Method and device wearable on the human body for controlling an object

Abstract

A method for controlling an object cast from a human body involves attaching to a portion of the body a device that includes a body-engaging member, an attached axle, a reel rotatable on the axle, a cord attached to the reel and the object, and a spring that biases the reel to rotate in a direction to wind the cord on the reel and thereby retract the object towards the device. The body-engaging member includes a body-engaging surface that is contoured to substantially conform to a portion of the body. A case including the body-engaging member contains the axle and the reel, and defines an aperture for through passage of the cord. A garment wearable on the body secures the body-engaging member in a substantially fixed relationship to the body. A cord-to-object connector has relatively rotatable parts to allow the object to rotate without twisting of the cord.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
         1 . A device wearable on a portion of a human body for controlling an object cast from the human body, the device comprising:
 (a) a body-engaging member comprising a body-engaging surface;   (b) an axle fixedly attached to the body-engaging member;   (c) a reel rotatable on the axle;   (d) a cord extending from a cord proximal end attached to the reel to a cord distal end attachable or attached to the object; and   (e) a spring for biasing the reel to rotate on the axle in a direction that winds the cord on the reel.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the portion of the human body comprises the forearm. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the body-engaging surface is contoured to substantially conform to the portion of the body. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the body-engaging surface is convexly contoured. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4  wherein the body-engaging surface is contoured to comprise a portion of a substantially frustoconical surface. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the axle is oriented substantially orthogonally to a portion of the body-engaging surface. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising a case containing the axle, the reel and the spring, and defining a case cord aperture through which the cord passes between the cord proximal end and the cord distal end, wherein the cord distal end is disposed outside of the case. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7  wherein the case comprises a case internal surface with a substantially frustoconical surface terminating at the portion of the case defining the case cord aperture. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the body-engaging member defines a body-engaging member garment aperture for receiving therethrough a garment wearable on the body for securing the body-engaging member in a substantially fixed relationship to the body. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9  further comprising a garment wearable on the body, wherein the garment either attaches to or engages the body-engaging member to secure the body-engaging member in a substantially fixed relationship to the body. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10  wherein the garment comprises a strap or a band that encircles at least a portion of the body. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising a cord-to-object connector attached to the cord distal end for releasably connecting the cord distal end to the object. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12  wherein the cord-to-object connector comprises a carabiner. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 12  wherein the cord-to-object connector comprises a connector comprising a first connector part attachable or attached to the cord distal end, and a second connector part attachable or attached to the object, wherein the second connector part is rotatable relative to the first connector part. 
     
     
         15 . A method for controlling an object cast from a human body, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) attaching to a portion of the body a device comprising:
 (i) a body-engaging member comprising a body-engaging surface; 
 (ii) an axle fixedly attached to the body-engaging member; 
 (iii) a reel rotatable on the axle; 
 (iv) a cord extending from a cord proximal end attached to the reel to a cord distal end; and 
 (v) a spring for biasing the reel to rotate on the axle in a direction that winds the cord on the reel; 
   (b) attaching the object to the cord distal end; and   (c) after attaching the object to the cord distal end, allowing the spring to bias the reel to rotate on the axle in the direction that winds the cord on the reel, thereby retracting the object towards the device.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the portion of the human body comprises the forearm. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the body-engaging surface is contoured to substantially conform to the portion of the body. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the device further comprises a case containing the axle, the reel and the spring, and defining a case cord aperture through which the cord passes between the cord proximal end and the cord distal end, wherein the cord distal end is disposed outside of the case. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the device further comprises a garment wearable on the body, wherein the garment either attaches to or engages the body-engaging member to secure the body-engaging member in a substantially fixed relationship to the body. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the device further comprises a cord-to-object connector attached to the cord distal end for releasably connecting the cord distal end to the object, wherein the cord-to-object connector comprises a connector comprising a first connector part attachable or attached to the cord distal end, and a second connector part attachable or attached to the object, wherein the second connector part is rotatable relative to the first connector part.