Impact-absorbing tethering attachment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10045606-B2
Application number	US-201615340228-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 1, 2016
Priority date	Nov 2, 2015
Publication date	Aug 14, 2018
Grant date	Aug 14, 2018

Abstract

A tethering attachment assembly is provided for attachment to an apparatus to facilitate connection of a lanyard to the apparatus. The tethering attachment assembly includes a pair of posts and a coil element including metallic material that substantially resiliently retains its state with application of force up to a limit, and is permanently plastically deformable upon application of force exceeding the limit. The coil element has two ends attached to the elongated posts and adapted to form a substantially U-shaped hook when the elongated posts are attached to the apparatus. A sleeve is tubularly disposed around the coil element to substantially cover the coil element.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A tethering attachment assembly adapted for attachment to an apparatus to facilitate connection of a lanyard to the apparatus, the tethering attachment assembly comprising:
a pair of posts;
a coil element comprising metallic material that is elastically resilient with application of force up to a limit, and is permanently plastically deformable upon application of force exceeding the limit, the coil element having two ends attached to the posts and including a U-shaped portion when the posts are attached to the apparatus; and
a sleeve tubularly disposed around and covering the U-shaped portion of the coil element.

2. The tethering attachment assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a pair of rivets that pivotably attach the ends of the coil element to the posts.

3. The tethering attachment assembly of claim 2 , wherein the coil element comprises extended portions engaging the rivets.

4. The tethering attachment assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a secondary sleeve disposed at ends of the sleeve.

5. The tethering attachment assembly of claim 4 , wherein the secondary sleeve is disposed around attachment points of the coil elements to the posts.

6. The tethering attachment assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sleeve comprises a webbing of material.

7. The tethering attachment assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sleeve is configured to tear when the coil element is deformed to expose the coil element.

8. An apparatus comprising:
a housing; and
a tethering attachment assembly attached to the housing and adapted to facilitate connection of a lanyard to the apparatus, the tethering attachment assembly comprising:
a pair of posts attached to the housing;
a coil element comprising metallic material that is elastically resilient with application of force up to a limit, and is permanently plastically deformable upon application of force exceeding the limit, the coil element having two ends attached to the posts and including a U-shaped portion when the posts are attached to the apparatus; and
a sleeve tubularly disposed around and covering the U-shaped portion of the coil element.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the tethering attachment assembly further comprising a pair of rivets that pivotably attach the ends of the coil element to the posts.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the coil element comprises extended portions engaging the rivets.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the tethering attachment assembly further comprises a secondary sleeve disposed at ends of the sleeve.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the secondary sleeve is disposed around attachment points of the coil elements to the posts.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the sleeve comprises a webbing.

14. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the sleeve is configured to tear when the coil element is deformed to expose the coil element.

15. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the apparatus comprises a power tool having a motor disposed within the housing.

16. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the apparatus comprises a hand tool.

17. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the housing defines a pair of elongated slots for receiving the posts therein.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the posts of the tethering attachment assembly are removeably received within the elongated slots of the housing.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the housing includes side through-holes or receptacles arranged to received pins or fasteners for securing the posts of the tethering attachment assembly within the elongated slots of the housing.

Assignees

• Black & Decker Inc

Inventors

• Cirincione Ii Robert J
• Copeland Jr Earnest N
• Jiang Xiating
• Wang Donghua

Classifications

• A45F5/00 Primary

  Holders or carriers for hand articles; Holders or carriers for use while travelling or camping · CPC title

• B25H3/00

  Storage means or arrangements for workshops facilitating access to, or handling of, work tools or instruments (containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents B65D83/00; {nail dispensers B25C3/00}) · CPC title

• A45F2005/006

  comprising a suspension strap or lanyard · CPC title

• B25F5/02 Primary

  Construction of casings, bodies or handles {(B25F5/006, B25F5/008 take precedence)} · CPC title

• A45F2200/0575

  Human Necessities · mapped topic