US20150272305A1

US20150272305A1 - Article tether

Info

Publication number: US20150272305A1
Application number: US14/225,623
Authority: US
Inventors: Kimberly HOWARD
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-03-26
Filing date: 2014-03-26
Publication date: 2015-10-01

Abstract

An article tether is provided. The article tether may include a tethering cord, a first coupling, a second coupling, an anchor and a clasp. The tethering cord may include a first end and a second end. The first coupling and the second coupling may form tubular openings sized for slidably receiving the tethering cord but not the anchor. The user may thread the first end through the second coupling opening and then the first coupling opening sequentially in a specified direction. Then the user may connect the first end to the anchor. Then the user may thread the second end through the first coupling opening in the same specified direction so that the tethering cord defines a loop opening. The user may then fit the loop opening around an article or portion thereof. The user may then adjust the size of the loop opening so as to securely attach the article tether to the article. The user may then fasten the clasp to their apparel so as to prevent the article from getting misplaced when not in use.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to securing articles to clothing and, more particularly, to a tether for securing wearable articles to clothing so that the accessories are readily available and will not be misplaced.
When not in use, people commonly misplace articles, especially when they use them frequently. And the more frequent the article is used, the more readily available the safe-keeping location needs to be. Moreover, because such articles may be electronic, for example, a Bluetooth headset, replacing such articles can be costly.
As can be seen, there is a need for a device that prevents the misplacement of articles by keeping the articles safe in a readily available manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, an article comprises: a tethering cord having a first end and a second end; an anchor secured to the first end; a first coupling forming a tubular lumen configured to engage the anchor and configured to slidably receive the tethering cord; a second coupling forming a tubular lumen configured to slidably receive the tethering cord; and an adjustable loop opening formed by extending the tethering cord through the first coupling and the second coupling sequentially in a specified direction and then through the first coupling in the opposing direction.
In another aspect of the present invention, a method of tethering an article to apparel comprises: providing an article tether comprising: a first end and a second end; an anchor secured to the first end; a first coupling forming a tubular lumen configured to engage the anchor and configured to slidably receive the tethering cord; and a second coupling forming a tubular lumen configured to slidably receive the tethering cord; forming an adjustable loop opening by extending the tethering cord through the first coupling and the second coupling sequentially in a specified direction and then through the first coupling in the opposing direction; fitting the loop opening on the article; tightening the loop opening to the article so that the article is removably secured; and securing the second end to an article of clothing.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention shown in use;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention shown in use;

FIG. 3 is an elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention shown in use;

FIG. 4 is an elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention illustrating the tightening of a loop opening; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.
Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides an article tether. The article tether may include a tethering cord, a first coupling, a second coupling, an anchor and a clasp. The tethering cord may include a first end and a second end. The first coupling and the second coupling may form tubular openings sized for slidably receiving the tethering cord but not the anchor. The user may thread the first end through the second coupling opening and then the first coupling opening sequentially in a specified direction. Then the user may connect the first end to the anchor. Then the user may thread the second end through the first coupling opening in the same specified direction so that the tethering cord defines a loop opening. The user may then fit the loop opening around an article or portion thereof. The user may then adjust the size of the loop opening so as to securely attach the article tether to the article. The user may then fasten the clasp to their apparel so as to prevent the article from getting misplaced when not in use.
Referring to FIGS. 1 through 5, the present invention may include an article tether 100. The article tether 100 may include a tethering cord 10, a first coupling 12, a second coupling 14, an anchor 16 and a clasp 18.
The tethering cord 10 may be a piece of string, thin rope or thin chain made from flexible material, such as nylon, rayon, cotton, soft metal, a combination thereof or the like. The tethering cord 10 may terminate at a first end 26 and a second end 38.
The anchor 16 may be a tubular object for receiving the first end 26. The first end 26 may be connected to the anchor 16 by, for example, tying a knot in the tethering cord 10, providing wax, and the like. The anchor 16 may be fabricated from any suitable material, such as but not limited to, wood, metal, rubber, and the like. In certain embodiments, the anchor 16 may include a snap fastener, adjustable barrel nut or other suitable fastener. In an alternate embodiment, the anchor 16 and the first end 26 may be integrally formed as a single piece.
The second end 38 may be connected to the removable clasp 18 that can be removably coupled to a user's apparel, such as but not limited to, the user's collar 32. The clasp 18 may include conventional clasp apparatus such as an earring post 20 and an earring back 22, a brooch 34 and a brooch pin 36 and the like. It should be understood that the clasp 18, 20, 34, 36 may be any fastener known in the art for fastening or removably securing one object to another including, for example, standard push-button snaps, Velcro-type fasteners, adhesive substances, combinations thereof, and the like.
Between the first end 26 and the second end 38 the tethering cord 10 may include the first coupling 12 and the second coupling 14. The first coupling 12 and the second coupling 14 may each be a tube defining a lumen having a circumference. The lumen may slidably receive the tethering cord 10. The lumen circumference may be dimensions to engage the anchor 16 so that the anchor may not pass through the lumen, thereby when the first end 26 may be attached to the anchor 16 the first end 26 may not thread through the lumen.
A method of using the present invention may include the following. The article tether 100 disclosed above may be provided. The user may thread the first end 26 through the second coupling 14 lumen and then the first coupling 12 lumen sequentially in a specified direction. The user may then connect the first end 26 to the anchor 16. Then the user may thread the second end 38 through the first coupling 12 opening in the same specified direction so that the tethering cord 10 defines a loop opening 24. The user may then fit the loop opening 24 around an article 28 or a portion 30 of the article 28. The article 28 may include an earpiece, hearing aid, headset, headphone, reading glasses, timepiece, jewelry, keepsake or any item the user wants to keep from being misplaced and/or readily available when not in use. The portion 30 thereof may be an ear bud to a headset, a frame of the reading glasses, or the like. The user may then adjust the size of the loop opening 24, as illustrated in FIG. 4, so as to removably secure the article tether 100 to the article 28 and or portion 30 thereof. The user may then fasten the clasp 18 to their apparel 32 so as to prevent the article 28 from getting misplaced when not in use.
In an alternate method of using the present invention, the user may thread the second end 38 through the first coupling 14 lumen and then the second coupling 12 lumen sequentially in a specified direction. Then the user may connect the first end 26 to the anchor 16. Then the user may thread the second end 38 through the first coupling 12 lumen in the opposite specified direction so that the tethering cord 10 defines a loop opening 24.
Accordingly, the present invention includes a device that allows a user to maintain control of the article 28. The article tether 100 may be designed for quick and easy attachment to the article 28 and the user's apparel 32. The present invention provides for improved elements thereof in an arrangement for the purposes described that are inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing their intended purposes.
It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An article tether comprising:

a tethering cord having a first end and a second end;

an anchor secured to the first end;

a first coupling forming a tubular lumen configured to engage the anchor and configured to slidably receive the tethering cord;

a second coupling forming a tubular lumen configured to slidably receive the tethering cord; and

an adjustable loop opening formed by extending the tethering cord through the first coupling and the second coupling sequentially in a specified direction and then through the first coupling in the opposing direction.

2. The article tether of claim 1, wherein the anchor and the first end is integrally formed as a single piece.

3. The article tether of claim 1, further including a clasp secured to the second end.

4. The article tether of claim 3, wherein the clasp is configured to removably secure to an article of apparel.

5. A method of tethering an article to apparel comprising:

providing an article tether comprising: a first end and a second end; an anchor secured to the first end; a first coupling forming a tubular lumen configured to engage the anchor and configured to slidably receive the tethering cord; and a second coupling forming a tubular lumen configured to slidably receive the tethering cord;

forming an adjustable loop opening by extending the tethering cord through the first coupling and the second coupling sequentially in a specified direction and then through the first coupling in the opposing direction;

fitting the loop opening on the article;

tightening the loop opening to the article so that the article is removably secured; and

securing the second end to an article of clothing.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the anchor and the first end is integrally formed as a single piece.

7. The method of claim 4, further including providing a clasp secured to the second end.