Card reel clip assembly with adjustment mechanism

Abstract

A card reel clip assembly for attaching card reels to clothing. The card reel clip assembly generally includes a reel assembly coupled to a clip assembly having an adjustment mechanism. The adjustment mechanism provides a tactile response to the user to indicate whether the fastener is adequately engaged with the clothing of the user. The haptic or tactile technology implemented in embodiments provides an indication of the success of the engagement. No secondary visual or physical inspection is required to determine engagement. Based on the positioning of components of embodiments when in a closed position, the user is given a tactile response regarding the engagement with the user's clothing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A reel clip assembly for securing an object, such as a card, to an article of clothing, the card reel clip assembly comprising:
 a reel assembly including—
 a reel housing, 
 a reel enclosed within the reel housing, and 
 a tether line coupled to the reel, wherein a first end of the tether line is attached to the reel, and a second end of the tether line extends outside of the reel housing and is adapted to receive an object thereon, wherein the tether line is selectively extendable and retractable about the reel thereby enabling the object to be spaced at variable distances from the reel assembly; 
   an engagement mechanism coupled to an exterior face of the reel housing, the engagement assembly being shiftable between an engaged position in which the engagement mechanism clamps the article of clothing, and a release position in which the engagement mechanism disengages the article of clothing; and   a locking member positioned in a shiftable relationship to the engagement mechanism, the locking member being selectively shiftable between a locked position, in which the engagement mechanism is maintained in the engaged position to secure the reel assembly to the article of clothing, and an unlocked position in which the engagement mechanism is in the release position such that the reel assembly is free from engagement of the article of clothing.   
     
     
         2 . The reel clip assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the engagement mechanism comprises a first mounting portion coupled to the exterior surface of the reel housing, and a clamp portion coupled to and spaced apart from the mounting portion at a first end of each via an arcuate portion extending therebetween,
 wherein the clamp portion is shiftable relative to the mounting portion, thereby defining a variable-sized clothing-receivable gap at a second end of the mounting portion and the clamp portion.   
     
     
         3 . The reel clip assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the locking member comprises a mounting portion coupled to the reel housing such that it is sandwiched between the mounting portion of the engagement mechanism and the exterior surface of the reel housing, and a clamp portion coupled to the mounting portion via an arcuate portion, wherein the locking member is positioned over the engagement mechanism. 
     
     
         4 . The reel clip assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the locking member is slidable relative to the engagement mechanism such that when the locking member is shifted from the unlocked position to the locked position, the mounting portion of the locking member slides along an exterior of the mounting portion of the engagement mechanism toward the second end, and the clamp portion of the locking member slides along an exterior of the clamp portion toward the second end, thereby biasing the clamp portion of the engagement mechanism toward the mounting portion of the engagement mechanism to adjust the clothing-receivable gap. 
     
     
         5 . The reel clip assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the locking member provides a tactile response to a user when the reel assembly is securely fastened to the article of clothing. 
     
     
         6 . The reel clip assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the locking member provides a sound indicator to a user when the reel assembly is securely fastened to the article of clothing. 
     
     
         7 . The reel clip assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the variable-sized clothing-receivable gap provides sufficient clearance for accommodating a variety of articles of clothing. 
     
     
         8 . The reel clip assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the mounting portion is substantially flat in profile such that the mounting portion is substantially flush with the exterior surface of the reel housing, thereby minimizing a profile of the reel clip assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The reel clip assembly of  claim 2 , wherein a rubber bumper is positioned over the second end of the clamp portion of the engagement mechanism to provide a clothing-friendly surface. 
     
     
         10 . The reel clip assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the engagement mechanism is rotatably coupled to the reel assembly such that reel assembly freely rotates when the tether line is selectively extended and retracted about the reel without disengaging the engagement mechanism from the article of clothing. 
     
     
         11 . A card reel with clip assembly for tethering a card to an article of clothing, the card reel with clip assembly comprising:
 a reel including a spring-biased spool and a tether, a first end of the tether being coupled to the spool, and a second end of the tether being coupleable to the card, wherein the tether is retractable and extendable about the spool;   a clip operably coupled to the reel, the clip including a mounting portion mounted to the reel, and a clamp portion extending, at a first end, from a first end of the mounting portion, wherein the clamp portion is shiftable relative to the mounting portion, thereby defining a variable-sized clothing-receivable gap at a second end of the mounting portion and the clamp portion; and   an adjustment mechanism for selectively adjusting the clothing-receivable gap.   
     
     
         12 . The card reel with clip assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the adjustment mechanism provides a tactile response to a user when the reel assembly is securely fastened to the article of clothing. 
     
     
         13 . The card reel with clip assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a sliding member positioned over the clip, the sliding member being slidable relative to the clip between an unlocked position in which the clothing-receivable gap is maximized, and a locked position in which the clothing receivable gap is minimized for a particular article of clothing thereby securing the reel to the article of clothing. 
     
     
         14 . The card reel with clip assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the sliding member is slidable along an exterior of clip, thereby biasing the clamp portion of the clip toward and away from the mounting portion of the clip to adjust the clothing-receivable gap. 
     
     
         15 . The card reel with clip assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a ratchet mechanism including—
 a geared rack having a plurality of protrusions and valleys therebetween, and 
 a hammer presenting an actuating portion and a toothed portion, 
 wherein the toothed portion of the hammer shifts along the geared rack upon actuation of the actuating portion, thereby adjusting the clothing-receivable gap. 
 
     
     
         16 . The card reel with clip assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the geared rack is fixedly mounted to the reel, and the hammer is pivotably mounted to the clip.