Child safety tether

Abstract

An apparatus and method for operably connecting a first person to a second person. The apparatus comprises a wrist strap having first and second ends sized to closely extend around a wrist of a first person and a coupling formed of a first coupling half located at the first end and a second coupling half located at the second end. The first and second coupling ends are lockably engageable with each other. The coupling has a pair of buttons to opposed sides thereof wherein the pair of buttons cooperate to disengage the second coupling half from the first coupling half and a connector extending from the wrist strap member connectable to a second person. The method comprises lockably and closely securing the wrist strap to a wrist of the first person, and securing a connector extending from the first wrist strap to a second user.

1 . An apparatus for operably connecting a first person to a second person comprising:
 a wrist strap having first and second connectable ends sized to closely extend around a wrist of a first person;   a coupling formed of a first coupling half located at said first end and a second coupling half located at said second end being lockably engageable with said first coupling half, said coupling having a pair of buttons to opposed sides thereof wherein said pair of buttons cooperate to disengage said second coupling half from said first coupling half; and   a connector extending from said wrist strap member connectable to a second person.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said connector comprises a loop connectable to a line extending from said second person. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said connector comprises a flexible tension member extending from said wrist strap and having a distal end, said distal end being connectable to a second person. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein said distal end is connectable to a loop connector of a corresponding wrist strap worn by said second person. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein first coupling half includes at least one latch extending therefrom, said at least one latch being lockably engageable within a corresponding keeper in said second coupling half. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein said first coupling half includes two latches and said second coupling half includes two keepers. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein said pair of buttons cooperate to disengage said two latches from said two keepers. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein each of said pair of buttons disengages one of said two latches from its corresponding keeper. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein both of said pair of buttons are located one of said first or second coupling half. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein each of said first and second coupling half includes one of said pair of buttons. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a retractor assembly located on said wrist strap, said flexible tension member extending from said retractor assembly. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said flexible tension member is retractable into said retractor assembly. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein said flexible tension member is maintained in tension by said retractor assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein said flexible tension member comprises a wire. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein said wire comprises a braided wire. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein said wire is formed of metal. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further including a locator beacon within at least one of said first or second coupling half. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said first and second coupling halves are mateable to each other along a coupling surface substantially orthogonal to an axis of the wrist of a wearer. 
     
     
         19 . A method of connecting a first person to a second person, the method comprising:
 lockably and closely securing a wrist strap to a wrist of the first person, said wrist strap extending between first and second ends and having a length sized to closely surround the wrist of said first person, said first and second ends comprising a coupling formed of first and second coupling halves and being lockably securable to each other and releasable by cooperatively pressing a pair of buttons on opposed sides of coupling; and   securing a connector extending from said first wrist strap to a second user.