Abstract:
The present disclosure is directed to a novel heavy duty, weather and shock resistant retractable lanyard. In one aspect of the disclosure, the retractable lanyard comprises dual independently retractable lanyard cords that share a common axis. In another aspect of the disclosure, the retractable lanyard employs a multi-piece reader arm pivotally connected to a reader arm bracket to assist the lanyard in operating under heavier loads. In another aspect of the disclosure, the lanyard may employ deeper tracks on the spool&#39;s track system to allow the reader arm to stay in contact with the tracks when the lanyard cord is under heavier loads. In another aspect of the disclosure, the lanyard comprises a robust power spring that allows it to retract under heavier loads.

Description:
CLAIM OF BENEFIT TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/424,338 filed Dec. 17, 2010; and such application is hereby fully incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     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. 
     BACKGROUND 
     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. 
     SUMMARY 
     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. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front elevation view of a single cord embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom elevation view of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a side elevation view of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective analytical view of the invention of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of spool  114  from  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of reader arm  126  from  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment reader arm  152 . 
         FIG. 10  is a front elevation view of reader arm bracket  124  of from  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 11  is a front elevation view of alternate embodiment single cord retractable lanyard invention  160 . 
         FIG. 12  is detailed elevation view of lanyard clip  170  from  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 13  is a bottom elevation view of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 15  is a front elevation view of a dual cord retractable lanyard embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view of  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 17  is a bottom elevation view of  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 18  is a plan view of  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 19  is a side elevation view of  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 20  is a perspective analytical view of the dual cord retractable lanyard invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     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. 
       FIG. 1  depicts a single spool embodiment of the retractable lanyard invention  90 . Attachment member  92  is preferably circular in shape, which is useful to attach to a person by way of a hook or carabineer, and similarly useful in attaching to an object by similar means. Attachment member  92  can be fixably attached to lanyard housing  94 , or releasably coupled to the lanyard housing  94 , to detach at a pre-determined stress threshold, for safety considerations. For example, shear bolts may be used to secure attachment member  92  within housing  94  that allows the attachment member to detach from the housing when forces on the attachment member exceed 20 lbs. Attachment member  92  can also be pivotably coupled to lanyard housing  94  to allow more freedom of movement when the retractable lanyard is in use. Ledge  96  may also be incorporated into attachment member  92  to serve a bottle opening function. Other shapes of attachment member  92  may also be used. Opening  98  in housing  94  allows for the ingress and egress of lanyard cord  100 . Lanyard clip  102  is integrated into lanyard cord  100  to allow for the attachment of objects to lanyard cord  100  of the subject invention. 
       FIGS. 2-6  depict various views of retractable lanyard  90 . 
     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&#39;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. 
       FIGS. 7 and 8  depict spool  114  and reader arm  126  respectively. Spool  114  comprises recessed area  116  on a first side (not shown), and track area  128  on a second side. Track area  128  contains a system of tracks in which reader arm  126  rides during the operation of the invention. Slot  138  provides an area on the perimeter to attached the lanyard cord to spool  114 . The lanyard cord may alternately be attached on perimeter  118  of spool  114 . 
     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. 
       FIG. 9  depicts an alternate embodiment reader arm  152  wherein reader arm end  154  comprises an extended one piece unit that does not contain the sleeve  148  and spring  146  of  FIG. 8 . The invention operates as described above with reader head  154  riding in tracks  128  in place of reader head sleeve  148 . 
       FIG. 10  depicts a preferred embodiment of reader arm bracket  124 . Reader arm bracket  124  comprising fixed end  156  that is fixably attached to housing  94 , and pivot end  158  that pivotably accepts reader arm end  142 . 
       FIG. 11  depicts an alternate embodiment  160  of the invention. Retractable lanyard  160  includes attachment member  162  that is pivotably attached to housing  164 . Lanyard cord opening  168  allows for the ingress and egress of lanyard cord  166 . Cord clip  170  has a rounded portion  172  that is configured to mate with lanyard cord opening  168  to provide additional protection to the internal components of retractable lanyard  160  from the environment, when lanyard cord is fully retracted. 
       FIG. 12  depicts a more detailed view of cord attachment clip  170 . 
       FIG. 13  depicts a bottom view of retractable lanyard  160 . Housing  164  is comprised of front case  174  and rear case  176 . 
       FIG. 14  depicts lanyard  160  with clip  170  retracted. 
       FIG. 15  depicts a tandem spool embodiment  205  of the retractable lanyard invention. Tandem retractable lanyard housing  215  comprises front case  212  and rear case  214  (not shown). Attachment screws  207  may be used to hold housing  215  securely. Attachment member  216  maybe secured between front case  212  and rear case  214  or otherwise attached to housing  215 . Ledge  218  provides for an optional bottle opener function. As with the single cord embodiments, attachment member  216  may be fixably attached to lanyard housing  215 , or releasably coupled to the lanyard housing  215 , to detach at a pre-determined stress threshold, for safety considerations. Attachment member  216  may also be pivotably coupled to lanyard housing  215  to allow more freedom of movement when the retractable lanyard is in use. Front lanyard cord opening  220  provides ingress and egress for front lanyard cord  225 . Second lanyard cord  226  extends from rear lanyard cord opening  223  (not visible). 
       FIG. 16  depicts a perspective view of retractable lanyard  205 . Lanyard housing  215  comprises front case  212  and rear case  214 . Opening  220 , allowing for the ingress and egress of lanyard cord  225 , is formed in front case  212 . 
       FIG. 17  depicts an elevation bottom view of retractable lanyard  205 . Rear lanyard opening  223  is formed in rear case  214 . 
       FIG. 18  depicts a plan view of retractable lanyard  205 . 
       FIG. 19  depicts an elevation side view of retractable lanyard  205 . 
       FIG. 20  is an analytical perspective view of retractable lanyard  205 . The internal components of retractable lanyard  205  comprise front reader arm  230 , front reader arm bracket  233 , front spool  235 , front power spring  237 , front O-ring  240 , center plate  245 , rear O-ring  250 , rear power spring  253 , rear spool  255 , rear reader arm bracket  257  and rear reader arm  260 . Attachment member  216  is preferably releasably, pivotally or fixably attached to a top portion of center plate  245 . Preferably front spool  235  and rear spool  255  share a common axis. 
     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  FIG. 6  was assembled between the front and rear cases. Each of the front section  265  and rear section  267  of retractable lanyard  205  operates as an independent lanyard in the same manner as lanyard  90 . All the advantages described for lanyards  90  and  160  may also be incorporated into dual lanyard  205 . 
     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.