Patent Publication Number: US-11641931-B1

Title: Extendable and retractable coupling system

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/152,370, filed on Jan. 19, 2021 and currently pending, which claims the benefit of priority to U.S. provisional patent application No. 62/962,410, filed on Jan. 17, 2020; the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to an extendable and retractable coupling system to attach a valuable item to avoid dropping, loss or theft of said item. A mobile device, and other valuable items, such as keys or wallet, may be tethered to a garment or a user&#39;s personal property via attachment to a belt loop, interior pockets, or baggage. 
     Background 
     Today, people are burdened by the requirement to carry with them many various items such as cell phones, wallets, keys, personal protection devices, access cards and the like. Carrying a plurality of products in pockets can be uncomfortable and they can sometimes slip out unnoticed, such as when seated. Carrying a large number of items in a purse can make it difficult to find a desired item and the jostling of the items in the purse can lead to damage, such as scratches on a lens for example. In addition, sports enthusiasts such as bikers, runners, hikers, mountain climbers and the like, often want to carry mobile devices, such as mobile phones, with them to take pictures and to contact people in case of emergency. Carrying these devices while engaged in recreation activities can result in damage or loss of the device if it is not properly retained. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is directed to an extendable and retractable coupling system configured with a retractable coupler that is tethered to a coupler body to retain a valuable item to a person or other item. An exemplary extendable and retractable coupling system, herein referred to as an extendable coupling system prevents the loss, drop, damage or theft of a valuable item such as a mobile electronic device including a mobile phone. An exemplary extendable coupling system enables a person to anchor a valuable item to them, such as to their clothing, belt, bag, and the like and utilize the valuable item by extending from a coupled location by a tether. 
     An exemplary extendable and retractable coupling system comprises a dual coupler having a fixed coupler that is stationary, or configured on the coupler body, and a retractable coupler that is coupled to the coupler body by a tether. The retractable coupler may be coupled to a valuable item, such as a mobile phone and the fixed coupler may be coupled to a person&#39;s clothing, such as to a belt loop, for example. The user may then extend the tether to use their mobile phone and place the phone back into a pocket when not in use. The tether may prevent the valuable item, such as the mobile phone, from dropping to the ground and being damaged as the tether length will limit how far the phone can extend from the coupler body. 
     An exemplary dual coupler has a coupler body that is configured for ease of use and may have a shape that prevents the coupler body from snagging on clothing. An exemplary coupler body may have a smooth continuous outer perimeter, wherein the outer perimeter is a continuous curved surface; having no sharp corners and substantially no gaps, or no gap of more than 8 mm in width, preferably no more than 5 mm and even more preferably no more than 2 mm in width. An exemplary coupler body with substantially no gaps will have a small gap in the continuous curved surface between the retractable coupler where it forms part of the coupler continuous outer perimeter when in a retracted position. Also, the coupler may be compact having a relatively short length and narrow width, such as no more than about 125 mm, no more than 100 mm, no more than 75 mm or no more than 50 mm and any range between and including the length and/or width values provided. The thickness of the coupler body may be no more than about 75 mm, no more than about 50 mm, no more than about 25 mm and any range between and including the thickness values provided. 
     An exemplary dual coupler has a fixed coupler on one end and a retractable coupler on an opposing second end. The fixed coupler may comprise a body coupler latch that pivots inward into a body coupler aperture, thereby preventing the latch from snagging on clothing during use. A retractable coupler may have a retractable coupler body that is configured to be retained in a receptor recess of the coupler body. A portion of the outer perimeter of the retractable coupler may form a portion of the outer perimeter of the dual coupler body when in a retracted orientation. Again, the outer perimeter of the coupler body, including the portion formed by the retractable coupler may be smooth and continuous to prevent snagging on clothing. The gap between the retractable coupler and the outer perimeter of the coupler body may be less than about 4 mm, or no more than about 3 mm, or no more than about 2 mm to produce a smooth and continuous outer perimeter. An exemplary retractable coupler may comprise a centering feature that will configure or align the retractable coupler with the receptor recess upon retraction. A tapered portion of the tethered end of the retractable coupler may act as a centering feature. An exemplary retractable coupler comprises a latch which may be configured to pivot inward into a retractable coupler aperture. This inward pivoting latch may prevent the latch from snagging on clothing. 
     An exemplary retractable coupler is coupled to the coupler body by a tether that extends from a spring-loaded tether device. An exemplary spring-loaded tether device may comprise a torsional spring that pulls the tether around a spool to retract the tether. The spring-loaded tether device and in particular the spool for the tether may be located within the outer perimeter of the coupler body. The spring loaded tether device may have a stop and release button to allow the tether to remain in a hold state. The force produced by the spring on the tether may be about 0.25 Newton (N) or more, about 0.5N or more, about 0.75N or more, about 1N or more, about 1.52N or more and any range between and including the force values provided. 
     An exemplary extendable and retractable coupling system may further include a mobile device attachment configured to couple with a mobile device and have an attachment for coupling with the retractable coupler. In an exemplary embodiment, a mobile device attachment has corner extensions and corner apertures to enable the corner extensions to extend over the corners of mobile device and in particular a mobile phone. An exemplary mobile device attachment may have an attachment tab that extends to an attachment loop for coupling with the retractable latch. An exemplary mobile device attachment may also be configured to fit between a mobile device, such as a phone, and a cover and have a tab that extends out from the cover, such as through an aperture in the cover; a charging portal, for example. Again, the tab may extend to an attachment loop. 
     The summary of the invention is provided as a general introduction to some of the embodiments of the invention, and is not intended to be limiting. Additional example embodiments including variations and alternative configurations of the invention are provided herein. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
         FIG.  1    shows a top view of an exemplary dual coupler of an extendable coupling system having a body coupler and retractable coupler, wherein the retractable coupler is extendable from the coupler body. 
         FIG.  2    shows a cut-away view of an exemplary dual coupler having receptor recess to dock the retractable coupler, wherein the retractable coupler is attached to a tether that is retained in the spring-loaded tether device. 
         FIG.  3    shows a side view of an exemplary dual coupler of an extendable coupling system, wherein the outer perimeter of the dual coupler body is a continuous outer perimeter as defined herein. 
         FIG.  4    show a top view of an exemplary dual coupler of an extendable coupling system, having the retractable coupler extended from the dual coupler body and both the body coupler latch and retractable coupler latch in an open configuration. 
         FIG.  5    and  FIG.  6    shows a top view of an exemplary mobile device attachment having corner extension for extending over the corners of a mobile device, and an attachment tab having an attachment loop on the extended end of the attachment belt. 
         FIG.  7    shows a perspective view of an exemplary mobile device attachment of an extendable coupling system, coupled to a mobile device with the corner extension extending over the corners of the mobile device with the attachment tab extending to an attachment loop. 
         FIG.  8    shows a perspective view of an exemplary mobile device attachment an extendable coupling system, coupled to a mobile device by being retained in the mobile device cover with the attachment tab extended out through an opening in the cover. 
         FIG.  9    shows an extendable coupling system comprising a mobile device attachment attached to a mobile phone and the retractable coupler attached to the loop of the attachment tab, and the retractable coupler coupled to the coupler body by the tether and finally, the coupler body attached to a body coupler loop, such as a belt loop. 
     
    
    
     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the figures. The figures represent an illustration of some of the embodiments of the present invention and are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. Further, the figures are not necessarily to scale, some features may be exaggerated to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS 
     As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” “including,” “has,” “having” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Also, use of “a” or “an” are employed to describe elements and components described herein. This is done merely for convenience and to give a general sense of the scope of the invention. This description should be read to include one or at least one and the singular also includes the plural unless it is obvious that it is meant otherwise. 
     Certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described herein and are illustrated in the accompanying figures. The embodiments described are only for purposes of illustrating the present invention and should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the invention. Other embodiments of the invention, and certain modifications, combinations and improvements of the described embodiments, will occur to those skilled in the art and all such alternate embodiments, combinations, modifications, improvements are within the scope of the present invention. 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  1  and  2   , an exemplary dual coupler  12  of an extendable coupling system  10  has a stationary body coupler  50  and a retractable coupler  60  having a retractable coupler body  61 , wherein the retractable coupler is extendable from the coupler body  20  by a tether  42 . The coupler body has a length from the first end  22  to the second end  24 . The body coupler is configured on the first end  22  of the coupler body and comprises a body coupler latch  56  that has an extended end  58  that rotates into a body coupler aperture  55  of the coupler body  20 . The body coupler latch rotates about a pivot on a pivot end  57 . The retractable coupler  60  is configured on the second end  24  of the coupler body and comprises a retractable coupler latch  66  that has an extended end  68  that rotates into a retractable coupler aperture  65 . The retractable coupler latch rotates about a pivot end  67 . The retractable coupler extends away from the coupler body  20  and has an extended end  63  and a tethered end  62 . The retractable coupler is drawn back into a receptor recess  36  in the coupler body  20  and when in a stowed configuration, as shown in  FIGS.  1  and  2   , the outer perimeter  21  of the coupler body is smooth and continuous, as defined herein. This smooth and continuous outer perimeter prevents the dual coupler from getting snagged on clothing during use. 
     The retractable coupler is extended from and retracted back by a spring loaded tether device  40  having a spring  44 , that retracts the tether  42  around a spool  46 . The spring may be a torsional spring. The tether has a retained end  48 , which may be retained to the spool and a coupler end  47  which is coupled to the tether end  62  of the retractable coupler  60 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  3   , the coupler body  20  of the dual coupler  12  has a planar top surface  25  and bottom surface  27 . The edges of the coupler body may be smooth having no sharp angles and may have curved surfaces. The thickness of the coupler body  26  may be kept relatively low for ease of use when retained in the pocket of a garment, for example. The coupler body is substantially planar wherein the top and bottom surfaces are substantially parallel and offset by a coupler body thickness. 
     As shown in  FIG.  4   , exemplary dual coupler  12  of an extendable coupling system  10  has the retractable coupler  60  extended from the dual coupler body  20  and both the body coupler latch  56  and retractable coupler latch  66  are in an open configuration. The tether  42  has a tether length  43  as described herein. The receptor recess  36  is tapered from a larger opening at the outer perimeter  21  toward the spring loaded tether device  40 . Likewise, the retractable coupler  60  is tapered toward the tether end  62  and has a centering feature  69  that has a geometric shape to fit within a receiver in the receptor recess, proximal to the spring loaded tether device  40 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  5  and  6   , an exemplary mobile device attachment  90  has corner extensions  94 ,  94 ′,  94 ″,  94 ″ for extending over the corners of a mobile device. The corner extensions are formed by corner apertures  92 ,  92 ′,  92 ″,  92 ′″ through the mobile attachment device. The mobile attachment device has an attachment tab  96  extending therefrom with an attachment loop  98  on the extended end of the attachment tab. The attachment tab, may be detachably attachable to the mobile device attachment or the two components may be a monolithic part that may be formed by a single piece of material, such as a molded part. 
     As shown in  FIG.  7   , an exemplary mobile attachment  90  is coupled to a mobile device  15 , such as a mobile phone, with the corner extension  94 ,  94 ′,  94 ″,  94 ′″ extending over the corners of the mobile device. The attachment tab  96  extends from the mobile device to receive the retractable coupler. 
     As shown in  FIG.  8   , an exemplary mobile device attachment  90  has is coupled to a mobile device  15  by being retained in the mobile device cover  18  with the attachment tab  96  extended out through an aperture  17  in the cover. 
     As shown in  FIG.  9   , an extendable coupling system  10  comprising a mobile device attachment  90  attached to a mobile device  15 , such as a mobile phone and the retractable coupler  60  is attached to the attachment loop  98  at the end of the attachment tab  96 . The retractable coupler  60  is coupled to the coupler body  20  by the tether  42  and the dual coupler  12  is attached to a body coupler loop  16 , such as a belt loop. The spring loaded tether  40  may provide enough support to avoid a catastrophic fall to the ground of the mobile device whereby the length of the tether will limit how far the mobile device can extend from the coupler body. The spring loaded tether device  40  may produce enough force on the tether  42  to retract the mobile device  15  back to the dual coupler  12 . 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications, combinations and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope of the invention. Specific embodiments, features and elements described herein may be modified, and/or combined in any suitable manner. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications, combinations and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.