Patent ID: 6419175
Filing Date: 2002-07-16
Classification: A45F,B65H

Abstract:
A retractor device, comprising:a housing having a rotatable reel mounted therein, said reel having a cable hub and a spring hub with a channel extending therethrough and through the housing; a cable wound on said cable hub of said reel and having a terminal end extending exteriorly of said housing, said cable being extendable from said housing and being retractable onto said reel, said terminal end having an end fitting for use in connecting an object to be tethered from said housing to said cable; a spring located in said housing for retracting said cable onto said reel, said spring being a constant force spring having a first wound portion positioned in said housing remote from said channel and a second wound portion wound on said spring hub of said reel in an opposite direction relative to said first wound portion such that, as said spring unwinds from said first wound portion, it winds onto said spring hub, and as said spring unwinds from said spring hub, it winds into said first wound portion; and a swivel attachment component extending from said housing and having an attachment surface located exteriorly of said housing, said housing being rotatable relative to said attachment component about an axis of rotation which extends through said channel and which also defines an axis of rotation of said reel, said swivel attachment component including a stem component which extends through said channel such that said housing is rotatable about said stem component; whereby, when said attachment surface is secured to a mounting surface, said retractor device is pivotable relative to the mounting surface and said swivel attachment component.