Patent Application
20250031786
Tens of millions of Americans will experience short-term injury or permanent disability of the hand or wrist. Mobility problems like these can make grasping small objects difficult, and working with a smartphone or tablet can become almost impossible. It is common for an active person to drop whatever is in their hands when trying to do multiple tasks. This can create a wide range of problems depending on the situation. Accordingly, there is a demand for a tool that would prevent damage to a device if a user were to lose their grip on the device.
A device including a lineal fabric such as VELCRO with a first fabric surface and a second fabric surface, said first fabric surface including a plurality of hooks disposed on the surface, and said second fabric surface including a plurality of loops, said hooks and loops operable to interface with each other. A swivel is coupled to either side of the fabric surface and a tether is coupled to the swivel, the tether includes a loop fastener substantially disposed at a second end of the tether so it may be coupled to a binding post. The binding post may include either a magnetic portion or an adhesive portion for fastening it to a tool or other device.
In some embodiments the tether may be operated with a retractable spool. Moreover, some embodiments may be structure around a human wearable device such as a glove.
This application should be read in the most general possible form. This includes, without limitation, the following:
References to specific techniques include alternative and more general techniques, especially when discussing aspects of the invention, or how the invention might be made or used.
References to “preferred” techniques generally mean that the inventor contemplates using those techniques, and thinks they are best for the intended application. This does not exclude other techniques for the invention, and does not mean that those techniques are necessarily essential or would be preferred in all circumstances.
References to contemplated causes and effects for some implementations do not preclude other causes or effects that might occur in other implementations.
References to reasons for using particular techniques do not preclude other reasons or techniques, even if completely contrary, where circumstances would indicate that the stated reasons or techniques are not as applicable.
Furthermore, the invention is in no way limited to the specifics of any particular embodiments and examples disclosed herein. Many other variations are possible which remain within the content, scope and spirit of the invention, and these variations would become clear to those skilled in the art after perusal of this application.
The terms “effect”, “with the effect of” (and similar terms and phrases) generally indicate any consequence, whether assured, probable, or merely possible, of a stated arrangement, cause, method, or technique, without any implication that an effect or a connection between cause and effect are intentional or purposive.
The term “relatively” (and similar terms and phrases) generally indicates any relationship in which a comparison is possible, including without limitation “relatively less”, “relatively more”, and the like. In the context of the invention, where a measure or value is indicated to have a relationship “relatively”, that relationship need not be precise, need not be well-defined, need not be by comparison with any particular or specific other measure or value. For example and without limitation, in cases in which a measure or value is “relatively increased” or “relatively more”, that comparison need not be with respect to any known measure or value, but might be with respect to a measure or value held by that measurement or value at another place or time.
The term “substantially” (and similar terms and phrases) generally indicates any case or circumstance in which a determination, measure, value, or otherwise, is equal, equivalent, nearly equal, nearly equivalent, or approximately, what the measure or value is recited. The terms “substantially all” and “substantially none” (and similar terms and phrases) generally indicate any case or circumstance in which all but a relatively minor amount or number (for “substantially all”) or none but a relatively minor amount or number (for “substantially none”) have the stated property. The terms “substantial effect” (and similar terms and phrases) generally indicate any case or circumstance in which an effect might be detected or determined.
The terms “this application”, “this description” (and similar terms and phrases) generally indicate any material shown or suggested by any portions of this application, individually or collectively, and include all reasonable conclusions that might be drawn by those skilled in the art when this application is reviewed, even if those conclusions would not have been apparent at the time this application is originally filed.
Specific examples of components and arrangements are described below to simplify the present disclosure. These are, of course, merely examples and are not intended to be limiting. In addition, the present disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the various examples. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various embodiments and/or configurations discussed.
Embedded into the tether device 100 is a swivel eyelet 116. As shown in
Attached to the tether 118 is a loop 120. The loop 120 may be fashioned from the same material as the tether 118, or may include a stiffer substance such as a wire or tightly wound material. The loop 120 is designed to operate with a binder post 122. The binder post 122 is attached to the surface of any device a user wishes to secure. Attaching the binder post 122 may be effectuated with an adhesive patch or strip that allows adhesion to many surfaces. A user may slip the loop 120 over the bonder post 122 similar to the way a button is fastened, thus securing the tether 118 to the binder post 122.
In some embodiments the tether 118 may be formed from an elastic material similar to those used on bungee cords. For example, and without limitation, an elastic cord composed of one or more elastic strands forming a core, may be covered in a woven cotton or polypropylene sheath. The sheath may not materially extend elastically, but it may be braided with its strands spiraling around the core so that a longitudinal pull causes it to squeeze the core, transmitting the core's elastic compression to the longitudinal extension of the sheath and cord.
In operation a user may secure the tether device 100 to a hand by wrapping the tether device 100 around the hand and securing it in place using the VELCRO fastener parts. Then the user may then secure the binding post 122 to an object such as a mobile phone using an adherence mechanism such as an adhesive patch 124. Once the binding post 122 is secured to an object, a user may place the loop 120 around the binding post 122 to secure it. In the event the user drops the object, the tether 118 would prevent it from falling very far.
The applicant contemplates use of this unique tethering scheme wherever workers are in difficult positions such as on a ladder or cherry-picker, and need to use a cell phone without fear that dropping the phone would cause further harm or damage to the phone or surroundings. Moreover, since it uses VELCRO (or similar) type of fasteners, the tethering device 100 may be secured to any part of the body operable to attach VELCRO, such as an arm or leg.
In an alternative embodiment, the swivel 116 may be attached to a portion of a glove or other huma wearable article. This alleviates the need for VELCRO fastening material while still providing the ability to tether an object to a user's hand. Moreover, in some embodiments, the swivel may include a retractable spool. A small, retractable key holder mechanism is conventionally available and may be employed in certain embodiments.
In alternative embodiments, a magnet may be affixed to a glove or strap and the retractable spool placed near that magnet. Moreover, the retractable spool may be positioned magnetically. Thus, a system that lets a user place magnetically coupled devices where they are most convenient is disclosed. In other embodiments, the loop may be replaced by a hook and loop fastener thus allowing a hook and loop fastening to the tether.
The above illustration provides many different embodiments or embodiments for implementing different features of the invention. Specific embodiments of components and processes are described to help clarify the invention. These are, of course, merely embodiments and are not intended to limit the invention from that described in the claims.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in one or more specific examples, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the invention, as set forth in the following claims.
This application claims the benefit of co-pending provisional patent application 63/529,697 filed Jul. 29, 2023, by the same inventor and which is included by reference as if fully set forth herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63529697 | Jul 2023 | US |
