Retractable carrying device for an optical device

Abstract

There is provided a retractable carrying device for an optical device. The carrying device includes a support member including an alignment contact element configured to dispose the optical device in a stowed position in fixed orientation relative to the support member. The carrying device further comprises a retraction assembly including a tether attachable to the optical device and a retraction mechanism attached to the tether. The retraction mechanism applies a longitudinal biasing force along an exposed segment of the tether upon extension of the exposed segment. A locking mechanism is engagable with the retraction assembly to prevent application of the longitudinal biasing force along the exposed segment. Further extension of the exposed segment beyond an operative length disengages the locking mechanism with the retraction assembly to allow application of the longitudinal biasing force along the exposed segment.

1 . A retractable carrying device for an optical device, the retractable carrying device comprising:
 a support member including an alignment contact element being engageable with the optical device, the alignment contact element being configured to dispose the optical device in a stowed position in fixed orientation relative to the support member upon engagement with the optical device;   a retraction assembly connected to the support member including:
 a tether being attachable to the optical device; and 
 a retraction mechanism attached to the tether, an exposed segment of tether extending between the retraction mechanism and the optical device, the exposed segment being free of lateral support from the retraction mechanism and the optical device, the exposed segment being extendable upon removal of the optical device from the stowed position, the retraction mechanism being operative to apply a longitudinal biasing force along the exposed segment of the tether upon extension of the exposed segment; and 
   a locking mechanism having locked and unlocked configurations, the locking mechanism being engaged with the retraction assembly to prevent application of the longitudinal biasing force along the exposed segment in the locked configuration, the exposed segment defining an operative length when the locking mechanism is in the locked configuration, upon further extension of the exposed segment beyond the operative length the locking mechanism assumes the unlocked configuration with the locking mechanism disengaged with the retraction assembly to allow application of the longitudinal biasing force along the exposed segment.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the retraction mechanism includes a roller being biased to rotate in a first direction to apply the longitudinal biasing force along the exposed segment. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the tether winds about the roller as the length of the exposed segment decreases. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3  wherein the locking mechanism includes a ratchet gear attached to the roller, the ratchet gear having a plurality of gear teeth extending therefrom. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4  wherein the ratchet gear includes a first portion having a first radius and a second portion having a second radius smaller than the first radius, the plurality of teeth extending from the first portion. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5  wherein the locking mechanism further includes a pawl being pivotable about a pivot axis, the pawl being engageable with respective ones of the plurality of teeth in the locked configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6  wherein the pawl includes a locking portion having a engagement end, the pawl having an arm length defined by the pivot axis and the engagement end, a threshold length being defined by the rotation and pivot axes, the combined arm length and first radius being greater than the threshold length to enable lockable engagement between the locking portion and respective ones of the gear teeth, the combined arm length and second radius being less than the threshold length to enable disengagement between the locking portion and the gear teeth. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the locking mechanism includes a ratchet gear attached to the roller, the ratchet gear having a plurality of gear teeth extending therefrom. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8  wherein roller and ratchet gear are rotatable about a rotation axis. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9  wherein the ratchet gear includes a first portion having a first radius and a second portion having a second radius smaller than the first radius, the ratchet gear having a plurality of teeth extending from the first portion. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the locking mechanism further includes a pawl being pivotable about a pivot axis, the pawl being engageable with respective ones of the plurality of teeth in the locked configuration. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11  wherein the pawl includes a locking portion having a engagement end, the pawl having an arm length defined by the pivot axis and the engagement end, a threshold length being defined by the rotation and pivot axes, the combined arm length and first radius being greater than the threshold length to enable lockable engagement between the locking portion and respective ones of the gear teeth, the combined arm length and second radius being less than the threshold length to enable disengagement between the locking portion and the gear teeth. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising a mounting element connected to the support member, the mounting element being attachable to a host member. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13  wherein the mounting element is a clip. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 13  wherein the mounting element is a bracket. 
     
     
         16 . A optical tool comprising:
 an optical device; and   a support member including an alignment contact element being engageable with the optical device, the alignment contact element being configured to dispose the optical device in a stowed position in fixed orientation relative to the support member upon engagement with the optical device;   a retraction assembly connected to the support member including:
 a tether being attachable to the optical device; and 
 a retraction mechanism attached to the tether, an exposed segment of tether extending between the retraction mechanism and optical device, the exposed segment being free of lateral support from the retraction mechanism and the optical device, the exposed segment being extendable upon removal of the optical device from the stowed position, the retraction mechanism being operative to apply a longitudinal biasing force along an exposed segment of the tether upon extension of the exposed segment; and 
   a locking mechanism having locked and unlocked configurations, the locking mechanism being engaged with the retraction assembly to prevent application of the longitudinal biasing force along the exposed segment in the locked configuration, the exposed segment defining an operative length when the locking mechanism is in the locked configuration, and upon further extension of the exposed segment beyond the operative length the locking mechanism assumes the unlocked configuration with the locking mechanism disengaged with the retraction assembly to allow application of the longitudinal biasing force along the exposed segment.   
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16  wherein the alignment contact element includes a female connection portion and the optical device includes a male connection portion, the male and female connection portions being cooperatively engageable to dispose the optical device in the stowed position. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 16  wherein the retraction mechanism includes a roller being biased to rotate in a first direction to apply the longitudinal biasing force along the exposed segment. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18  wherein the locking mechanism includes a ratchet gear attached to the roller, the ratchet gear having a plurality of gear teeth extending therefrom. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 19  wherein the locking mechanism further includes a pawl being pivotable about a pivot axis, the pawl being engageable with respective ones of the plurality of teeth in the locked configuration