Abstract:
A holder system for a device has a retracting mechanism allowing efficient storage of a lanyard inside the housing. The holder system has a housing and a slider which have one or more pivotal drums. The lanyard travels around the one or more pivotal drums alternating between the housing and slider, and creating folds. When a wrist strap is present, drawing the wrist strap out from the housing pulls the moving slider downwards, extending the length of the folds and storing more lanyard inside the housing. Conversely, drawing the lanyard out of the housing draws the wrist strap inside.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    This invention relates to holder systems for mobile handheld devices, and particularly, to systems and methods of retracting such holders when not in use. 
       CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0002]    None. 
       GOVERNMENT SUPPORT 
       [0003]    None. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0004]    The present invention relates to holder systems for mobile handheld devices such as smartphones, tablets, cameras, personal music players, flashlights, identification cards, etc., and the like. More particularly, the present invention relates to holder systems having a lanyard, and a manner of retracting such lanyard into the holder when the lanyard is not in use. 
         [0005]    Holder systems with retractable mechanisms are known. Known retractable mechanisms may incorporate a housing that contains some type of rotatable reel on which a retractable line is wound by a spiral spring. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 8,408,513 discloses a holder system for mobile devices having a pair of spaced cord ports in a holder base, with each cord port receiving a line part of a retractable cord that is engaged to a retractor mechanism. The retractor mechanism is composed of a housing that constrains some type of rotatable reel on which the retractable line is wound, one end of the retractable line being attached thereto. Typically the reel is connected to some type of spiral spring. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 8,224,404 discloses an accessory strap securing mechanism positioned on a portable electronic device. A holding portion includes a hook and a projection. A securing member is rotatable to allow the accessory strap to be coiled around the holding portion and an end of the accessory strap attached to the projection. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,354,304 discloses a retractable cord assembly adapted to secure to a portable electronic device to a clippable housing. A cord has two ends, the first of which is connected to and wound about a spring-loaded spool assembly rotatably mounted in the housing. In a wound position, nearly the entire length of cord is wound about the spool assembly, retracting the second end of the cord to a position proximate but outside of the housing. 
         [0009]    Rotatable reels on which a retractable line is wound by a spiral spring require many moving parts. The quality of moving parts deteriorate with wear and friction and causes durability and longevity concerns with known systems. Systems incorporating retractable lines wound by spiral spring are therefore inconveniently bulky, unnecessarily complicated, and unreliable. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0010]    An apparatus for holding a device has a housing with a device receiving location. A movable member has a pivot member and is moveable proximate an inside surface of the housing. A lanyard passes through an opening in the housing such that an outside portion of the lanyard is outside the housing and an inside portion of the lanyard is inside the housing. The inside portion of the lanyard is threaded around the pivot member such that movement of the moveable member in a retracting direction increases the inside portion of the lanyard while decreasing the outside portion of the lanyard. Movement of the moveable member in an extending direction decreases the inside portion of the lanyard while increasing the outside portion of the lanyard. 
         [0011]    Another apparatus for holding a device is provided having a housing with a device receiving location. The housing has a plurality of pivot drums on it. A moveable member has a plurality of pivot members on it. The moveable member is moveable proximate an inside surface of the housing. 
         [0012]    A lanyard passes through first and second openings in the housing such that an outside portion of the lanyard forms a loop. An inside portion of the lanyard is threaded around the pivot members and pivot drums. 
         [0013]    A wrist strap is coupled to the slider. The wrist strap passes through an aperture in the housing. Pulling downward on the wrist strap retracts the lanyard and extends the wrist strap out of the housing. Conversely, pulling on the lanyard retracts the wrist strap and extends the lanyard. 
         [0014]    A method of retracting and extending a lanyard within a holder for a device is provided. Pulling upward on the lanyard extends the lanyard outside the holder. Moving a means for moving a moveable member downward retracts the lanyard into the holder. 
         [0015]    In a method of retracting and extending a lanyard within a holder for a device, pulling upward on the lanyard extends the lanyard and retracts a wrist strap. Pulling on a wrist strap extends the wrist strap and retracts the lanyard. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    In Figures which illustrate non-limiting embodiments of the invention: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a front view of an embodiment of the invention shown around a user&#39;s neck; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a rear perspective view of an embodiment of the invention shown around a user&#39;s wrist; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a rear perspective view of a slider in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a side elevation cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 9  is a front elevation view of the embodiment of  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 10  is a front perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 8  with the lanyard in an extended position; 
           [0027]      FIG. 11  is a front elevation view of the embodiment of  FIG. 8  with the lanyard in an extended position; 
           [0028]      FIG. 12  is a front elevation view of an embodiment of the invention having a single pivotal drum; 
           [0029]      FIG. 13  is a front elevation view of an embodiment of the invention having two pivotal drums; 
           [0030]      FIG. 14  is a front elevation view of an embodiment of the invention having five pivotal drums; 
           [0031]      FIG. 15  is a front elevation view of an embodiment of the invention having seven pivotal drums; 
           [0032]      FIG. 16  is a front elevation view of an embodiment of the invention having eight pivotal drums; 
           [0033]      FIG. 17  is a front elevation view of an embodiment of the invention having nine pivotal drums; 
           [0034]      FIG. 18  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0035]      FIG. 19  is a top elevation view of an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0036]      FIG. 20  is a top elevation view of an embodiment of the invention; and 
           [0037]      FIG. 21  is a rear perspective view of an embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
       [0038]    Throughout the following description, specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the invention. However, the invention may be practiced without these particulars. In other instances, well known elements have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the invention. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative, rather than a restrictive, sense. 
         [0039]    With reference to the figures, a holder system  2  is designed to be used in a combination  4  with a mobile handheld device  6  that is held within the holder system  2 . The holder system  2  comprises a housing  10 , a lanyard  14  and a rear face  40 . The lanyard  14  may have a neck strap comfort section  38  for added cushioning when used on a user&#39;s neck. A wrist strap  16  may be provided such that when a user pulls the wrist strap downward, thereby extending the wrist strap  16  out of the housing  10 , the lanyard  14  will be retracted inside the housing  10 . Conversely, pulling on the lanyard  14  will result in extending the lanyard  14  outside the housing  10  while at the same time retracting the wrist strap  16  into the housing  10 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 3  illustrates a user wearing the holder system  2  in combination  4  with a mobile device  6  with the lanyard  14  extended and placed around the user&#39;s neck.  FIG. 4  illustrates holder combination  4  having the lanyard  14  retracted and the wrist strap  16  extended and wrapped around the user&#39;s wrist. 
         [0041]      FIG. 5  shows an exploded view of holder system  2  with the lanyard  14  omitted. In this embodiment, housing  10  has two pivotal drums  18  affixed thereto or formed into a continuous piece of material with housing  10 . Slider  26  is a movable member which can move in the direction towards and away from the pivotal drums  18  on the housing  10 . In this embodiment, the front side of slider  26  has four pivotal drums  18  affixed, formed or moulded thereto. On the rear side of slider  26 , threads  28  are designed to cooperate with slider tracks  20  on housing  10  to assist in keeping slider  26  oriented correctly within housing  10  to move in the two intended directions. 
         [0042]    Slider  26  has a T-shaped socket  30  for receiving a pin  32  attached to an end of the wrist strap  16 . 
         [0043]    Housing cover  34  may cover the inner workings of the holder system  2 , namely the slider  26 , the lanyard  14 , and the wrist strap  16 , if present. For mobile devices  6  with a flat rear side, holder system  2  may be able to operate without housing cover  34 , to reduce size and weight of the holder system  2 . Whether or not the housing cover  34  is present, the pivotal drums  18  should protrude high enough such that the back of the mobile device  6  and/or the housing cover  34  does not pinch or squish the lanyard  14 . For tight fitting mobile devices  6  within the holder system  2 , the ease of movement of slider  26  may be improved when housing cover  34  is present. 
         [0044]    As labeled in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , housing  10  can be formed with ridges  36  upon which the device  6  can sit. The presence of ridges  36  means that the device  6  and/or the housing cover  34  can firmly fit into the housing  10  and yet does not need to sit firmly against pivotal drums  18  on slider  26 . The height of pivotal drums  18  on housing  10  may be slightly longer than the height of pivotal drums  18  on slider  26  to ensure that the slider  26  is not constricted in its movement by any pressure from device  6  or housing cover  34 . 
         [0045]    Lanyard  14  may enter the inside of the holder system  2  via apertures  22  in housing  10  that may be circular, rectangular or other suitable shape. Alternately as shown in embodiment  64  the housing  10  may be fitted with slots  23  or any other suitable shaped opening to its design to permit access into holder system  2  for lanyard  14 . 
         [0046]    As shown in  FIGS. 12-18 , the invention may be practiced many different ways. 
         [0047]    In  FIG. 12 , embodiment  50  features a single pivotal drum  18  on slider  26 . No corresponding pivotal drum  18  appears on housing  10 . Embodiment  50  shows lanyard  14  exiting housing  10  at a single location as would be suitable for use with various ways of holding, pinning or otherwise making use of a single string or tether attachment. One end of lanyard  14  is fixed to a position inside housing  10 . The other end of lanyard  14  can be fixed (not shown) to a position on the outside of housing  10 , or to itself, for use as a strap. 
         [0048]    In  FIG. 13 , embodiment  52  features two pivotal drums  18  on slider  26  and has two apertures  22  or slots  23  for the lanyard  14  to exit the housing  10 . Embodiments with larger numbers of pivotal drums  18  have an increased capacity to shorten the lanyard  14  for the same amount of movement of slider  26 . 
         [0049]    Embodiments  54 ,  56  and  58  feature five, seven and eight pivotal drums  18  respectively. For odd numbers of pivotal drums  18  as arranged in embodiments  54  and  56 , there is no need to fasten the lanyard  14  to the inside of housing  10 . In embodiment  58 , the lanyard is attached to slider  26 . 
         [0050]    In  FIG. 17 , embodiment  60  features pivotal drums  18  on housing  10  on each side of slider  26 . Slider  26  moves in a side-to-side direction  34  to extend and retract the lanyard  14 . In contrast, embodiment  58  in  FIG. 16  features slider  26  configured to move in an up-and-down direction  32 . 
         [0051]    Configurations like embodiment  60  which have pivotal drums  18  on either side of slider  26  may be advantageous for embodiments that do not have a ridge  36  upon which the device  6  or housing cover  34  would otherwise rest. In embodiment  60  the slightly longer pivotal drums  18  on the housing  10  can take the pressure from the device  6  or housing cover  34  and may therefore reduce the likelihood of any frictional constriction on pivotal drums  18  on slider  26  that would otherwise affect its freedom to move if a ridge  36  was not present. 
         [0052]    In  FIG. 18  embodiment  62  is configured for use on a cylindrical mobile device  6 , such as a flashlight or other cylinder. Although not shown, housing cover  34  would ensure that the inside movement of the lanyard  14  and the slider  26  is not inadvertently impeded by contact with a user when it is used with a device attached to the inside of the housing  10 . Embodiment  62  could also be used inside a device  6  that has a shape of hollow cylinder, in which case housing cover  34  would be of lesser importance. 
         [0053]    The operation of embodiment  62  involves movement of slider  26  up to lengthen the amount of lanyard  14  outside of the housing  10  and movement of slider  26  downward to shorten the amount of lanyard  14  outside of housing  10 . 
         [0054]    In  FIG. 21 , embodiment  66  features a holder system  68  having a slot or channel  70  in the rear of housing  10  through which a tab  72  can be accessed and moved up and down by a user. Tab  72  is attached to slider  26 , permitting a means to move slider  26  downward to retract the lanyard  14  into housing  10  without requiring pulling on a wrist strap  16 . In embodiment  66  a separate wrist strap  16  is not necessary. In alternative embodiments, the tab  72  can be attached to the slider  26  in a manner that permits lateral movement of the tab  72  within the slider  26 . Channel  70  can be equipped with side branches that facilitate locking the slider  26  at one or more positions by sliding the tab  72  sideways from the main slot of channel  70 . The locking positions could correspond to providing loops of certain lengths such as one or more locking positions for use of the lanyard  14  around a user&#39;s wrist or around other object, as well as positions for use of the lanyard around a user&#39;s neck, and a fully retracted position. 
         [0055]    The invention has been described as having means attached to the slider  26  for pulling the slider  26  down, whether that be a wrist strap  16  or a tab  72 . However it is to be understood that in a base embodiment it may be possible to practice the invention without a wrist strap  16  or tab  72 , for example by separating the housing  10  from the device  6  and moving the slider  26  with the user&#39;s hand. While this would not be as fast and easy a manner to alter the length of the lanyard  14  as using a wrist strap  16  or tab  72  would be, it may be sufficient in certain circumstances where the length of lanyard  14  to be adjusted is only occasionally desired to be altered. 
         [0056]    When considering the location of the housing cover  34 , it is to be understood that the housing cover  34  could be placed on the back in which case the solid portion of housing  10  would be placed against the back of the device  6  when the device is held in position. In such embodiments, housing  10  would form a barrier between the slider  26  and the device  6 . In embodiments with the housing cover  34  is on the back, manually adjusting the position of the slider  26  in embodiments without a wrist strap  16  or tab  72  would be easier than if the housing cover  34  were positioned between the slider  26  and the device  6 . 
         [0057]    The pivotal drums  18  may be of various diameters chosen to work well with the chosen lanyard  14 . For example, where the lanyard  14  has a small diameter, the pivotal drums  18  could also have a small diameter, potentially as small as a pin. The diameter of the pivotal drum  18  can be chosen upon testing with a particular type of lanyard  14  to ensure ease of movement of the slider  26  within the housing  10  to retract and extend the lanyard  14  outside the housing  10 . The pivotal drums  18  may be provided with diameters of 1 mm to 30 mm, or more preferably from a diameter between 3 mm and 10 mm. 
         [0058]    The interaction between the slider tracks  20  and the threads  28  work to guide the slider  26  along the two intended directions on the inside of the housing  10 . Many variations on this theme would be understood to provide the same function, whether there is only one or multiple sets of slider tracks  20  and corresponding threads  28 , including whether the slider tracks  20  are on the housing  10  or on the slider  26 , with the corresponding threads  28  on the other item. Further, slider tracks  20  and threads  28  may be unnecessary where the shape of the slider  26  and the fit within the housing  10  is such that movement in an unintended direction, or twisting of slider  26 , would be unlikely to occur. 
         [0059]    As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing disclosure the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described herein. Rather the scope of the present invention includes both combinations and sub-combinations of the features described hereinabove as well as modifications and variations thereof which would occur to a person of skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description and which are not in the prior art. Furthermore, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of this invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be construed in accordance with the substance defined by the following claims.