Se-kure Controls, Inc.

Michael E Pawelek

Roger J Leyden

John W Manser

Patrick C Panico

The combination of: a portable article; and a tethering system having an elongate flexible component, a main body having a first slot, and a housing. A part of the elongate component is fixed to the main body. A length of the elongate component extending away from the fixed part can be formed into a 'U' shape with spaced legs, with one of the legs directed into the first slot over a first length of the main body and to beyond the main body for connection to a support. With the housing and main body in an assembled relationship, the housing blocks the one of the spaced legs of the “U” in the first slot on the main body over the first length whereby friction forces generated between the elongate component and at least one of the main body and housing resist sliding of the elongate flexible component along the first slot as would change a size of the “U” shape.

Tethering system for portable article

A display stand for a portable article with a base having a bottom bearing portion and a support for a portable article. A retracting mechanism has a spool around which a flexible tether is wrapped. The spool has an axis around which the spool is turned as the tether is: a) paid out to allow a portable article to which the first end of the tether is connected to be moved away from the base; and b) retracted to shorten a paid out length of the tether. The retracting mechanism has a biasing assembly that urges the spool to turn around the spool axis so as to retract the tether. The tether is guided to be paid out from the spool generally in a straight path in a line, with the line of the straight path transverse to the spool axis.

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Elmhurst, IL, United States of America

Michael E Pawelek