Patent ID: 8220676

Claim:
A retractable tethering apparatus for supporting a cellular telephone at an elevated position, said retractable tethering apparatus comprising: a housing; a spring-actuated spool positioned within the housing; a flexible cord retractably wound about said spring-actuated spool; a coupling section secured to a distal end of said cord and adapted to be connected to the cellular telephone; and means for automatically notifying the user when said coupling section is disengaged from said housing by emitting an alert signal when said cord is unwound from a retracted position; wherein said coupling section comprises: a ring adapted to be directly connected to the cellular telephone; and a bracket adjustably mated directly to said ring, said bracket being adapted to remain spaced from the cellular telephone such that said ring remains freely adjustable with said bracket, said bracket being provided with laterally registered ribs linearly extending along opposed faces of said bracket; wherein said housing comprises a notch formed at a distal end thereof, said notch passing from an anterior face of said housing to a posterior face thereof, said bracket being countersunk within said notch while attached to said housing such that said cord is maintained at a maximum wound position while said bracket is coupled to said housing; wherein said housing further comprises: a plurality of oppositely spaced rectilinear grooves formed within said notch and extending from said anterior face to said posterior face of said housing respectively, said ribs being contiguously interfitted within said grooves while said bracket is seated within said notch; and a plurality of opposed recessions formed along said distal end of said housing, said recessions laterally extending away from said notch and being equidistantly offset from a center of said notch for receiving opposed quadrants of said ring; wherein said coupling section is maintained at a substantially stable position while said bracket is countersunk within said notch and said opposed ring quadrants are interfitted within said recessions respectively.