Patent Application
20120153064
The present invention relates generally to retractable lanyards. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved retractable lanyard, configured to attach to a person or object, that is durable, shock resistance, weather resistant and has a strong recoil force to support heavier objects. The present invention also relates to a retractable lanyard with more than one retractable line.
The basic retractable lanyard is known in the art. The McDougall patents, U.S. Pat. No. 529,402 and U.S. Pat. No. 721,460 are representative. The McDougall patents disclose a short retractable tether cord used for tethering light objects to ones person, such as eye glasses. The Smith patent, U.S. Pat. No. 1,120,341 is another example of an early retractable lanyard.
The basic retractable lanyard is not designed for substantial and continuous outdoor use or use under demanding conditions such as those found on construction sites. The basic retractable lanyard design is not weather or shock resistant. The basic retractable lanyard is also not designed to accommodate single or multiple heavier objects, such as hand tools, on one or more retractable tether cords incorporated into a common retractable lanyard housing.
For at least these above-described reasons, there is a need for an improved retractable lanyard.
The present disclosure is directed to a durable, shock and weather resistance retractable lanyard. In one aspect of the disclosure, the retractable lanyard comprises an environmentally sealed spring and locking mechanism compartment. In another aspect of the disclosure, a single retractable lanyard housing allows for more than one retractable lanyard cord, each lanyard cord capable of operating independently of the other. In another aspect of the disclosure, the retractable lanyard housing is comprised in part of a compliant, shock absorbing, material. In yet another aspect of the disclosure, the retractable lanyard system operates with an automatic lock and release mechanism for one handed operation. In another aspect of the disclosure, the lanyard system contains a heavy-duty, multi-piece reader arm and reader arm bracket combined with a robust recoil and locking mechanism to allow the lanyard cord to operate and retract even under relatively heavy loads. In yet a further aspect of the disclosure, the retractable lanyard system contains an attachment member to allow attachment of the lanyard system to a person or object. The attachment member may also pivot and may have a breakaway safety feature.
The above summary is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, or describe each embodiment, implementation, feature or advantage of the invention. It is understood that the features mentioned hereinbefore and those to be commented on hereinafter may be used not only in the specified combinations, but also in other combinations or in isolation, without departing from the scope of the present invention.
In the following descriptions, the present invention will be explained with reference to various example embodiments; nevertheless, these embodiments are not intended to limit the present invention to any specific example, environment, application, or particular implementation described herein. Therefore, descriptions of these example embodiments are only provided for purpose of illustration rather than to limit the present invention.
Front case 104 and rear case 106 form housing 94. Attachment member 92 is preferably secured between front case 104 and rear case 106. One embodiment of the retractable lanyard includes substantial compliant shock absorbing elastomer materials such as rubbers, neoprene, silicones or other synthetic viscoelastic urethane polymers, in the construction of portions of housing 94. Weather resistance may be provided by the use of O-ring 101 in conjunction with the use of weather resistance material in the construction of the housings. O-ring 101 is preferably incorporated into rear case 106, and may also be similarly incorporated into front case 104, to assist in sealing the internal components of the invention from the environment. In another embodiment multiple sets of O-rings may be used.
In yet another embodiment the front and rear cases may also be formed to mate in a manner to form a weather resistant seal without the use of O-rings. Attachment member 92 may be secured between front case 104 and rear case 106. Apertures 120 and 122 in attachment member 92 may be used to house shear bolts as a safety consideration.
The internal components of lanyard 90 are generally comprised of power spring 108, spool 114 comprising a recessed side 116 and a track side (not visible) a perimeter portion 118, reader arm bracket 124 and reader arm 126. Lanyard cord 100 is spooled around perimeter portion 118 of spool 114. Spool 114 is configured to contain between 35 to 45 inches of lanyard cord 100. The lanyard cord 100 is preferably made of a synthetic fiber such as Kevlar.
Reader arm 126 is a substantially rigid element pivotally connected to reader arm bracket 124. Reader arm bracket 124 is preferably fixably connected to rear case 106. Reader arm bracket 124 provides additional support to reader arm 126 to assist in maintaining the reader arm's engagement within the tract side of spool 114, even while lanyard cord 100 is under heavy load.
Spool 114 is rotatably mounted within housing 94 and between front case 104 and rear case 106 through spool axis 140. Power spring 108 provides recoiling force and control for lanyard cord 100. Recess 116 of spool 114 is configured to accept power spring 108. The inner end 110 of power spring 108 may be fixably attached to the inside of front case 104. The outer end 112 of power spring 108 may be fixably attached to spool 114 within recess 116. The relative rotation of spool 114 with respect to front case cover 104, stores energy in power spring 108 to provide the force necessary to operate the invention. Power spring 108 is preferably between 0.2 and 0.3 inches thick and has a radius between 0.65 and 0.75 inches. In one embodiment the recoiling force is sufficient to control and retract the lanyard cord when attached objects that weigh up to two pounds.
In a preferred embodiment, reader arm 126 comprises reader arm end 142, reader head 144, reader head spring 146 and reader head sleeve 148. Reader arm end 142 is pivotably attached to reader arm bracket 124. Reader head sleeve 148 is preferably a cylinder open at end 150 and sized to accept reader head spring 146. Reader head spring 146 engages reader head 144 while reader head sleeve 148 rides over reader head 144. Reader head sleeve 148 may optionally fit within reader head 144. Reader head spring 146 forces reader head sleeve 148 away from reader head 144, which forcibly engages reader head sleeve 148 with track areas 128 of spool 114, even when lanyard cord 100 is under a substantial load.
As an example of operation of the invention, when lanyard cord 100 is paid out from a fully recoiled position, spool 114 rotates in a counterclockwise direction and reader head sleeve 148 of reader arm 126 will move clockwise in outer most track 130 of tracks 128. When lanyard cord 100 is then released, the energy stored in power spring 108 will turn spool 114 in a clockwise direction and reader head sleeve 148 of reader arm 126 will move in a counterclockwise direction. Reader head sleeve 148 of reader arm 126 will then be diverted into dead-end track 132 and the recoiling of lanyard cord 100 will be halted. To retract the lanyard cord from a halted paid-out position, lanyard cord 100 is pulled out slightly and reader head sleeve 148 of reader arm 126 enters gap 134 in tracks 128 and is thereby diverted into inner track 136. Releasing lanyard cord 100 from this position will divert reader head sleeve 148 of reader arm 126 back into track 130 and lanyard cord 100 will then be free to fully retract under the stored force in power spring 108. This allows for improved and useful one-handed operation of the invention.
Preferably reader head sleeve 148 protrudes into tracks 128 of spool 114 by at least between 0.115 and 0.14 of an inch, to prevent reader head sleeve 148 from disengaging from tracks 128 while lanyard cord 100 is under heavy load. Tracks 128 are of sufficient width to allow reader head sleeve 148 to rotate while engaging tracks 128 of spool 114, to reduce wear on reader arm 126 and reader head sleeve 148 during operation.
Each of the front section 265 and rear section 267 of lanyard 205 are assembled onto center plate 245 in the same manner as the single spool embodiment of
The thickness of the single spool retractable lanyard 90 and 160 is preferably less than 0.9 inches. The thickness of the dual spool retractable lanyard 205 is preferably less than 1.6 inches.
While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments. It will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications and equivalent arrangements can be made thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, such scope to be accorded the broadest interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all equivalent structures and products. For example, the dimensions and proportions indicated in the figures may be altered without departing from the scope of the inventions.
While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the invention to the particular example embodiments described. On the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
For purposes of interpreting the claims for the present invention, it is expressly intended that the provisions of Section 112, sixth paragraph of 35 U.S.C. are not to be invoked unless the specific terms “means for” or “step for” are recited in a claim.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/424338 filed Dec. 17, 2010; and such application is hereby fully incorporated by reference herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61424338 | Dec 2010 | US |
