Rotating Retractor Housing for Cable Wear Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional retractable tethering devices using belt clipping systems suffer from excessive resistance and cable fatigue due to a fixed orientation, which reduces the overall life of the product as they do not adjust to different angles of use.
Innovation Solution
A retractor system with a clamp that can be mounted to a user's clothing, allowing for movement and rotation to align with the extending line, reducing friction and wear, and featuring a locking mechanism and a ball-and-socket attachment clip for secure and flexible attachment of personal articles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed orientation mounting system is used, then the mounting structure is simple and stable, but the cable experiences excessive resistance and flexing fatigue when extended at different angles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the housing rotatable relative to the mounting point, allowing the retractor to change its orientation dynamically as the cable extends and retracts at different angles. This rotational capability eliminates excessive cable resistance and flexing fatigue while maintaining a relatively simple mounting mechanism, thus improving product reliability without significantly increasing device complexity.
2Ease of operation
If the retractor housing is fixed in orientation, then the mounting mechanism is simple, but the cable flexing and resistance increase significantly during use
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is designed to rotate relative to the mounting point, enabling it to adapt its orientation dynamically during cable extension and retraction. This dynamic adjustment ensures the cable remains properly aligned, reducing flexing and resistance, thereby improving ease of operation without requiring a complex rotation mechanism.
3Reliability
If a rotatable housing mechanism is added, then cable wear is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable housing mechanism is implemented to allow the housing to change orientation relative to the mounting point as the cable extends and retracts at various angles. This dynamic capability reduces cable wear and extends cable life while maintaining acceptable device complexity through a straightforward rotational joint design.
Data Source
AI summary
A retractor system is disclosed comprising a retractor and a clamp to mount the retractor in the desired location for use. In some embodiments, the retractor can be mounted to the clothing of the user, and different clamps can be used such as alligator clamps. The system according to the present invention allows for robust and reliable mounting of the retractor while allowing for some movement of the retractor housing during use to reduce wear on the line extending from the retractor housing. One retractor and clamping system according to the present invention comprising a retractor having a front and back surface, and at least one edge surface. A clamp is included that is arranged for attaching directly to a user's piece of clothing, wherein the clamp is integral to the retractor at one of the surfaces of the retractor and wherein the clamp extends beyond at least one edge surfaces with the clamp opening away from the retractor. A line is included that is capable of being extended and retracted from and back into the retractor, with a connector included on the line for connecting to a personal article.