Removable and reusable device for extracting and retracting a length of material

Abstract

A removable and reusable device is presented for extracting and retracting a length of material stored about the circumference of a spool or cylinder. The removable and reusable device includes a retaining element having an opening though which the stored material can pass and a flexible band attached to the retaining element.

1 . A removable and reusable device for extracting and retracting a length of material stored about a spool or cylinder comprising: 
 a flexible band; and    a retaining element connected to the band having an opening therein for passing the length of material therethrough.    
   
   
       2 . The removable and reusable device of  claim 1  wherein the flexible band is comprised of an elasticized cloth material.  
   
   
       3 . The removable and reusable device of  claim 1  wherein the retaining element comprises a first cylindrical member having an opening extending through an interior length of the first cylindrical member.  
   
   
       4 . The removable and reusable device of  claim 3  wherein the flexible band comprises a first end and a second end, each of which is secured to an outer circumference of the first cylindrical member.  
   
   
       5 . The removable and reusable device of  claim 4  further comprising a second cylindrical member positioned circumferentially about the first cylindrical member and the first and second ends of the flexible band to secure the ends of the flexible band to the outer circumference of the first cylindrical member.  
   
   
       6 . The removable and reusable device of  claim 5  wherein the first cylindrical member comprises a hard plastic, a metal, or other nonflexible material.  
   
   
       7 . The removable and reusable device of  claim 6  wherein the second cylindrical member comprises a soft plastic, a rubber, or other flexible material.  
   
   
       8 . The removable and reusable device of  claim 1  wherein the length of material is extracted by pulling the length of material away from the retaining element such that the retaining element moves in a first direction about a circumference of the spool or cylinder.  
   
   
       9 . The removable and reusable device of  claim 9  wherein the length of material is retracted by moving the retaining element about the spool or cylinder in an opposite direction from the first direction.  
   
   
       10 . The removable and reusable device of  claim 1  wherein the flexible band comprises a first end and a second end, each of which are secured to an outer circumference of the retaining element.  
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the retaining element comprises a hard plastic, a metal, or other nonflexible material.  
   
   
       12 . A method for extracting and retracting a length of material stored about a spool or cylinder comprising the steps of: 
 providing a retaining element having an opening therein sufficient in size to enable the length of material to pass therethrough;    connecting a flexible band to the retaining element;    inserting an end of the length of material through the opening in the retaining element;    positioning the flexible band and the retaining element connected thereto over the length of material stored about the spool or cylinder;    pulling the end of the length of material away from the retaining element such that the retaining element moves in a first direction about a circumference of the spool in order to extract the length of material; and    moving the retaining element about the spool or cylinder in a direction opposite the first direction to retract the length of material.    
   
   
       13 . A method for making a removable and reusable device for extracting and retracting a length of material stored about a spool or cylinder comprising the steps of: 
 providing a flexible band; and    connecting a retaining element to the flexible band wherein the retaining element has an opening contained therein through which the length of material can pass.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the step of providing a flexible band comprises the step of providing a flexible band having first and second ends and the step of connecting a retaining element to the flexible band comprises the step of connecting the first and second ends of the flexible band to the retaining element.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising the step of positioning a flexible securing element about a circumference of the retaining element to secure the flexible band to the retaining element.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising the step of positioning a flexible securing element over the first and second ends of the flexible band and about a circumference of the retaining element.