Personal device with tether system and method of use

Abstract

The present invention in one embodiment is a combination of a personal device with a tether that connects the personal device with items of interest, especially security cards or identity badges, credit cards, lunch cards, library cards, keys, group identifiers, mottos, motivational or inspirational messages, pictures, colorful indicia, designs, pill containers, money clips, pouches, cases, purses, envelopes, pocket protectors, pens, pencils, pictures, loyalty cards, note paper, games, lotions, glasses, business cards or any other object that may be desirable to have on the user's person. In another embodiment, the invention includes the combination of a pedometer with other personal devices. One embodiment of the invention includes a method of using a pedometer-tether combination as part of a health promotion program.

1 . A personal device and tether combination comprising: 
 a personal device having a case containing the personal device; and    a tether connecting the personal device to an item of interest, the tether having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the tether being connected to the case and the distal end of the tether being connected to the item of interest.    
   
   
       2 . The personal device and tether combination of  claim 1  wherein the personal device is a combination of one or more personal devices chosen from the group consisting of a pedometer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a cellular phone, a pager, a global positioning system (GPS), a radio, a MP3 player and a calculator.  
   
   
       3 . The personal device and tether combination of  claim 1  wherein the case comprises: 
 an outer shell having an outer shell edge, an outer shell bottom edge, outer shell top edge, outer shell side edges, outer shell front face and an outer shell back face;    an inner shell connected to the outer shell by a hinge, the inner shell having an inner shell edge, an inner shell bottom edge, inner shell top edge, inner shell side edges, inner shell front face and an inner shell back face.    
   
   
       4 . The personal device and tether combination of  claim 3  wherein the outer shell includes a personal device chosen from the group consisting of a pedometer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a cellular phone, a pager, a global positioning system (GPS), a radio, a MP3 player and a calculator.  
   
   
       5 . The personal device and tether combination of  claim 3  wherein the inner shell includes a includes a personal device chosen from the group consisting of a pedometer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a cellular phone, a pager, a global positioning system (GPS), a radio, a MP3 player and a calculator.  
   
   
       6 . The personal device and tether combination of  claim 3  wherein portions of a personal device are located in the inner shell and portions of the pedometer are located in the outer shell.  
   
   
       7 . The personal device and tether combination of  claim 3  wherein the personal device includes at least a pedometer having a display and input buttons and the outer shell front face contains the display and input buttons.  
   
   
       8 . The personal device and tether combination of  claim 7  wherein the inner shell is essentially hollow and allows the pedometer, especially the inner shell front face to be folded into and contained within the inner shell by rotation of the outer shell around the hinge.  
   
   
       9 . The personal device and tether combination of  claim 1  wherein the case comprises: 
 an outer shell having an outer shell edge, an outer shell bottom edge, outer shell top edge, outer shell side edges, outer shell front face and an outer shell back face;    an inner shell having an inner shell edge, an inner shell bottom edge, inner shell top edge, inner shell side edges, inner shell front face and an inner shell back face, the inner shell connected to the outer shell so that the outer shell top edge is merged with the inner shell top edge, the outer shell side edges are merged with the inner shell side edges, the outer shell bottom edge is merged with the inner shell bottom edge and there is no inner shell front face or outer shell front face.    
   
   
       10 . The personal device and tether combination of  claim 9  wherein portions of a pedometer are located in the inner shell and portions of the pedometer are located in the outer shell.  
   
   
       11 . The personal device and tether combination of  claim 1  wherein the case takes a form chosen from the group consisting of trademark shapes, shapes of states, corporate logos, sports icons, free form shapes, geometric shapes, shapes of recognizable objects or cartoon characters.  
   
   
       12 . The personal device and tether combination of  claim 1  wherein the case has information or designs printed, imprinted or molded into or onto it.  
   
   
       13 . The personal device and tether combination of  claim 1  wherein the case includes a fastening clip for attaching the device to the user's body  
   
   
       14 . The personal device and tether combination of  claim 1  wherein the tether is string-like so that the tether has essentially a circular or oval cross-section.  
   
   
       15 . The personal device and tether combination of  claim 1  wherein the tether is ribbon-like so that the tether is relatively flat and wide.  
   
   
       16 . The personal device and tether combination of  claim 1  wherein the items or interest are selected from a group consisting of security cards or identity badges, credit cards, lunch cards, library cards, keys, group identifiers, mottos, motivational or inspirational messages, pictures, colorful indicia, designs, pill containers, money clips, pouches, cases, purses, envelopes, pocket protectors, pens, pencils, pictures, loyalty cards, note paper, games, lotions, glasses or business cards.  
   
   
       17 . The personal device and tether combination of  claim 1  wherein the tether has an attachment clip located at the distal end of the tether which attachment clip connects the item of interest to the distal end of the tether.  
   
   
       18 . The personal device and tether combination of  claim 1  wherein the tether has a removable connector located along the tether between the proximal end and the distal end of the tether wherein the removable connector allows the distal end of the tether to be selectively attached or unattached from the proximal end of the tether.  
   
   
       19 . The personal device and tether combination of  claim 1  further comprising a retraction mechanism that allows the tether to be extended and retracted away from the body.  
   
   
       20 . The personal device and tether combination of  claim 1  further comprising means for preventing the item of interest from twisting the tether.  
   
   
       21 . The personal device and tether combination of  claim 1  further comprising a communication system to allow the personal device to communicate with other systems or devices separate from the personal device.  
   
   
       22 . The personal device and tether combination of  claim 21  wherein the communication system includes systems chosen from the group consisting of a direct line, a LAN, a WAN, the internet, local electronic network, global electronic network, satellite network, wireless cellular phone system, wireless paging systems, short-range or medium-range wireless network.  
   
   
       23 . The personal device and tether combination of  claim 21  wherein the communication system includes a local device to gather information or data from or send information or data to the case or allows the case to communicate with other devices or networks.  
   
   
       24 . The personal device and tether combination of  claim 1  further comprising a transferable device capable of carrying information or data from or to the personal device wherein the transferable device is chosen from the group consisting of a transferable memory card or a transferable electronic circuit.  
   
   
       25 . A personal device and tether combination comprising: 
 a personal device having a case containing the personal device, wherein the personal device is a combination of one or more personal devices chosen from the group consisting of a pedometer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a cellular phone, a pager, a global positioning system (GPS), a radio, a MP3 player and a calculator;    a tether connecting the personal device to an item of interest, the tether having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the tether being connected to the case and the distal end of the tether being connected to the item of interest, wherein the items or interest are selected from a group consisting of security cards or identity badges, credit cards, lunch cards, library cards, keys, group identifiers, mottos, motivational or inspirational messages, pictures, colorful indicia, designs, pill containers, money clips, pouches, cases, purses, envelopes, pocket protectors, pens, pencils, pictures, loyalty cards, note paper, games, lotions, glasses or business cards; and    a communication system to allow the personal device to communicate with other systems or devices separate from the personal device.    
   
   
       26 . A method of giving incentives or rewards or both to participants in a program to promote increased physical activity comprising the steps of: 
 providing the program participant a combination of a pedometer, tether and a security card connected to the pedometer by the tether;    tracking, using the pedometer, the number of steps taken by the participant in a relevant time period; and    rewarding the participant for physical activity indicated by the pedometer.    
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the step of providing the program participant a combination of a pedometer, tether and a security card connected to the pedometer by the tether includes the step of providing the program participant a personal device in combination with the pedometer wherein the personal device is selected from the group consisting of a personal digital assistant (PDA), a cellular phone, a pager, a global positioning system (GPS), a radio, a MP3 player and a calculator.