Adjustable retainer for transporting articles

Abstract

Devices and methods of retaining an item are provided. An article carrier ( 10, 110 ) is provided, the article carrier comprising a flexible cable ( 20, 120 ) formed into a loop ( 28, 128 ) for holding the item, a clip ( 30, 130 ) coupled to the cable ( 20, 120 ) to couple the item to another object, and a cable retainer ( 60, 160 ) engaging the cable ( 20, 120 ) to adjust the size of the loop ( 28, 128 ) to secure the item within the loop ( 28, 128 ). The methods illustratively involve placing a portion of the item in the loop ( 28, 128 ), moving the cable retainer ( 60, 160 ) to tighten the loop ( 28, 128 ) around the portion of the item, and coupling the clip ( 30, 130 ) to the object. In an illustrated embodiment, the item is a beverage container, the portion of the item is the neck of the beverage container, and the object is a belt or belt loop worn by a person wishing to retain the beverage container.

1 . An apparatus comprising a clip, a cable, a cable retainer, a clasp, and a clasp cover, the cable coupled to the clip for removably coupling the apparatus to an object, the cable having a pair of free ends and an intermediate portion extending therebetween, the clasp coupled to the ends of the cable to form a continuous loop, a length of the intermediate portion threaded through an opening in the cable retainer and formed into a second loop, the cable retainer biased to pinch the cable between an engagement surface and an engagement edge of the cable retainer to restrict movement of the cable relative to the cable retainer and maintain the length of cable forming the second loop, and wherein the clip is selected from the group consisting of a carabineer and a spring clip.  
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second loop is adjustable.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a bead coupled to the cable to prevent removal of the cable retainer from the cable.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the clasp cover includes an exterior surface that is at least partially flat.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the clasp cover includes an exterior surface that is at least partially spherical.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the clasp cover includes an exterior surface configured to receive a decoration thereon.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the clip includes a first end and a second end, the first and second ends joined by a link at one side and by a movable closure at the other side, the closure biased to close an opening between the first and second ends, the closure movable to an opened position to permit entry of an object between the ends by passing through the opening.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the closure is pivotably coupled to one of the ends and moves between a closed position engaging the other end and an opened position spaced from the other end.  
   
   
       9 . A method of retaining a fluid vessel having a neck comprising the steps of 
 providing an article carrier comprising a flexible cable formed into a loop, a clip coupled to the cable to couple the fluid vessel to an object, the clip selected from the group consisting of a carabineer and a spring clip, and a cable retainer engaging the cable to adjust the size of the loop,    placing the neck in the loop,    moving the cable retainer to tighten the loop around the neck, and    coupling the clip to the object.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the object is selected from the group consisting of a belt, a belt loop, a strap of a handbag, a ring of a handbag, a strap of a fanny pack, a ring of a fanny pack, a golf bag, a hammer loop, and a pocket edge.  
   
   
       11 . An article carrier comprising 
 a flexible cable having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion between the ends,    a lock coupled to the ends to form a major loop,    a cable retainer engaging the cable to form a minor loop and restrict movement of the cable relative to the cable retainer, the cable retainer operable to permit a user to adjust the size of the minor loop, and    a clip coupled to the cable to secure the article carrier to an object,    wherein the cable retainer is between the clip and the lock.    
   
   
       12 . The article carrier of  claim 11  wherein the cable retainer includes an engagement surface and an engagement edge, one of which is biased toward the other, and the cable passes between and is pinched by the engagement surface and engagement edge to inhibit movement of the cable relative to the cable retainer.  
   
   
       13 . The article carrier of  claim 12  wherein the cable retainer is operable to move the engagement edge and engagement surface away from each other to permit the cable to be moved relative to the cable retainer and to permit a user to adjust the length of the minor loop.  
   
   
       14 . The article carrier of  claim 11  further comprising a cover coupled to a portion of the cable between the cable retainer and the clip.  
   
   
       15 . An apparatus comprising a clip, a cable, and a cable retainer, the cable coupled to the clip for removably coupling the apparatus to an object, the cable having a pair of free ends and an intermediate portion extending therebetween, a length of the intermediate portion threaded through an opening in the cable retainer and coupled to the clip, a lock coupled to the free ends to form a loop, the lock including a first section and a second section, the first and second sections joined by a flexible thinned region to permit relative movement of the first and second sections, the cable retainer biased to pinch the cable between an engagement surface and an engagement edge of the cable retainer to restrict movement of the cable relative to the cable retainer and maintain the length of cable between the cable retainer and the lock, the cable, clip, and cable retainer forming a unitary piece.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the loop is adjustable.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the lock is movable between an unlocked position and a locked position, and the first section is formed to include an aperture and the second section includes a tab extending therefrom, the tab positioned in the aperture when the lock is in the locked position, the tab engaging the first section to inhibit movement of the lock from the locked position.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 15  further comprising a cover coupled to the cable between the cable retainer and the clip.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the cover includes an exterior surface that is at least partially flat.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the cover includes an exterior surface that is at least partially spherical.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the cover includes an exterior surface configured to receive a decoration thereon.  
   
   
       22 . A method of retaining a fluid vessel having a neck comprising the steps of 
 providing an article carrier comprising a flexible cable formed into a major loop, a clip coupled to the cable to couple the fluid vessel to an object, the clip being selected from the group consisting of a carabineer and a spring clip, and a cable retainer engaging the cable to form a minor loop, the cable retainer being operable to adjust the size of the minor loop,    placing the neck in the minor loop,    moving the cable retainer to tighten the minor loop around the neck, and    coupling the clip to the object.    
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the object is selected from the group consisting of a belt, a belt loop, a strap of a handbag, a ring of a handbag, a strap of a fanny pack, a ring of a fanny pack, a golf bag, a hammer loop, and a pocket edge.  
   
   
       24 . An apparatus comprising 
 a clip, a cable,    a cable retainer,    a clasp, and    a clasp cover, the clasp cover having a surface that is at least partially flat or at least partially spherical,    the cable coupled to the clip for removably coupling the apparatus to an object, the cable having a pair of free ends and an intermediate portion extending therebetween,    the clasp coupled to the ends of the cable to form a continuous loop, a length of the intermediate portion threaded through an opening in the cable retainer and formed into a second loop, and    the cable retainer biased to pinch the cable between an engagement surface and an engagement edge of the cable retainer to restrict movement of the cable relative to the cable retainer and maintain the length of cable forming the second loop.    
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the clasp cover includes an exterior surface configured to receive a decoration thereon.  
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the clip includes a first end and a second end, the first and second ends joined by a link at one side and by a movable closure at the other side, the closure biased to close an opening between the first and second ends, the closure movable to an opened position to permit entry of an object between the ends by passing through the opening.  
   
   
       27 . The apparatus of  claim 26  wherein the closure is pivotably coupled to one of the ends and moves between a closed position engaging the other end and an opened position spaced from the other end.