US2947456A - Lanyard - Google Patents

Description

S. M. SERON Aug. 2, 1960 LANYARD Filed Jan. 23, 1958 of the wearer.

nited Stteis LANYARD Suren M. Seron, Seron Mfg. Company, 432 Barber Bldg., Joliet, Ill.

Filed Jan. 23, 1958, Ser. No. 710,822

1 Claim. (Cl. 224) such disadvantage is that the keeper element is of such size and material, in some lanyards, that it may cause in jury to the person if said element should he accidentally hit during play. Another disadvantage of the known braided and cord types is possible irritation to the neck Still another disadvantage is that the ma terial of which the lanyard is formed is often difficult to clean. Often the lanyard is insufficiently strong to withstand the wear and tear thereon over a period of time. Another disadvantage is that the means for connecting the whistle or horn to the lanyard does not allow ready installation and removal thereof.

Applicant has devised and herein disclosed and claims a new and improved neckpiece lanyard of extremely simple and economical construction, which avoids each of the above enumerated disadvantages.

The principal feature of the invention is the provision of a lanyard having new and improved means for ready, positive adjustment of the lanyard loop around the users neck.

Another feature is the provision of such a lanyard hav ing a new and improved means for attaching an element such as a whistle or a horn thereto in proper position for grasping and ready movement to the users mouth.

A further feature of the invention is that the lanyard comprises a resilient tube closed at its ends to enclose a body of air therewithin.

Still another feature is the provision of a new and improved keeper member of simple and economical construction for operative association with the tube for positively adjusting the looped portion of the tube around the users neck and which is small in size so that no injury can be sustained by the user in the event of an accidental blow on the chest.

Another feature is that the keeper ning maintains the tube portions in alignment to position properly at all times the element attaching means.

A yet further feature is the provision of a lanyard comprising a loop of tubular neoprene providing improved characteristics as comfort to a wearer, resistance to deterioration, ease of maintenance, and limited stretchability.

Other features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 isa perspective view of a lanyard embodying the invention, with a whistle attached thereto, and with a portion of the torso of a person wearing the lanyard being shown in phantom view;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the lanyard;

Figure 3 is an exploded front elevational view thereof,

)1 atent with the whistle retaining means being shown in the attached position in dotted lines;

Figure 4 is an enlarged section taken approximately along the line 4--4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a. section taken approximately along the line 55 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a section taken approximately along the line 6-6 of Figure 3; and

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 4, but showing a modified form of keeper.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention as disclosed in Figures 1 through 6 of the drawings, a. lanyard is shown to com-prise a looped tube 10 provided with a keeper 11 for adjusting the length of the portion of tube 10 arranged around the neck N of the wearer. A fastener 12 is secured to the lower end of the tube 1i? and is arranged to receive removably a connecting or hook member 13 which is adapted to carry an element such as whistle 14 in position for instant grasping and placement into the users mouth.

Loop element 10 preferably comprises a tube formed of a resilient material such as rubber. Such a material is easy to clean by simple washing and the outer surface of the tubing may be relatively smooth to inhibit deposi' tion of dirt thereon. The tube may be cut from a straight section thereof and the two free ends 16a and 1% brought together and secured by fastening means 12 to form a complete loop.

A highly satisfactory loop element 10 is one formed of soft neoprene tubing such as neutral color neoprene tuhing having a /8 internal diameter and a 3 wall thickness. Such a tubing having a hardness of approximately 45 durometer Shore A composed of Du Pont de Nemours Co. type W general purpose neoprene having approximately a 47 Mooney viscosity characteristic provides excellent characteristics. The loop element formed of such neoprene tubing is light-weight and comfortable to the wearer. It does not chafe or cause skin burn as do the braided lanyards and other rough surface lanyards now known. The neoprene lanyard is substantially impervious to body oils and perspiration which deteriorates the known cotton and leather lanyards. Thus, rotting, mildewing, and odor breeding are effectively eliminated. The neoprene lanyard can be readily sanitarily maintained such as by washing or sterilizing, including sterilizing with alcohol. It can withstand high temperatures without adverse effects. Further, the limited stretchability of the neoprene lanyard prevents excessive displacement of the instrument supported thereby such as might otherwise occur due to an accidental overenergetic pull thereon in the heat of athletic activity.

Fastener 12 may comprise a conventional snap fastener including a base portion 12a and a clamp portion 1211 which may be forced into secured engagement with base 12a, with tube ends ltia and 10b therebetween, thereby to close sealingly the ends of the tube. The air within the tube is thus entrapped, causing the tube to form a yielding, yet firm support member.

As best seen in Figures 3 and 4, keeper 11 comprises a doubled loop or figure-eight member formed of a relatively rigid material such as wire. The internal diameter of each of the loops of keeper 11 is preferably just slightly smaller than the outside diameter of tube 10 so that the tube is slightly constricted where it passes through the keeper. Because of the yielding nature of the airbuifered tube construction, this constriction effects a secure, yet readily adjustable, retention of the keeper longitudinally on the tube notwithstanding the smooth-surfaced characteristic thereof. Once the keeper is adjusted, therefore, it maintains its position notwithstanding forceful movements of the wearer, until it is readjusted by actual manipulation by the wearer.

loop portion 100.

As best seen in Figures 1 and 3, keeper 11 further serves to maintain the loop sections aligned substantially coplanarly and against the person of the wearer so that fastener 12 is maintained in a disposition wherein hook member 13 extends outwardly or away from the wearers person. Ring 14a, normally provided on instruments such as whistles and horns, may thus coact with the hook to cause the whistle or horn to lie ordinarily flat against the wearers person, and to be readily swung on the hook for proper disposition for insertion into the users mouth with the top portion of the instrument uppermost. Thus, there is no fumbling or delay in utilizing the instrument as it is positioned ready for proper use at all times. The desirability of such positioning is obvious in such uses as by sports oflicials in the heat of an athletic contest.

A modified form of keeper 111 is shown in Figure 7. Keeper 111 comprises a single loop ring of small diameter, rigid wire encircling two adjacent portions of the tube. The internal dimensions of keeper 111 are preferably just slightly smaller than the outside dimensions of the pair of tube portions encircled thereby so that the tube portions are slightly constricted thereby. Thus, keeper 111 functions somewhat similarly to keeper 11 in that it is securely yet readily adjustably retained in place on the tube portions notwithstanding the smooth characteristic of the tube surface. Such improved functioning is highly desirable where the tubing is formed of a material such as neoprene which has a relatively low surface friction.

Fastener 12 is further arranged to permit a swivelling of the hook relative to the tube ends. To this end, projecting outwardly from base 12a of fastener 12 is a post portion 120 which is arranged for readily removable, rotatable retention of a generally annular, snap element 12d. A radially outward opening groove 122 extends peripherally around element 12d to receive an arcuate end portion 13a of hook 13. Extending from arcuate portion 13a is a straight portion 13b terminating at its lower end in a hook shaped retaining portion 130. The retaining portion is generally U-shaped and terminates in an end portion 13d extending transversely across the upper, open end of the U-shaped configuration. The end 13e of the end portion 13d is rounded and is disposed relatively close to the straight portion 13b. The distance between curved end 136 and straight portion 13b is preferably just slightly smaller than the cross-sectional diameter of the ring 14a. Hook member 13 is preferably formed of a resilient material such as wire and, thus, ring 140! may be passed readily between the portions 131) and 13e of the hook by the springing apart of the two portions, with the ring then hanging on the base 131 of the U-shaped configuration as best seen in Figure 1. To urge the whistle ring toward the lower end of straight portion 13b, when it is so hanging from the hook, base portion 13 is provided with a curved portion 13 immediately adjacent the lower end of straight portion 13d and an angularly upwardly extending straight portion 13f". Thus, the top portion of the whistle is automatically retained flat against the wearers person so that when the whistle is swung upwardly into blowing position, it is properly arranged top uppermost.

The installation of my lanyard is extremely simple, the looped tube being placed over the head of the user with the keeper 11 adjusted to allow a large size upper When thus arranged around the neck of the user, loop portion 100 is then decreased in size by moving the keeper upwardly until the proper adjustment .is obtained. The keeper maintains the lanyard-flat against the wearers person and the whistle is maintained readily available for use. The double swivelling action of the whistle ring relative to the hook, and the hook relative to the fastener post, assures this proper positioning and allows for simple swinging of the Whistle into proper blowing position. a

If it is desired to remove the whistle from the hook Q at any time, this can be readily done by moving the ring upwardly through the space between portions 13b and 13d, the resilient nature of the hook allowing for this.

Should it for any reason be desirable to replace hook 13, this can. be done through the simple unsnapping of annular element 12d from the fastener post and replacement thereof with a new hook and annular element. Applicants invention comprehends the use of any one of a plurality of hooks each having a different configuration, as well as one having the specific'novel configura tion disclosed.

Applicants lanyard is of a simple and economical construction. It provides improved facility in use both as to adjustment about the users neck and as to use of the element attached thereto. It further provides positive loop-size adjustability and is easily maintained. In addition, it provides numerous other advantages over the known lanyard devices, as discussed in the foregoing.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

I claim:

A neckpiece lanyard comprising: a length of neoprene tubing with sealed, joined ends formed into a large loop element, the tubing enclosing a trapped body of fluid; a keeper slidably engaging opposed portions of the looped tubing to juxtapose said portions and formthe large loop into two smaller loops, adjustable in size, the tubing of one of the small loops being generally in a single plane to lie flat against the chest of a wearer, the keeper encircling the loop portions and having an internal diameter slightly smaller than the dimensions of the element whereby the element is received in the keeper under slight restriction and the keeper is retained longitudinally of the element to maintain a desired adjustment of the relative sizes of the loops; and fastening means comprising a post member secured to said one small loop and lying in said plane and extending generally at right angles to the longer dimension of said small loop, an element detachably connected with said post and a hook member carried by said element for swivel movement about said post member in a plane at right angles to the plane of said one small loop, said hook member having a generally -U-sl1aped portion lying in the plane of swivel movement and opening upwardly and outwardly to form an instrument support for carrying an instrument generally in the plane of said one small loop.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 268,407 Hughes Dec. 5, 1882 278,469 Thompson May 29, 1883 330,319 Gurney Nov. 10, 1885 431,042 Ford July 1, 1890 762,722 Humphreys June 14, 1904 1,511,002 Pfautz Oct. 7, 1924 1,637,315 Mittel July 26, 1927 1,863,638 Richter June 21, 1932 1,879,991 Pratt Sept. 27, 1932 2,019,691 Morehouse Nov. 5, 1935 2,356,209 Brilhart Aug. 22, 1944 2,519,231 Crawford et al. Aug. 15, 1950 2,572,889 Strykower Oct. 30, 1951 2,598,334 Ahlburg May 27, 1952 2,648,110 B-askind Aug. 11, 1953 2,771,768 Tudor Nov. 27, 1956 2,819,650 Seron June 14, 1958 2,822,192 Beatty Feb. 4, 1958 g" FOREIGN PATENTS 103,277 Switzerland Feb. 1, 1924

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