GB2563025A - Card holder with rotatable retainer part - Google Patents

Abstract

A holder for a functional item (eg, credit card) comprises a base 2 and a retainer 6, in which said base comprises a docking area 4, and said retainer comprises an inner end portion 5 locatable in said docking area and a retention portion 6 for retaining a functional item. The retainer is connected to said base by an extendable line 7, and is movable between a first position in which said line is retracted and said inner end portion is located in said docking area and is rotationally fixed thereto, and second positions in which said line is extended and said inner end portion is spaced from said base. The extendable line comprises a retraction spring (8, figure 3) which biases said retainer into said first position. The base comprises a first central axis (A-A, figure 1), and said docking area comprises a mouth with a rim portion 10, a centre point 11 of said rim portion being aligned with said first central axis and opposite sides 12 & 13 of which each recede towards an outer end of said base. The retainer comprises a second central axis B-B, and said inner end portion comprises an end surface 15, a centre point 16 of which is aligned with said second central axis and opposite sides 17 & 18 of which each recede towards an outer end of said retainer. In said second positions said retainer is rotatable on said second central axis and said end surface arrangeable at any relative angle to said rim portion. The retraction spring biases said end surface into engagement with said rim portion to rotate said retainer until said end surface is aligned with said mouth and said inner end portion enters said docking area.

Description

Card Holder With A Rotatable Retainer Part

The present invention relates to a holder with a rotatable retainer for retaining a functional item, for use particularly, but not exclusively, as a holder for a machine readable card.

Machine readable cards are well known and are used for many purposes, but they find particular application as devices for allowing travel or access via mechanical gates. Examples include the Oyster Card (registered trade mark) as used to facilitate pre-paid travel in London, and Skidata (registered trade mark) as used to facilitate access to ski lifts in ski resorts. Such machine readable cards comprise an RFID chip containing relevant data, and when they are placed adjacent to an RFID reader an electromagnetic field is created between the reader and the chip, which allows data to be transferred between the reader and the card. To achieve this, the chip is powered by electromagnetic induction provided by the reader, which provides sufficient power to allow the data transfer to take place. Therefore, the card needs to be placed very close to, or in contact with, the reader.

There are many known examples of card holders which can be used to house a machine readable card, including wallets and the like. However, an issue with these is that they are not attached to the person, so can easily be lost. To address this issue it is known to carry machine readable cards in holders comprising a base part which can be affixed to the person, and a retainer part which is connected to the base by an extendable line. The user can attach the base to their belt for example, then manually manipulate the retainer away from the base in order to place the machine readable card adjacent to a reader. The extendable line can comprise a retraction spring which biases the retainer towards the base, so when the card has been used the user can release the retainer and it will be drawn safely back the base.

These kinds of card holder suffer from a number of drawbacks. Firstly, when the retainer is adjacent the base it is not held securely in any position, and can rotate. Secondly, known card holders of this kind are bland in appearance, and mundane in operation, and are therefore not very desirable.

The present invention is intended to overcome some of the above described problems.

Therefore according to the present invention a holder for a functional item comprises a base and a retainer, in which said base comprises a docking area, in which said retainer comprises an inner end portion locatable in said docking area and a retention portion for retaining a functional item with which said holder is used, in which said retainer is connected to said base by an extendable line, and is movable between a first position in which said line is retracted and said inner end portion is located in said docking area and is rotationally fixed thereto, and second positions in which said line is extended and said inner end portion is spaced from said base, in which said extendable line comprises a retraction spring which biases said retainer into said first position, in which said base comprises a first central axis, in which said docking area comprises a mouth with a rim portion, a centre point of said rim portion being aligned with said first central axis and opposite sides of which each recede towards an outer end of said base, in which said retainer comprises a second central axis, in which said inner end portion comprises an end surface, a centre point of which is aligned with said second central axis and opposite sides of which each recede towards an outer end of said retainer, in which in said second positions said retainer is rotatable on said second central axis and said end surface arrangeable at any relative angle to said rim portion, and in which said retraction spring biases said end surface into engagement with said rim portion to rotate said retainer until said end surface is aligned with said mouth and said inner end portion enters said docking area.

Thus, the present invention provides a holder of the kind which comprises a retainer which can be manually removed from a base, and then freely manipulated to any required position and orientation. However, when the retainer is in the first position the inner end portion is located in the docking area and is rotationally fixed thereto. As such, the retainer is held in place and the holder forms a convenient fixed shape for storage and transport.

In addition, in order to ensure that the retainer locates in the docking area in this way automatically, it is shaped and configured so when it returns to the base under the force of the retraction spring, it is driven by the engagement between the opposed end surface and rim portion into the correct rotational position for the inner end portion to locate correctly in the docking area.

In particular, the interaction between the end surface and the rim portion under the driving force of the retraction spring means that the retainer is rotated towards a plane of the rim portion in the direction of the lowest angle between the end surface and the rim portion. If the end surface contacts the rim portion with one side of the retainer at 45 degree angle thereto, and the other side of the retainer at a 135 degree angle thereto, then as the end surface rides over the rim portion under the force of the retraction spring the retainer is rotated in the direction which closes the 45 degree angle, due to the angle of engagement between the end surface and the rim portion resulting from their opposed receding shapes. This movement continues until the retainer is aligned with the mouth and is then drawn into the docking area.

It will be appreciated that the opposite sides of the rim portion can be any shape which can facilitate this action, but in a preferred construction the opposite sides of the rim portion can be arcuate and convex. Preferably the rim portion as a whole can have a consistent line of curvature. If so, the rim portion will perform the same function in relation to the end surface regardless of the relative angle between the first central axis and the second central axis when the retainer and the base first contact one another. The end surface will still ride over the rim portion in the direction towards the lowest angle between the end surface and the rim portion. Although, it will be appreciated that the relative angle between the first central axis and the second central axis when the retainer and the base first contact one another may have an effect on the direction the retainer rotates if the retraction spring is aligned with the first central axis, because it will tend to draw the end surface towards the centre point of the rim portion. That may drive the retainer to rotate towards the greatest angle between the end surface and the rim portion.

Furthermore, the angle between the plane of the end surface and the plane of the rim portion will also have an effect on the manner in which the retainer moves when it first contacts the base, and any momentum carried by the retainer may be transmitted into the rotational movement described above, which may bias it to occur in one direction or the other. What this all means is that the direction the retainer rotates, and therefore the rotational orientation it enters the docking area is affected by multiple physical factors in use, and it is not possible to accurately predict. In other words, there is a degree of randomness to it, which is relevant to further features described below.

It will be appreciated that the rim potion can form one side of the mouth, and the other side could be at least partially open, and the docking area also at least partially open on one side. However, preferably the rim portion can comprise a first rim portion of the mouth, and the mouth can comprise a second rim portion of the same shape as the first rim portion and parallel therewith. As such, the two opposed first and second rim portions act on the end surface to rotate it in a substantially mirrored way, as the lowest angle between the end surface and the first rim portion will be on the opposite side to the lowest angle between the end surface and the second rim portion.

The smaller the angles between the two opposite sides of the end surface and the second central axis, the faster the retainer will rotate when the end surface is driven against the first and second rim portions under the force of the retraction spring, because the resistance to rotation will be less. However, the inner end portion cannot be too long and narrow to achieve this as it would unduly increase the length of the retainer. Therefore, in a preferred construction the opposite sides of the end surface each comprise a first portion extending from the centre point to a midpoint which tapers towards the outer end of the retainer at a first angle to the second central axis, and a second portion which extends from the midpoint to an end point which tapers towards the outer end of the retainer at a second angle to the second central axis which is shallower than the first angle. With this construction the end surface has a pointed section in the middle, and as such the resistance to rotation of the retainer when it first contacts the base and the first portions of the opposite sides of the end surface contact the first and second rim portions will be low, and the retainer will rotate quickly. In fact, as the retainer rotates the pointed section will begin to pass through the mouth and into the docking area. The degree to which this occurs will depend on the width of the mouth, which can be established to allow it to occur sufficiently to smooth out the relative movement of the retainer in relation to the base as it docks.

The docking area can comprise two opposite internal faces and an internal end, and the two opposite internal faces can taper towards one another from the mouth to the internal end. Likewise, the inner end portion can comprise two opposite external faces and an outermost end, and the two opposite external faces can taper towards one another from the retention portion to the outermost end. With these shapes the inner end portion passes smoothly into the docking area because there is little resistance between the external faces and internal faces. It also allows the retainer to be manually removed from the base without undue resistance.

In one construction the opposite external faces can each comprise an arcuate outer edge of the same shape as each of the first and second rim portions. As such, the inner end portion can have an overall shape which matches that of the docking area.

The holder of the invention can have any colour or pattern applied to it as desired. However, in a preferred construction the base can comprise a first side panel carrying an upper part of a first graphic image and a second side panel carrying an upper part of a second graphic image. The retainer can then comprise a first side panel carrying a lower part of the first graphic image and a second side panel carrying a lower part of the second graphic image. The first graphic image and the second graphic image can be fully formed when the retainer is in the first positon in a first angular orientation about the second central axis, and a third graphic image comprising the upper part of the first graphic image and the lower part of the second graphic image, as well as a fourth graphic image comprising the upper part of the second graphic image and the lower part of the first graphic image can be formed when the retainer is in the first position in a second angular orientation about the second central axis.

As such, the holder of the invention can assume two conditions, a first where the first and second graphic images are formed, and a second where the third and fourth graphic images are formed. This allows for the holder to change appearance, and as indicated above this can be done in a somewhat random fashion depending on which of the first angular orientation and the second angular orientation the retainer ends up in relation to the base when the inner end portion is drawn into the docking area by the retraction spring. The end position ofthe retainer could be predicted by referring to its precise position and direction of travel in three dimensions when the end surface first contacts the rim portion, but in practice this would not be done and the user will experience the retainer assuming the first angular orientation and the second angular orientation apparently at random. If the first graphic image and second graphic image are graphically at odds with each other, then the third graphic image and the fourth graphic image can be humorous, as explained in more detail below.

The retention portion can be adapted to carry any functional item, such as a key for a lock, a fob carrying an RFID chip, or any other type of item which has a functional interactional purpose. However, as referred to above, preferably the retention portion can be shaped to retain a card.

The retention portion can comprise a slot formed in the retainer into which a card is locatable, and a latch member to retain the card in the slot.

It will be appreciated that the extendable line can be any known construction which facilitates the above described technical functions. However, in a preferred construction the extendable line can comprise a flexible cord wound onto a drum, and the retraction spring can comprise a spiral spring acting on the drum.

The base can also have any mechanism to allow it to be affixed to a user, or to another item, such as a bag. However, preferably the base comprises a connection loop at an outer end thereof.

Two embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first holder according to the present invention in a first position;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the first holder shown in Figure 1 in a second position;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional front view of the first holder shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional side view of the first holder shown in Figure 1;

Figure 5a is a front view of a second holder according to the present invention in a first position with a retainer part thereof in a first angular orientation;

Figure 5b is a front view of the second holder shown in Figure 5a in a second position;

Figure 5c is a rear view of the second holder shown in Figure 5a in a first position with a retainer part thereof in a first angular orientation;

Figure 5d is a rear view of the second holder shown in Figure 5a in a second position.

Figure 5e is a rear view of the second holder shown in Figure 5a in a first position with a retainer part thereof in a second angular orientation; and

Figures 5f is a front view of the second holder shown in Figure 5a in a first position with a retainer part thereof in a second angular orientation.

As shown in the Figures a holder for a functional item, in the form of card holder 1, comprises a base 2 and a retainer 3. The base 2 comprises a docking area 4 and the retainer 3 comprises an inner end portion 5 locatable in the docking area 4 and a retention portion 6 for retaining a machine readable RFID card (not shown) the size of a standard credit card. The retainer 3 is connected to the base 2 by an extendable line 7, and is movable between a first position, as shown in Figures 1,3 and 4, in which the line 7 is retracted and the inner end portion 5 is located in the docking area 4 and is rotationally fixed thereto, and second positions (such as shown in Figure 2), in which the line 7 is extended and the inner end portion 5 is spaced from the base 2. The extendable line 7 comprises a retraction spring, in the form of spiral spring 8, which biases the retainer 3 into the first position.

The base 1 comprises a first central axis A-A, and the docking area 4 comprises a mouth 9 with a rim portion, in the form of first rim portion 10, a centre point 11 of which is aligned with the first central axis A-A and opposite sides 12 and 13 of which each recede towards an outer end 14 of the base 2. The retainer 3 comprises a second central axis B-B, and the inner end portion 5 comprises an end surface 15, a centre point 16 of which is aligned with the second central axis B-B and opposite sides 17 and 18 of which each recede towards an outer end 19 of the retainer 3.

In the second positions the retainer 3 is rotatable on the second central axis B-B and the end surface 15 is arrangeable at any relative angle to the first rim portion 10. As explained further below, the spring 8 biases the end surface 15 into engagement with the first rim portion 10 to rotate the retainer 3 until the end surface 15 is aligned with the mouth 9 and the inner end portion 5 enters the docking area 4.

The card holder 1 is constructed from a plastics material, and the base 2 and retainer 3 are shaped such that the card holder 1 is substantially shaped like a Russian doll when the retainer 3 is in the first position. In particular, the base 2 comprises an annular head portion 20 (in which the drum 43 is housed), and a broader shoulders portion 21, which forms the docking area 4. The retainer 3 comprises a gently tapering body portion 22. An inner end 23 of the base 2 (the lower end of the shoulders portion 21) comprises the first rim portion 10. As is clear from Figure 2, the opposite sides 12 and 13 of the first rim portion 10 are arcuate and convex, and the first rim portion 10 as a whole has consistent line of curvature.

The first rim portion 10 comprises one side of the mouth 9, which also comprises a second rim portion 24 of the same shape as the first rim portion 10 and is parallel therewith. As such the mouth 9 is a rectangular convex arcuate shape.

The opposite sides17 and 18 of the end surface 15 each comprise a first portion 25 extending from the centre point 16 to a midpoint 26 which tapers towards the outer end 19 of the retainer 3 at a first angle to the second central axis B-B, and a second portion 27 which extends from the midpoint 26 to an end point 28 which tapers towards the outer end 19 of the retainer 3 at a second angle to the second central axis B-B which is shallower than the first angle. As such, the end surface 15 has a pointed section 29 in the middle, the purpose of which is explained below.

Referring to Figure 4, the docking area 4 comprises two opposite internal faces 30 and 31 and an internal end 32, and the two opposite internal faces 30 and 31 taper towards one another from the mouth 9 to the internal end 32. Likewise, the inner end portion 5 comprises two opposite external faces 33 and 34 and an outermost end 35, and the two opposite external faces 33 and 34 taper towards one another from the retention portion 6 to the outermost end 35.

Referring back to Figure 2, the opposite external faces, only one of which 33 is visible, each comprise an arcuate outer edge 36 of the same shape as each of the first and second rim portions 10 and 24. As such, the inner end portion 5 has an overall shape which substantially matches that of the docking area 4.

The retention portion 6 comprise a slot 37 formed in the retainer 3, into which a machine readable RFID card (not shown) is locatable, and a latch member 38 to retain the card in the slot 37. The slot 37 is actually narrower at the outer end 19 of the retainer than a standard credit card, such that when a card is located in the slot edge portions of it extend laterally outwardly of the slot 37. This is a design choice intended to allow the user to easily recognise the identity of the card in the slot 37.

To facilitate this the slot 37 has partial openings, only one of which 39 is visible in Figures 1 and 2, to allow the edge portions of the card to extend laterally outwardly. The retainer 3 comprises a first side panel 40 and a second side panel 41 which form the retention portion 6 and define the slot 37 therebetween. The latch member is an L-shaped latch formed on the second side panel 41, and it passes through an aperture 42 formed in the first side panel 40, thereby to close the outer end 19 of the retainer 3 and secure the card in place. To remove the card the latch member 38 can be manually manipulated to remove it from the aperture 42 so as to allow the card to pass.

The extendable line 7 is flexible cord wound onto a rotatable drum 43, which is visible in Figures 3 and 4. The spiral spring 8 is mounted axially inside the drum 43, and acts thereon to rotate the drum 43 so as to draw the extendable line 7 thereon. An outer end 44 of the line 7 is fixed inside the inner end portion 5 by means of a moulded retention portion 45.

The base 2 comprises a rigid connection loop 46 at its outer end 14, which can be utilised to affix the base 2 to the user’s clothing, or to another item such as a bag, or a bunch of keys.

In use the card holder 1 operates as follows. The user releases the latch member 38 in order to open the slot 37 and place a machine readable RFID card therein, such as an Oyster Card (registered trade mark) or the like (not shown).

Once in place the user forces the latch member 38 through the aperture 42 to secure the card in the slot 37. Outer edge portions of the card extend laterally out of the partial openings 39, allowing it to be readily identified.

The card holder 1 can then be affixed to the user by means of the connection loop 46, for example to their belt by means of a key ring.

When the user encounters a gate which requires them to use their machine readable RFID card to open, they manually remove the retainer 3 from the base 2, and place it adjacent to the card reader. As this happens the extendable line 7 is drawn from the drum 43, which rotates against the force of the spiral spring 8.

As soon as the retainer 3 is moved axially along the first central axis A-A to remove it from the base 2, the external faces 33 and 34 move away from the internal faces 30 and 31, so there is little or no resistance to withdrawal of the inner end portion 5 from the docking area 4.

Once the card has been used the user can release the retainer 3, and it will be drawn back to the base 2 by the action of the spring 8 acting to rotate the drum 43, which retracts the line 7.

Due to the drum 43 being located on the first central axis A-A, and the line 7 entering the retainer 3 at the centre point 16 of the end surface 15, the retainer 3 is generally drawn towards the base 2 with the pointed section 29 facing towards the mouth 9, and being aligned with the first central axis A-A, as is illustrated in Figure 2 If the second central axis B-B were perfectly aligned with the first central axis A-A, and the inner end portion 5 co-planar with the docking area 4 when the retainer 3 were released, then the inner end portion 5 might cleanly enter the mouth 9. However, in practice the retainer 3 will not be released from such a position, and it may contact any number of other surfaces, or be otherwise influenced on its return journey to the base 2. As such, it can come into contact with the base 2 at any point along the first or second rim portion 10 or 24, at any rotational orientation on the second central axis B-B, at any angle to the plane of the first or second rim portion 10 or 24, and with rotational momentum about any point and in any direction.

In whatever position and condition the retainer 3 arrives back at the base 2, the end surface 15 will come into contact with the first rim portion 10 or the second rim portion 24 at some point along their length. The force of the spring 8 will then drive the end surface 15 into engagement with the first and/or second rim portion 10 and 24, and this will serve to bring the inner end portion 5 into alignment with the mouth 9, so it can enter the docking area 4.

As the first rim portion 10 and the second rim portion 24 are parallel they generally act on the end surface 15 in a substantially mirrored way, as the lowest angle between the end surface 15 and the first rim portion 10 is on the opposite side to the lowest angle between the end surface 15 and the second rim portion 24. The work done by the driving force of the spring to force the end surface 15 into engagement with both the first rim portion 10 and the second rim portion 24 results in the rotational impulse imparted to the retainer 3 being duplicated.

Due to their relative shapes the interaction between the end surface 15 the first and/or second rim portions 10 and 24 under the driving force of the spring 8 will result in the retainer 3 being is rotated towards a plane of the docking area 4 in the direction of the lowest angle between the end surface 15 and the first and/or second rim portions 10 and 24 respectively. For example, if the end surface 15 contacts the first rim portion 10 with one side of the retainer 3 at 45 degree angle thereto, and the other side of the retainer 3 at a 135 degree angle thereto, then as the end surface 15 rides over the first rim portion 10 under the force of the spring 8 the retainer 3 is rotated in the direction which closes the 45 degree angle.

It will be appreciated that the relative angle between the first central axis A-A and the second central axis B-B when the retainer 3 and the base 2 first contact one another will have an effect on the direction the retainer 3 rotates because the spring 8 is aligned with the first central axis A-A, so the line 7 will tend to draw the end surface 15 towards the centre point 11 of the first rim portion 10. That may drive the retainer 3 to rotate towards the greatest angle between the end surface 15 and the first and/or second rim portions 10 and 24. Furthermore, the angle between the plane of the end surface 15 and the plane of the fist and/or second rim portions 10 and 24 will also have an effect on the manner in which the retainer 3 moves when it first contacts the base 2, as will momentum it is carrying which may be transmitted into the rotational movement described above, which may bias it to occur in one direction or the other.

As such, the direction the retainer 3 rotates, and therefore the rotational orientation it enters the docking area 4 is affected by multiple physical factors in use, and it is not possible to accurately predict. As such, from the user’s perspective there is a degree of randomness to it.

The resistance to rotation of the retainer 3 when it is acted upon in this way is low because the first portions 25 of the opposite sides 17 and 18 of the end surface 15 are at a relatively steep angle to the second central axis B-B. Further as the retainer 3 rotates the pointed section 29 will begin to pass through the mouth 9 and into the docking area 4. As this happens it is the internally facing edges of the first and second rim portions 10 and 24 which remain in contact with the externally facing edges of the end surface 15, and continue to force the inner end portion 5 to rotate.

When inner end portion 5 is aligned with the docking area 4 and is drawn fully inside it by the force of the spring 8, little resistance is encountered because the relative tapering angles of the external faces 33 and 34 and the internal faces 30 and 31 mean they do not come into contact with one another until the inner end portion 5 is fully located in the docking area 4.

Once the retainer 3 is relocated in the first position the inner end portion 5 is rotationally fixed in relation to the docking area 4. As such, the retainer 3 is held in place and the card holder 1 forms a convenient fixed shape for storage and transport.

The card holder 1 described above comprises technical features which allow it to be used to present a graphically interesting display. In particular, Figures 5a to 5f show a second card holder 50 which is identical to card holder 1, except that the base 51 comprises a first side panel 52 carrying an upper part 53 of a first graphic image 54 and a second side panel 55 carrying an upper part 56 of a second graphic image 57. The retainer 58 then comprises a first side panel 59 carrying a lower part 60 of the first graphic image 54 and a second side panel 61 carrying a lower part 62 of the second graphic image 57.

As is clear from Figures 5a to 5f, the first graphic image 54 depicts a female figure pulling chewing gum from her mouth, and the second graphic image 57 depicts a reptile catching a fly with its tongue. The first graphic image 54 and the second graphic image 57 are formed when the retainer 58 is in the first positon in a first angular orientation about the second central axis B-B.

However, as shown in Figures 5f a third graphic image 63 comprising the upper part 53 of the first graphic image 54 and the lower part 62 of the second graphic image 57 is formed when the retainer 58 is in the first position in a second angular orientation about the second central axis B-B. Figure 5e shows the opposite side of the card holder 50 in this configuration, in which a fourth graphic image 64 comprising the upper part 56 of the second graphic image 57 and the lower part 60 of the first graphic image 54 is formed. In the third graphic image 63 the reptile is depicted pulling gum from its mouth, and in the fourth graphic image 64 he female figure is depicted catching a fly with her tongue. The third graphic image 63 and the fourth graphic image 64 are intended to be humorous twists on the first graphic image 54 and the second graphic image 57 by combining their two elements. It will be appreciated that the graphic images depicted in Figures 5a to 5f are merely illustrative and the skilled person will be able to create any number of variations on this theme using their common general knowledge. Another example could be overtly cartoonish male and female figures which switch bodies when the retainer 58 is in the first position in the second angular orientation about the second central axis B-B

As outlined above, due to the way the retainer 58 assumes either the first or second angular orientation about the second central axis B-B when it returns to the base 51, the card holder 50 will appear to randomly assume either the correct first and second graphic images 54 and 57, or the humorous third and fourth graphic images 63 and 64. This generates an element of surprise and a way for the card holder 50 to engage the user’s attention.

The present invention can be altered without departing from the scope of claim 1. For example in one alternative embodiment (not shown) the retainer is adapted to retain a key for a lock. In other alternative embodiments the card holder has different overall shapes, including square, rectangular, triangular and circular shapes.

Therefore, the present invention provides a card holder with two main advantages over the prior art, namely that the retainer is securely retained against rotation at the base in the first position, and secondly that the retainer can alternately assume the first and second angular orientations in relation to the base as a result of the technical shapes of the end surface and the first and second rim portions, which allows for humorous graphics to be created.

Claims (12)

Claims

1. A holder for a functional item comprising a base and a retainer, in which said base comprises a docking area, in which said retainer comprises an inner end portion locatable in said docking area and a retention portion for retaining a functional item with which said holder is used, in which said retainer is connected to said base by an extendable line, and is movable between a first position in which said line is retracted and said inner end portion is located in said docking area and is rotationally fixed thereto, and second positions in which said line is extended and said inner end portion is spaced from said base, in which said extendable line comprises a retraction spring which biases said retainer into said first position, in which said base comprises a first central axis, in which said docking area comprises a mouth with a rim portion, a centre point of said rim portion being aligned with said first central axis and opposite sides of which each recede towards an outer end of said base, in which said retainer comprises a second central axis, in which said inner end portion comprises an end surface, a centre point of which is aligned with said second central axis and opposite sides of which each recede towards an outer end of said retainer, in which in said second positions said retainer is rotatable on said second central axis and said end surface arrangeable at any relative angle to said rim portion, and in which said retraction spring biases said end surface into engagement with said rim portion to rotate said retainer until said end surface is aligned with said mouth and said inner end portion enters said docking area.

2. A holder as claimed in claim 1 in which said opposite sides of said rim portion are arcuate and convex.

-173. A holder as claimed in claim 2 in which said rim portion comprises a first rim portion of said mouth, and in which said mouth comprises a second rim portion of the same shape as said first rim portion and parallel therewith.

4. A holder as claimed in claim 3 in which said opposite sides of said end surface each comprise a first portion extending from said centre point to a midpoint which tapers towards said outer end of said retainer at a first angle to said second central axis and a second portion which extends from said midpoint to an end point which tapers towards said outer end of said retainer at a second angle to said second central axis which is shallower than said first angle.

5. A holder as claimed in claim 4 in which said docking area comprises two opposite internal faces and an internal end, and in which said two opposite internal faces taper towards one another from said mouth to said internal end.

6. A holder as claimed in claim 5 in which said inner end portion comprises two opposite external faces and a outermost end, and in which said two opposite external faces taper towards one another from said retention portion to said outermost end.

7. A holder as claimed in claim 6 in which said opposite external faces each comprise an arcuate outer edge of the same shape as each of said first and second rim portions.

-188. A holder as claimed in claim 1 in which said base comprises a first side panel carrying an upper part of a first graphic image and a second side panel carrying an upper part of a second graphic image, in which said retainer comprises a first side panel carrying a lower part of said first graphic image and a second side panel carrying a lower part of said second graphic image, in which said first graphic image and second graphic image are fully formed when said retainer is in said first positon in a first angular orientation about said second central axis, and in which a third graphic image comprising the upper part of said first graphic image and the lower part of said second graphic image, and a fourth graphic image comprising the upper part of said second graphic image and the lower part of said first graphic image are formed when said retainer is in said first position in a second angular orientation about said second central axis.

9. A holder as claimed in claim 1 in which said retention portion is shaped to retain a card.

10. A holder as claimed in claim 9 in which said retention portion comprises a slot formed in said retainer into which a card is locatable, and a latch member to retain said case in said slot.

11. A holder as claimed in claim 1 in which said extendable line comprises a flexible cord wound onto a drum, and in which said retraction spring comprises a spiral spring acting on said drum.

12. A holder as claimed in claim 1 in which said base comprises a connection loop at an outer end thereof.

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