Retractor having rotary damper and product display utilizing same

Abstract

A retractor has a housing with a rotatable reel captured therein and a cable wound on the reel. A terminal end of the cable extends exteriorly of the housing and is extendable from the housing. The cable is retractable onto the reel by the force of a spring located in the housing. A rotary damper is connected to the reel for restricting the speed of rotation of the reel as the cable is retracted via the force of the spring. A product display utilizing the retractor and a method of tethering lightweight objects to displays are also disclosed.

1 . A retractor, comprising: 
 a housing having a rotatable reel mounted therein;    a cable wound on said reel and having a terminal end extending exteriorly of said housing, said cable being extendable from said housing and being retractable onto said reel;    a spring located in said housing for retracting said cable onto said reel; and    a rotary damper connected to said reel for damping rotary motion of said reel when said cable is retracted under force exerted by said spring.    
   
   
       2 . A retractor according to  claim 1 , wherein said rotary damper includes a rotor having a shaft, and wherein said shaft is connected to said reel such that said reel can only rotate at a speed permitted by said rotor.  
   
   
       3 . A retractor according to  claim 2 , wherein shaft has an end tip connected to said reel along an axis of rotation of said reel.  
   
   
       4 . A retractor according to  claim 3 , wherein said rotary damper is an oil type rotary damper in which viscosity of oil contained within said damper provides resistance to rotation of said rotor.  
   
   
       5 . A retractor according to  claim 4 , wherein said reel has a cable hub and a spring hub, and wherein said spring is a constant force spring with a first wound portion located in said housing remote from said reel and a second wound portion wound on said spring hub of said reel in an opposite direction relative to said first wound portion such that, as said spring unwinds from said first wound portion, it winds onto said spring hub, and as said spring unwinds from said spring hub, it winds into said first wound portion.  
   
   
       6 . A retractor according to  claim 5 , wherein said terminal end of said cable has an end fitting connectable to a sample product so that said sample product is tethered to said retractor.  
   
   
       7 . A retractor according to  claim 6 , further comprising a swivel connected to said housing, said housing being rotatable relative to said swivel, whereby, when said swivel is secured to a surface, said retractor is pivotable relative to the surface.  
   
   
       8 . A product display having a sample article tethered to the display, comprising a retractor connected to the display, said retractor having a housing with a reel mounted for rotation therein and a cable wound on said reel and having a terminal end extending exteriorly of said housing and connected to the article, said cable being extendable from said housing and automatically retractable onto said reel via the force of a spring located in said housing, and a rotary damper being connected to said reel within said housing for damping the rotation of said reel when said cable is retracted into said housing by said spring.  
   
   
       9 . A product display according to  claim 8 , wherein said rotary damper includes a rotor having a shaft, and wherein said shaft is connected to said reel such that said reel can only rotate at a speed permitted by said rotor.  
   
   
       10 . A product display according to  claim 9 , wherein shaft has an end tip connected to said reel along an axis of rotation of said reel.  
   
   
       11 . A product display according to  claim 10 , wherein said rotary damper is an oil type rotary damper in which viscosity of oil contained within said damper provides resistance to rotation of said rotor.  
   
   
       12 . A product display according to  claim 8 , wherein the display includes a shelf to which said retractor is connected.  
   
   
       13 . A product display according to  claim 8 , wherein said retractor has a swivel, and wherein said housing is rotatable relative to said swivel, whereby, when said swivel is connected to a surface of the product display, said retractor is pivotable relative to said surface.  
   
   
       14 . A product display according to  claim 8 , wherein said reel has a cable hub and a spring hub, and wherein said spring is a constant force spring with a first wound portion located in said housing remote from said reel and a second wound portion wound on said spring hub of said reel in an opposite direction relative to said first wound portion such that, as said spring unwinds from said first wound portion, it winds onto said spring hub, and as said spring unwinds from said spring hub, it winds into said first wound portion.  
   
   
       15 . A method of tethering a lightweight article to a product display, comprising the steps of: 
 mounting a retractor to a surface of the product display, said retractor having a housing with a reel mounted for rotation therein and a cable wound on said reel and having a terminal end extending exteriorly of said housing, said cable being extendable from said housing and automatically retractable onto said reel via the force of a spring located in said housing;    connecting the article to an end fitting located on said terminal end of said cable; and    restricting the speed of rotation of said reel when said cable is automatically retracted into said housing by said spring by utilizing a rotary damper connected to said reel;    whereby lightweight articles can be safely retracted by said retractor.    
   
   
       16 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein said restricting step is accomplished by the use of a rotary damper having a rotor with a shaft that is connected to said reel along the rotational axis of said reel.  
   
   
       17 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein said rotary damper is an oil type rotary damper in which the viscosity of oil contained within said damper provides resistance to rotation of said rotor.  
   
   
       18 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein said spring is a constant force spring so that the retraction force exerted on said cable is constant regardless of how far the article is extended from said housing.  
   
   
       19 . A method according to  claim 18 , wherein said retractor is mounted to the surface of the product display via a swivel that enables the retractor to pivot relative to the surface.