Cable dispensing and retracting device

Abstract

An eyewear retention device is disclosed that includes a length of resilient braided or monofilament line, terminating at each end in a tapered, rubberized retention tubing. One or more retractable spring loaded mechanisms have a locking mechanism for easy extraction and retraction back and forth by simply pulling on said line. The combination of the resilient line and the mechanisms produces a tensioned arc such that in addition to retaining eyeglasses around wearers head when in use when not in use with a simple pull on said line, the retention device forms a suspended arc over the wear's upper torso such that the device does not contact the wear's upper torso or their vestment when donned over a wearer's eyes.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A cable dispensing and retracting device comprising:
 a) a length of cable having a first end and a second end;   b) a mechanism located between the first end of the cable and the second end of the cable, the mechanism comprising:
 a housing; 
 a spring loaded retractable spool disposed within the housing and operable to retract the cable by winding the cable around an exterior of the spool; 
 a guide ball disposable in a ball stop point in a side wall of the spool and operable to hold the spool in a locked state, and operable to transition to an unlocked state and move through a channel in the side wall of the spool, rendering the spool rotatable in dispensing of the cable from the spool and rotatable in retraction of the cable by the spool. 
   
     
     
         22 . The cable dispensing and retracting device of  claim 21 , wherein the spring loaded retractable spool comprises a spring located within the spool, the spring engaging both the spool and the housing and operable to rotate the spool, thereby winding the cable around the spool when the spool is in the unlocked state. 
     
     
         23 . The cable dispensing and retracting device of  claim 21 , wherein when the guide ball is disposed in the ball stop point, the ball stop point renders the spool in a locked state and immobilizes the cable relative to the housing when no external tension is applied to the cable. 
     
     
         24 . The cable dispensing and retracting device of  claim 23 , wherein when external tension is applied to the first end and the second end of the cable, the spool is operable to rotate, releasing the guide ball from the ball stop point, and rendering the spool in an unlocked state. 
     
     
         25 . The cable dispensing and retracting device of  claim 24 , wherein the length of cable is comprised of a center region, a first retractable region between the center section and the first end, and a second retractable region between the center section and the second end, and wherein the first region is retractable into the retractable spool, and the second region is retractable into the retractable spool. 
     
     
         26 . The cable dispensing and retracting device of  claim 25 , wherein the application of sustained external tension on the cable causes the spool to rotate in an extraction direction, thereby releasing portions of the first and second retractable regions of the cable from the housing, and causing the guide ball to cycle through the channel. 
     
     
         27 . The cable dispensing and retracting device of  claim 25 , wherein the application of a temporary external tension to the first end and the second end of the cable causes the guide ball to be released from the ball stop point, and subsequent release of the external tension enables the spool to rotate in a retraction direction, thereby retracting portions of the first and second retractable regions of the cable into the housing, and causing the guide ball to cycle through the channel. 
     
     
         28 . A cable dispensing and retracting device comprising:
 a) a cable comprised of a first end, a second end, a center region, a first retractable region between the center section and the first end, and a second retractable region between the center section and the second end;   b) a housing comprised of:
 a front housing portion; and 
 a rear housing portion comprising a rear housing wall, a housing guide ball channel formed in the rear housing wall, and a center pin extending from the rear housing wall and having an open slot at a distal end of the center pin; 
   c) a retraction mechanism disposed within the housing and operable to retract the first and second retractable regions of the cable into the housing and release the first and second retractable regions of the cable from the housing, the retraction mechanism comprising:
 a spool comprised of a body having a central opening defining a spool rotational axis and surrounding the central pin of the rear housing portion and rotatable around the central pin of the rear housing portion, a cable channel formed in the body and containing the center section of the cable, an exterior surface contiguous with first and second ends of the cable channel and operable to receive wound cable in operation of the device, and a side wall including a guide ball stop recess and a spool guide ball channel formed therein; 
 a wound spring disposed within a spring cavity in the body of the spool and surrounding the center pin of the rear housing portion, and comprising a first end disposed in the open slot of the center pin, and a second end disposed in a slot formed in the body of the spool; and 
 a guide ball contained within the housing guide ball channel, the spool guide ball channel, and the guide ball stop recess. 
   
     
     
         29 . The cable dispensing and retracting device of  claim 28 , wherein when the guide ball is disposed in the guide ball stop recess, the guide ball stop recess acts as a guide ball stop point, rendering the spool in a locked state and immobilizing the cable relative to the housing when no external tension is applied to the cable. 
     
     
         30 . The cable dispensing and retracting device of  claim 29 , wherein when external tension is applied to the cable, the spool is operable to rotate, releasing the guide ball from the guide ball stop recess and rendering the spool in an unlocked state. 
     
     
         31 . The cable dispensing and retracting device of  claim 30 , wherein the application of sustained external tension on the cable causes the spool to rotate in an extraction direction, thereby releasing portions of the first and second retractable regions of the cable from the housing, and causing the guide ball to cycle through the spool guide ball channel. 
     
     
         32 . The cable dispensing and retracting device of  claim 30 , wherein the application of a temporary external tension on the cable causes the guide ball to be released from the guide ball stop recess, and subsequent release of the external tension enables the spool to rotate in a retraction direction, thereby retracting portions of the first and second retractable regions of the cable into the housing, and causing the guide ball to cycle through the spool guide ball channel. 
     
     
         33 . A cable dispensing and retracting device comprising:
 a) a cable comprised of a first end and a second end, and a first retractable region between the first end and the first second;   b) a housing comprised of:
 a front housing portion; and 
 a rear housing portion comprising a rear housing wall, a housing guide ball channel formed in the rear housing wall, and a center pin extending from the rear housing wall and having an open slot at a distal end of the center pin; 
   c) a retraction mechanism disposed within the housing and operable to retract the first retractable region of the cable into the housing and release the first retractable region of the cable from the housing, the retraction mechanism comprising:
 a spool comprised of a body having a central opening defining a spool rotational axis and surrounding the central pin of the rear housing portion and rotatable around the central pin of the rear housing portion, a cable channel formed in the body, an exterior surface contiguous with first and second ends of the cable channel and operable to wind the first retractable region of the cable in operation of the device; and 
 a wound spring disposed within a spring cavity in the body of the spool and surrounding the center pin of the rear housing portion, and comprising a first end disposed in the open slot of the center pin, and a second end disposed in a slot formed in the body of the spool. 
   
     
     
         34 . The cable dispensing and retracting device of  claim 33 , wherein the spool of the retraction mechanism is further comprised of a side wall including a guide ball stop recess and a spool guide ball channel formed therein, and the retraction mechanism is further comprised of a guide ball contained within the housing guide ball channel, the spool guide ball channel, and the guide ball stop recess. 
     
     
         35 . The cable dispensing and retracting device of  claim 34 , wherein when the guide ball is disposed in the guide ball stop recess, the guide ball stop recess acts as a guide ball stop point, rendering the spool in a locked state and immobilizing the cable relative to the housing when no external tension is applied to the cable. 
     
     
         36 . The cable dispensing and retracting device of  claim 35 , wherein when external tension is applied to the cable, the spool is operable to rotate, releasing the guide ball from the guide ball stop recess and rendering the spool in an unlocked state. 
     
     
         37 . The cable dispensing and retracting device of  claim 36 , wherein the application of sustained external tension on the cable causes the spool to rotate in an extraction direction, thereby releasing a portion of the first retractable region of the cable from the housing, and causing the guide ball to cycle through the spool guide ball channel. 
     
     
         38 . The cable dispensing and retracting device of  claim 36 , wherein the application of a temporary external tension on the cable causes the guide ball to be released from the guide ball stop recess, and subsequent release of the external tension enables the spool to rotate in a retraction direction, thereby retracting a portion of the first retractable region of the cable into the housing, and causing the guide ball to cycle through the spool guide ball channel.