |
International
Class: |
A44B 21/00 20060101
A44B021/00 |
Claims
1. An ornamental leash for linking a portable object to a user or
auxiliary structure comprising: a flexible, elongate member having
a first end including a first fastener, a second end including a
second fastener and a body portion, wherein the first fastener can
be manipulated to link to one of the second fastener, the portable
object, the user or the auxiliary structure, and the second
fastener can be manipulated to link to one of the first fastener,
the portable object, the user or the auxiliary structure; and a
plurality of hollow bodies penetrated by the elongate member.
2. The ornamental leash of claim 1 wherein the first fastener is
one of a snap hook, a hook with spring catch, a slip hook with
catch, a shackle with pin, a carabineer, a clasp, a split link, a
snap link, a single "S" link, or a double "S" link.
3. The ornamental leash of claim 1 wherein the second fastener is
one of a snap hook, a hook with spring catch, a slip hook with
catch, a shackle with pin, a carabineer, a clasp, a split link, a
snap link, a single "S" link, or a double "S" link.
4. The ornamental leash of claim 1 wherein the first fastener and
the second fastener are one of a snap hook, a hook with spring
catch, a slip hook with catch, a shackle with pin, a carabineer, a
clasp, a split link, a snap link, a single "S" link, or a double
"S" link.
5. The ornamental leash of claim 1 wherein the first fastener is
one of a snap hook, a hook with spring catch, a slip hook with
catch, a shackle with pin, a carabineer, a clasp, a split link, a
snap link, a single "S" link, or a double "S" link, and the second
fastener is a loop of flexible material.
6. The ornamental leash of claim 5 wherein the loop of flexible
material comprises a portion of the elongate, flexible
material.
7. The ornamental leash of claim 5 wherein the loop of flexible
material comprises cord, string, wire, line, chain, or cable.
8. The ornamental leash of claim 1 wherein one of the first or
second fastener comprises a loop of flexible material of sufficient
dimension to permit passage of the body portion there through.
9. The ornamental leash of claim 1 wherein one of the first or
second fastener comprises a loop of flexible material of sufficient
dimension to permit passage of the body portion and the other
fastener there through.
10. The ornamental leash of claim 1 wherein the maximum external
dimension of at least one fastener is greater than the maximum
external dimension of the largest hollow body.
11. The ornamental leash of claim 1 further comprising a lanyard
having a thin loop of flexible material that is attachable to one
of the first or second fastener.
12. The ornamental leash of claim 11 wherein the first fastener is
one of a snap hook, a hook with spring catch, a slip hook with
catch, a shackle with pin, a carabineer, a clasp, a split link, a
snap link, a single "S" link, or a double "S" link.
13. The ornamental leash of claim 11 wherein the second fastener is
one of a snap hook, a hook with spring catch, a slip hook with
catch, a shackle with pin, a carabineer, a clasp, a split link, a
snap link, a single "S" link, or a double "S" link.
14. The ornamental leash of claim 11 wherein the first fastener and
the second fastener are one of a snap hook, a hook with spring
catch, a slip hook with catch, a shackle with pin, a carabineer, a
clasp, a split link, a snap link, a single "S" link, or a double
"S" link.
15. The ornamental leash of claim 1 wherein the first fastener is
one of a snap hook, a hook with spring catch, a slip hook with
catch, a shackle with pin, a carabineer, a clasp, a split link, a
snap link, a single "S" link, or a double "S" link, and the second
fastener is a loop of flexible material.
16. The ornamental leash of claim 15 wherein the loop of flexible
material comprises a portion of the elongate, flexible
material.
17. The ornamental leash of claim 11 wherein the lanyard further
comprises a separate attachment means for linking to the leash.
18. The ornamental leash of claim 17 wherein the attachment means
is functionally compatible with at least one of the first or the
second fasteners.
19. The ornamental leash of claim 17 wherein the attachment means
is functionally compatible with both the first and the second
fasteners.
20. The ornamental leash of claim 11 wherein the maximum external
dimension of at least one leash fastener is greater than the
maximum external dimension of the largest hollow body.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] As technology progresses, the familiar becomes smaller. What
once occupied a given volume now occupies a fraction of that.
Examples of this miniaturization abound: mobile telephones,
personal digital assistants, solid state or mechanical memory
devices, personal music players, illumination devices, etc. While
this miniaturization permits users to carry more such devices
within, for example, a woman's purse, it also makes locating such
devices more difficult. The inventors are very familiar with the
"ringing mobile telephone in the purse" syndrome where the amount
of time necessary to find the telephone and answer the call is
proportional to the volume of the purse and/or number of other
items in the purse. Invariably, the time necessary to find the
telephone exceeds the number of allowable rings prior to the caller
being sent to voicemail or having the call refused by the service
provider.
[0002] While other items commonly found in a woman's purse may not
have the time sensitivity as does a ringing mobile telephone,
frustration concerning the inability to locate a desired object or
device in a timely manner is omnipresent. Common complaints include
"where are my keys?" and "where is that flashlight?" and "where is
my cell phone?" Thus, there has been a well acknowledged need for a
retrieval assistance accessory to facilitate the recovery of
desired objects and devices.
[0003] Heretofore, such retrieval assistance accessories have been
rather utilitarian in nature, e.g., spring-biased spooled chains
such as commonly used for keys and pass cards. Other accessories
commonly included with personal electronics consist of a thin strap
of material with an even thinner loop of line, generally referred
to as a lanyard. Such accessories are sufficient if only
utilitarian factors are considered, however, those persons who may
be considered "fashion aware" rarely take pleasure in the "form
follows function" perspective. Therefore, a need has arisen with
respect to a retrieval accessory that both functions to assist a
user in recovering a desired object or device and presents a
fashionable outward appearance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention is directed to a fashionable or
ornamental retrieval accessory or leash for portable objects and/or
devices such as, for example, mobile telephones, personal digital
assistants, solid state or mechanical memory devices, personal
music players, as well as lock keys, identification cards,
illumination devices, cosmetics, and other transportable personal
items. The leash of the invention is intended to link the portable
object and/or device to the user (or user's clothing) or an
auxiliary structure associated with the user, such as a purse.
[0005] A first series of embodiments of the invention comprise a
flexible elongate member having a first end, a second end and a
body portion there between, wherein the body portion further
comprises a plurality of ornamental elements associated therewith,
such as, for example, beads, stones, gems, crystals, tiger's-eye,
turquoise, alabaster, coral, wood, bone, chain links,
mother-of-pearl, Swarovski.RTM. crystals, etc., all having the
ability to surround the elongate member (also referred to herein as
hollow bodies). The first end of the elongate member includes a
first fastener and the second end includes a second fastener.
[0006] The fasteners may comprise positive closure elements such as
snap hooks, hooks with spring catches, slip hooks with catches,
shackles with pins, carabineers, clasps, split links, snap links,
single "S" links, or double "S" links used in conjunction with each
other (examples of functionally compatible fasteners), or with
rings, loops, bore holes, etc. (examples of intentionally
complementary fasteners). Each fastener may also comprise one part
of a two part fastener system such as a plurality of micro hooks or
loops, i.e. Velcro.RTM.; buttons or button holes (or loops), or
other similar systems. In the case of embodiments wherein the first
fastener is one part of a two part fastener system and the second
fastener is the other part of the two part fastener system, or
wherein the first and second fasteners are functionally compatible
or intentionally complementary, such embodiments can modify the
ornamental leash to form a closed loop. By selecting fasteners that
serve the dual purpose of a leash for portable objects and/or
devices and a closed loop, such embodiments provide increased
functionality and fashion options.
[0007] A feature of the first series of embodiments provides for
the convenient association of the leash, comprising the elongate
member, with a portable object and/or device such as a mobile
telephone. Many such portable objects and/or devices possess a
lanyard connection point, commonly embodied as an exposed two-sided
hole, bore or open passageway. The lanyard, which includes a thin
loop of line or cord in addition to a robust but non-ornamental
strap, is threaded through one side of the hole or passageway to
the other, where after the body of the lanyard is passed through
the lanyard loop, thereby securing the lanyard to the object or
device. Those persons skilled in the art will appreciate that any
object possessing an exposed two-sided hole or orifice, such as a
lock key, is capable of such lanyard association. Thus, selected
embodiments of the invention include as a fastener, at one end
thereof, a thin loop of cord, string, wire, line, chain, cable or
equivalent flexible structure to engage the object or device of
interest in the described manner. Because in these embodiments the
fastener comprises a portion of the elongate member, it is
necessary to pass the body of the leash through the thin loop once
it has passed through the hole or passageway of the object or
device. Thus, the loop is preferably sized to be sufficient to
permit such passage. Moreover, because in certain embodiments each
end of the ornamental leash has at least functionally compatible
fasteners, the other end preferably has a type of fastener
compatible with the thin loop, such as a hook, a clasp, a
carabineer, a shackle or other positive closure element, such that
the leash may be linked to itself when not in use as a leash and,
thus, function as a jewelry accessory; otherwise, the leash may be
detachably linked to an auxiliary structure when functioning as a
retrieval aid.
[0008] A second series of embodiments of the invention comprise a
flexible elongate member having a first end including a first
fastener, a second end including a second fastener and a body
portion, and further comprise a detachable lanyard having a thin
loop of cord, string, wire, line, chain, cable or equivalent
structure, and leash attachment means for linking the lanyard to at
least one of the fasteners of the leash. This leash attachment
means may be functionally compatible with at least one fastener of
the ornamental leash, or may be intentionally complementary to at
least one fastener of the ornamental leash. Thus, while in these
embodiments the ornamental leash may be linkable to itself to form
a loop (preferably a closed loop), the leash includes at least one
fastener capable of linking to the lanyard, preferably to the leash
attachment means. In such a configuration, the lanyard and portable
object and/or device combination may be associated with a plurality
of elongate members. This scenario may be encountered when one
elongate member may be best coordinated for use with a particular
object, e.g., a purse, and another best coordinated for use with
another particular object, e.g., a jacket. Because each elongate
member employs elements of fashion, one embodiment may not fit each
"wardrobe" ensemble. Thus, when a user has a plurality of leashes
specifically chosen for certain wardrobe selections, the user need
only disconnect the lanyard bearing object and/or device from one
leash and conveniently link it to another.
[0009] A variation of the first or series of embodiments does not
rely on functionally compatible or intentionally complementary
fasteners, but instead comprises incompatible fasteners. In these
types of embodiments, the first or second fastener engages with a
portable object and/or device while the other end engages with an
auxiliary structure, such as a woman's purse. These embodiments
comprise what are referred to as extrinsically compatible
fasteners.
[0010] Transcending both the first and second series embodiments is
the selection of material for the flexible elongate member. In
certain embodiments, it is a 20 pound test, nylon coated steel
line. In other embodiments, the member can be constructed from
primarily polymeric, primarily metal, cordage, fabric, knitted or
woven material, or any material capable of attaining a flexible,
elongate body. Moreover, the selected material can be elastic or
inelastic. In the case of the former, the leash comprising the
flexible member can be used, for example, as a hair band when not
functioning as a retrieval aid.
[0011] Unlike conventional jewelry items, the fasteners of the
invention are intended to engage functional structure as opposed
to, or in addition to, another fastener. Thus, the fasteners must
be easily manipulated and have a size appropriate to engage
convenient user selected objects, such as a purse buckle, a zipper
slide, or belt portion. While the size of such objects is difficult
to characterize, and thus the size and nature of the required
fasteners are similarly difficult to characterize, many embodiments
of the invention have fasteners that are physically larger in
maximum dimensions than the maximum dimension of any hollow body
surrounding the elongate member. Moreover, where at least one of
the fasteners comprises a loop and the remaining portions of the
ornamental leash must pass through the loop, the loop when formed
into a generally circular shape should have a diameter greater than
the maximum dimension of any object associated with the remaining
portions of the leash, e.g., the other fastener.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the
invention shown in conjunction with a woman's purse wherein a
carabineer-style snap hook is paired with a thin loop linked to a
mobile telephone;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a detailed perspective view of the embodiment of
FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the
invention removably attached to a simple lanyard wherein one end of
the embodiment has a carabineer-style snap hook and the other end
has a swivel-style snap hook; and
[0015] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an ornamental lanyard that
may be used in lieu of the simple lanyard of FIG. 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0016] Turning then to the several Figures wherein like numerals
indicate like parts, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, a
first embodiment of ornamental leash 10 is shown. Ornamental leash
10 comprises elongate member 20, first end 30 and second end 40.
Elongate member 20 preferably comprises a nylon coated steel line,
but may also comprise a primarily polymeric, a primarily metallic,
a cordage, a fabric, a knitted or woven material, or any material
capable of attaining a flexible, elongate body. Moreover, elongate
member 20 may be characterized as elastic or inelastic without
departing from the scope of the invention. Between ends 30 and 40,
is a plurality of hollow bodies 50 surrounding elongate member 20.
As noted above, a hollow body 50 may comprise virtually anything
capable of receiving elongate member 20, such as, for example,
cored beads, stones, gems, crystals, tiger's-eye, turquoise,
alabaster, coral, bone wood, chain links, mother-of-pearl,
Swarovski.RTM. crystals, etc.
[0017] An aspect of the invention relates to inclusions of
fasteners at ends 30 and 40. As noted in the Summary of the
Invention, one fastener is preferably directly, or indirectly
through the use of a detachable lanyard (see FIG. 3), temporarily
linked to a portable object and/or device while the other fastener
is preferably directly or indirectly temporarily linked to the user
or an accessory of the user, such as ring 92 of purse 90. As
further noted in the Summary of the Invention, the types of
fasteners suitable for use are many. Any associated fastener is
preferably either securely linked to elongate member 20 (such as
carabineer-style snap hook 32) or is formed from elongate member 20
(such as loop 42). Moreover, each fastener preferably is
characterized as a positive closure fastener such that when in use,
it is not susceptible to easy disengagement.
[0018] Two types of fasteners are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2:
carabineer-style snap hook 32 and loop 42; FIG. 3 has loop 42
replaced by swivel-style snap hook 44. In the illustrated
embodiments, each first end 30 fastener is linkable with each
second end 40 fastener, although this compatibility is not required
for primary operation of the invention. However, it is important to
the functionality of the invention that at least one fastener is
linkable to target portable object and/or device 60 and the other
fastener is linkable to the user or object selected by the user
(such as purse 90).
[0019] While the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 use loop
fastener 42 at end 40 to link leash 10 to target portable object
and/or device 60, the embodiment in FIG. 3 relies upon modified
lanyard 70 as an intermediate link between leash 10 and target
portable object and/or device 60. Lanyard 70 may or may not be
constructed from the same material as elongate member 20, but
should be constructed from a material suitable to permit its
intended functionality. In such embodiments, swivel-style snap hook
44 replaces loop 42 as the attachment means so that it may
removably engage lanyard 50 (those persons skilled in the art will
appreciate that loop 42 may be used to link leash 10 to lanyard 70,
however, the substitution of swivel-style snap hook 44 for loop 42
permits rapid and stylistic linkage there between). Use of a
separate lanyard permits a user to alternately link the target
device to a plurality of different leashes without the hassle of
threading loops (whether from leashes or lanyards) through
oftentimes small openings of the target devices. Thus, a leash
suitable for one user accessory can be retained with that accessory
and the target device conveniently removed there from for
association with another leash/accessory combination.
[0020] FIG. 4 illustrates a variation of lanyard 70, namely
ornamental lanyard 80. In this embodiment, lanyard 80 includes
first fastener 82 and second fastener 84. First fastener 82 is
selected to appropriately interface with ornamental leash 10 while
second fastener 84 is selected to appropriately interface with an
attachment point associated with portable object and/or device 60.
In the illustrated embodiment, portable object and/or device 60 is
mobile telephone 62, and includes lanyard attachment feature 64.
Thus, fastener 84 is chosen to be a loop having similar properties
to that of loop 42 in FIG. 2. Fastener 82 is similarly selected to
appropriately interface with its intended object, in this case
fastener 42 (see FIG. 2) or 44 (see FIG. 3) of ornamental leash 10.
Ornamental leash 10 in turn may be linked via fastener 32 to ring
92 of purse 90 as is shown in FIG. 1.
* * * * *