A tether includes a housing defining a cord aperture, a spool located within the housing and configured to rotate about a spool axis in either an extending direction or a rewinding direction, a cord wound around the spool and configured to pass through the cord aperture, a biasing member coupled to the spool, and a retractor lock. The biasing member biases the spool to rotate in the rewinding direction to retract the cord into the housing. The retractor lock is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The retractor lock prevents rotation of the spool when in the locked position and allows rotation of the spool in the unlocked position. The retractor lock is moves from the locked position to the unlocked position in response to a threshold cord force on the cord.

Retractor systems are disclosed that reduce the wear on the retractor line from repeated extensions and retractions. Some embodiments comprise a retractor system having a retractor with a retractor housing having a front surface. A line and a line retraction mechanism can be included within the housing, with the line retraction mechanism urging retraction of the line in a first direction that is substantially parallel to the front surface. A line opening is included in the front surface through which the line extends from the housing at a second direction that is different from the first direction. A personal article attached to the line, and an anti-friction mechanism is included at said line opening to provide a smooth surface upon which the line rides when extending from the housing. Some anti-friction mechanisms comprise an eyelet proximate to said line opening and having a smooth surface that can take many different shapes and sizes, such as a funnel or hour glass shaped surface.

A case for a portable electronic device configured to provide protection for the electronic device and further provide storage for one or more corded-accessories for use with the electronic device, including, but not limited to, headphones. The electronic device case includes a case member configured to cover at least a portion of an electronic device and a spool member configured to retain a pair of headphones. The case member includes a cavity configured to receive the spool member and one or more channels in fluid communication with the cavity configured to receive portions of headphone cord. The case member further includes recesses in fluid communication with the one or more channels and configured to receive and retain the headphone earphones within. The case member further includes a means of releasably retaining the spool member within the cavity of the case member.

A rotational friction brake regulated by the rate of change of angular speed is disclosed. The rotational friction brake includes: a first body, a second body rotationally attached to said first body, the second body rotating around a rotational center axis of said second body, and at least one braking arm rotationally attached to said second body in a pivot point. The pivot point is eccentrically offset to said rotational center axis. The at least one braking arm comprises a braking member arranged to frictionally engage a part of said first body. The at least one braking arm has a mass center placed at a distance from said pivot point that is longer than a distance from said pivot point to said rotational center axis. The braking member is arranged to frictionally engage said part of said first body. A fishing reel comprising a rotational friction brake is also disclosed.

A pet walking device for walking a plurality of pets comprising a top housing with a handle and a bottom housing; a swivel coupling rotatably coupling the bottom housing to the top housing for 360 degree rotation; a plurality of co-axial overlapping spool assemblies independently rotatably disposed within the bottom housing; and a leash carried by each of the plurality of co-axial overlapping spool assemblies.

A chalk reel includes a housing defining a chalk chamber and an opening from the chalk chamber; a spool positioned within the chalk chamber; and a line wound on the spool and extending through the opening, the line having a width of dimension X. The spool comprises an axial hub and a sidewall. The sidewall comprises a plurality of apertures extending through the sidewall from a first face distal from the axial hub to a second face proximal to the axial hub. Each of the plurality of apertures having a maximum width of dimension Y. The dimension Y is sized so that no loops of the line may fit through each of the plurality of apertures.

A fish tape tool includes a housing, a chamber defined in the housing, and a motor supported by the housing. The motor is configured to rotate in a first direction and a second direction that is opposite the first direction. An output reel is disposed in the chamber and is rotatable in response to receiving torque from the motor. A drum contains a fish tape and including a rotatable drum portion having an inner wall that is engaged by the output reel when the drum is inserted into the chamber of the housing. When the drum portion is rotated by the output reel in the first direction, fish tape is dispensed from the drum. When the drum portion is rotated by the output reel in the second direction, fish tape is retracted into the drum.

Described herein is a fish tape reel comprising a housing with two side shells coupled together. The housing defines an internal cavity. An internal portion of the housing defines a plurality of flat gripping portions and a plurality of finger notches. The housing comprises a plurality of tabs in the internal cavity, the tabs interfacing against an inner annular portion that is coupled to the handle when the handle rotates around the housing.

A cord reel cable including a cable with tinsel sheath surrounding power and data conductors, wherein the tinsel sheath is comprised of no more than 40 tinsel or tinsel strands, and the cable is wound and unwound around a spool while maintaining continuous electrical contact to a power source through a slip ring mechanism or the like, wherein the tinsel sheath provides a durable EMI shielding to the cable.

A safety leash comprises a wrist mount body, a cord supported by the wrist mount body, a biased engaged brake for braking the cord, and a brake release.