US20180153288A1

US20180153288A1 - Retention Lanyard

Info

Publication number: US20180153288A1
Application number: US15/831,337
Authority: US
Inventors: Shannon Eugene Campbell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-12-06
Filing date: 2017-12-04
Publication date: 2018-06-07

Abstract

A retention lanyard and method for securing an article to a hand of a user, the article having a pair of opposing features, the retention lanyard including a planar flexible element having a first end and a second end with a longitudinal axis. Also first and second end portions that include respective first and second planar flexible loop apertures on the respective first and second ends. Operationally, each of the first and second apertures are placed about each one of the pair of article features, wherein the planar flexible element is positioned about the hand, the retention lanyard retains the article to the user's hand in an idle state with the user's hand not engaging the article and the retention lanyard retains the article to the user's hand in an active state with the user's hand engaging the article without any tether causing an additional hand to retention lanyard contact.

Description

RELATED PATENT APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/430,355 filed on Dec. 6, 2016 by Shannon Eugene Campbell of Brighton, Colo., U.S.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to a lanyard for retaining an article or a plurality of articles for use of the article. More specifically, the present invention is a retention lanyard partially replacing a human grasp, wherein the retention lanyard removably engages the article in a substantially secure manner, in order to utilize the article in its normal use while substantially relieving the user of the fatigue typically associated with the manual grasping the article for more of a longer term use of the article.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

There are a variety of articles that are manually grasped by a human user which would include pliers, clippers, trimmers, pruning shears, scissors, and the like that require an active gripping and movement by the hand of the user, plus there are other articles such as flashlights, water bottles, mobile phones, eye glass cases, and the like that are just grasped by the user, however, without the using movement required, thus an article that requires grasping and using movement has an extra level of hand fatigue, wherein articles that only require grasping have less hand fatigue, in any case a device to assist in grasping of either form of article can act to help reduce hand fatigue in the human grasping the article which is beneficial.
User hand fatigue especially while using say pruning shears for instance can be significant when the user is trimming numerous bushes, so anything that helps reduce the hand fatigue is welcomed, plus anything to also help prevent the accidental dropping of the pruning shear would be very desirable as well. Although tethers and lanyards are well known in the art, being the traditional longer length open type loop of flexible material that would typically loop around the user's wrist and then have some slack line length extending to an article such as a camera, with the benefit being that you didn't lose, drop (damage), or misplace your camera, however, requiring the user's hand to crawl along the slack line length portion to retrieve the camera to use it, in other words the camera is dangling from the user's hand in a pendulum type manner that could also require the user's other hand to grasp the article to put the article in the user's other hand with the tether to overcome the tether slack length to facilitate article use.
Further with this traditional tether or lanyard arrangement the article or camera would tend to swing like a pendulum via the slack line length portion when walking thus potentially damaging the camera and being annoying for the user as the camera would be bouncing around and bumping their leg or other things. There are numerous lanyards in the prior art with specialty applications that typically loosely connect an article to usually a user's wrist—that way the lanyard has a wide universal article applicability, i.e. different size articles, ways of article attachment, and so on, however, this results in usually a more distant and looser connection as between the user's wrist and the article, making the quick and easy use of the article somewhat time consuming due to the distant and loose connection. This would be opposed to more of a custom fit lanyard that would make the article and user's hand in close contact with one another such that a tighter connection would exist as between the user's hand and the article, resulting in the article's use by the user's hand more immediate and certain.
Looking at the prior art in the lanyard/tether arts in U.S. Pat. No. 5,052,602 to Duchi, Jr., et al. disclosed is a lanyard made of a weavable, braided material having a loop at one end fashioned by turning the end of the lanyard braid back upon itself and the second end of the lanyard having a loop fashioned by turning the end of the lanyard back onto itself and inserting the end into the braid of the lanyard and fastening both with a common metal ferrule and further containing a metal ring held within each end loop. Duchi '602 is focused upon the loop ends of the tether and their attachment and securement to themselves, as Duchi '602 is the typical universal lanyard with a looser and longer article to user hand connection as described above.
Further, in the lanyard and tether prior art in U.S. Pat. No. 5,207,363 to Duchi, Jr., et al. disclosed is a lanyard that is a divisional patent application of Duchi '602 above, (both Duchi '602 & '363 stem from a common patent application disclosure), Duchi '363 is made of a weavable, braided material having a loop at one end fashioned by turning the end of the lanyard braid back upon itself and a second end of the lanyard having a loop fashioned by turning the end of the lanyard back onto itself and inserting the end into the braid of the lanyard and fastening both with a common metal ferrule and further containing a metal ring held within each end loop. Thus Duchi '363 is for a particular application of a miniature flashlight as the article being coupled to the lanyard.
Continuing, in the lanyard prior art in U.S. Pat. No. 9,016,532 to Wizikowski, disclosed is a hand strap to a tablet computer to secure the back of the tablet computer to the user's hand and act as an aide to prevent the tablet computer from being dropped and damaged. The invention in Wizikowski allows the user to rotate the tablet computer to various viewing angles while still maintaining the secure connection to the tablet.
The connection point in Wizikowski provides a single yet strong connection between the hand strap and device grip for the two to rotate around each other, see in particular Wizikowski FIGS. 1A, 1B, 4, and 5. Thus, Wizikowski does have more of a custom fit lanyard for the tablet computer as the user's hand is affixed to the tablet computer back as a hand held loop that can pivot as between the hand hold of Wizikowski and the tablet computer, however, noting that the Wizikowski lanyard is not for use of an article that requires dynamic hand movement such as pruning shears as Wizikowski is only for an article that is merely held only.
Next, in the lanyard prior art in U.S. Pat. No. 7,571,521 to Backman, III, disclosed is a tie down for connecting two objects. The tie down in Backman has an elastic tube having an un-stretched state and a stretched state, a braided line extending through the tube, with the line having a compressed state and an uncompressed state, and a mechanical securement at each tube end to secure the line to the tube such that the line is in its compressed state when the tube is in its un-stretched state and the line is in its uncompressed state when the tube is in its stretched state. Each end in Backman has an attachment for attaching to the object, see Backman FIG. 1. Backman is more of a generic universal lanyard like Duchi with the exception that Backman has an elastic portion limiter in the form of the tube to prevent over-stretching toward breaking failure of the lanyard, wherein the Backman has a preferred application to boats being the article that are secured to a dock.
Continuing, in the lanyard and tether prior art in U.S. Pat. No. 6,216,319 to Elkins, disclosed is a tool tether that includes an adjustable lanyard having a loop that fits over a user's hand that can be tightened thereon. An opposite end in Elkins of the lanyard from the loop includes a swivel clasping mechanism that can be connected to one of a plurality of hardware receptacles, wherein the hardware receptacles include an eyelet or the like to allow it to be secured to the clasping mechanism.
The hardware receptacles in Elkins come in a wide variety of sizes to accommodate tools and hardware of different sizes and weights. In one embodiment, the hardware receptacles are cylindrically shaped rubber cups that are rigid enough to support different tools, and have different diameters. In an alternate embodiment, the hardware receptacles are flexible ring members that can be wrapped around a particular tool or component.
Elkins exemplifies the universal lanyard much like Duchi and Backman, as Elkins has a longer tether length with a user wrist/hand attachment that extends some distance to an article attachment, wherein the article is a distance away from the user's wrist, see Elkins FIGS. 1 and 6, wherein the article will pendulum swing with exaggerated movement from minor hand movement that can be annoying via bumping into the user's body and possibly cause article damage, while having the drawbacks of requiring manual pulling up of the tether to reach the article by the user's hand and finally for the user to position their hand via grasping the article for using the article, resulting in a cumbersome and time consuming effort for article use.
What is needed is a low cost, compact, and easy to install and use retention lanyard that overcomes the shortcomings of a traditional lanyard of long tether length that makes the grasping and use of an article a multi-step affair of taking up the slack in the tether length prior to grasping the article, so a goal would be to have the article positioned ahead of time in relation to the hand of the user in the position that the article is normally used, i.e. to eliminate the requirement of having to take up the slack in the tether as between the lanyard wrist attachment and the article connection, thus always having the article in close contact with the user's hand.
Thus the goal of the present invention is to have the article positioned in contact with the user's hand in its normal use position even with the user's hand relaxed—that way the user can immediately grasp and use the article. Further, an additional goal would be for the lanyard to keep the user's hand in its normal position for using the article, wherein the article, say a pruning shear for instance, could be manually used via squeezing the handles together for cutting branches and the lanyard would stay in place through this hand movement such that when the user stops squeezing the pruning shears together the lanyard would retain the article in position for the user to easily and quickly resume using the article, i.e. manually squeezing together the pruning shear handles, thus facilitating the user to have the ability to rest their hand from actively using the pruning shears, meanwhile keeping the pruning shears is position to resume active use.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Broadly, the present invention is a retention lanyard for securing an article to a hand of a user, the article having a pair of opposing features, the retention lanyard including a planar flexible element having a first end and an opposing second end with a longitudinal axis spanning therebetween. Also included in the retention lanyard is a first end portion that includes a first planar flexible loop, wherein the first loop originates and terminates at the planar flexible element first end, wherein the first loop defines a first aperture and a second end portion that includes a second planar flexible loop, wherein the second loop originates and terminates at the planar flexible element second end, wherein the second loop defines a second aperture. Wherein operationally for the retention lanyard each of the first and second apertures are placed about each one of the pair of article features, wherein the planar flexible element is positioned about the hand, wherein the retention lanyard retains the article to the user's hand in an idle operational state with the user's hand not engaging the article and the retention lanyard retains the article to the user's hand in an active operational state with the user's hands engaging the article without any tether length causing an additional hand to retention lanyard contact.
These and other objects of the present invention will become more readily appreciated and understood from a consideration of the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention when taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which;

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an upper perspective view of the retention lanyard laid out in a flat pattern to show a planar flexible element with a first end and a second end, plus a longitudinal axis, and first and second end portions with first and second flexible loops, plus first and second apertures;

FIG. 2 shows an upper perspective use view of the retention lanyard to show the planar flexible element with the first end and a second end, plus the longitudinal axis, and first and second end portions with the first and second flexible loops, plus first and second apertures, in addition to the article with a pair of opposing features of the article with the first and second loops having first and second apertures engaged about the pair of opposing features, also an idle operational state of the user's hand is shown not engaging the article, with the planar flexible element engaged about the user's hand;

FIG. 3 shows an opposing view of FIG. 3, wherein FIG. 3 shows a lower perspective use view of the retention lanyard to show the planar flexible element with the first end and a second end, plus the longitudinal axis, and first and second end portions with the first and second flexible loops, plus first and second apertures, in addition to the article with the pair of opposing features of the article with the first and second loops having first and second apertures engaged about the pair of opposing features, also the idle operational state of the user's hand is shown not engaging the article, with the planar flexible element engaged about the user's hand;

FIG. 4 shows an upper perspective use view of the retention lanyard to show the planar flexible element with the first end and the second end, plus the longitudinal axis, and first and second end portions with the first and second flexible loops, plus first and second apertures, in addition to the article with the pair of opposing features of the article with the first and second loops having first and second apertures engaged about the pair of opposing features, also an active operational state of the user's hand is shown engaging the article, with the planar flexible element engaged about the user's hand;

FIG. 5 shows an opposing view to FIG. 4, wherein FIG. 5 shows a lower perspective use view of the retention lanyard to show the planar flexible element with the first end and the second end, plus the longitudinal axis, and first and second end portions with the first and second flexible loops, plus first and second apertures, in addition to the article with the pair of opposing features of the article with the first and second loops having first and second apertures engaged about the pair of opposing features, also the active operational state of the user's hand is shown engaging the article, with the planar flexible element engaged about the user's hand;

FIG. 6 shows a use view of FIG. 4, wherein the article is a set of pruning shears trimming a branch with an upper perspective use view of the retention lanyard to show the planar flexible element with the first end and the second end, plus the longitudinal axis, and first and second end portions with the first and second flexible loops, plus first and second apertures, in addition to the article with the pair of opposing features of the article with the first and second loops having first and second apertures engaged about the pair of opposing features, also the active operational state of the user's hand is shown engaging the article, with the planar flexible element engaged about the user's hand;

FIG. 7 shows an upper perspective use view of the retention lanyard to show the planar flexible element with the first end and the second end, plus the longitudinal axis, and first and second end portions with the first and second flexible loops, plus first and second apertures, in addition to the article with the pair of opposing features of the article with the first and second loops having first and second apertures engaged about the pair of opposing features, also the idle operational state of the user's hand is shown not engaging the article, wherein in this case the article is a flashlight, with the planar flexible element engaged about the user's hand;

FIG. 8 shows an upper perspective use view of the retention lanyard to show the planar flexible element with the first end and the second end, plus the longitudinal axis, and first and second end portions with the first and second flexible loops, plus first and second apertures, in addition to the article with the pair of opposing features of the article with the first and second loops having first and second apertures engaged about the pair of opposing features, wherein in this case the article is a water bottle;

FIG. 9 shows a front perspective use view of the retention lanyard to show the planar flexible element with the first end and the second end, plus the longitudinal axis, and first and second end portions with the first and second flexible loops, plus first and second apertures, in addition to the article with the pair of opposing features of the article with the first and second loops having first and second apertures engaged about the pair of opposing features, wherein in this case the article is an eye glasses case;

FIG. 10 shows a back perspective use view of the retention lanyard to show the planar flexible element with the first end and the second end, plus the longitudinal axis, and first and second end portions with the first and second flexible loops, plus first and second apertures, in addition to the article with the pair of opposing features of the article with the first and second loops having first and second apertures engaged about the pair of opposing features, wherein in this case the article is an eye glasses case;

FIG. 11 shows an upper perspective use view of the retention lanyard to show the planar flexible element with the first end and the second end, plus the longitudinal axis, and first and second end portions with the first and second flexible loops, plus first and second apertures, in addition to the article with the pair of opposing features of the article with the first and second loops having first and second apertures engaged about the pair of opposing features, also the idle operational state of the user's hand is shown not engaging the article directly, wherein in this case the article is a mobile phone; and

FIG. 12 shows an upper perspective use view of the retention lanyard to show the planar flexible element with the first end and the second end, plus the longitudinal axis, and first and second end portions with the first and second flexible loops, plus first and second apertures, in addition to the article with the pair of opposing features of the article with the first and second loops having first and second apertures engaged about the pair of opposing features, also the idle operational state of the user's hand is shown not engaging the article directly, wherein in this case the article is a mobile phone wherein the first and second loops are engaged about the mobile phone case.

REFERENCE NUMBERS IN DRAWINGS

50 Retention lanyard
55 Article
60 Pair of opposing features of the article 55
65 User
70 Hand of user 65
71 Finger of the user 65
75 Securing and retaining the article 55 to the hand 70 or finger 71 the user 65
80 Planar flexible element
85 First end of the planar flexible element 80
90 Second end of the planar flexible element 80
95 Longitudinal axis of the planar flexible element 80
100 First end portion
105 First planar flexible loop
110 First loop originating and terminating at the planar flexible element 80 first end 85
115 First aperture of the first loop 110
120 Second end portion
125 Second planar flexible loop
130 Second loop originating and terminating at the planar flexible element 80 first end 100
135 Second aperture of the second loop 130
140 Placing or engaging each the first 115 and second 135 apertures about each one of the pair of opposing features 60 of the article 55
145 Positioning or engaging the planar flexible element 80 about the hand 70 of the user 65
150 Idle operational state of the user's 65 hand 70 not engaging the article 55
155 Active operational state of the user's 65 hand 70 engaging the article 55
160 No additional tether length hand 70 to retention lanyard 50 contact
165 Branch
170 Elongated flexible beam
175 Distance of the beam 170
180 Aperture major axis
185 Length of the aperture major axis 180
190 Aperture minor axis
195 Perpendicular position of the aperture minor axis 190 to the longitudinal axis 95
200 Length of the aperture minor axis
205 K spring rate
210 Teardrop shape of the first 115 and second 135 apertures
215 Pointed portion of the teardrop shape 210
220 Planar flexible element positioned about the finger 71
225 Perimeter of each the first 115 and second 135 apertures
230 Circular shape of the first 115 and second 135 apertures

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With initial reference to FIG. 1, shown is an upper perspective view of the retention lanyard 50 laid out in a flat pattern to show a planar flexible element 80 with a first end 85 and a second end 90, plus a longitudinal axis 95, and first 100 and second 120 end portions with first 105 and second 125 flexible loops, plus first 115 and second 135 apertures are also shown.
Next, FIG. 2 shows an upper perspective use view of the retention lanyard 50 to show the planar flexible element 80 with the first end 85 and a second end 90, plus the longitudinal axis 95, and first 100 and second 120 end portions with the first 105 and second 125 flexible loops, plus first 115 and second 135 apertures. In addition, FIG. 2 shows the article 55 with a pair of opposing features 60 of the article 55 with the first 105 and second 125 flexible loops having the first 115 and second 135 apertures engaged 140 about the pair of opposing features 60, also an idle operational state 150 of the user's 65 hand 70 is shown not engaging the article 55, with the planar flexible element 80 engaged 145 about the user's 65 hand 70.
Continuing, FIG. 3 shows an opposing view of FIG. 3, wherein FIG. 3 shows a lower perspective use view of the retention lanyard 50 to show the planar flexible element 80 with the first end 85 and a second end 90, plus the longitudinal axis 95, and first 100 and second 120 end portions with the first 105 and second 125 flexible loops, plus first 115 and second 135 apertures. In addition FIG. 3 shows the article 55 with the pair of opposing features 60 of the article 55 with the first 105 and second 125 loops having first 115 and second 135 apertures engaged 140 about the pair of opposing features 60, also the idle operational state 150 of the user's 65 hand 70 is shown not engaging the article 55, with the planar flexible element 80 engaged 145 about the user's 65 hand 70.
Further, FIG. 4 shows an upper perspective use view of the retention lanyard 50 to show the planar flexible element 80 with the first end 85 and the second end 90, plus the longitudinal axis 95, and first 100 and second 120 end portions with the first 105 and second 125 flexible loops, plus first 115 and second 135 apertures. In addition FIG. 4 shows the article 55 with the pair of opposing features 60 of the article 55 with the first 105 and second 125 loops having first 115 and second 135 apertures engaged 140 about the pair of opposing features 60, also an active operational state 155 of the user's 65 hand 70 is shown engaging the article 55, with the planar flexible element 80 engaged 145 about the user's 65 hand 70.
Moving onward, FIG. 5 shows an opposing view to FIG. 4, wherein FIG. 5 shows a lower perspective use view of the retention lanyard 50 to show the planar flexible element 80 the first end 85 and the second end 90, plus the longitudinal axis 95, and first 100 and second 120 end portions with the first 105 and second 125 flexible loops, plus first 115 and second 135 apertures. In addition FIG. 5 shows the article 55 with the pair of opposing features 60 of the article 55 with the first 105 and second 125 loops having first 115 and second 135 apertures engaged 140 about the pair of opposing features 60, also the active operational state 155 of the user's 65 hand 70 is shown engaging the article 55, with the planar flexible element 80 engaged 145 about the user's 65 hand 70.
Yet further, FIG. 6 shows a use view of FIG. 4, wherein the article 55 is a set of pruning shears trimming a branch 165 with an upper perspective use view of the retention lanyard 50 to show the planar flexible element 80 with the first end 85 and the second end 90, plus the longitudinal axis 95, and first 100 and second 120 end portions with the first 105 and second 125 flexible loops, plus first 15 and second 135 apertures. In addition FIG. 6 shows the article 55 with a pair of opposing features 60 of the article 55 with the first 105 and second 125 loops having first 115 and second 135 apertures engaged 140 about the pair of opposing features 60, also the active operational state 155 of the user's 65 hand 70 is shown engaging the article 55 with the planar flexible element 80 engaged 145 about the user's 65 hand 70.
In addition, FIG. 7 shows an upper perspective use view of the retention lanyard 50 to show the planar flexible element 80 with the first end 85 and the second end 90, plus the longitudinal axis 95, and first 100 and second 120 end portions with the first 105 and second 125 flexible loops, plus first 115 and second 135 apertures. In addition FIG. 7 shows the article 55 with the pair of opposing features 60 of the article 55 with the first 105 and second 125 loops having first 115 and second 135 apertures engaged 140 about the pair of opposing features 60, also the idle operational state 150 of the user's 65 hand 70 is shown not engaging the article 55, wherein in this case the article 55 is a flashlight, with the planar flexible element 80 engaged 145 about the user's 65 hand 70.
Yet further, FIG. 8 shows an upper perspective use view of the retention lanyard 50 to show the planar flexible element 80 with the first end 85 and the second end 90, plus the longitudinal axis 95, and first 100 and second 120 end portions with the first 105 and second 125 flexible loops, plus first 115 and second 135 apertures. In addition FIG. 8 shows the article 55 with the pair of opposing features 60 of the article 55 with the first 105 and second 125 loops having first 115 and second 135 apertures engaged 140 about the pair of opposing features 60, wherein in this case the article 55 is a water bottle.
Next, FIG. 9 shows a front perspective use view of the retention lanyard 50 to show the planar flexible element 80 with the first end 85 and a second end 90, plus the longitudinal axis 95, and first 100 and second 120 end portions with the first 105 and second 125 flexible loops, plus first 115 and second 135 apertures. In addition FIG. 9 shows the article 55 with the pair of opposing features 60 of the article 55 with the first 105 and second 125 loops having first 115 and second 135 apertures engaged 140 about the pair of opposing features 60, wherein in this case the article 55 is an eye glasses case.
Continuing, FIG. 10 shows a back perspective use view of the retention lanyard 50 to show the planar flexible element 80 with the first end 85 and the second end 90, plus the longitudinal axis 95, and first 100 and second 120 end portions with the first 105 and second 125 flexible loops, plus first 115 and second 135 apertures. In addition FIG. 10 shows the article 55 with the pair of opposing features 60 of the article 55 with the first 105 and second 125 loops having first 115 and second 135 apertures engaged 140 about the pair of opposing features 60, wherein in this case the article 55 is an eye glasses case.
Next, FIG. 11 shows an upper perspective use view of the retention lanyard 50 to show the planar flexible element 80 with the first end 85 and the second end 90, plus the longitudinal axis 95, and first 100 and second 120 end portions with the first 105 and second 125 flexible loops, plus first 115 and second 135 apertures. In addition FIG. 11 shows the article 55 with the pair of opposing features 60 of the article 55 with the first 105 and second 125 loops having first 115 and second 135 apertures engaged 140 about the pair of opposing features 60, also the idle operational state 150 of the user's 65 hand 70 is shown not engaging the article 55 directly, wherein in this case the article 55 is a mobile phone.
Further, FIG. 12 shows an upper perspective use view of the retention lanyard 50 to show the planar flexible element 80 with the first end 85 and the second end 90, plus the longitudinal axis 95, and first 100 and second 120 end portions with the first 105 and second 125 flexible loops, plus first 115 and second 135 apertures. In addition FIG. 12 shows the article 55 with the pair of opposing features 60 of the article 55 with the first 105 and second 125 loops having first 115 and second 135 apertures engaged 140 about the pair of opposing features 60, also the idle operational state 150 of the user's 65 hand 70 is shown not engaging the article 55 directly, wherein in this case the article 55 is a mobile phone wherein the first 105 and second 125 loops are engaged about the mobile phone case.
Broadly, in looking at FIGS. 1 to 12, the retention lanyard 50 is disclosed for securing 75 the article 55 to the hand 70 of the user 65, the article 55 having the pair of opposing features 60. The retention lanyard 50 including the planar flexible element 80 having the first end 85 and the opposing second end 90 with the longitudinal axis 95 spanning therebetween, see in particular FIG. 1.
Further included in the retention lanyard 50 is the first end portion 100 that includes the first planar flexible loop 105, wherein the first loop 110 originates and terminates at the planar flexible element 80 first end 85, wherein the first loop 110 defines the first aperture 115, again see in particular FIG. 1.
Also included in the retention lanyard 50 is the second end portion 120 that includes the second planar flexible loop 125, wherein the second loop 130 originates and terminates at the planar flexible element 80 second end 90, wherein the second loop 125 defines the second aperture 135, again see in particular FIG. 1. Wherein operationally, each of the first 115 and second 135 apertures are placed about 140 each one of the pair of article 55 features 60, wherein the planar flexible element 80 is positioned 145 about the hand 70, see FIGS. 2 to 7. Thus the retention lanyard 50 retains 75 the article 55 to the user's 65 hand 70 in an idle operational state 150 with the user's 65 hand 70 not engaging the article 55, as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Further, the retention lanyard 50 retains the article 55 to the user's 65 hand 70 in an active operational state 155 with the user's 65 hands 70 engaging the article 55 without any tether length 160 causing an additional hand 70 to retention lanyard 50 contact, see FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, or in other words thus allowing a single hand 70 to retain 75 and use the article 55.
Optionally for the retention lanyard 50, the first 85 and second 90 ends form an elongated flexible beam 170 therebetween that is defined by the beam distance 175 between the first 115 and second 135 apertures along the longitudinal axis 95, and the first 115 and second 135 apertures each have an aperture major axis 180 that is along the longitudinal axis 95, each aperture major axis 180 has an aperture major axis length 185, wherein the beam distance 175 is greater than the aperture major axis length 185, to operationally facilitate the elongated beam 170 to conform 145 to the user's 65 hand 70, as best shown in FIG. 1, plus FIGS. 2 and 4.
Another option for the retention lanyard 50, wherein the first 115 and second 135 apertures further each have the minor axis 190 that is positioned perpendicular 195 to the longitudinal axis 95, wherein each minor axis 190 has the aperture minor axis length 200, wherein the aperture minor axis length 200 is less than the aperture major axis length 185, to operationally facilitate easier looping of the first 115 and second 135 apertures to the article 55 opposing features 60, see FIG. 1 and FIGS. 2-6.
A further option for the retention lanyard 50, wherein the elongated flexible beam 170 combined with the first 105 and second 125 planar flexible loops has a “K” spring rate 205 along the longitudinal axis 95 of about one-half (½) pound force per inch of movement along the longitudinal axis 95 to operationally allow for the elongated flexible beam 170 to encompass the user's 65 hand 70 and to easily attach and retain 75 the article 55 to the user's 65 hand 70 in both the idle operational state 150 and the active operational state 155, see FIG. 1 and FIGS. 2-6.
Another option for the retention lanyard 50, is wherein the first 115 and second 135 apertures can each preferably have the teardrop shape 210 with the pointed portion 215 of each teardrop 210 being adjacent to the elongated flexible beam 170, to operationally facilitate easier placement of each of the first 105 and second 125 flexible planar loops upon the article 55 opposing features 60, see FIG. 1 and FIGS. 2-6.
Continuing, in looking at FIGS. 7 to 12 in particular for the retention lanyard 50 for securing the article 55 to the hand 70 of a user 65, the article 55 having the pair of opposing features 60, wherein the retention lanyard 50 includes, the planar flexible element 80 having the first end 85 and the opposing second end 90, also the first end portion 100 that includes the first planar flexible loop 105, wherein the first loop 105 originates 110 and terminates 110 at the planar flexible element 80 first end 85, wherein the first loop 105 defines the first aperture 115, also see FIG. 1.
In addition, on the retention lanyard 50, the second end portion 120 that includes the second planar flexible loop 125, wherein the second loop 125 originates 130 and terminates 130 at the planar flexible element 80 second end 90, wherein the second loop 125 defines the second aperture 135, wherein operationally each of the first 115 and second 135 apertures are placed about 140 each one of the pair of article 55 features 60, see FIGS. 6 to 12. Wherein the planar flexible element 80 is positioned 220 about the finger 71 of the user's 65 hand 70, and the retention lanyard 50 retains the article 55 to the user's 65 hand 70, without any tether length 160 thus allowing a single hand 70 to retain 75 and use 155 the article 55, again see FIGS. 7 to 12.
Alternatively for the retention lanyard 50, wherein the first 85 and second 90 ends form the elongated flexible beam 170 therebetween that is defined by the beam distance 175 between the first 115 and second 135 apertures, wherein each aperture 115, 135 has a perimeter 225, wherein the perimeter 225 is greater than the beam distance 175, to operationally facilitate the first 115 and second 135 apertures ease of being placed about 140 each one of the pair of article features 60, further again see FIGS. 7 to 12.
Another alternative for the retention lanyard 50, wherein the elongated flexible beam 170 combined with the first 105 and second 125 planar flexible loops has a “K” spring rate 205 of about one-half (½) pound force per inch of movement, to operationally allow for the elongated flexible beam 170 to encompass 220 the user's 65 finger 71 and to easily attach 75 and retain 75 the article 55 to the user's 65 hand 70, as shown in FIGS. 7 to 12.
A further alternative for the retention lanyard 50, wherein the first 115 and second 135 apertures each preferably have a circular shape 230, to operationally facilitate easier placement 140 of each the first 105 and second 125 flexible planar loop upon the article 55 opposing features 60, as best shown in FIGS. 7 to 12.

CONCLUSION

Accordingly, the present invention of a retention lanyard has been described with some degree of particularity directed to the embodiments of the present invention. It should be appreciated, though; that the present invention is defined by the following claim construed in light of the prior art so modifications or changes may be made to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention without departing from the inventive concepts contained therein.

Claims

1. A retention lanyard for securing an article to a hand of a user, the article having a pair of opposing features, said retention lanyard comprising:

(a) a planar flexible element having a first end and an opposing second end with a longitudinal axis spanning therebetween;

(b) a first end portion that includes a first planar flexible loop, wherein said first loop originates and terminates at said planar flexible element first end, wherein said first loop defines a first aperture; and

(c) a second end portion that includes a second planar flexible loop, wherein said second loop originates and terminates at said planar flexible element second end, wherein said second loop defines a second aperture, wherein operationally each of said first and second apertures are placed about each one of the pair of article features, wherein said planar flexible element is positioned about the hand, wherein said retention lanyard retains the article in contact with the user's hand in an idle operational state with the user's hand not grasping or engaging the article and said retention lanyard retains the article to the user's hand in an active operational state with the user's hands grasping or engaging the article without any tether length thus allowing a single hand to retain and use the article.

2. A retention lanyard according to claim 1 wherein said first and second ends form an elongated flexible beam therebetween that is defined by a beam distance between said first and second apertures along said longitudinal axis, and said first and second apertures each have an aperture major axis that is along said longitudinal axis, each said aperture major axis has an aperture major axis length, wherein said beam distance is greater than said aperture major axis length, to operationally facilitate said elongated beam to conform to the user's hand.

3. A retention lanyard according to claim 2 wherein said first and second apertures further each have a minor axis that is positioned perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, wherein each said minor axis has an aperture minor axis length, wherein said aperture minor axis length is less than said aperture major axis length, to operationally facilitate easier looping of said first and second apertures to the article opposing features.

4. A retention lanyard according to claim 3 wherein said elongated flexible beam combined with said first and second planar flexible loops has a “K” spring rate along said longitudinal axis of about one-half (½) pound force per inch of movement along said longitudinal axis to operationally allow for said elongated flexible beam to encompass the user's hand and to easily attach and retain the article to the user's hand in both said idle operational state and said active operational state.

5. A retention lanyard according to claim 1 wherein said first and second apertures each have a teardrop shape with a pointed portion of each said teardrop being adjacent to said elongated flexible beam, to operationally facilitate easier placement of each said first and second flexible planar loop upon the article opposing features.

6. A retention lanyard for securing an article to a hand of a user, the article having a pair of opposing features, said retention lanyard comprising:

(a) a planar flexible element having a first end and an opposing second end;

(c) a second end portion that includes a second planar flexible loop, wherein said second loop originates and terminates at said planar flexible element second end, wherein said second loop defines a second aperture, wherein operationally each of said first and second apertures are placed about each one of the pair of article features, wherein said planar flexible element is positioned about a finger of the hand, wherein said retention lanyard retains the article to the user's hand, without any tether length thus allowing a single hand to retain and use the article.

7. A retention lanyard according to claim 6 wherein said first and second ends form an elongated flexible beam therebetween that is defined by a beam distance between said first and second apertures, wherein each said aperture has a perimeter, wherein said perimeter is greater than said beam distance, to operationally facilitate said first and second apertures ease of being placed about each one of the pair of article features.

8. A retention lanyard according to claim 7 wherein said elongated flexible beam combined with said first and second planar flexible loops has a “K” spring rate of about one-half (½) pound force per inch of movement, to operationally allow for said elongated flexible beam to encompass the user's finger and to easily attach and retain the article to the user's hand.

9. A retention lanyard according to claim 6 wherein said first and second apertures each have a circular shape, to operationally facilitate easier placement of each said first and second flexible planar loop upon the article opposing features.