Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01K—ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
  • A01K27/00—Leads or collars, e.g. for dogs
  • A01K27/005—Quick-couplings, safety-couplings or shock-absorbing devices between leash and collar

Definitions

• This invention relates generally to animal training apparatus and more particularly to apparatus used for the training of dogs.
• the training of dogs to respect the leash is one of the major objectives in any dog obedience class.
• the trainer uses a long lead or leash which is held gathered in one hand. If the dog looses concentration and starts to wander from the trainer, the trainer abruptly changes direction and drops the slack lead. When the trainer reaches the end of the slack lead, the dog's choker is jerked taut and the animal's attention is regained.
• the present invention creates a canine training device, that humanely curbs the dog's tendency to pull on the leash; further, the apparatus turns every leash into a training tool .
• the invention is described as used in the training and control of dogs .
• the invention is not intended to be limited solely to dogs but pertains to the training of almost any animal including: horses, cattle, sheep, goats, hogs, and many others which are well known in the art.
• the apparatus of the present invention is a dog training apparatus which assists in absorbing and transferring the animals energy so that the full impact is not felt by the trainer or handler.
• the invention provides an elastic member which is connected between the leash/lead and the animal's collar.
• the elastic member is an elongated "cord" which has a relaxed state or length. The elastic member permits itself to be stretched from its relaxed state, but, a counter force is provided in the elastic member attempting to return the elastic member to return to its relaxed length.
• This counter force is referred to as a contracting force.
• the parameters of the contracting force are chosen to address the particular animal where the apparatus is going to be used.
• the contracting force is less than one-fifth the weight of the animal.
• the ideal contracting force is twenty pounds or less .
• the preferred embodiment establishes certain parameters for the maximum elongation of the elastic member.
• the maximum elongation is approximately one hundred twenty-five percent of the relaxed length of the elastic member.
• This limit on the elastic length prevents the animal from exerting a shock force against the handler. If the animal leans into the leash, the elastic member gently pulls on the collar to bring the animal back into line. The pressure applied to bring the animal back is more gentle and progressive rather than the sudden jolt that a leash alone would create. The pull back pressure is also dampened and not applied directly against the trainer as the animal begins to feel the pull back instantly and naturally responds to the pressure.
• the elastic member elongates to keep the immediacy of the impact from the trainer/handler and to redirect some of the impact back to the animal to pull the animal into proper position.
• This attribute of the present invention is particularly advantageous for the training of larger animals since in a traditional setting, a large animal can easily overpower the trainer and the session degenerates into a pulling match between the animal and the trainer.
• the present invention is also advantageous for extremely small animals where it is very easy for the trainer to "whip" the leash and apply too much corrective force against the small animal.
• the elastic cord in this application is extremely elastic and provides the proper corrective pressure without requiring the trainer to delicately adjust the force being applied.
• various thickness' and l'ength's of elastic cord are selected according to size of dog.
• a snap mechanism is secured and a ring is secured to the other end.
• the assemblage is then positioned between the leash or lead and the dog's collar.
• the elastic nature of the invention acts as a shock absorber so that the trainer does not feel the entire force of the animal's strength.
• This unique training devise allows the human to comfortably walk his/her dog and train him/her to heel.
• the device immediately corrects the dog back with a much more humane and prompt reaction than a choke collar.
• This device also takes the shock away from the handler when walking strong dogs, and is especially gentle when training puppies to walk on a lead. The correction is gentle but effective.
• Figure 1 is a view of an embodiment of the invention in use with a dog.
• Figures 2A and 2B are side views of an embodiment of the invention illustrating the elongation of the elastic member.
• Figure 3 is a side view of the preferred embodiment of the invention.
• Figure 4 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the invention.
• Figures 5A and 5B are side views of an embodiment of the invention arranged to provide adjustable contracting force.
• Figure 6 is a side view of an embodiment of the invention utilizing a spring member.
• Figure 7 is a graphical representation of the kit embodiment of this invention.
• Figure 8 is a side view of an embodiment which permits its length to be adjusted by the trainer.
• Figure 9 is a side view of an embodiment of the invention as used for a brace of dogs.
• Figure 1 is a view of an embodiment of the invention in use with a dog. As shown, handler 10 controls dog 11 using leash
• Training apparatus 13 is an elastic member which is connected to both the leash and the collar. As dog 11 jerks away from handler 10, training apparatus 13 exerts a counter force to gently pull dog 11 back into position.
• Figures 2A and 2B are side views of an embodiment of the invention illustrating the elongation of the elastic member.
• the relaxed state is shown in figure 2A.
• Elastic member 22A is relaxed and has a length DI, 24A, between rings 21A and 2IB.
• elastic member 22A has ring 21A which is securable to leash 20.
• Ring 21B forms one ring for a choker collar which is placed around the dog's neck (not shown) .
• a choker collar consists of two rings attached to each other by a chain. The chain is looped through one ring to form a "noose" which is used as the collar for animal . As the dog pulls onto ring 2IB, as shown by arrow
• the elastic member elongates as shown in figure 2B, to have a distance D2, 24B.
• elastic member 22B exerts as contracting force illustrated by arrow 23B. The contracting force attempts to return the elastic member to the condition illustrated in figure 2A.
• the contracting force is what pulls the animal back into proper positioning without causing the trainer to feel the full impact of a sudden movement on the part of the dog.
• Figure 3 is a side view of the preferred embodiment of the invention.
• This embodiment allows the training apparatus to be secured to a leash via ring 30 and then attached to the animal's collar via snap ring 32.
• the elastic material is chosen to provide a contracting force suitable for the particular animal being trained.
• the contracting force is less than one- fifth the weight of the animal.
• the preferred embodiment has a maximum elongation of approximately one hundred twenty-five percent of the relaxed length of the elastic member. This limit on the elastic length prevents the animal from exerting a shock force against the handler.
• Figure 4 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the invention.
• the elastic member is secured to ring 40 and is then looped through snap ring 42 to form strand 41A and 41B.
• the use of two strands provides for a doubling of the force which may be exerted for contracting to the relaxed state.
• Figures 5A and 5B are side views of an embodiment of the invention arranged to provide adjustable contracting force.
• leash 51 is secured to ring 50A which is secured to elastic material 52.
• Ring 50B is attached to a second end of elastic material 52. In this configuration, ring 50B is pulled tight against snap ring 53 which is secured to collar 54.
• ring 50B is also attached to leash 51 creating stands 52A and 52B which provide the contracting force.
• FIG. 5A and 5B This embodiment, shown in figures 5A and 5B, permits the trainer to selectively adjust the contracting force which is applied in the training of the animal .
• Figure 6 is a side view of an embodiment of the invention utilizing a spring member.
• Spring member 61 is provided with rings 60A and 60B which are adapted to be attached to the leash and collar respectively. Rings 60A and 60B can be pulled to extend spring 61 at which time spring 61 exerts a contracting force.
• sheath 62 encircles spring 61.
• Sheath 62 is preferably a plastic cylinder.
• Figure 7 is a graphical representation of the kit embodiment of this invention.
• a consumer In a retail setting, a consumer is given the opportunity to acquire leash 70 with the training apparatus 71 in one package 72.
• the combination provides the user with the necessary components for effectively training the animal.
• leash 70 and training apparatus 71 are chosen to address a particular range of weight for the animal to be controlled. This information is provided on package 72 so that the purchaser obtains the proper equipment for the particular dog.
• Figure 8 is a side view of an embodiment which permits its length to be adjusted by the trainer.
• snap ring 80 is connected by elastic material 82 to ring 81.
• a connector 83 permits the user to selective form loop 84 of elastic material. Connector 83 permits the force to be directly passed therethrough and allows loop 84 to remain in a relaxed state. In this manner, the trainer is able to extend or contract loop 84 and adjust the overall length between snap ring 80 and ring 81.
• Figure 9 is a side view of an embodiment of the invention as used for a brace of dogs .
• Handler uses leash 90 which is attached to ring
• each elastic member, 92A and 92B extend from ring 91.
• Each elastic member, 92A and 92B address one dog and is equipped with its own snap attachment, 93A and 93B respectively, which is secured to collars 94A and 94B respectively.
• This embodiment is useful for training of two dogs to work in a brace arrangement .

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• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Environmental Sciences (AREA)
• Animal Husbandry (AREA)
• Biodiversity & Conservation Biology (AREA)
• Catching Or Destruction (AREA)
• Pharmaceuticals Containing Other Organic And Inorganic Compounds (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=26691640

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Family Cites Families (6)

• 1997
  • 1997-05-22 AU AU32988/97A patent/AU726849B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 1997-05-22 WO PCT/US1997/009625 patent/WO1997045002A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 1997-05-22 CA CA 2253559 patent/CA2253559A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1997-05-22 EP EP97928824A patent/EP0959673A4/de not_active Withdrawn

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