IES87011B2 - Dog leash handle assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A dog leash handle assembly (90) comprises a housing formed by a hollow body (4) within which is mounted a water can (92) forming a water reservoir. Opening (99) at a top of the body (4) form a hand grip (8). A clip (81) for attachment of a dog lead is provided at a front of the body (4). Viewing openings (97) in the body (4) allow the contents of the water can (92) to be viewed. A drinking bowl (98) is detachably mounted on the body (4). <Figure 20>

Description

“Dog Leash Handle Assembly” Introduction This invention relates to a dog leash handle assembly.

It is generally recommended that dog owners take their dog for a walk daily to keep their pets in good health and physical condition. Regulations often require that a dog is kept on a leash in public spaces. Dogs will often get thirsty when exercising and thus many dog owners routinely carry a bottle of water with them when exercising their dog. This is relatively cumbersome and inconvenient for the pet owner.

The present invention is directed towards overcoming this problem.

Summary of the Invention According to the invention, there is provided a dog leash handle assembly comprising a housing, a hand grip on the housing, a leash mount on the housing and a water reservoir mounted within the housing. It will be appreciated that the invention provides a dog leash with a readily available supply of water for a dog when the dog is taken for a walk.

In one embodiment of the invention, the housing has a window for viewing the contents of the water reservoir.

In another embodiment, a water bowl is mounted on the housing.

In another embodiment, the water bowl is detachably mounted on the housing.

In another embodiment, the water bowl is pivotally mounted on the housing for movement between a stored inoperative position on the housing and an in-use position on the housing for reception of water from the water reservoir.

In another embodiment, the water reservoir is integral with the housing. -2In another embodiment, the water reservoir comprises a water container mounted on the housing.

In another embodiment, at least portion of a side wall of the water reservoir is translucent for viewing the contents of the water reservoir.

In another embodiment, the housing comprises a complementary pair of side covers which clamp together about a water can forming the water reservoir which is mounted between the side covers.

In another embodiment, the housing comprises a central support ring, the water can forming the water reservoir being mounted on the support ring and having a spout which projects radially outwardly through an associated opening in the support ring, a pair of side covers being mounted one at each side of the central support ring, the side covers and central support ring being secured together to clamp the central support ring and the water can between the side covers.

In another embodiment, at least one of the side covers has a window opening forming the window for viewing the contents of the water reservoir.

In another embodiment, both side covers have a window opening.

In another embodiment, a drinking bowl is detachably mounted on one of the side covers.

In another embodiment, the drinking bowl is mounted across the window opening, closing the window opening.

In another embodiment, a semi-circular opening is provided at a top of each side cover and at a top of the central support ring above the water can to form the hand grip.

In another embodiment, the housing comprises a hollow body forming the water reservoir, the water reservoir having a water dispensing outlet sealed by a closure -3element, and a finger receiving opening extending through the body defining a hand grip on the body.

In another embodiment a window is provided in a sidewall of the water reservoir.

In another embodiment the window comprises a translucent or transparent portion of the sidewall.

In another embodiment a cap is mounted over a water dispensing outlet of the water reservoir.

In another embodiment the cap is movable between a closed position concealing the water dispensing outlet and an open position.

In another embodiment the cap is hingedly mounted on the body for movement between the closed position and the open position.

In another embodiment the cap forms a drinking bowl for reception of water from the water reservoir.

In another embodiment the cap is mounted below the water dispensing outlet when the body is in a normal upright position.

In another embodiment, there is provided a dog leash handle assembly including a lead, the lead being attached to a hand grip, said hand grip incorporating a water reservoir, said water reservoir having a water dispensing outlet sealed by a removable closure element.

In one embodiment of the invention, the hand grip comprises a hollow body, an interior of the hollow body forming the water reservoir.

In another embodiment, the body has at least one finger receiving opening extending through the body to facilitate manually holding the body.

In another embodiment, a pair of spaced-apart finger receiving openings are provided -4extending through the body.

In another embodiment, the finger receiving openings are provided at opposite sides of the body.

In another embodiment, the body has a toroidal shape.

In a further embodiment, the body is of circular section.

In another embodiment, the body is of semi-circular section.

In another embodiment, the body is bone-shaped.

In another embodiment, the water dispensing outlet is conveniently provided in a side wall of the body. Thus, advantageously, this facilitates filling the water reservoir and dispensing water from the water reservoir, as required.

In another embodiment, the closure element comprises a cap which is demountably and sealingly engagable with the water dispensing outlet.

In another embodiment, the cap threadedly engages the water dispensing outlet.

In an alternative arrangement, the cap is a bung which is sealingly engagable with the water dispensing outlet.

In a further embodiment, the cap is pivotally attached to the body for movement between an engaged position closing the water dispensing outlet and an open position.

In another embodiment, the cap forms a water bowl.

In another embodiment, the lead is fixedly attached to the hand grip.

In another embodiment, the hand grip has an outwardly projecting sleeve for reception of an inner end of the lead which is fixed within the sleeve. -5In another embodiment the body comprises a central support ring, a water can mounted on the ring, side covers mounted at each side of the support ring and secured together about the support ring to form an enclosure about the water can.

In another embodiment the water can is translucent or transparent and a viewing opening is provided in at least one side cover for viewing the contents of the water can.

In another embodiment a drinking bowl is detachably mounted on a side cover.

In another embodiment a hand grip is formed by juxtaposed openings in the side covers adjacent a periphery of the side covers.

Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will be more clearly understood by the following description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a dog leash handle assembly according to the invention; Fig. 2 is an elevational view of a dog leash handle assembly according to a second embodiment of the invention; Fig. 3 is an elevational view of a further dog leash handle assembly according to a third embodiment of the invention; Fig. 4 is an elevational view of a dog leash handle assembly according to a fourth embodiment of the invention; Fig. 5 is an elevational view of a dog leash handle assembly according to a fifth embodiment of the invention; -6Fig. 6 is an elevational view of a dog leash handle assembly according to a sixth embodiment of the invention; Fig. 7 is an elevational view of a dog leash handle assembly according to a seventh embodiment of the invention; Fig. 8 is a perspective view of another dog leash handle assembly according to the invention; Fig. 9 is another perspective view of the dog leash handle assembly shown in Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the dog leash handle assembly of Fig. 8 shown in another position of use; Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the dog leash handle assembly of Fig. 8 shown in a further position of use; Fig. 12 is an elevational view of the dog leash handle assembly of Fig. 8; Fig. 13 is a perspective view of another dog leash handle assembly according to the invention; Fig. 14 is an elevational view of the dog leash handle assembly of Fig. 13; Fig. 15 is an end elevational view of the dog leash handle assembly of Fig. 13; Fig. 16 is an end elevational view of the dog leash handle assembly of Fig. 13; Fig. 17 is a plan view of the dog leash handle assembly of Fig. 13; Fig. 18 is an underneath plan view of the dog leash handle assembly of Fig. 13; Fig. 19 is an exploded perspective view of the dog leash handle assembly of -7Fig. 13; Fig. 20 is another exploded perspective view of the dog leash handle assembly of Fig. 13; Fig. 21 is an elevational view of a drinking bowl portion of the dog leash handle assembly of Fig. 13; Fig. 22 is an end elevational view of the drinking bowl; Fig. 23 is a plan view of the drinking bowl; and Fig. 24 is a perspective view of the drinking bowl.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments Referring to the drawings, and initially to Fig. 1 thereof, there is illustrated a dog leash handle assembly according to the invention, indicated generally by the reference numeral 1. The dog leash handle assembly 1 includes a leash or lead 2 which may be of any suitable length and typically has a clip (not shown) at an outer end for attachment to a collar on a dog in the usual way. The lead 2 is attached to a housing comprising a hand grip 3 having a hollow body 4 which forms a water reservoir. A water dispensing outlet 5 is provided in a side wall of the body 4 and is sealed by a removable closure cap 6. In this case, the body 4 has a semi-circular shape, but other shapes are also possible, as shown in other embodiments described later.

A finger receiving opening 7 extends through the body 4 to facilitate manually gripping the body 4 by either an arcuate portion 8 of the body 4, or a straight portion 9 of the body 4. The dimensions of the arcuate portion 8 and straight portion 9 are such that a user can readily easily grip one of these portions 8, 9 with their hand. Indeed, each of these portions 8, 9 may be provided with a different cross-section to facilitate comfortable gripping by different sized hands. An outwardly projecting sleeve 10 at one side of the body 4 receives an inner end of the lead 2 which is fixed within the sleeve 10. -8In use, with the cap 6 removed, the interior of the body 4 may be readily easily filled with water from a tap, the water being sealed within the body 4 by means of the cap 6. The dog leash handle assembly 1 can then be attached to a dog collar in the usual way, and the dog taken out for a walk. During exercise of the dog, should the dog become thirsty, the dog’s owner has a ready supply of water in the body 4 of the hand grip 3 for the dog.

Referring now to Fig. 2, there is shown another dog leash handle assembly according to a second embodiment of the invention, indicated generally by the reference numeral 20. Parts similar to those described previously are assigned the same reference numerals. In this case, the body 4 is of circular section and has a generally toroidal shape which is readily easily gripped on either side by a user.

Referring now to Fig. 3, there is shown another dog leash handle assembly according to a third embodiment of the invention, indicated generally by the reference numeral 30. Parts similar to those described previously are assigned the same reference numerals. In this case, the body 4 has a generally circular shape and a pair of spaced-apart semi-circular finger receiving openings 31, 32 is provided extending through the body 4 at opposite sides of the body 4. This provides an increased watercarrying capacity over the embodiment shown in Fig. 2 for example. Either one of the outer arcuate portions 8, 33 or a central portion 34 can be manually gripped to hold the dog leash handle assembly 30.

Referring now to Fig. 4, there is shown another dog leash handle assembly according to a fourth embodiment of the invention, indicated generally by the reference numeral 40. In this case, the body 4 is generally circular with only a single semi-circular finger receiving opening 7 extending through the body 4 to further increase the water carrying capacity of the body 4. This also provides a relatively large panel 41 on each side face of the body 4 which could carry indicia, logos or advertising information.

In this case also, a cap 42 for closing the water dispensing outlet 5 is pivotally mounted by a hinge 43 on an exterior of the body 4 for movement between an open position, as shown in Fig. 4, and an engaged position closing the water dispensing outlet 5, in which position a tapered bung 44 on an inside face of the cap 42 engages within and seals with the water dispensing outlet 5. It will be noted also that the cap -942 forms a bowl into which water can be poured from the body 4 for ease of access by a dog.

Referring now to Fig. 5, there is shown another dog leash handle assembly according to a fifth embodiment of the invention, indicated generally by the reference numeral 50. Parts similar to those described previously are assigned the same reference numerals. In this case, the cap 42 has a centrally located socket 51 for reception of a tapered neck 52 of the water dispensing outlet 5, when the cap 42 is closed, to seal the water dispensing outlet 5.

Referring now to Fig. 6, there is shown another dog leash handle assembly according to a sixth embodiment of the invention, indicated generally by the reference numeral 60. Parts similar to those described previously are assigned the same reference numerals. This essentially has a body 4 similar to the embodiment shown in Fig. 3 and a cap 42 arrangement similar to that shown in the embodiment of Fig. 5.

Referring now to Fig. 7, there is shown another dog leash handle assembly according to a seventh embodiment of the invention, indicated generally by the reference numeral 70. Parts similar to those described previously are assigned the same reference numerals. In this case, the hand grip 3 has a body 74 in the shape of a bone. A tubular central portion 75 of the body 74 is sized to be a comfortable fit in a person’s hand for holding the body 74 when using the dog leash 70. The cap 6 is held on the neck 52 by a flexible tie 76.

The hand grip may be made of any material suitable for forming a water reservoir. It is envisaged that for lightness and for ease and relatively low cost of manufacture, a plastics material may be desirable.

The caps in the embodiments of Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 are shown hingedly mounted on the body. However, it will be appreciated that in other embodiments the cap could be detachable and arranged for a screw or a bung/plug type engagement with the water dispensing outlet.

The lead may be of any suitable material. A luminous fleck may be incorporated in the lead material as a safety feature. The lead has been described in the illustrated -10embodiments as fixed to the hand grip, however it is envisaged that an inner end of the lead may in some cases be detachably secured to the hand grip, as described later.

Referring now to Figs. 8 to 12 there is shown another dog leash handle assembly according to a further embodiment of the invention indicated generally by the reference numeral 80. Parts similar to those described previously are assigned the same reference numerals. In this case a leash mount comprising a clip 81 for attachment to a dog lead is provided at one side of the body 4. At the opposite side of the body 4 a hinged cap 42 conceals the water dispensing outlet 5 which is closed by a bung 83. A lower part of the body 4 forms a water reservoir 84 with a translucent window 85 in each side wall of the water reservoir 84. The translucent window 85 is formed by a portion of the side wall 84.

Referring now to Figs. 13 to 24, there is shown another dog leash handle assembly according to a further embodiment of the invention indicated generally by the reference numeral 90. Parts similar to those described previously are assigned the same reference numerals. In this case the housing body 4 has a composite structure for ease of manufacture best seen in Fig. 19 and Fig. 20. In this case the housing body 4 comprises a central support ring 91. A water can 92 of transparent or translucent material is mounted on the support ring 91 and has a spout 93 which projects radially outwardly through an associated opening 100 in the support ring 91. A pair of side covers 94, 95 are mounted one at each side of the support ring 91 and are secured together about the support ring 91 to form the housing body 4 about the water can 92. Essentially, the central support ring 91 and water can 92 are clamped between the side covers 94, 95.

The water can 92 is translucent and a viewing window opening 97 is provided in each side cover 94, 95 for viewing the contents of the water can 92.

A semi-circular drinking bowl 98 is detachably mounted on the side cover 95 for snap engagement with the side cover 95. When not in use, the drinking bowl 98 mounts on the side cover 95 across the window opening 97, closing the window opening 97.

A hand grip is formed by juxtaposed semi-circular openings 99 in the side covers 94, -11 95 adjacent a periphery of the side covers 94, 95 at a top of each side cover 94, 95 above a cross bar 101. These openings 99 align with a complementary opening 102 formed at a top of the central support ring 91 above the water can 92.

Each side cover 94, 95 has a generally circular body 103 with an internal crossbar 101 which forms the hand grip openings 99 at a top of each side cover 94, 95 and a viewing window opening 97 at a bottom of each side cover 94, 95.

A leash mount comprising the dog lead attachment clip 81 is mounted at a front of the housing body 4.

It will be noted that complementary flat edges 105, 106 on the central support ring 91 and the water can 92 cooperate to securely locate and position the water can 92 on the central support ring 91 and prevent rotation of the water can 92 within the support ring 91. In this regard also, the crossbars 101 overlie a flat top 107 of the water can 92.

The terms “comprise” and “include”, and any variations thereof required for grammatical reasons, are to be considered as interchangeable and accorded the widest possible interpretation.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described which may be varied in both construction and detail within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (5)

1. A dog leash handle assembly comprising a housing, a hand grip on the housing, a leash mount on the housing and a water reservoir mounted within the housing, the housing has a window for viewing the contents of the water reservoir and a water bowl is mounted on the housing.

2. The dog leash handle assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a complementary pair of side covers which clamp together about a water can forming the water reservoir which is mounted between the side covers.

3. The dog leash handle assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the housing comprises a central support ring, the water can forming the water reservoir being mounted on the support ring and having a spout which projects radially outwardly through an associated opening in the support ring, a pair of side covers being mounted one at each side of the central support ring, the side covers and central support ring being secured together to clamp the central support ring and the water can between the side covers.

4. The dog leash handle assembly as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein at least one of the side covers has a window opening forming the window for viewing the contents of the water reservoir and the water bowl is detachably mounted on one of the side covers.

5. The dog leash handle assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.