Abstract:
The present invention is a novel lanyard system for a piece releaseably connected to a tool by a piece receiver that includes a lanyard assembly with a two ended strap and a retraction system fixed to the tool in a storage region of the tool. In particular, one end of the strap is connected to the piece and the other strap end is connected to one end of the retraction system. The other end of the retraction system is connected to the tool. The strap is of sufficient length for the retraction system to retract a piece to the storage region after disconnection from the piece receiver. It is contemplated that the retraction system includes at least one spring (coil or helical) to cause the lanyard system to remain under tension while the piece is mounted in a piece receiver, thereby preventing or at least reducing the strap from interfering with the task at hand, the piece, the piece receiver or tool itself. The retraction system has sufficient tensional force to cause the retraction of a piece to the storage region once released from the work region of the tool.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    NOT APPLICABLE 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALL SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    NOT APPLICABLE 
       NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
       [0003]    NOT APPLICABLE 
       REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING 
       [0004]    NOT APPLICABLE 
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     1 Field of Invention 
       [0005]    The present invention relates generally to tools. More particularly, the present invention relates to supporting and retaining a removable piece that is used with a tool, such as impact driver, drill, hammer drill, nut spinner, impact wrench, reciprocating saw, paint sprayer, sand blaster or water blaster. The present invention is a retracting lanyard for a drill bit, screw bit, socket driver, chisel, saw blade, or nozzle. In short, the novel lanyard system of the present invention stores, tethers, retains, extends and retracts a piece that is fixed in and removed from a tool. The piece is designed to perform a task such as, but not limited to tightening, loosening, drilling, chiseling, cutting, spraying or a combination thereof. 
       2 Background of Invention 
       [0006]    Tools with removable pieces are capable of performing a wider variety of tasks than those tools with fixed pieces. For example, a nut driver with removable sockets or a screw driver with removable screw bits are capable of tightening or loosening a wider variety of nuts, bolts or screws than a wrench or screw driver with a fixed working end. In fact a driver adapted to handle both sockets and screw bits can perform the task of tightening and loosening both nuts, bolts and screws without the need for a tool box of wrenches and screw drivers. The same can be said for power tools and sprayers configured with a piece receiver, such as a chuck or quick change coupler. However, the challenge arises in keeping track of the multiple pieces to be placed in the piece receiver (chuck or quick change coupler). Another challenge is quick and easy accessibility to multiple pieces. 
         [0007]    Olson&#39;s tool caddy, U.S. Pat. No. 4,508,221, provides a solution to these challenges by mounting a flat sheet of flexible material having a plurality of parallel spaced apart longitudinal corrugated piece receiving pockets on the upper surface of the base sheet. A layer of pressure sensitive adhesive cover the bottom surface of the base sheet for attachment to a tool housing. Hibbard&#39;s strap on drill paraphernalia holding system, U.S. Pat. No. 4,797,040, provides a solution to these challenges by attaching a holding device directly to the motor or handle of an electric tool, allowing the user to store the drill paraphernalia needed for a particular job on the tool. Chen&#39;s multipurpose handle for holding electric tools, U.S. Pat. No. 4,820,090, provides a solution to these challenges by storing drill heads around the periphery of a handle to be attached to a drill. Yet none of the references discussed above provide for a means to tether the pieces to the tool. 
         [0008]    Olsen&#39;s holder for a drill chuck key, U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,495, provides a string and connector to tether a drill chuck to the electric cord of a hand drill. And Krohn&#39;s drill chuck key, U.S. Pat. No. 4,997,194 provides for a chain and connector to tether a drill chuck to the hand drill. While such tethers are suitable for tethering a chuck key, none are suitable for use with a piece, like a screw bit, that is mounted in the piece connector. The problem being that the tethers disclosed are of fixed length and must be manually guided or positioned to remain clear of the tool&#39;s work area around the piece connector. In short, the tethers as described above have a tendency to obstruct the: work to be performed; the piece; piece connector; or the tool itself when the tool is operated. In certain situations, such a tether could become entangled with the piece, piece connector or the tool itself resulting in unsafe conditions. 
         [0009]    The present invention provides for a low cost lanyard system to store, and manage through the use of a retractable tether one or a plurality of pieces to be used with a tool. The lanyard system of the present invention can be incorporated into a tool as it is manufactured or added to a tool as an after-market product. The present invention provides a low profile lanyard system allowing easy location and selection of the desired tethered piece from a storage position and move a tethered piece into a piece receiver (like a chuck or quick change coupler) with little or no need to tend the lead of the tether into and about the work area of the tool. The present invention further provides a lanyard system in which a piece or plurality of pieces remains safely tethered to the tool even when mounted in a piece receiver (like a chuck or quick change coupler). The present invention further provides a lanyard system with a retraction system capable of retrieving and storing a tethered piece once released from a piece receiver or the work region with little or no intervention by a user. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The present invention is a novel lanyard system for a piece that is securely connected to and released from a tool by a piece receiver that includes a lanyard assembly with a two ended strap and a retraction system fixed to the tool in a storage region of the tool. In particular, the first end of the strap is connected to the piece and the second end of the strap is connected to one end of the retraction system. The other end of the retraction system is connected to the tool. The strap is of sufficient length for the retraction system to retract a piece to the storage region after disconnection from the piece receiver. It is contemplated that the retraction system includes at least one spring (coil or helical) to cause the lanyard system to remain under tension while the piece is mounted in a piece receiver, thereby preventing or at least reducing the strap from interfering with the task at hand, the piece, the piece receiver or tool itself. The retraction system has sufficient tensional force to cause the retraction of a piece to the storage region once released from the piece receiver or work region of the tool. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a lanyard system  10  mounted on tool  05  with a storage region  06 , piece receiver  07  and work region  08  depicting certain elements including but not limited to a piece  20  connected to a lanyard system  30  fixed to a retraction system  40  positioned in a housing assembly  50  fixed to a storage area  06  by a mount assembly  60 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a lanyard system  10  fixed to a tool  05  with a storage region  06 , piece receiver  07  and work region  08  depicting certain elements including but not limited to a piece  20  connected to a lanyard system  30  fixed to a retraction system  40  positioned in a housing assembly  50  integral with tool  05  in its storage area  06 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a top view of a lanyard system  10  fixed to a tool  05  with a piece receiver  07  depicting certain elements including but not limited to a plurality of housing assemblies  50  fixed to a mount assembly  60 .  FIG. 3  depicts each housing assembly  50  with a housing  502  having a slot  5022  and a tray  504  having a piece stop  5042  and a magnet  5044  to arrest and hold a piece  20  in tray  504 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a lanyard system  10  depicting certain elements including but not limited to a plurality of housing assemblies  50  fixed to a mount assembly  60 .  FIG. 4  depicts each housing  502  having a slot  5022  and a tray  504  with a piece stop  5042  and a magnet  5044 , all of which are fixed to a mount assembly  60  having a harness  602  with pads  604  and couplers  606 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a detailed perspective view of a lanyard system  10  with a portion of a housing assembly  50  removed to depict certain elements of a lanyard assembly  30 , retraction assembly  40 , housing assembly  50  and mount assembly  60 , including but not limited to a piece  20 , piece connector  302 , a strap  304 , a strap first end region  3044 , a retraction cartridge  401 , stop cap  402 , anchor cap  404 , helical spring system  408 , housing  502 , slot  5022 , tray  504 , piece stop  5042 , magnet  5044 , harness  602 , pads  604 , and couplers  606 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a side view of a retraction cartridge  401  of a retraction system  40  used in a piece lanyard system  10 .  FIG. 6  depicts certain elements of a retraction cartridge  401  with a coil spring system  406  including but not limited to an anchor cap  404 , coil spring housing  4042 , sleeve  501 , lanyard assembly  30 , piece connector  302 , strap  304 , strap first end region  3044 , retainer assembly  3022 , tab  3024  and piece  20 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a top view of a retraction cartridge  401  of a retraction system  40  used in a piece lanyard system  10 .  FIG. 7  depicts certain elements of a retraction cartridge  401  with a coil spring system  406  including but not limited to an anchor cap  404 , coil spring housing  4042 , sleeve  501 , piece connector  302 , retainer assembly  3022 , tab  3024  and piece  20 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a cross sectional view of a retraction cartridge  401  of a retraction system  40  used in a piece lanyard system  10 .  FIG. 8  depicts certain elements of a retraction cartridge  401  with a coil spring system  406  including but not limited to an anchor cap  404 , coil spring housing  4042 , coil spring  4062 , terminator  4064 , sleeve  501 , lanyard assembly  30 , strap  304 , piece connector  302 , strap coupler  3042 , strap first end region  3044 , tab  3024  and piece  20  in the form of a driver bit. 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is a side view of a retraction cartridge  401  of a retraction system  40  used in a piece lanyard system  10 .  FIG. 9  depicts certain elements of a retraction cartridge  401  with a helical spring system  408  including but not limited to an anchor cap  404 , a lanyard assembly  30 , a helical spring  4081 , strap coupler  3042 , piece connector  302 , strap  304 , tab  3024 , and piece  20  in the form of a reciprocating saw blade. Helical spring  4081  is fixed at one end to an anchor cap  404  and to a strap coupler  3042  at the opposite end. 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  is a side view of a retraction cartridge  401  of a retraction system  40  used in a piece lanyard system  10 .  FIG. 9  depicts certain elements of a retraction cartridge  401  with a helical spring system  408  including but not limited to a stop cap  402 , lanyard assembly  30 , a helical spring  4081 , strap coupler  3042 , piece connector  302 , strap  304  and piece  20  in the form of a nozzle for a paint sprayer. Strap  304  passes through a stop cap  402  and a helical spring  4081  and connects at one end of a helical spring  4081  by a strap coupler  3042 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 11  is a side view of a retraction cartridge  401  of a retraction system  40  used in a piece lanyard system  10 .  FIG. 9  depicts certain elements of a retraction cartridge  401  with a helical spring system  408  including but not limited to an anchor cap  404 , stop cap  402 , lanyard assembly  30 , a helical spring  4081 , strap coupler  3042 , piece connector  302 , strap  304 , tab  3024 , retainer assembly  3022  and piece  20  in the form of a nozzle for a socket driver. Strap  304  passes through a stop cap  402  and a portion of helical spring  4081  and connects by a strap coupler  3042  to helical spring  4081  at a point between the ends of helical spring  4081 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 12  is an exploded view of a retraction cartridge  401  of a retraction system  40  used in a piece lanyard system  10 .  FIG. 12  depicts certain elements of a retraction cartridge  401  with a nested spring assembly  4082  including but not limited to a piece  20 , piece shoulder  202 , groove  204 , lanyard assembly  30 , piece connector  302 , retainer assembly  3022 , strap  304 , strap coupler  3042 , first strap end region  3044 , second strap end region  3046 , stop cap  402 , anchor cap  404 , inner spring  40822 , outer spring  40824 , first and second end regions of the inner spring and outer springs  408222 ,  408224 ,  408242 ,  408244 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 13  is a detailed perspective view of a tabbed embodiment of a lanyard assembly  30  connected to a helical spring assembly  408  embodiment of a retraction cartridge  401 . In particular,  FIG. 13  depicts certain elements including but not limited to a piece  20 , piece connector  302 , tab ( 3024 , strap ( 304 , strap first end region ( 3044  and stop cap  402 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 14  is a detailed side view of a tabbed embodiment of a lanyard assembly  30  connected to a piece  20  depicting certain elements including but not limited to a retainer assembly  3022  and a strap first end region  3044  terminating in a piece connector  302  with a tab  3024  extending toward a piece receiver  07 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0025]    A lanyard system  10  for a piece  20  or a number of pieces  20 , like a bit, should be attached to a tool  05 , like an impact driver, in such a way that each piece  20  on one hand is capable of being easily inserted and used in a piece receiver  07 , like a quick release connector, and on the other hand easily removed and positioned in a storage region  06  for future use. See  FIGS. 1 and 2 . This can be achieved for each piece  20  by attaching a piece  20  to a lanyard assembly  30  that in turn is connected to a retraction system  40 . See  FIGS. 1 and 2 . While the following description focuses upon a lanyard system  10  with only one piece  20 , the details are applicable to a lanyard system  10  with a plurality of pieces  20 . 
         [0026]    It is contemplated that tool  05  can be powered manually, electrically, pneumatically, hydraulically or a combination thereof. By illustrative example, tool  05  could be an impact driver, drill, hammer drill, nut spinner, impact wrench, reciprocating saw, paint sprayer, sand blaster or water blaster. Piece  20  could be drill bit, screw bit, socket driver, chisel, saw blade, or nozzle. In short, piece  20  is an object removably fixed in a tool to perform a task such as, but not limited to tightening, loosening, drilling, chiseling, cutting or a combination there. In a preferred embodiment, piece  20  is an object with radial symmetry that can be positioned in a piece receiver  07  and used in conjunction with tool  05  to accomplish a task, such as the ones described above. Pieces  20  with a radial symmetry include but are not limited to Phillips bit, Robertson bit, hex bit, 12 point flange bit, hex socket bit, security hex socket bit, Torx bit, security Torx bit, tri-wing bit, torq-set bit, spanner head bit, clutch bit, one-way bit, double-square bit, triple square bit, polydrive bit, spline drive bit, double hex bit, Bristol bit, pentalobe bit, socket bit, drill bit, spiral cutting bit, cut off disc bit, drum sanding bit and/or a combination thereof. In another preferred embodiment, piece  20  is a chisel, saw blade or other object used in conjunction with tool  05  to accomplish tasks such as removing or cutting material. In yet another preferred embodiment, piece  20  is a nozzle used in conjunction with a tool  05  to accomplish tasks such as sand blasting or painting. 
         [0027]    Turning to the lanyard assembly  30 , a strap  302  with two end regions  3044 ,  3046  is connected at a first end region  3044  to a piece  20  and connected at a second end region  3046  to a retraction system  40 . See  FIGS. 1, 2 and 5 . Lanyard assembly  30  is of sufficient length for retraction system  40  to retract a piece  20  to a storage region  06  after disconnection from piece receiver  07 . See  FIGS. 1, 2 and 5 . 
         [0028]    In a preferred embodiment, a piece connector  302  is disposed and fixed between a strap first end region  3044  and piece  20  to allow piece  20  to be connected to or disconnected from a retraction system  40 . See  FIGS. 6, 11, 12 and 14 . Such a feature is useful when a piece  20  requires replacing because it is worn or a different piece  20  is required for the task at hand. 
         [0029]    Piece connector  302  can be a collar, clamp, or other types of connector known to those in the fastening industry. A preferred embodiment of piece connector  302  is a collar with at least one retainer  3022  fixed on piece  20  with a shoulder  202 . See  FIGS. 6, 11, 12 and 14 . When piece  20  is a bit or similar object with radial symmetry, it is contemplated that piece  20  passes through collar  302  and is held in collar  302  by a shoulder  202  formed in piece  20  on one side of collar  302  and a retainer  3022  on the other side of collar  302 . See  FIG. 12 . Retention of piece  20  can be enhanced by a groove  204  being formed in piece  20  to hold retainer  3022 . See  FIG. 12 . Likewise, if piece  20  does not have a shoulder, then piece  20  can be held in collar  302  by at least two opposing retainers  3022  with or without corresponding grooves  204 . In a preferred embodiment, longitudinal movement of piece  20  in collar  302  is determined by the distance between retainers  3022  and/or piece shoulder and retainer  3022 . This becomes critical in those embodiments of a lanyard system  10  that contemplate tool  05  reciprocating piece  20 —such as a saw blade. In yet another embodiment of a lanyard system  10  that contemplates no rotation, reciprocation or a combination thereof of a piece  20 , then piece connector  302  can be a clamp to connect piece  20  to lanyard assembly  30 . Such an embodiment is applicable where the piece  20  is a nozzle. Regardless of its form, it is contemplated that piece connector  302  is constructed of a durable material and configured to transmit a force through strap  304  to extend a retraction system  40 . In a preferred embodiment, piece connector  302  is constructed and configured to withstand or at least reduce wear due to rotation and/or reciprocation of a piece  20  by tool  05 . Such durable material includes, but is not limited to plastic or metal. 
         [0030]    In a preferred embodiment of a lanyard system  10 , a tab  3024  is fixed to strap first end region  3044  and positioned to selectively engage a piece receiver  07  to eject or at least assist in the removal of piece  20  from piece receiver  07 . In another preferred embodiment, tab  3024  is fixed to piece connector  302  to eject or at least assist in the removal of piece  20  from piece receiver  07 . See  FIGS. 13 and 14 . 
         [0031]    The length of strap  304  should be sufficient to allow retraction system  40  to retract piece  20  to a storage region  06  after disconnection from a piece receiver  07  and/or release in a work region  08  of tool  05 . See  FIGS. 1, 2, 5, and 8 . The length of strap  304  is dependent upon the location of storage region  06  in relation to the position of retraction system  40  and the piece receiver  07  as well as the attachment location of strap  304  to retraction system  40 . Strap  304  can be a cord, thong wire, cable or a combination thereof constructed of a durable material. Such durable material includes, but is not limited to plastic, metal, resilient materials or a combination thereof. It is contemplated that a cross section of strap  302  can be circular, arcuate, polygonal or a combination thereof. In a preferred embodiment, strap  304  has a rectangular cross section and is constructed from a stiff plastic with minimal flex and stretch. In another embodiment, strap  304  has a circular cross section and is constructed of metal with sufficient flexibility to make a loop without kinking the metal. 
         [0032]    In a preferred embodiment, retraction system  40  comprises at least one coil spring system  406  fixed in a coil spring housing  4042  mounted to a housing assembly  50  by an anchor cap  404 . See  FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 . A coil spring  4062  is fixed at one end to a terminator  4064  and bias coiled about itself and passes through anchor  404  into sleeve  501 . The other end of coil spring  4062  is attached to a lanyard assembly  30  by a strap coupler  3042 . See  FIG. 8 . As described above, lanyard assembly  30  is attached to a piece  20 . Retraction of piece  20  to a storage region  06  occurs when piece  20  is released from piece receiver  07  and/or work region  08  and coil spring  4062  is allowed to retract and coil back into the coil spring housing  4042 . 
         [0033]    In a preferred embodiment, retraction system  40  comprises at least one helical spring system  408  fixed at one end to an anchor cap  404  and fixed at an opposing end to a lanyard assembly  30  that is further fixed to a piece  20  thereby forming a retraction cartridge  401 . See  FIGS. 9, 10, 11 and 12 . In one embodiment of retraction cartridge  401 , strap  304  is attached to a helical spring end region that is proximal to piece  20  and an opposing helical spring end region is fixed to a storage region  06  by anchor cap  404 . See  FIG. 9 . In such a configuration, helical spring  4081  extends away from its anchored end region to move piece  20  into a work region  08  and/or piece receiver  07  of tool  05 . Retraction of piece  20  to a storage region  06  occurs when piece  20  is released from piece receiver  07  and/or work region  08  and helical spring  4081  contracts to its normal length. In another embodiment, helical spring  4081  is fixed to a lanyard assembly  30  such that strap  304  passes through helical spring  4081  and attaches to an end region of helical spring  4081  distal to piece  20 . An opposing end region of helical spring  406 , proximal to piece  20 , attaches to a stop cap  402  which in turn is fixed to storage region  06  thereby allowing helical spring  4081  to compress against stop cap  402  to move piece  20  into work region  08  and/or piece receiver  07 . See  FIG. 10 . Retraction of piece  20  to a storage region  06  occurs when piece  20  is released from piece receiver  07  and/or work region  08  and helical spring  4081  is allowed to extend to its normal length. In yet another embodiment of a retraction cartridge  401  with a helical spring system  408 , strap  304  is fixed to a piece  20  at one end and fixed at an opposite end to a helical spring  4081  at a position between opposing ends of helical spring  4081  by a strap coupler  3042 . See  FIG. 11 . One end of helical spring  4081  is fixed to a storage region  06  of tool  05  by an anchor cap  404  and opposing end of helical spring  4081  is fixed to a storage region  06  in proximity to work area  08  by stop cap  402 . See  FIG. 11 . In such a configuration, helical spring  4081  simultaneously extends and contracts as piece  20  is pulled towards work region  08 . Attachment of strap  304  at a point between the ends of helical spring  4081  allows the compressed portion of helical spring  4081  to prevent over extension of the remaining portion of helical spring  4081 . Retraction of piece  20  to a storage region  06  occurs when piece  20  is release from piece receiver  07  and/or work region  08  and helical spring  4081  simultaneously extends and contracts to its normal length. 
         [0034]    In a preferred embodiment of a lanyard system  10 , retraction cartridge  401  includes a helical spring system  408  with a nested spring assembly  4082  which comprises at least one inner spring  40822  nested within an outer spring  40824 . See  FIG. 12 . Outer spring  40824  first end  408242  is fixed to a stop cap  402 . See  FIG. 12 . Outer spring  40824  second end  408244  is fixed to an anchor  404  which is fixed to a storage region  06 . A strap  304  releasably connects at a strap first end region  3044  to a piece  20 . Strap  304  extends through stop cap  402  and inner spring  40822 , and strap second end region  3046  is fixed to inner spring second end  408224 . In another embodiment, strap second end region  3046  connects to inner spring second end  40824  by a releasable strap coupler  3042 . See  FIG. 12 . Such a configuration allows lanyard assembly  30  to be disconnected from retraction cartridge  401 . In a nested spring assembly  4082 , strap  304  is pulled towards work region  08  causing inner spring  40822  to compress against stop cap  402  therein causing outer spring  40824  to extend as piece  20  is moved towards and positioned in piece receiver  07 . It is further contemplated that with a nested spring assembly  4082 , one or more inner springs  40822  can be nested within outer spring  40824 . Multiple inner springs  40822  can be nested within each other (nest within a nest) or positioned end to end with each other. 
         [0035]    Regardless of which embodiment of retraction system  40  is used within a lanyard system  10 , the force required to extend and/or compress a coil spring system  406  or helical spring system  408  can be varied to achieve the desired force required to move a piece  20  between storage region  06  and work region  08 . Variation of force can be the result of utilizing different materials, windings, and/or spring shapes. It is contemplated that materials conducive to spring construction would be incorporated into the present invention. Likewise, traditional spring windings and shapes, coil or helical, are contemplated in the construction of a retraction system  40 . The variations in construction materials, winding, spring shapes and/or spring arrangements allow the desired results to be achieved. In certain circumstances the desired result is a constant retraction rate over the travel range of piece  20  between storage region  06  and work region and/or piece receiver  07 . In other circumstances the desired result is a retraction rate that varies depending upon where a piece  20  is located. For example, while piece  20  is within a work region  08 , the retraction rate can be faster than the retraction rate while the piece is in or approaches the storage region  06 . 
         [0036]    In a preferred embodiment of lanyard system  10 , a retraction cartridge  401  is positioned within a housing assembly  50  for containment and protection. See  FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 . Housing assembly  50  includes a housing  502  that is of sufficient length to hold at least a portion of an extended coil spring system  406  or extended helical spring system  408 . In a preferred embodiment, a slot  5022  is formed in housing  502  along its length to allow lanyard assembly  30  to move freely as retraction system  40  extends or retracts piece  20  between storage region  06  and work region  08  and/or piece receiver  07 . See  FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 . In a preferred embodiment, housing  502  releasably connects to an anchor cap  404 . See  FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 . It is further contemplated that in such a preferred embodiment, retraction cartridge  401  is easily removed from housing  502 . This preferred embodiment further allows the easy replacement of a piece  20 , lanyard assembly  30 , retraction assembly  40 , retraction cartridge  401  or a combination thereof. It is contemplated that housing  50  is constructed of a durable material such as plastic or metal suitable for containing and protecting a retraction cartridge  401 . 
         [0037]    In a preferred embodiment of housing assembly  50 , a tray  504  is fixed to a storage region  06  in close proximity to housing  502 . See  FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 . Tray  504  is configured to receive and guide a piece  20  to a resting place in storage area  06 . In a preferred embodiment of tray  504 , at least one magnet  5044  is fixed in tray  504  to releasably hold piece  20 . See  FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 . In another embodiment of tray  504 , a piece stop  5042  is fixed to an end region of tray  504  that is distal to work region  08 . See  FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 . Piece stop  5042  prevents piece  20  from travelling beyond tray  504 . It is contemplated that tray  504  and piece stop  5042  are constructed from a durable material, such as plastic or metal suitable to guide and hold a piece  20  in storage area  06 . 
         [0038]    In a preferred embodiment of lanyard system  10 , retraction system  40  is fixed to an exterior surface of tool  05  by a mount assembly  60 . See  FIGS. 1, 4 and 5 . In such an embodiment, mount assembly  60  includes at least one pad  604  disposed between tool  05  and a harness  602 . See  FIGS. 4 and 5 . Harness  602  is securely fixed to tool  05  by at least one coupler  606 . In a preferred embodiment, harness  602  wraps around the exterior of a tool  05  and is secured to tool  05  by opposing couplers  606 . See  FIG. 4 . Harness  602  is configured to hold at least one retraction system  40  or housing assembly  50  in a storage area  06 . In a preferred embodiment, harness  602  is configured to hold a plurality of retraction systems  40 , housing assemblies or a combination thereof around the exterior of tool  05 . See  FIGS. 1, 4 and 5 . In a yet another embodiment, housing assembly  50  is integral with said tool. See  FIG. 2 .