System for carrying portable device

Abstract

A system for carrying and securing portable devices such as cellular phones, pagers, personal digital assistant (PDA) organizers, IPOD® devices, CD players, radios, digital cameras, keys, utensils or tools on a person, bicycle or vehicle. In particular, an ergonomic system for carrying and securing portable electronic devices such as cellular phones, pagers, personal digital assistant (PDA) organizers, IPOD® devices, CD players, radios, digital cameras and the like on a person in a manner that reduces stress on the human body and that prevents the device from being lost or dropped. The system allows a person to carry one or more portable devices that are secured against loss or damage, while the carrier's hands are free for other activities. The portable devices are maintained in proximity to the person's body, allowing unencumbered access to the device when desired.

1 . A system comprising: first and second mutually interlocked adapter parts; a housing having a recess; a rotatable reel housed within said housing; and a retractable first line of flexible material having one end attached to said reel and another end attached to said first adapter part, wherein said first adapter part and said housing recess are mutually interlockable, said first line being alternately extendible and retractable while said first adapter part is not interlocked with said housing recess. 
   
   
       2 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a second line of flexible material having one end attached to said second adapter part; and a portable device attached to the other end of said second line. 
   
   
       3 . The system as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising a flexible cord or strap from which said housing depends when said flexible cord is wrapped around a neck of a person. 
   
   
       4 . The system as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising a belt buckle to which said housing is attached. 
   
   
       5 . The system as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising an elastic band to which said housing is attached. 
   
   
       6 . The system as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said portable device is a cellular phone. 
   
   
       7 . A system comprising a first loop an a tethering device suspended from said first loop, said tethering device comprising a retractable line of flexible material. 
   
   
       8 . The system as recited in  claim 7 , further comprising a portable device linked to said retractable line of said tethering device. 
   
   
       9 . The system as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said first loop has two ends, further comprising a locking device mounted to said first loop, said locking device clamping two portions of said first loop in a locked state and not clamping any portions of said first loop in an unlocked state, said locking device being displaceable along portions of said first loop in said unlocked state, wherein said tethering device is supported by said locking mechanism. 
   
   
       10 . The system as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said first loop comprises first and second flexible loop segments connected by a releasable coupling comprising first and second parts that mate in a manner that produces a resistance to said first and second parts being pulled apart by the weight of said portable device, said first and second parts being secured to an end of said first loop segment and to an end of said second loop segment respectively, wherein said coupling is released when said first and second parts are pulled apart with sufficient force to overcome said resistance. 
   
   
       11 . The system as recited in  claim 7 , further comprising an adapter part secured to said retractable line, wherein said tethering device comprises a housing having a recess and means for interlocking with said adapter part when said adapter part is inserted in said housing recess. 
   
   
       12 . The system as recited in  claim 8 , further comprising an adapter comprising mutually interlockable first and second adapter parts, said first adapter part being secured to said retractable line; and a second loop that is looped through said second adapter part. 
   
   
       13 . The system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said second loop is made of flexible strong plastic material having a crimped portion. 
   
   
       14 . The system as recited in  claim 12 , further comprising a panel comprising a base portion adhered to an exterior surface of said portable device and a free flap portion having an opening, wherein said second loop is also looped through said opening in said free flap portion of said panel. 
   
   
       15 . A system comprising a buckle and a tethering device supported by said buckle, said tethering device comprising a retractable line of flexible material. 
   
   
       16 . The system as recited in  claim 15 , further comprising a portable device linked to said retractable line of said tethering device. 
   
   
       17 . The system as recited in  claim 15 , further comprising an adapter part secured to said retractable line, wherein said tethering device comprises a recess and means for interlocking with said adapter part when said adapter part is inserted in said recess. 
   
   
       18 . The system as recited in  claim 16 , wherein said portable device comprises an opening, further comprising an adapter comprising mutually interlockable first and second adapter parts, said first adapter part being secured to said retractable line; and a second loop that is looped through said second adapter part and through said opening in said portable device. 
   
   
       19 . The system as recited in  claim 15 , further comprising a belt, wherein said buckle is attached to said belt. 
   
   
       20 . The system as recited in  claim 16 , wherein said portable device is a cellular telephone.