TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to accessories portable receptacles. More particularly, the present invention relates to a portable receptacle with an integrated lanyard reel.
BACKGROUND ART Most people have a handful of possessions, like keys or flash drives, that are both very important and small enough to be lost easily. While such items may be carried in one's pockets, the space there is limited, and it is still possible for items to fall out by accident. Moreover, many people wear clothes that do not provide pockets. Small items carried in portable receptacles such as handbags and backpacks can become difficult to extract, as they get tangled in the various other objects within. Likewise, a key or other valuable small item stored in a pocket of a backpack can easily fall out if that pocket is left open even once.
In view of the above, there is a need for a portable receptacle that can store important small items in a readily accessible yet secure manner.
SUMMARY In one aspect, a portable receptacle with an integrated lanyard reel includes a portable receptacle. The receptacle includes a reel attached to the portable receptacle. The receptacle includes a lanyard wound on the reel, the lanyard having a distal end, the lanyard movable between a retracted position in which the distal end is a first distance from the reel and an extended position in which the distal end is a second distance from the reel, the second distance greater than the first distance.
In a related embodiment, the receptacle includes a backpack. In another embodiment, the receptacle further includes a pocket that contains the distal end of the lanyard when the lanyard is wound on the reel. In an additional embodiment, the pocket contains the reel. In a further embodiment, the reel is outside of the pocket, and the pocket includes a hole through which the lanyard extends into the pocket. In a further embodiment still, the pocket includes a fastener that enables a user to close the pocket. In yet another embodiment, the fastener further includes a slide fastener.
In another embodiment, the reel also includes a retraction mechanism that rotates the reel to wind the lanyard on the reel. In an additional embodiment, the retraction mechanism includes a biasing means. In still another embodiment, the biasing means further includes a spring. In another embodiment still, the retraction mechanism also includes a reverse rotation lock. In an additional embodiment, the retraction mechanism also includes a crankshaft. In one embodiment, the crankshaft is driven by a manual crank. In another embodiment, the crankshaft is driven by a motor. In a further embodiment, the distal end of the lanyard also includes a fastener that attaches to a personal item. In another embodiment, the fastener includes a key-ring. In yet another embodiment, the fastener includes a clasp.
These and other features of the disclosed device will be presented in more detail in the following detailed description of the device and the associated figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The preceding summary, as well as the following detailed description of the disclosed system and method, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the attached drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the device, presently preferred embodiments are shown in the drawings. It should be understood, however, that the device is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.
FIG. 1 is a partially cut away schematic diagram of an embodiment of the disclosed portable receptacle;
FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the disclosed portable receptacle;
FIG. 2B is a schematic diagram of a portion of an embodiment of the disclosed portable receptacle having a pocket;
FIG. 2C is a partially cut away schematic diagram of a portion of an embodiment of the disclosed portable receptacle having a pocket;
FIG. 2D is a partially cut away schematic diagram of a portion of an embodiment of the disclosed portable receptacle having a pocket;
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the interior of an embodiment of a reel, showing a spool;
FIG. 4A is a schematic diagram of the interior of an embodiment of a reel, showing a spool and a spring;
FIG. 4B is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a reel, showing a reverse rotation lock;
FIG. 4C is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a reel, showing a reverse rotation lock;
FIG. 4D is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a reel, showing a manual crank;
FIG. 4E is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a reel, showing a motor;
FIG. 5 is a partially cut away schematic diagram of an embodiment of the disclosed portable receptacle;
FIG. 6A is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of the lanyard with clasp included at the distal end; and
FIG. 6B is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of the lanyard with a second receptacle at the distal end.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the disclosed portable receptacle provide an integrated retractable lanyard that may be secured to a small but crucial item such as a keychain or a thumb drive. The lanyard may be long enough to allow the use of the item without detachment; as a result, the reel on which the lanyard is mounted may subsequently retract the item to a safe position when released by the user. The retracted lanyard may be housed in a pocket, so that the item is stowed in that pocket when not in use.
FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a portable receptacle 100 with an integrated lanyard reel. The portable receptacle 100 with the integrated lanyard reel includes a portable receptacle 101. The portable receptacle 100 includes a reel 102 attached to the portable receptacle 101. The portable receptacle 100 includes a lanyard 103 wound on the reel 102, the lanyard having a distal end 104. The lanyard 103 is movable between a retracted position in which the distal end 104 is a first distance from the reel 102 and an extended position in which the distal end 104 is a second distance from the reel 102. The second distance is greater than the first distance.
Referring to FIG. 1 in further detail, the portable receptacle 100 with the integrated lanyard reel includes a portable receptacle 101. The portable receptacle 101 may be any receptacle that a person can carry with them for the purpose of transporting personal possessions. As a non-limiting example, the portable receptacle 101 may be a backpack. The portable receptacle 101 may be a handbag or purse. The portable receptacle 101 may be a satchel. The portable receptacle 101 may be a briefcase. The portable receptacle 101 may be any item of hand luggage, such as a suitcase, trunk, wheeled luggage item, carry-on bag, or the like. The portable receptacle 101 may be a messenger bag.
In some embodiments, as illustrated for example in FIGS. 2A-D, the receptacle includes a pocket 200 that contains the distal end 104 of the lanyard 103 when the lanyard 103 is in the retracted position. The pocket 200 may have any form suitable for a pocket in a portable receptacle such as a backpack; as a non-limiting example, the pocket 200 may be a pouch constructed of similar materials to the receptacle 101, with an opening in an exterior surface of the receptacle 101. As a non-limiting example, the opening may be substantially slit-like. As shown for example in FIG. 2B, the pocket may include a fastener 201 that closes the pocket; the fastener 201 may include a slide fastener such as a zipper, or any other device suitable for closing the opening of a pocket. The pocket 200 may also contain a personal item attached to the distal end 104 of the lanyard 103 when the lanyard 103 is in the retracted position. In some embodiments, as illustrated for example in the partial cutaway in FIG. 1, the reel 102 is contained in the pocket 200; as a result, when the reel 102 retracts the lanyard 103 fully, as described in further detail below, the distal end 104 of the lanyard 103 may be pulled into the pocket 200. In other embodiments, as illustrated for example in FIGS. 2C-D, the reel 102 is outside of the pocket 200. The pocket 200 may include a hole 202 through which the lanyard 103 extends into the pocket 200. The hole may, for instance, include a metal or plastic grommet set in the material making up the interior of the pocket 200.
Returning to FIG. 1, the portable receptacle 100 includes a reel 102 attached to the portable receptacle 101. The reel 102 may include a housing 300 that contains the components of the reel 102; the housing 300 may be constructed from any suitable material or combination of materials, including without limitation plastic or other polymers, metal, ceramic, or fiberglass. In some embodiments, as illustrated for instance in FIG. 3, the reel 102 includes a spool 301 on which the lanyard 103 is wound. The spool 301 may be journaled on a central axle. The spool 301 may be journaled on an interior surface of the housing 300; for instance, the housing 300 may have a substantially cylindrical internal surface having a diameter very slightly larger than the diameter of the spool 301. In some embodiments, the spool 301 is substantially cylindrical. The spool 301 may have projecting lips at the top and bottom of the spool 301; the lips may fit closely to the interior surface of the housing 300, preventing the lanyard 103 from slipping off the spool 301. The spool 301 may be constructed from any material or combination of materials suitable for the construction of the housing 300.
In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 4A-E, the reel 102 also includes a retraction mechanism that rotates the reel 102 to wind the lanyard on the reel 102. The retraction mechanism 400a-b may rotate the reel 102 by rotating the spool 301 described above in reference to FIG. 3. In some embodiments, for example as illustrated in FIG. 4A, the retraction mechanism 400a-b includes a biasing means 400a; the biasing means may include a spring, such as a spiral torsion spring fitted in a coaxial cylindrical void 401 within the spool 301. The spring 400a may have a first end affixed to the spool 301 and a second end affixed to an axial post 402 that is affixed to the housing 300, so that the spring 400a stores energy when the spool 301 is rotated in a first direction with respect to the housing 300 and releases energy when the spool 301 is rotated in a second direction with respect to the housing 301. The biasing means 400a may alternatively include a counterweight (not shown), an elastic polymer element that stores energy in a manner analogous to a spring or rubber band, or any other suitable biasing means.
In some embodiments, as illustrated for example in FIGS. 4B-C, the reel 102 has a reverse rotation lock; for instance, the reverse rotation lock may include a ratchet mechanism. The ratchet mechanism may include a gear 403. The ratchet mechanism may include a pawl 404. In some embodiments, the gear 403 is fixed to the housing 301 and the pawl 404 is attached to the spool 300. The pawl 404 may have a biasing means (not shown) tending to force it onto the gear 403. As a result, when the spool 300 is unwound, the pawl 404 may engage teeth on the gear 403, resisting the bias of the biasing means 400a and preventing retraction, while being able to travel over the teeth when the spool is rotated against the bias, to engage subsequent teeth. In some embodiments, if a user pulls the lanyard 103 suddenly forward, the biasing means 400a will cause the spool to rotate rapidly; this may cause centrifugal force to pull the pawl 404 away from the gear 403, as shown for instance in FIG. 4C, so that the spool quickly retracts. The biasing means of the pawl 404 may be chosen to be weaker than the centrifugal force exerted by rotation at a given angular velocity, which may be chosen as a typical angular velocity at which the spool 300 is likely to retract.
In other embodiments, as shown for instance in FIGS. 4D-E, the retraction mechanism 400a-b includes a crankshaft 400b. The crankshaft 400b may be affixed to the spool 301, so that turning the crankshaft 400b causes the spool to rotate, either winding or unwinding the lanyard 103 on the spool 301, depending on the direction of rotation. The crankshaft 400b may be driven by a biasing means, such as the biasing means 400a described above. In other embodiments, the crankshaft 400b is driven by a manual crank 405, which a user may use to wind the lanyard on the spool by rotating the manual crank 405. In other embodiments, the crankshaft 400b is driven by a motor 406; the motor 406 may be an electric motor, such as a servomotor.
Returning to FIG. 1, the portable receptacle 100 includes a lanyard 103. As used herein, a lanyard 103 is a flexible member securing a personal item to another object; the lanyard 103 may help prevent loss of the personal item, and may help to organize personal items that a person carries with them. The flexible member may be elongate. The lanyard may be formed from any flexible member suitable for the above use. For instance, the lanyard 103 may be a length of string, which may be plaited, spun, cabled, knit, or formed by similar means. The lanyard 103 may be a monofilament, which may be round, polygonal, or flat in cross-section. The lanyard 103 may be a cable of metal wire or natural or synthetic fibers. The lanyard may be a chain, such as a chain of metal or polymer links. The lanyard 103 is movable between a retracted position, for instance as shown in FIG. 1, and an extended position, for instance as shown in FIG. 5.
In some embodiments, as shown for instance in FIG. 1, the distal end 104 of the lanyard includes a fastener 105 that attaches to a personal item; the personal item may be keys, a thumb drive, a pen knife, or other similar accessories. In some embodiments, the fastener 105 includes a key ring. The key ring may be a split ring, such as those commonly used in key-chains, or a hinged ring that can be secured in its closed position to prevent the personal item from sliding off of it. In other embodiments, as shown for instance in FIG. 6A, the fastener 105 includes a clasp; the clasp may be any device that can be fastened about a part of a personal item to secure the personal item to the distal end 104 and can also be unfastened to release the personal item from the distal end 104. In other embodiments, as shown for instance in FIG. 6B, the distal end 104 is attached to a second receptacle 600. The second receptacle 600 may be a pouch, a wallet, a box, a locket, or the like.
Although the foregoing device has been described in some detail for purposes of clarity of understanding, it will be apparent that certain changes and modifications may be practiced within the scope of the appended claims.
