Retention Lanyard

Abstract

A retention lanyard and method for securing an article to a hand of a user, the article having a pair of opposing features, the retention lanyard including a planar flexible element having a first end and a second end with a longitudinal axis. Also first and second end portions that include respective first and second planar flexible loop apertures on the respective first and second ends. Operationally, each of the first and second apertures are placed about each one of the pair of article features, wherein the planar flexible element is positioned about the hand, the retention lanyard retains the article to the user's hand in an idle state with the user's hand not engaging the article and the retention lanyard retains the article to the user's hand in an active state with the user's hand engaging the article without any tether causing an additional hand to retention lanyard contact.

1 . A retention lanyard for securing an article to a hand of a user, the article having a pair of opposing features, said retention lanyard comprising:
 (a) a planar flexible element having a first end and an opposing second end with a longitudinal axis spanning therebetween;   (b) a first end portion that includes a first planar flexible loop, wherein said first loop originates and terminates at said planar flexible element first end, wherein said first loop defines a first aperture; and   (c) a second end portion that includes a second planar flexible loop, wherein said second loop originates and terminates at said planar flexible element second end, wherein said second loop defines a second aperture, wherein operationally each of said first and second apertures are placed about each one of the pair of article features, wherein said planar flexible element is positioned about the hand, wherein said retention lanyard retains the article in contact with the user's hand in an idle operational state with the user's hand not grasping or engaging the article and said retention lanyard retains the article to the user's hand in an active operational state with the user's hands grasping or engaging the article without any tether length thus allowing a single hand to retain and use the article.   
     
     
         2 . A retention lanyard according to  claim 1  wherein said first and second ends form an elongated flexible beam therebetween that is defined by a beam distance between said first and second apertures along said longitudinal axis, and said first and second apertures each have an aperture major axis that is along said longitudinal axis, each said aperture major axis has an aperture major axis length, wherein said beam distance is greater than said aperture major axis length, to operationally facilitate said elongated beam to conform to the user's hand. 
     
     
         3 . A retention lanyard according to  claim 2  wherein said first and second apertures further each have a minor axis that is positioned perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, wherein each said minor axis has an aperture minor axis length, wherein said aperture minor axis length is less than said aperture major axis length, to operationally facilitate easier looping of said first and second apertures to the article opposing features. 
     
     
         4 . A retention lanyard according to  claim 3  wherein said elongated flexible beam combined with said first and second planar flexible loops has a “K” spring rate along said longitudinal axis of about one-half (½) pound force per inch of movement along said longitudinal axis to operationally allow for said elongated flexible beam to encompass the user's hand and to easily attach and retain the article to the user's hand in both said idle operational state and said active operational state. 
     
     
         5 . A retention lanyard according to  claim 1  wherein said first and second apertures each have a teardrop shape with a pointed portion of each said teardrop being adjacent to said elongated flexible beam, to operationally facilitate easier placement of each said first and second flexible planar loop upon the article opposing features. 
     
     
         6 . A retention lanyard for securing an article to a hand of a user, the article having a pair of opposing features, said retention lanyard comprising:
 (a) a planar flexible element having a first end and an opposing second end;   (b) a first end portion that includes a first planar flexible loop, wherein said first loop originates and terminates at said planar flexible element first end, wherein said first loop defines a first aperture; and   (c) a second end portion that includes a second planar flexible loop, wherein said second loop originates and terminates at said planar flexible element second end, wherein said second loop defines a second aperture, wherein operationally each of said first and second apertures are placed about each one of the pair of article features, wherein said planar flexible element is positioned about a finger of the hand, wherein said retention lanyard retains the article to the user's hand, without any tether length thus allowing a single hand to retain and use the article.   
     
     
         7 . A retention lanyard according to  claim 6  wherein said first and second ends form an elongated flexible beam therebetween that is defined by a beam distance between said first and second apertures, wherein each said aperture has a perimeter, wherein said perimeter is greater than said beam distance, to operationally facilitate said first and second apertures ease of being placed about each one of the pair of article features. 
     
     
         8 . A retention lanyard according to  claim 7  wherein said elongated flexible beam combined with said first and second planar flexible loops has a “K” spring rate of about one-half (½) pound force per inch of movement, to operationally allow for said elongated flexible beam to encompass the user's finger and to easily attach and retain the article to the user's hand. 
     
     
         9 . A retention lanyard according to  claim 6  wherein said first and second apertures each have a circular shape, to operationally facilitate easier placement of each said first and second flexible planar loop upon the article opposing features.