Retractable carrying device for an optical device

Abstract

Provided is a carrying device having a housing including a housing recess defining a recess face. The device further includes an alignment member being insertable within the housing recess. The alignment member defines an insertion orientation relative to the housing when an inner end portion is facing toward the housing recess, the outer end portion is facing away from the housing recess, and the alignment face is facing toward the recess face. The alignment member is sized to limit insertion into the housing recess to insertion when the alignment member is in the insertion orientation. The alignment member is disposed in a stowed position in fixed relation relative to the housing upon insertion into the housing recess. A tether is connected to the alignment member and is retractably connected to the housing.

1 . A carrying device for use with a viewing tool and a support member, the carrying device comprising:
 a housing body including an outer face, an opposing inner face and a peripheral wall disposed between the outer face and the inner face, the housing body including a housing recess extending into the housing body from the peripheral face and the outer face, the housing recess defining a recess face and a recess wall extending between the recess face and the outer face;   an alignment spine protruding from the recess face toward the outer face;   an alignment member including:
 a flange including a flange indexing face defining a flange indexing contour; 
 a housing contact element connected to the flange and being insertable within the housing recess, the housing contact element defining an inner end portion and an outer end portion, the housing contact element including an alignment face extending between the inner end portion and the outer end portion, the housing contact element further including an alignment wall extending between the alignment face and the flange, the alignment member defining an insertion orientation relative to the housing body when the inner end portion is facing toward the housing recess, the outer end portion is facing away from the housing recess, and the alignment face is facing toward the recess face, the housing contact element being sized and configured to limit insertion into the housing recess to insertion when the alignment member is in the insertion orientation, the alignment member being disposed in a stowed position in fixed relation relative to the housing body upon insertion into the housing recess; and 
 an alignment groove formed within the alignment face and extending from the inner end portion to the outer end portion, the alignment groove being sized and configured to receive the alignment spine as the housing contact element is inserted into the housing recess in the insertion orientation; and 
   a first indexing member being engageable with the viewing tool and including a first indexing face defining a first indexing contour being complimentary to the flange indexing contour to enable rotational indexing of the alignment member relative to the first indexing member; and   a tether connected to the alignment member and retractably connected to the housing body, an exposed segment of tether extending between the housing recess and the alignment member upon removal of the alignment member from the housing recess.   
     
     
         2 . The carrying device of  claim 1 , wherein the outer face of the housing body defines a raised section and a lowered section, the housing recess being disposed within the lowered section. 
     
     
         3 . The carrying device of  claim 2 , wherein the lowered section defines a periphery being complimentary to the flange. 
     
     
         4 . The carrying device of  claim 1 , further including a clip connected to the tether, the clip being configured to be engageable with the viewing tool. 
     
     
         5 . The carrying device of  claim 1 , wherein the alignment member includes an alignment aperture extending through the flange, the alignment aperture defining a first rotation axis, the carrying device further comprising a first retention member engaged with the first indexing member and disposed within the alignment aperture, the first retention member being configured to restrict rotation of the first indexing member relative to the flange to rotation about the first rotation axis. 
     
     
         6 . The carrying device of  claim 5 , wherein the first indexing member includes a first indexing aperture defining a first indexing circumference. 
     
     
         7 . The carrying device of  claim 6 , wherein the first retention member includes a first retention shaft and a first retention flange defining a first retention circumference being greater than the first indexing circumference, the first retention shaft being disposable within the first indexing aperture and the alignment aperture to couple the first indexing member to the alignment member. 
     
     
         8 . The carrying device of  claim 7 , wherein the first retention shaft includes a first shaft end, the first retention shaft defining a first distance between the first shaft end and the first retention flange, the first retention shaft being moveable between a first retracted position and a first extended position, the first distance increasing as the first retention shaft moves from the first retracted position toward the first extended position. 
     
     
         9 . The carrying device of  claim 8 , wherein the first retention shaft is biased towards the first retracted position. 
     
     
         10 . The carrying device of  claim 1 , wherein the first indexing contour and flange indexing contour define complimentary ribs and grooves. 
     
     
         11 . The carrying device of  claim 1 , wherein the inner face of the housing defines a housing indexing contour, the carrying device further comprising a second indexing member being engageable with the support member, the second indexing member including a second indexing face defining a second indexing contour being complimentary to the housing indexing contour to enable rotational indexing of the housing relative to the second indexing member. 
     
     
         12 . The carrying device of  claim 11 , wherein the second indexing contour and the housing indexing contour define complimentary ribs and grooves. 
     
     
         13 . The carrying device of  claim 11 , wherein the inner face of the housing body includes a housing aperture extending through the inner face, the housing aperture defining a second rotation axis, the carrying device further comprising a second retention member engaged with the second indexing member and disposed within the housing aperture, the second retention member being configured to restrict rotation of the second indexing member relative to the inner face to rotation about the second rotation axis. 
     
     
         14 . The carrying device of  claim 13 , wherein the second indexing member includes a second indexing aperture defining a second indexing circumference. 
     
     
         15 . The carrying device of  claim 14 , wherein the second retention member includes a second retention shaft and a second retention flange defining a second retention circumference being greater than the second indexing circumference, the second retention shaft being disposable within the second indexing aperture to couple the second indexing member to the alignment flange. 
     
     
         16 . The carrying device of  claim 15 , wherein the second retention shaft includes a second shaft end, the second retention shaft defining a second distance between the second shaft end and the second retention flange, the second retention shaft being moveable between a second retracted position and a second extended position, the second distance increasing as the second retention shaft moves from the second retracted position toward the second extended position. 
     
     
         17 . The carrying device of  claim 16 , wherein the second retention shaft is biased towards the first retracted position. 
     
     
         18 . The carrying device of  claim 1 , wherein the tether is connected to the housing via a spool rotatably connected to the housing, the spool being rotatable in a first direction and a second direction, the tether unwinding from the spool in response to rotation in the first direction and the tether winding about the spool in response to rotation in the second direction, the spool being biased to rotate in the first direction. 
     
     
         19 . The carrying device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing contact element defines a housing contact axis extending between the inner end portion and the outer end portion, the housing contact element defining a trapezoidal cross section in a plane substantially perpendicular to the housing contact axis. 
     
     
         20 . A carrying device for use with a viewing tool and a support member, the carrying device comprising:
 a housing body including an outer face, an opposing inner face and a peripheral wall disposed between the outer face and the inner face, the housing body including a housing recess defining a recess face and a recess wall extending between the recess face and the outer face;   an alignment member including:
 a flange including a flange indexing face defining a flange indexing contour; and 
 a housing contact element connected to the flange and being insertable within the housing recess, the housing contact element defining an inner end portion and an outer end portion, the housing contact element including an alignment face extending between the inner end portion and the outer end portion, the housing contact element further including an alignment wall extending between the alignment face and the flange, the alignment member defining an insertion orientation relative to the housing body when the inner end portion is facing toward the housing recess, the outer end portion is facing away from the housing recess, and the alignment face is facing toward the recess face, the housing contact element being sized and configured to limit insertion into the housing recess to insertion when the alignment member is in the insertion orientation, the alignment member being disposed in a stowed position in fixed relation relative to the housing body upon insertion into the housing recess; 
   a first indexing member being engageable with the viewing tool and including a first indexing face defining a first indexing contour being complimentary to the flange indexing contour to enable rotational indexing of the alignment member relative to the first indexing member; and   a tether connected to the alignment member and retractably connected to the housing body, an exposed segment of tether extending between the housing recess and the alignment member upon removal of the alignment member from the housing recess.