Retractable Tool for Collecting Craft Objects

Abstract

A retractable herding apparatus comprises a housing, a tap drum, a retractable tape, and a biasing member. The housing has an interior cavity, a sidewall and an opening defined in the sidewall to provide access into the cavity. The tape drum is rotatably disposed in the housing. The retractable tape has a first end and a second end. The first end of the retractable tape is attached to the tape drum. The second end of the retractable tape is attached to the housing proximate the opening in the sidewall. The retractable tape is movable between a fully retracted position and a fully protracted position. The biasing member couples to the tape drum. The biasing member is provided to bias the retractable tape toward the retracted position.

1 . A retractable herding apparatus comprising:
 a housing having an interior cavity, a sidewall and an opening defined in the sidewall to provide access into the cavity;   a tape drum rotatably disposed in the housing;   a retractable tape having a first end and a second end, the first end of the retractable tape being attached to the tape drum, the second end of the retractable tape being attached to the housing proximate the opening in the sidewall, the retractable tape being movable between a fully retracted position and a fully protracted position; and   a biasing member coupled to the tape drum, the biasing member being provided to bias the retractable tape toward the retracted position.   
     
     
         2 . The retractable herding apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the retractable tape is formed from one of either metal and plastic. 
     
     
         3 . The retractable herding apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the retractable tape is formed from a vinyl polymer. 
     
     
         4 . The retractable herding apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein when the retractable tape is in the fully retracted position, at least a portion of the retractable tape covers the opening in the side wall. 
     
     
         5 . The retractable herding apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a cover movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein when the cover is in the closed position, the cover obstructs opening in the sidewall. 
     
     
         6 . The retractable herding apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the cover is slidably coupled to a sidewall and the cover is slidable between the open position and the closed position. 
     
     
         7 . The retractable herding apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a gripping member attached to the retractable tape. 
     
     
         8 . The retractable herding apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the gripping member is slidable along a length of the retractable tape. 
     
     
         9 . The retractable herding apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the biasing member is a coil spring. 
     
     
         10 . A retractable herding apparatus comprising:
 a housing having an interior cavity, a sidewall and an opening defined in the sidewall to provide access into the cavity;   a tape drum rotatably disposed in the housing;   a retractable tape having a first end and a second end, the first end of the retractable tape being attached to the tape drum, the second end of the retractable tape being attached to the housing proximate the opening in the sidewall, the retractable tape being movable between a fully retracted position and a fully protracted position;   a biasing member coupled to the tape drum, the biasing member being provided to bias the retractable tape toward the retracted position; and   a brake element operatively coupled to one of either the tape drum and the retractable tape, the brake element being movable between a first position and a second position, wherein when the brake element is in the first position, the retractable tape is biased to fully retracted position and movable toward the fully protracted position.   
     
     
         11 . The retractable herding apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the retractable tape is formed from one of either metal and plastic. 
     
     
         12 . The retractable herding apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the retractable tape is formed from a vinyl polymer. 
     
     
         13 . The retractable herding apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein when the retractable tape is in the fully retracted position, at least a portion of the retractable tape covers the opening in the side wall. 
     
     
         14 . The retractable herding apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising a cover movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein when the cover is in the closed position, the cover obstructs opening in the sidewall. 
     
     
         15 . The retractable herding apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the cover is slidably coupled to a sidewall and the cover is slidable between the open position and the closed position. 
     
     
         16 . The retractable herding apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising a gripping member attached to the retractable tape. 
     
     
         17 . The retractable herding apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the gripping member is slidable along a length of the retractable tape. 
     
     
         18 . The retractable herding apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein when the brake is in the second position, the retractable tape is fixedly maintained in a predetermined position. 
     
     
         19 . The retractable herding apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the biasing member is a coil spring.