Abstract
This invention is directed toward a portable and easy to set up retractable cord system with means to allow athletes to move along specified routes and to form space indicators that show zone areas.
Claims
1. A retractable cord system placed on a playing field comprising at least 1 disc, a strap that forms a shape when in an expanded state and exits said at least 1 disc to enter into an adjacent disc and travel along the circumference of the adjacent disc, a button, at least 1 compression spring, at least 1 tension spring, and at least 1 distance marker.
2. The retractable cord system of claim 1, where said at least 1 disc has a button on one of its flat surfaces.
3. The retractable cord system of claim 2, where said button when pushed compresses said at least 1 compression spring, and locks said strap in the expanded state.
4. The retractable cord system of claim 3, where said button when pushed releases said at least 1 compression spring and engages said at least 1 tension spring to allow the strap to return to its collapsed state.
5. The retractable cord system of claim 4, where said strap has at least 1 distance marker on its surface.
6. The retractable cord system of claim 5, additionally creating when in the expanded state the shape selected from the group consisting of a triangle and a quadrilateral.
7. The retractable cord system of claim 5, additionally creating the shape of a polygon when in the expanded state.
8. A retractable cord system placed on a playing field consisting of at least 1 disc, a strap that forms a shape when in an expanded state, a button, a compression spring, a tension spring, and at least 1 distance marker, where the strap exists as a spool within the at least 1 disc, the strap exits from the at least 1 disc, the strap exiting from at least 1 disc enters into an adjacent disc along the circumference of both the adjacent disc and the at least 1 disc, the at least 1 disc and the adjacent disc have a button on one of their flat surfaces, the button when pushed compresses the compression spring that locks the strap in an expanded state, the button when pushed again releases the compression spring and engages the tension spring that allows the strap to collapse back to its collapsed state, and where the strap has at least 1 distance marker on its surface that indicates length.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
(1) The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the retractable cord system and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the retractable cord system.
(2) FIG. 1 is a representative collapsed perspective view of an embodiment of the retractable cord system, with discs connected via a strap.
(3) FIG. 2 is a collapsed top view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.
(4) FIG. 3 is a collapsed cross-sectional top view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.
(5) FIG. 4 is a collapsed side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, showing the button that a user pushes to lock and release the strap.
(6) FIG. 5 is an alternative collapsed cross-sectional side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, showing the compression spring and tension spring that are responsible for extending and collapsing the strap.
(7) FIG. 6 is an expanded top view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.
(8) FIG. 7 is an expanded side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.
(9) FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a part of the strap shown in FIG. 7, denoting the distance marker on the strap.
(10) FIG. 9 is a perspective collapsed view of another embodiment of the retractable cord system, showing the discs connected via a strap.
(11) FIG. 10 is a collapsed top view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 9.
(12) FIG. 11 is a collapsed cross-sectional top view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 9.
(13) FIG. 12 is a collapsed side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, showing the button that locks and releases the strap.
(14) FIG. 13 is an alternative cross-sectional side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, denoting the compression spring and tension spring used for expanding and collapsing the strap.
(15) FIG. 14 is an expanded top view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 9.
(16) FIG. 15 is an expanded side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 9.
(17) FIG. 16 is an enlarged view of a part of the strap shown in FIG. 15, denoting the distance marker on the strap.
(18) FIG. 17 is the collapsed perspective view of another embodiment of the retractable cord system, showing two discs connected by a strap-snap hook configuration.
(19) FIG. 18 is the collapsed side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 17, showing the button used to lock and release the strap.
(20) FIG. 19 is the collapsed cross-sectional top view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 17.
(21) FIG. 20 is a collapsed cross-sectional side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 17, denoting the compression spring and tension spring responsible for expanding and collapsing the strap.
(22) FIG. 21 is an expanded top view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 17.
(23) FIG. 22 is an enlarged view of a part of the strap shown in FIG. 21, denoting the distance marker on the strap.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
(24) Many aspects of the retractable cord system can be better understood with references made to the drawings below. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. Instead, emphasis is placed upon clearly illustrating the components. Before explaining at least one embodiment, it is to be understood that the embodiments of the retractable cord system are not limited in their application to the details of construction and to the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The embodiments of the retractable cord system are capable of being practiced and carried out in various ways. In addition, the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
(25) FIGS. 1, 2 3, and 4 are the collapsed perspective view, collapsed top view, collapsed cross-sectional top view, and a collapsed side view, respectively, of an embodiment of the retractable cord system 1, with discs 2 connected via a strap 3. The strap 3 originates within the housing of the disc 2 as a spool. Adjacent discs 2 are connected to each other by a strap 3 exiting one disc 2 and entering into an adjacent disc 2. Essentially, upon exiting one disc 2, the strap 3 attaches to an adjacent disc 2 along the circumference of the disc 2. A button 4 is on one of the flat surfaces of the disc 2.
(26) FIG. 5 is an alternative collapsed cross-sectional side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, showing the compression spring 5 and tension spring 6 that are responsible for extending and collapsing the strap 3. Pressing the button 4 from its original position engages the compression spring 5, which locks the strap 3 when in the expanded state. The compression spring 5 lies within the button 4. Pressing the button 4 again releases the compression spring 5, placing tension on the tension spring 6, which allows the strap 3 to collapse.
(27) FIG. 6 is an expanded top view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. The strap 3 is in the expanded state. When in the expanded state, this embodiment of the retractable cord system 1 assumes the shape of a triangle. The shape of the retractable cord system 1 will differ based on the number of discs 2.
(28) FIG. 7 is an expanded side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, with FIG. 8 as an enlarged view of the strap 3 from FIG. 7. On the strap 3, there are distance markers 7 that show each length the strap 3 is expanded. For instance, the number 1 may indicate that the strap is expanded 1 unit of length. The unit of length may be any common unit, such as yards, feet, meters, or another unit of length.
(29) FIGS. 9, 10, 11, and 12 are the collapsed perspective view, collapsed top view, collapsed cross-section top view, and collapsed side view, respectively, of another embodiment of the retractable cord system 1, with discs 2 connected via a strap 3. In this instance, there are four discs 2. The strap 3 originates within the housing of the disc 2 as a spool. Adjacent discs 2 are connected to each other by a strap 3 exiting one disc 2 and entering into an adjacent disc 2. Essentially, upon exiting one disc 2, the strap 3 attaches to an adjacent disc 2 along the circumference of the disc 2. A button 4 is on one of the flat surfaces of the disc 2.
(30) FIG. 13 is an alternative collapsed side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, showing the compression spring 5 and tension spring 6 that are responsible for extending and collapsing the strap 3. Pressing the button 4 from its original position engages the compression spring 5, which locks the strap 3 when in the expanded state. Pressing the button 4 again releases the compression spring 5, placing tension on the tension spring 6, which allows the strap 3 to collapse to the collapsed state. The compression spring 5 lies within the button 4.
(31) FIG. 14 is an expanded top view of the embodiment of the retractable cord system 1 shown in FIG. 9. The strap 3 is in the expanded state. When in the expanded state, this embodiment of the retractable cord system 1 assumes the shape of a quadrilateral.
(32) FIG. 15 is an expanded side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, with FIG. 16 as an enlarged view of the strap 3 from FIG. 15. On the strap 3, there are distance markers 7 that show each length the strap 3 is expanded. For instance, the number 1 may indicate that the strap is expanded 1 unit of length, such as yards, feet, meters, or another unit of length.
(33) FIGS. 17, 18, and 19 are the collapsed perspective view, collapsed side view, and collapsed cross-sectional top view, respectively, of another embodiment of the retractable cord system 1, showing discs 2 connected by a strap 3 and snap hook 8 configuration. The strap 3, which exits the disc 2, originates as a spool within the disc 2. The snap hook 8 attaches to the distal end of the strap 3. The snap hook 8 attaches to the disc 2 by way of a ring 9 that lines the circumference of the disc 2. A button 8 exists on one of the flat surfaces of the disc 2. Several discs 2 can be connected together by the strap 3 emanating from one disc 2 connecting to a snap hook 8, which then connects to the ring 9 of an adjacent disc 2.
(34) FIG. 20 is an alternative collapsed cross-sectional side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 17, showing the compression and tension springs that are responsible for extending and collapsing the strap. Pressing the button 4 from its original position engages the compression spring 5, which locks the strap 3 when in the expanded state. Pressing the button 4 again releases the compression spring 5, placing tension on the tension spring 6, which allows the strap 3 to collapse to the collapsed state. The compression spring 5 lies within the button 4.
(35) FIG. 21 is an expanded top view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 17, with FIG. 22 as an enlarged view of the strap 3 from FIG. 21. On the strap 3, there are distance markers 7 that show each length the strap 3 is expanded. For instance, the number 1 may indicate that the strap is expanded 1 unit of length, such as yards, feet, meters, or another unit of length.
(36) All of the material in this patent document is subject to copyright protection under the copyright laws of the United States and other countries. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in official governmental records but, otherwise, all other copyright rights whatsoever are reserved
