Breakaway lanyard and hardware for making same

Abstract

Amongst other things, there is disclosed a breakaway lanyard comprising a carrier body having an upper end and an opposed lower end, and a lanyard strap having a first end and a second end. The first end is releasably connectable to the carrier body. The second end is fixed to the carrier body substantially at the upper end thereof. The first end is releasable from connection with the body portion upon application to the lanyard strap of a force exceeding a threshold level of force.

1 . A breakaway lanyard comprising:
 (a) a carrier body having an upper end and an opposed lower end;   (b) a lanyard strap having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end is releasably connectable to said carrier body, and wherein said second end is fixed to said carrier body substantially at said upper end thereof;   whereby said first end is releasable from connection with said carrier body upon application to said lanyard strap of a force exceeding a threshold level of force.   
   
   
       2 . A breakaway lanyard according to  claim 1 , further comprising a first complementary connector portion and a second complementary connector portion, each positioned on one of said carrier body and said first end; wherein said first end is releasable from said connection with said carrier body by means of disengagement of said first complementary connector portion and said second complementary connector portion from one another. 
   
   
       3 . A breakaway lanyard according to  claim 2 , wherein said first complementary connector portion and said second complimentary connector engage one another in male-female fashion. 
   
   
       4 . A breakaway lanyard according to  claim 3 , wherein said first complementary connector portion comprises a cartridge structure and said second complementary connector portion comprises one or more walls defining a receptacle shaped and configured to receive said cartridge structure therein in sliding relation. 
   
   
       5 . A breakaway lanyard according to  claim 4 , wherein said cartridge structure is affixed to said first end of said lanyard strap and said receptacle is defined in said carrier body. 
   
   
       6 . A breakaway lanyard according to any one of  claims 4 - 5 , wherein said carrier body comprises a plurality of carrier body segments engagable with one another. 
   
   
       7 . A breakaway lanyard according to  claim 6 , wherein said plurality of carrier body segments comprises a front segment and a rear segment. 
   
   
       8 . A breakaway lanyard according to  claim 7 , wherein said receptacle is defined in said front segment of said carrier body. 
   
   
       9 . A breakaway lanyard according to  claim 8 , wherein said cartridge structure comprises an upper portion and a lower portion; wherein said walls of said receptacle define an upper region and a lower region of said receptacle; and wherein said upper region is shaped and configured to receive said upper portion therein and said lower region is shaped and configured to receive said lower portion therein. 
   
   
       10 . A breakaway lanyard according to  claim 9 , wherein said cartridge structure comprises one or more clamping members for engaging with said first end of said lanyard strap. 
   
   
       11 . A breakaway lanyard according to  claim 10 , wherein said clamping members are mounted on said upper portion of said cartridge structure. 
   
   
       12 . A breakaway lanyard according to  claim 11 , wherein said clamping members each have one or more teeth defined thereon for engaging with said first end of said lanyard strap in retained relation. 
   
   
       13 . A breakaway lanyard according to  claim 7 , wherein said front segment and said rear segment engage one another in a releasable snap-fit relation. 
   
   
       14 . A breakaway lanyard according to  claim 13 , wherein said front segment and said rear segment engage one another so as to define a cavity therebetween, and wherein said second end of said lanyard strap is held in said cavity in compressed relation between said front segment and said rear segment. 
   
   
       15 . A breakaway lanyard according to  claim 14 , wherein one or more of said front segment and said rear segment have teeth protruding therefrom for engaging with said lanyard strap in retained relation. 
   
   
       16 . A breakaway lanyard according to  claim 15 , wherein said first end and said second end of said lanyard strap are situated in non-contacting and substantially overlapping relation to one another when both connected to said carrier body of said lanyard. 
   
   
       17 . A breakaway lanyard according to  claim 16 , wherein said lanyard further comprises a coupling portion extending from said lower end of said carrier body to allow selective attachment of an accessory to said carrier body. 
   
   
       18 . A breakaway lanyard according to  claim 17 , wherein said front segment has a front face and said rear segment has a rear face, and wherein one or more of said front face and said rear face presents a display surface for placement of one or more decorative indicia thereon. 
   
   
       19 . A hardware device combinable with a lanyard strap having a first end and a second end to form a breakaway lanyard, said device comprising:
 a carrier body having an upper end and an opposed lower end;   wherein said first end is releasably connectable to said carrier body, and wherein said second end is fixed to said carrier body substantially at said upper end thereof;   whereby said first end is releasable from connection with said carrier body upon application to said lanyard strap of a force exceeding a threshold level of force.   
   
   
       20 . An device of  claim 19 , further comprising a first complementary connector portion and a second complementary connector portion, each positioned on one of said carrier body and said first end; wherein said first end is releasable from said connection with said carrier body by means of disengagement of said first complementary connector portion and said second complementary connector portion from one another.