Tether system and apparatus for handheld devices

Abstract

A tether system and apparatus is provided for securing a handheld device to a user. The tether apparatus includes a harness having an elastomeric body configured to engage the plurality of corners of the handheld device thereby releasably securing the elastomeric body to the handheld device, a fastener configured for releasably engaging an article worn or borne by a user, and an elongated tether interconnecting the fastener and the harness. A first end of the tether is connected to the elastomeric body, and a second end of the tether is connected to the fastener. The elastomeric body and the elongated tether may be monolithically formed. The tether apparatus allows a user to easily retrieve the handheld device if dropped.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tether apparatus for securing a handheld device to a user, the handheld device having four corners, the tether apparatus comprising:
 a harness including an elastomeric body configured to releasably engage the four corners of the handheld device thereby releasably securing the elastomeric body to the handheld device, the elastomeric body including four corner apertures in the elastomeric body, each defining a corner loop configured to stretch over and engage a respective corner of the handheld device within the corner loop, and the elastomeric body including a central opening located between the four corner apertures;   a fastener configured for releasably engaging an article worn or borne by a user; and   an elongated tether interconnecting the fastener and the harness, a first end of the tether connected to the elastomeric body, and a second end of the tether connected to the fastener;   wherein the elastomeric body and the elongated tether are monolithically formed, and wherein the elastomeric body includes (i) a web layer of substantially uniform thickness W throughout the elastomeric body and (ii) a thickened solid region layer of thickness S that overlaps a portion of the web layer between an adjacent pair of the four corner apertures and between the central opening and the elongated tether, the thickened solid region layer providing a thickened solid region of thickness W+S adjacent the first end of the tether; and   wherein the elongated tether allows a user to easily retrieve the handheld device if dropped while the fastener is engaged with the article of the user.   
     
     
         2 . A tether apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric web and the elongated tether are formed of silicone, latex, or rubber. 
     
     
         3 . A tether apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric web and the elongated tether are formed of silicone. 
     
     
         4 . A tether apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the central opening has a maximum opening dimension Dnno along a longitudinal axis L of the harness and the four corner apertures have a maximum aperture dimension Dma parallel to the longitudinal axis L, and wherein the maximum opening dimension Dnno is larger than the maximum aperture dimension Dma. 
     
     
         5 . A tether apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric body includes a centroid C, and the centroid C is located within the central opening. 
     
     
         6 . A tether apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric body further includes a reinforcement layer of thickness R that overlaps a portion of the web layer and extends along and adjacent to at least a pair of the four corner apertures. 
     
     
         7 . A tether apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the reinforcement layer continuously extends along and around the at least a pair of the four corner apertures. 
     
     
         8 . A tether apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein another reinforcement layer of thickness R extends along a portion of the thickened solid region layer and around a remaining pair of the four corner apertures. 
     
     
         9 . A tether apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric body has a height H parallel to a longitudinal axis L, and wherein the elongated tether is longer than the height H of the elastomeric body. 
     
     
         10 . A tether apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the elongated tether is at least twice as long as the height H of the elastomeric body. 
     
     
         11 . A tether apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the tether includes a plurality of bends, wherein the bends flex and straighten when the tether is pulled. 
     
     
         12 . A tether apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the tether is flat. 
     
     
         13 . A tether apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the tether is of a substantially uniform thickness between the first and second ends that is equal to thickness W of the web layer. 
     
     
         14 . A tether apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the thickened solid region includes a receptacle releasably receiving a medallion therein, the medallion having ornamental indicia. 
     
     
         15 . A tether system comprising the tether apparatus according to  claim 1  and an article configured to be worn or borne by a user, the article including a pocket having an interior accessed by an opening, the pocket including a mount secured to the article within the interior of the pocket at a position remote from the opening, wherein the elongated tether is retractable and interconnects the harness and the mount, a first end of the tether being connected to the harness, and a second end of the tether connected to the mount. 
     
     
         16 . A tether system according to  claim 15 , wherein the pocket includes a perimeter, and the mount is secured to the article along the perimeter remote from the opening. 
     
     
         17 . A tether system according to  claim 16 , wherein the perimeter includes a corner remote from the opening, wherein the mount is secured to the article at the corner.