Wearable Device

Abstract

A wearable device including a flexible elongated member, a retractor, and a cloth is disclosed. The flexible elongated member may comprise a bistable spring and may be wrapped around the appendage of a user by exerting a deformation force upon the flexible elongated member. The retractor may be removably connected to the flexible elongated member via an attachment feature and attachment element, and the cloth may be retractably connected to the retractor via a cable. During use, the cloth may be pulled away from the appendage of the user, whereby a retraction mechanism disposed within a housing of the retractor may provide an opposing retracting force that urges the cloth back toward the appendage of the user. An ornament may be attachable to the retractor.

1 . A device comprising:
 a flexible elongated member, wherein the flexible elongated member has a length, a width, a first face, a second face opposed to the first face, a first end, and a second end, the flexible elongated member including at least one attachment feature at the first face, the at least one attachment feature configured to releasably connect the flexible elongated member to an attachment element;   wherein the flexible elongated member is configurable into at least two stable conformations, including a first conformation and a second conformation, the first conformation being a linear conformation in an extended configuration, the extended configuration defining a width-wise arc through at least a portion of the flexible elongated member, the second conformation being a coiled configuration of the flexible elongated member, and wherein the flexible elongated member is configurable into and out of both the first conformation or the second conformation by exertion of a deformation force on the flexible elongated member.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a retractor connected to the first face of the flexible elongated member and projecting outward therefrom, the retractor comprising a housing and a retraction mechanism, the housing including a base and at least one wall connected to the base, the base and the at least one wall cooperatively defining an inner chamber, and the retraction mechanism being located within the inner chamber;   wherein the base includes the attachment element, the attachment element being connected in mating engagement with the attachment feature at the first face of the flexible elongated member.   
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the retractor further comprises a cable having, a length, a first end connected to the retraction mechanism, and a second end distal from the first end;   the housing has an aperture defined in the at least one wall; and   the cable is retractably movable through the aperture.   
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the at least one attachment feature of the flexible elongated member is at least one hole defined in the first face of the flexible elongated member;   the base of the housing includes an outer surface; and   the attachment element of the housing is a projection extending outward from the surface;   wherein the projection is configured to be received by the at least one hole.   
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the housing includes a magnet;   the cable includes a collar disposed along the length of the cable and proximal to the second end; and   the collar is releasably securable to the magnet.   
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , further comprising a cloth releasably connected to the second end of the cable. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the retraction mechanism is a reel mechanism. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the cloth comprises woven fabric and includes a loop to which the second end of the cable can be releasably connected. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the cloth is maintained outside the internal chamber of the housing when the cable is extended or retracted. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one attachment feature of the flexible elongated member is at least two holes, the at least two holes being positioned linearly along the first face of the flexible elongated member and between the first end and the second end of the flexible elongated member. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the attachment feature further comprises at least a third hole and wherein the at least three holes are positioned in a spaced relationship such that each pair of adjacent holes are equidistant. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the cable further comprises a clip connected to the second end of the cable. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the clip is located external to the internal chamber of the housing. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , further comprising a cloth releasably connected to the cable by the clip. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the retractor further comprises a disk, the disk including a lip;   the at least one wall of the housing comprises a protrusion extending away from the at least one wall, the protrusion including a groove; and   the lip of the disk is configured to be received in the groove of the at least one wall to cause the disk to removably connect to the at least one wall.   
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the disk includes an ornament. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first end of the flexible elongated member overlaps the second end of the flexible elongated member when the flexible elongated member is in the second conformation. 
     
     
         18 . A device comprising:
 a flexible elongated member, wherein the flexible elongated member has a length, a width, a first face, a second face opposed to the first face, a first end, and a second end, the flexible elongated member including at least one attachment feature at the first face, the at least one attachment feature configured to releasably connect the flexible elongated member to an attachment element, wherein the flexible elongated member is configurable into at least two stable conformations, including a first conformation and a second conformation, the first conformation being a linear conformation in an extended configuration, the extended configuration defining a width-wise arc through at least a portion of the flexible elongated member, the second conformation being a coiled configuration of the flexible elongated member, wherein the flexible elongated member is configurable into and out of both the first conformation or the second conformation by exertion of a deformation force on the flexible elongated member;   a retractor connected to the first face of the flexible elongated member and projecting outward therefrom, the retractor comprising a housing, a retraction mechanism, and a cable, the housing comprising a base and at least one wall connected to the base, the base and the at least one wall cooperatively defining an inner chamber, the retraction mechanism located within the inner chamber, the cable comprising a first end connected to the retraction mechanism and a second end distal from the first end, wherein the base includes the attachment element, with the attachment element being connected in mating engagement with the attachment feature at the first face of the flexible elongated member; and   a cloth removably connected to the second end of the cable, wherein the cloth maintained outside the internal chamber of the housing.   
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the at least one attachment feature of the flexible elongated member is at least one hole defined in the first face of the flexible elongated member;   the base of the housing includes an outer surface; and   the attachment element of the housing is a projection extending outward from the surface;   wherein the projection is receivable by the at least one hole.   
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the housing further comprises a disk, the disk including a lip;   the at least one wall of the housing comprises a protrusion extending away from the at least one wall, the protrusion including a groove;   the lip of the disk is configured to be received by the groove of the at least one wall to cause the disk to removably connect to the at least one wall, wherein the disc includes and ornament or indicia.