System, method and apparatus for securing and protecting keys and personal accessories

1. An apparatus for securing and protecting small objects, comprising:

a shroud having a top opening and a bottom opening, the bottom opening extending substantially an entire width and depth of the shroud;

a pocket on an outer surface of the shroud;

a flap that is selectively closeable over an opening of the pocket to secure the pocket, the flap including an aperture;

a strap received through the top opening of the shroud and through the aperture in the flap, and having a first end and a second end;

a clasp on the first end of the strap, the clasp being selectively openable and closeable to allow the clasp to be attached directly to a wearable article of a user; and

an object retaining mechanism on the second end of the strap for receiving an object;

wherein the shroud is slidable along the strap between a stowed position, where the shroud substantially covers the object, and an access position, where the object is positioned outside the shroud permitting access to the object.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the shroud has a generally tapered shape.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the object is at least one of a key and a mouth guard.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the shroud includes a magnet for releasably engaging a corresponding magnet on an accessory to which the apparatus is attached;

wherein engagement between the magnets minimizes swinging of the apparatus during movement.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the top opening includes an elastic member defining the top opening.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the clasp is one of a swivel lobster-claw clasp.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a fastening member for retaining said flap in a closed position over said opening of said pocket.

8. An apparatus for securing and protecting keys and other objects, comprising:

a shroud having a top opening adjacent to one end and a bottom opening adjacent to another end opposite the top end, the bottom opening extending substantially an entire width and depth of the shroud;

a pocket on an outer surface of the shroud;

a flap that is selectively closeable over an opening of the pocket to secure the pocket, the flap including an aperture;

a strap receivable through the top opening of the shroud and through the aperture in the flap, the strap having opposed first and second ends, the first end having a clasp configured for coupling to a personal accessory and the second end being configured for coupling to at least one object;

wherein the shroud is slidable along the strap between a stowed position, where the shroud substantially houses the at least one object coupled to the second end of the strap, and an access position, where the shroud is located along the strap at a position where the at least one object coupled to the second end of the strap is exposed from the shroud;

wherein the clasp is selectively openable and closeable to allow the clasp to be attached directly to the personal accessory; and

wherein a length of the strap is selectively extendable.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising:

a retaining member attached to the second end of the strap for receiving the at least one object.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein:

the at least one object is one of a key, key fob, mouth guard, nail file, charm, and remote.

11. A method for securing and protecting keys and other objects, comprising the step of:

attaching at least one object to a first end of a strap;

coupling the strap to a shroud such that the strap is slidably received through an aperture in a top of the shroud and through an aperture in a flap that is selectively closeable over an opening of a pocket on an outer surface of the shroud; and

attaching a clasp on a second end of the strap to a personal accessory, including opening the clasp, directly coupling the clasp to the personal accessory, and closing the clasp;

wherein the shroud is movable towards the first end of the strap to receive the object through a bottom opening in the shroud that extends substantially an entire width and depth of the shroud, and to enclose the at least one object within the shroud; and

wherein the shroud is movable towards the second end of the strap to expose the at least one object.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein:

the strap is an elastic strap, wherein when the at least one object is exposed from the shroud and the object is released, the elastic strap functions to automatically retract the at least one object into the shroud.