Patent ID: 8794560

Claim:
A retractable tether, comprising: a base portion; a tether housing attached to said base portion by an attachment mechanism, wherein said attachment mechanism allows for said tether housing to be movable with respect to said base portion in a direction similar to a hinge arrangement; a cable within said tether housing, said housing having a hole from which said cable extends, said cable having a stop on its end that extends from said housing hole, said stop being larger than said housing hole to prevent said cable from fully retracting into said housing; a flexible lanyard attached to said stop and arranged to be attached to a personal article, said personal article capable of being mounted in proximity to said tether housing, said flexible lanyard having a length greater than the distance between said mounted personal article and said tether housing such that said cable is not extended from said housing, and said cable is not under tension, by said mounted personal article; a spring within said tether housing which urges retraction of said cable wherein said spring has sufficient tension to prevent said cable from extending from said housing under the weight of said attached personal article; a mounting mechanism on said tether housing, said mounting mechanism comprising a tension blade having a first and second end, said first end connected to said tether housing, with the second end opposite said first end and adjacent to said housing, at least part of said blade urged against said housing and arranged so that a belt is capable of being held between said blade and said housing; and a blade tab at said blade's second end that is positioned such that it extends between said blade and said housing and overlaps an edge of said housing to provide a stop to prevent the retractable tether from sliding off a belt after said retractable tether is mounted on the belt.