RETRACTABLE BOUNDARY APPARATUS AND SYSTEM

Abstract

Certain embodiments of the invention include an apparatus for creating a line. Certain embodiments of an apparatus include two or more reels having an extendable and retractable cord. Pulling the two or more reels apart allows for the creation of a line of various sizes. In certain embodiments, the two reels share a single cord. In certain embodiments, a first reel has a first cord with a first attachment end that joins with another attachment end. Certain embodiments include a reel with a magnet, allowing attachment to a magnetic surface. Certain embodiments of the invention include a system for creating a line. In certain embodiments, the system includes an apparatus, and a pin having a magnet. Certain embodiments of the pin help to change the direction of the cord.

Claims

1. A line establishing apparatus, comprising: a reel securable to a surface and comprising: a housing, a spool arranged within the housing, a biasing element configured to bias the spool relative to the housing, and a cord connected to the spool and extending out of the housing; and a marker component operably coupled to the cord outside of the housing and securable to the surface, wherein the marker component defines an orientation and length of the cord positioned relative to the surface.

2. The line establishing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the marker component is operably coupled to a terminal end of the cord and secures the terminal end of the cord relative to the surface.

3. The line establishing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the cord further comprises an attachment end positioned at the terminal end of the cord, wherein the attachment end is coupled to the marker component.

4. The line establishing apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a coupling configured to define a connection between the attachment end of the reel and a secondary attachment end, the secondary attachment end defining a distal end of secondary cord of a secondary line establishing apparatus.

5. The line establishing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the marker component comprises an attachment mechanism configured to restrain movement of the marker component relative to the surface.

6. The line establishing apparatus of claim 5, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises a magnet.

7. The line establishing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the marker component is configured to releasably engage the cord and define a first orientation for a first cord portion of the cord and a second orientation for a second cord portion of the cord.

8. The line establishing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the marker component is configured to releasably engage the cord and maintain the cord at a substantially parallel elevation relative to the surface.

9. A line establishing apparatus, comprising: a reel comprising: a housing, a spool arranged within the housing, a cord having a first end connected to the spool, a run wound about the spool, and a second end outside the housing, wherein the spool is configured to rotate within the housing and correspondingly retract and extend the run from the housing, and a biasing element configured to exert a biasing force on the spool to rotatably bias the spool in a direction that retracts the run into the housing, and a coupling operably coupled to the second end of the cord and selectively attachable at various positions to a surface, wherein the coupling is configured to define a position of the second end relative to the surface.

10. The line establishing apparatus of claim 9, further comprising an attachment end coupled to the second end of the cord and the coupling.

11. The line establishing apparatus of claim 9, wherein the reel and the coupling are configured for mounting to a vertically oriented surface, such that the cord extends parallel relative to the vertically oriented surface.

12. The line establishing apparatus of claim 11, wherein the cord is spaced apart from the vertically oriented surface.

13. The line establishing apparatus of claim 11, wherein one or both of the coupling or the second end comprises a magnet configured to interact with another magnet associated with the vertically oriented surface.

14. The line establishing apparatus of claim 9, wherein the coupling is selectively coupleable to a secondary attachment end, the secondary attachment end defining a distal end of a secondary cord of a secondary line establishing apparatus, and a tertiary attachment end, the tertiary attachment end defining a distal end of tertiary cord of a tertiary line establishing apparatus.

15. The line establishing apparatus of claim 14, wherein the coupling is configured to float relative to the surface, and further comprising a marker component that engages the coupling and restrains movement of the coupling relative to the surface.

16. A line establishing apparatus, comprising: a reel comprising: a housing, an attachment mechanism configured to removably couple the reel to a first surface portion, a spool arranged within the housing, and a cord connected to the spool and extendable out of the housing with the rotation of the spool, and a positioning element operably coupled to a distal end of the cord opposite the spool, wherein the positioning element is configured to restrain movement of the distal end of the cord relative to a second surface portion.

17. The line establishing apparatus of claim 16, wherein the positioning element comprises a magnet, a compressive fit connection feature, a pin and slot connection feature, or a pin and hole connection feature.

18. The line establishing apparatus of claim 16, wherein movement of the positioning element relative to the second surface portion changes an exposed length of the cord outside of the housing.

19. The line establishing apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a biasing element configured to bias the spool, and wind cord into the housing absent a restraint of the distal end by the positioning element.

20. The line establishing apparatus of claim 19, further comprising a torsion spring having a first end and a second end, first end being fixed relative to the housing and the second end being fixed relative to the spool, thereby biasing the spool relative to the housing.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] FIG. 1A: A line creating apparatus in certain embodiments of the invention.

[0022] FIG. 1B: An internal mechanism of a line creating apparatus in certain embodiments of the invention.

[0023] FIG. 2: A line creating apparatus in certain embodiments of the invention.

[0024] FIG. 3: A line creating apparatus in certain embodiments of the invention.

[0025] FIG. 4: A line creating apparatus in certain embodiments of the invention.

[0026] FIG. 5: Perspective view of a line creating apparatus on a surface in certain embodiments of the invention.

[0027] FIG. 6: A front view of a system including a line creating apparatus on a surface in certain embodiments of the invention.

[0028] FIG. 7: An example of a line creating apparatus embodiment in use.

[0029] FIG. 8A: A perspective view of a pin in certain embodiments of the invention.

[0030] FIG. 8B: A side view of a pin in certain embodiments of the invention.

[0031] FIG. 8C: A side view of a reel in certain embodiments of the invention.

[0032] FIG. 9A: A front view of a pin and line creating apparatus in certain embodiments of the invention.

[0033] FIG. 9B: A front view of a pin and line creating apparatus in certain embodiments of the invention.

[0034] FIG. 10: A sectional view of a reel in certain embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] Referring to FIG. 1A, in certain embodiments, a line creating apparatus 1 includes a cord attached to one or more reels. As shown in FIG. 1A, a line creating apparatus includes a first reel 2a and a second reel 2b. A reel 2a, 2b includes a cord 3 extendable from the reel housing 4. Referring to, for example, FIG. 5, a cord 3 passes through an opening 7 located on a surface of the housing 4. In certain embodiments, the line creating apparatus 1 shares a cord 3 between a first reel 2a and a second reel 2b. Referring to FIG. 1B, the reel housing 4 stores the length of the cord 3, for example, by encircling a spool 9a, 9b, located in a first reel 2a and a second reel 2b. In certain embodiments, a first end 13a of a cord 3 is attached to a first spool 9a, and a second end 13b of a cord 3 is attached to a second spool 9b. In certain embodiments, a segment of a cord 3 is partially wound on a first spool 9a, and another segment is partially wound on a second spool 9b, such that the reels 2a, 2b are in proximity to one another when in the line creating apparatus is in a resting or non-extended position.

[0036] Referring to FIG. 10, in certain embodiments, a reel as described herein includes a spiral torsion spring 32. In certain embodiments, a spring 32 is located within the annular opening 31 of the spool 9. A spring 32 has a first end 33 affixed to a spool 9, and a second end 34 affixed to a housing, for example, to a post 35. The spool is rotatable within the housing, and the spring 32 biases the rotation of the housing towards a certain direction when the spring is loaded. Extension of a cord out of the housing spins the spool 9 about a central axis and loads the spring. The loaded spring provides a force to retract 3 the cord back into the housing. In certain embodiments, the line creating apparatus includes reels that contain springs with substantially similar spring constants. Having substantially similar spring constants allows each reel to impart an equal and opposite force, and effectively allowing any point on a cord to remain stationary. In certain embodiments, in line creating apparatuses where the reels share a cord (as seen, for example, in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B), the orientation of the springs (either rotating clockwise or counterclockwise) found in the first reel and second reel may be the same (both rotating in the same direction), or may be opposing (one rotating clockwise, one rotating counterclockwise).

[0037] In an embodiment of the invention, the orientation and location of the springs allows for the placement of an identification apparatus, such as a marker. The intersection point of two or more cords, each linking two housings each containing a spool and spring, allows for a point of reference to be held in place at an intersection point. In an embodiment, the multiple springs allow for the placement of an identification apparatus, located at a point on the cord, held in place at any point on the straight line between each of the housings at either end. The present inventor has recognized that the multi-springed apparatus, whereby two housings at either end of a cord each contain a spring and a spool, allow for placement of a marker piece at any point in contact with the cord between a plurality of housings and/or spools. In varying embodiments of the invention, the identification apparatus takes the form of the coupling 14, and/or any part of the combination of one or more attachment ends 6a, 6b, as depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3. In an alternative embodiment, where more than one cord intersects, the identification apparatus takes the form of a coupling 15 that exists at the intersection point between the two or more cords, as depicted in FIG. 4.

[0038] Referring to FIG. 2, in certain embodiments, a line creating apparatus 10 has a first reel 11a and a second reel lib. A first reel 11a has a first cord 3a, where the first cord 3a terminates at a first attachment end 6a. Still referring to FIG. 2, a second reel 11b has a second cord 3b, where the second cord 3b terminates at a second attachment end 6b. The attachment ends 6a, 6b attach to each other through an attachment feature. The attachment feature includes, but is not limited to, magnets, compressive fit, pin and slot connection, and pin and hole connection. The cords 3a, 3b are extendable from the first reel 11a and second reel 11b.

[0039] Referring to FIG. 3, in certain embodiments of the invention, a line creating apparatus 20 has a coupling 14. As shown in FIG. 3, a coupling 14 joins attachment ends 6a, 6b located on cords 3a, 3b. Referring to FIG. 4, in certain embodiments of the invention, a line creating apparatus 30 has a coupling 15. As shown in FIG. 4, a coupling 15 joins attachment ends attachment ends 6a, 6b, 6c located on cords 3a, 3b, 3c. In certain embodiments, a coupling 15 connects a plurality of attachment ends. It will be appreciated that in certain embodiments, coupling 15 is provided in a number of different sizes, in order to accommodate a plurality of attachment ends.

[0040] Referring to FIG. 5, certain embodiments are attached to a surface 5. In certain embodiments, the surface 5 has magnetic properties. For example, a surface 5 includes, but is not limited to a magnetic sheet, a magnetic white board, and a magnetic wall. The housing 4 of a reel has a magnet 8 allowing attachment and detachment from a surface 5. The length of the cord can be adjusted by adjusting the placement of the reel along the surface.

[0041] Referring to FIG. 6, certain embodiments comprise a system of a plurality of line drawing apparatuses. For example, as seen in FIG. 6, the system includes one or more apparatuses 1, 10, 30. In certain embodiments, the system includes a tile 16 or panel having a magnet 17, where a face 18 has a surface for writing with a writing utensil or implement. The tile is attached to a surface 5 having magnetic properties. A line creating apparatus 1 (also, for example, a line creating apparatus 10, 30) is further attached to the surface 5 through a magnet 8. Still referring to FIG. 6, the line creating apparatus 1 creates a line with the cord 3 located between reels 2. The placement of one reel relative to a second reel determines the length of the cord 3, as well as the angle of the cord on a surface 5. Generally, the apparatus allows flexibility in placement of the cord. Additionally, a user can place a plurality of tiles 16 or a plurality of sticky notes 23 on a surface, and divide such plurality of tiles and sticky notes with the line creating apparatus. In certain embodiments, cords are provided in different colors. For example, cords of one color may allow a user to distinguish it from cords of another color.

[0042] Referring to FIG. 7, in certain embodiments, the line creating apparatus 30 includes three or more reels 2, where each reel has a cord 3 attached to a coupling 15. The location that the cords converge may be referred to as a focal point 19. In certain embodiments, the reels 2 contain springs that have substantially similar spring constants. In certain embodiments, a coupling 15 includes a magnet. Translocation of the focal point 19 from a first point to a second point, as illustrated in FIG. 7, allows the focal point 19 to remain stationary at a new position, depending on the location of the new position. In certain embodiments, a pin 21 helps to keep the coupling 15 stationary at a focal point.

[0043] In certain embodiments, a line creating system includes a pin 21. Referring to FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B, the pin 21 has a first end 24a and a second end 24b, where the second end 24b includes a magnet 22. The pin 21 has an indent 25 to accommodate a cord 3. Referring to FIG. 8B and FIG. 8C, the distance 26 between an indent 25 and the pin second end 24b is substantially similar with the distance 28 between a reel 2 bottom end 27 and the opening 29 located on the reel housing 4. Referring to FIG. 6, FIG. 9A, and FIG. 9B, during use, the pin 21 can affect the linear direction of the cord 3. The placement of the pin 21 between the reel 2 allows adjustment of the length, as well as the linear direction of the cord.

EXAMPLES

[0044] Example 1: During a brainstorming session, the tiles may serve as a surface for writing notes. The line creating apparatus 1 (also, for example, line creating apparatus 10, 20, 30) may act as a boundary to separate out the content written on the tiles. The apparatus allows effective organization of ideas, and leading to an effective outcome from the session. Referring to FIG. 6, a system includes a line creating apparatus 1 and a pin 21. The interplay of the line creating apparatus 1 and pin 21 as well as the tile 16 and sticky notes 23 allows for a more dynamic interaction with a surface 5.

[0045] Example 2: During a product development meeting, new improvements for a product are written on a magnetic dry-erase board. The improvements are listed on various parts of the board. The reel of the apparatus is placed on certain improvements. A first reel is connected with a second reel, and further connected with a third reel to “connect” two or more ideas together.

[0046] While various embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it is apparent that modifications and alterations of those embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be expressly understood that such modifications and alterations are within the scope and spirit of the present invention. Further, the inventions described herein are capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. In addition, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “adding” and variations thereof herein are meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof, as well as, additional items.