Abstract:
A retractable lanyard assembly connects directly to the docking port of a personal multimedia device, eliminating the potential entanglement of the device via external connecting points, while protecting the docking port from foreign objects, dust, and moisture. The lanyard assembly can be secured to various static objects including a belt; thus, securing the personal multimedia devices to the owner and protecting it from theft, loss, or damage due to dropping.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to lanyards. More particularly, the present invention relates to the retractable connection of a lanyard to a personal multimedia device. 
         [0002]    Today, cell phones do more than just place and receive calls. Advanced capabilities such as Internet access, email, video shooting and storage, photograph shooting and storage, and music playing and storage of today&#39;s multimedia smartphones are quickly making these devices highly coveted by non-owners and highly guarded by owners. 
         [0003]    Small, lightweight, and expensive, it is advantageous to keep personal multimedia devices close to the owner, making it easier for the owner to access the device and protect it from loss, theft, or inadvertent damage due to dropping. A simple solution to prevent damage, loss, or theft of these devices has been the use of a lanyard. 
         [0004]    Especially popular are Apple&#39;s® personal multimedia devices, such as the Iphone™ and the Ipod®. These devices are equipped with a port, by which the device can be connected to any number of external sources; for example, for charging or syncing of the device. A 30-pin dock connector is used to connect the multimedia device to an external resource. Since the port, that receives the 30-pin connector is how the multimedia device is linked to an external source both mechanically and electronically, it is extremely important to keep it clean, dry, and protected from inadvertent damage from foreign objects. 
         [0005]    A known lanyard assembly described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,354,304 involves the use of a two-part inter-locking housing that is permanently affixed to the multimedia device. Disadvantageously, this approach creates a point of interference where the electronic device can be caught or snagged, possibly resulting in damage to the device. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In accordance with the invention, a retractable lanyard system attaches to a personal multimedia device via a dock connector; thus, eliminating all externally mounted connection assemblies on the multimedia device required by the prior art to receive the lanyard connection. Possible entanglement of the device via externally mounted connection assemblies, or connection points to the multimedia device are completely circumvented, and additionally, the port for receiving the 30-pin connector is kept clean, dray and protected from inadvertent damage. 
         [0007]    The subject matter of the present invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of this specification. However, both the organization and method of operation, together with further advantages and objects thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like elements. Other objects, features and aspects of the present invention are discussed in greater detail below. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a top view of the of the lanyard assembly; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the lanyard assembly; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the lanyard assembly; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of the lanyard assembly about to engage a personal multimedia device; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of the lanyard assembly engaged with a personal multimedia device; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of the lanyard assembly engaged with a personal multimedia device wherein the lanyard is partially extended; 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a back perspective view of the lanyard assembly engaged with a personal multimedia device wherein the lanyard is partially extended; 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a back perspective view of a first alternate embodiment of the lanyard assembly engaged with a personal multimedia device wherein the lanyard is partially extended; 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is a back perspective view of a second alternate embodiment of the lanyard assembly engaged with a personal multimedia device wherein the lanyard is partially extended; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  is a front partial cut-away view of the housing of the lanyard assembly. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , the lanyard assembly  10  of the present invention is shown. The assembly includes a cylindrical housing  12 . The housing  12  has a front convex surface  14 , a back planar surface  16 , a peripheral edge  18  a front beveled edge  17  and a back beveled edge  19 . 
         [0019]    The internal chamber of the cylindrical housing  12  is illustrated in  FIG. 10 . As is well know in the art, the internal chamber of the cylindrical housing  12  contains a self-winding reel  5  of which is wound a lanyard  30 . One end of the lanyard  30  is connected to the reel periphery, while the free end terminates through the peripheral edge  18  of the housing in an attachment fixture  32 . The self-winding reel  5  includes a spiral spring  7  which allows the lanyard  30  to be extended away from the housing  12  and rapidly retracted to the housing  12  upon its release. Although not illustrated, a locking mechanism to stop the self-winding reel  5 , as is well know in the art is also housed within cylindrical housing  12 . 
         [0020]    For all embodiments described it this disclosure the exterior of housing  12  is cylindrical in shape as is common for reel or spool housings to reflect the cylindrical shape of the reel or spool they house. However, it is important to note that the exterior shape is not limited to cylindrical embodiments but instead could take any number of shapes depending on the desired aesthetic. 
         [0021]    Looking a  FIG. 3  a clip  20  with an open end  22  and a closed end  24  is affixed to the back surface  16  of housing  12 . The clip  20  lies vertically along back surface  16  such that open end  22  resides above and parallel to lanyard  30  (See  FIGS. 6-9 ). Clip  20  is formed of a single piece of spring steel bent to form a first leg  26  and a second parallel spaced leg  28 . Clip  20  is affixed to back surface  16  via first leg  26 . For all embodiments described herein clip  20  is affixed to back surface  16  of housing  12  mechanically or chemically. Second leg  28  is bent at open end  22  away from the housing  12  as to facilitate the passage of clip  20  over a static item, such as a belt. 
         [0022]    Along peripheral edge  18  ( FIG. 1 ) is an orifice (not visible) through which lanyard  30  exits housing  12  and terminates in first attachment fixture  32  ( FIG. 4 ). First attachment fixture  32  is coupled to a second attachment fixture  34  on dock connector  36  via coupling ring  38 . Second attachment fixture  34  is affixed to dock connector  36  mechanically or chemically. First attachment fixture  32  and second attachment fixture  34  are mechanically interconnected to form a swivel connection means. Although, depicted with the above described configuration (i.e., coupled via coupling ring  38 ), it is well known in the art that a plethora of equivalent swivel connection means may be substituted. Dock connector  36  is a 30-pin connector that is matingly engageable with the dock port  41  of most Apple® personal multimedia devices. 
         [0023]    Looking at  FIGS. 4 and 5  it can be seen that when the lanyard  30  is in its wound position, only the attachment fixture  32  is visible since almost the entire length of lanyard  30  is contained within housing  12 , as it is wound around the self-winding reel.  FIGS. 6-9  show the lanyard  30  in an extended position. Lanyard  30 , is an inelastic steel wire wrapped in vinyl, which supports the weight of the personal multimedia device  65  and is 15-35 inches in length. The self-winding reel  5  located within housing  12  opposes the extension of lanyard  30  with such a force as to retract lanyard  30  to its wound position even when dock connector  36  is secured to a personal multimedia device as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0024]    Dock connector  36  is generally a rectangular prism with a front face  40  and a back face  42 , a first side face  44 , top face  46 , and second side face  48  and bottom face  50  as is shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . First side face  44 , top face  46 , and second side face  48  appear as to form a continuous, rounded peripheral edge to dock connector  36 . Residing on and flush with first side face  44  is a first engagement button  52 . Residing on and flush with second side face  48  is a second engagement button  54 . Protruding from, and generally perpendicular to top face  46  is second attachment fixture  34 . Protruding from and generally perpendicular to bottom face  50 , is a 30-pin assembly  56 , which is well know in the art. 
         [0025]    The 30-pin assembly includes a first retractable retention tab  58 , and a second retractable retention tab  60 . First retractable retention tab  58  is mechanically connected to first engagement button  52 , and second retractable retention tab  60  is mechanically connected to second engagement button  54 , such that when first engagement button  52  is depressed, first retractable retention tab  58  retracts into 30-pin assembly  56 . Likewise, when second engagement button  54  is depressed second retractable retention tab  60  retracts into 30-pin assembly  56 . Tabs  58  and  60  have an outward force constantly applied to them such that their resting position is with them extending perpendicularly from 30-pin assembly  56 . When both tabs  58  and  60 , are retracted, the sliding engagement of the 30-pin assembly  56  with dock port  41  is possible. Although not illustrated, dock port  41  contains a comb which matingly engages 30-pin assembly  56 , making the connection more rigid, as well as making the electrical connection with other external resources possible. Once 30-pin assembly  56  is completely inserted within dock port  41 , both first and second engagement buttons  52  and  54  can be deployed within dock port  41 , mechanically securing the personal multimedia device  65  to the lanyard assembly, as can be seen in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , by releasing the pressure on first and second engagement buttons  52  and  54 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 7  illustrates the preferred embodiment of this invention, where open end  22  of clip  20  resides generally parallel to lanyard  30 , when lanyard  30  is extended (pulled) down from housing  12 . In operation, open end  22  would be placed over a static object, a belt for example (that is, while an individual is wearing the belt), such that convex surface  14  faces away from the individual wearing the belt. The 30-pin assembly  56  of dock connector  36  is now ready to be secured to personal multimedia device  65  by depressing first and second engagement buttons  52  and  54 , completely inserting 30-pin assembly  56  into dock port  41  of multimedia device  65  such that bottom face  50  of dock connector  36  resides flush with multimedia device  65 . Once bottom face  50  of dock connector  36  resides flush with multimedia device  65 , first and second engagement buttons  52  and  54  can be released. Personal multimedia device  65  is now secured to an individual. Once secured, the individual is free to move around and the multimedia device simply hangs from the individual&#39;s belt. 
         [0027]      FIG. 8  illustrates a first alternate embodiment of lanyard assembly  10  in which open end  22  of clip  20  resides generally perpendicular to lanyard  30 , when lanyard  30  is extended (pulled) down from housing  12 . This embodiment would be well suited for securing the lanyard assembly  10  to a belt loop, for example. 
         [0028]      FIG. 9  is a second alternate embodiment of lanyard assembly  10  in which clip  20  is replaced with enclosed stainless steel loop  23 . This embodiment is ideal for secure attachment of lanyard assembly  10  around a belt. The non-buckle end of a belt is simply slid through loop  23 . The belt is then buckled around the wearer&#39;s waist and the lanyard assembly is securely fastened to the wearer via his/her belt.