Tethered Device Holder

Abstract

A shell or case for holding a cell phone, with a releasable tether attached to the case, for quickly locating and retrieving the cell phone from the depths of a handbag or tote bag. A catch device with a push-button release mechanism is attached to an external surface of the shell. The tether has a post and anchor head that is catchable within the catch device. Pushing the release mechanism opens the catch. A biasing spring ejects the anchor head from the device. The tether may be attached at its other end to a handbag or tote bag strap, so that it is easily and quickly located. Pulling on the tether retrieves the shell with phone or other electronic device from the bag. Pushing the release button automatically releases and ejects the anchor-head end of the tether from the shell, so that the user may used the cell phone or device freely, without any restraint on freedom of movement.

1 . A catch device for capturing a tether post that has an anchor head, said catch device comprising:
 a catch-device housing comprising an upper housing and a backplate;   a catch release assembly comprising a slider assembly slidably mounted on said backplate and a release button assembled in an aperture on said upper housing;   a catch assembly comprising a pair of prongs that are positionable between a catch position and a release position;   and an ejection spring;   wherein said prongs, when in said catch position, capture said anchor head within said catch-device housing;   wherein, when an operating force is exerted on said release button, said button forces said slider assembly to move said prongs from said catch position to said release position; and   wherein, when said prongs are in said release position, said ejection spring exerts a force on said anchor head to facilitate ejection of said anchor head from said catch-device housing.   
   
   
       2 . The catch device of  claim 1 , wherein said release button has a first push block, said slider assembly includes a slider body having a second push block and push edges, and said prongs have a push surface; and
 wherein, when said actuating force is exerted on said release button, said first push block pushes against said second push block on said slider body, forcing said slider body to slide in a longitudinal direction along said backplate and to move from said catch position to said release position, with said push edges of said slider body thereby pushing against said push surface of said prongs, forcing said prongs to slide in a transverse direction relative to said longitudinal direction of said slider body, so as to move said prongs to said open position.   
   
   
       3 . The catch device of  claim 2 , wherein said release button has a first biasing spring that biases said button upward. 
   
   
       4 . The catch device of  claim 2 , wherein said slider assembly has a second biasing spring that biases said slider body to a catch position. 
   
   
       5 . The catch device of  claim 2 , wherein said prongs have a third biasing spring that biases each prong inward in a transverse direction relative the longitudinal direction of said slider assembly, to a catch position. 
   
   
       6 . The catch device of  claim 1 , wherein said release button is pivotably mounted in said slider body; and
 wherein depressing said release button forces said slider body to move to said release position and simultaneously pushes a forward end of said slider body upward, thereby ejecting said anchor head from said catch-device housing.   
   
   
       7 . The catch device of  claim 1 , wherein said slider body has a forward end that includes said pair of prongs for engaging said anchor head, wherein said catch-release button is pivotably mounted on said slider body, with and wherein actuating said catch-release button simultaneously forces said slider body rearward away from said capture position to said release position and forces said forward end of said slider body upward, which in turn applies an upward pressure on said forward end of said slider body, thereby ejecting said anchor head from said catch-device housing. 
   
   
       8 . The catch device of  claim 7 , said catch assembly further comprising a biasing spring that is assembled between said rearward end of said slider body and a wall of said upper housing, wherein said biasing spring biases said slider body to a forward position. 
   
   
       9 . The catch device of  claim 1 , wherein said slider assembly has a rearward end that includes a slider body with a cam surface and a biasing spring, and a forward end into which said prongs are incorporated, wherein said biasing spring holds said prongs in said catch position, and wherein applying said operating force to said button causes said button to move against said cam surface, forcing said slider assembly in a rearward direction, thereby also moving said prongs to said release position. 
   
   
       10 . The catch device of  claim 9 , said upper housing having an aperture adapted to allow said anchor head pass through and said catch-release assembly further including an ejection spring that has a mounting end that is assembled on said backplate and a spring end that applies a force upward toward said aperture, so as to automatically eject said anchor head from said catch-device housing when said prongs are moved to said release position. 
   
   
       11 . A holster for releasably securing an object, said holster comprising:
 a shell adapted to hold an object;   a tether having a distal end with a post and an anchor head and a proximal end for attaching to an external object;   a catch device for releasably capturing said anchor head of said tether, said catch device comprising a housing that includes an upper housing and a backplate and a pair of prongs that are slidably captured between said upper housing and said backplate and that form a releasable catch aperture for retaining an anchor head of said tether within said housing;   a catch release assembly comprising a slider body slidably mounted on said backplate and a release button assembled in an aperture on said upper housing, so as to be actuatable from outside said catch-device housing;   wherein said catch device is attached to an outer surface of said shell, so as to be accessible external to said shell;   wherein said prongs in a catch position capture said anchor head within said catch-device housing;   wherein, when an actuating force is exerted on said release button, said button forces said slider body to move from a catch position to a release position and to eject said anchor head from said catch-device housing.   
   
   
       12 . The holster of  claim 11 , wherein said release button has a first push block, said slider assembly includes a slider body having a second push block and push edges, and said prongs have a push surface; and
 wherein, when said actuating force is exerted on said release button, said first push block pushes against said second push block on said slider body, forcing said slider body to slide in a longitudinal direction along said backplate and to move from said catch position to said release position, with said push edges of said slider body thereby pushing against said push surface of said prongs, forcing said prongs to slide in a transverse direction relative to said longitudinal direction of said slider body, so as to move said prongs to said open position.   
   
   
       13 . The holster of  claim 12 , wherein said release button has a first biasing spring that biases said button upward. 
   
   
       14 . The holster of  claim 12 , wherein said slider assembly has a second biasing spring that biases said slider body to a catch position. 
   
   
       15 . The holster of  claim 12 , wherein said prongs have a third biasing spring that biases each prong inward in a transverse direction relative the longitudinal direction of said slider assembly, to a catch position. 
   
   
       16 . The holster of  claim 11 , wherein said catch release assembly includes a biasing spring that biases said slider body toward said catch position. 
   
   
       17 . The holster of  claim 11 , wherein said slider body has a forward end with said pair of prongs and a rearward end with a cam surface, and a downward force applied to said release button forces said release button to contact said cam surface, which forces said slider body to move against said biasing spring.