US20100037832A1

US20100037832A1 - Transportable Retractable Leash

Info

Publication number: US20100037832A1
Application number: US12/192,650
Authority: US
Inventors: Karen Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-08-15
Filing date: 2008-08-15
Publication date: 2010-02-18

Abstract

A device designed to manage pet companship by providing for a detachable leash for pet collars that is counterweighted to remain at spine of animal with a fabric leash that can either hang free for accessbility or be secured to device, said device having a transparent tense for personalization and security information, as well as screw mechanism for uniquely secure attachment to pet collar.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a leash mechanism with fabric webbing grip device as a means for providing attachment to existing pet collar and whereby said mechanism may be either permanently affixed or removable further including personalization lens and counter weight positioning system.
Retractable mechanism leash mechanisms known that have contemplated attachment to a collar includes U.S. Pat. No. 4,018,189, a rotatable reel supporting by housing with handle attached; U.S. Pat. No. 4,197,817, a rotary spring loaded with folded handle that wraps around housing; U.S. Pat. No. 4,328,766, a brandy barrel shaped housing with wound up spring loaded leash, U.S. Pat. No. 4,964,370, a retractor mechanism for animal collars or child restraint; U.S. Pat. No. 4,977,860, a stay assembly with tether retracting system with retracting mechanism attached to collar; and U.S. Pat. No. 7,150,247, a retracting mechanism permanently mounted to pet collar with grip handle.
None of these systems employ a fabric grip device both permanently affixed to the housing and not retracted into the housing or otherwise fashioned as grip handle. None of these systems employ a counter weight to ensure correct positioning of retractable housing. None of these systems employ about a thirty six inch cord specification for comfort of all dog breeds. None of these systems employ an integrated personalization feature for distinct customization by end user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to retractable pet leashes, and, more particularly, improves upon prior applications with the fabric grip device, counter-weight positioning system, comfortable cord length specification and integrated personalization and security features.
The invention fulfills the need for a portable, compact and sturdy retractable leash mechanism that may be permanently affixed or removed by the pet owner with distinct personalization and security window, secure attachment device, flexible and accessible grip, specific comfort length cord and top of neck positioning appliance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of the leash mechanism;

FIG. 2 is in interior view of the leash mechanism;

FIG. 3 is an expanded view of the leash parts;

FIG. 4 is an example of the counter-weight mechanism.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

More detailed description of the preferred embodiment is described here. FIG. 1 typifies a view of the outer oval shaped front housing 10 which permanently encloses the front housing 10 with an equal oval back housing 30. The oval shape of the front housing 10 extends to create a guide lip 20 securing the webbing strap 18 when in affixed position. The front housing 10 is molded with a finger impression 12 to access lens cover 14. The transparent removable plastic lens cover 14 provides three locking arms 16 that snap into channels 22 securing lens cover 14 to front housing 10. The channels 22 are shaped for the arms 16 to be inserted and snapped into a locking position securing the lens cover 14 to front housing 10. Lens cover 14 is oval in shape and allows a flat surface for owner to insert photo or other media though is not limited to. The front housing 10 has a smooth finished crescent pocket 28 equal to back housing 30 providing a secured recessed fit for ball stop 42. The crescent pocket 28 is equipped with an efficient cutout 44 allowing cord 40 continuous oscillating movements. The webbing strap 18 is permanently affixed to cord 40 at ball stop 42 creating a loop in webbing strap 18 to be used as handle. Webbing strap 18 is the width of pet leash apparatus wrapping ¾ around external casing providing space in loop for varying size hands. The webbing strap 18 when wrapped around external casing encompasses post 24 by means of an ellipse that may be selectively unfastened from post 24 to fall along animal's spine.
FIG. 2 views the inner workings of the embodiment. The solid shaft 32 is spliced for receiving and securing one end of power spring 34. The power spring 34 is disposed in spool 36 expanding and contracting from pull of cord 40. The spool 36 is equipped with two equal sidewalls providing cord 40 continuous mobility when reeled. The spool 36 provides a cavity 38 which acts as a stopping point when cord 40 is fully extended by means of a suitable retention member such as an orb or the like connected to the end thereof (not shown). The cord 40 is slim, strong, and non-abrasive reaching up to 36″. The two depressions 26 receive pegs 50 for a fortified fit when front housing 10 and back housing 30 are integrated.
FIG. 3 pictorial illustrates the integral assembly of the pet leash apparatus. From left to right the lens cover 14 with the appurtenance of arms 16 snap into front housing 10 through channels 22. The shaft 32 connected to front housing 10 receives spool 36 joined with power spring making up the retraction device. The cord 40 is secured to spool 36 with a retention member through cavity 38 winding around spool 36 reeving through cutout 44 creating a loop for webbing strap 18 to attach and secured by retention member 52 in core of ball stop 42. The webbing strap 18 affixed to cord 40 at ball stop 42 produces an ellipsoid handle wrapping around external casing attaching at post 24 on back housing 30 or falling along the animal's spine. The back housing 30 is permanently fused with front housing 10 to protect and encompass the embodiments. The fastener member 46 on exterior of back housing 30 is manufactured as one mold providing vigorous strength and positioned in a median strip along the outside of back housing 30. The fastener member 46 allows for various size animal collars to slide between fastener member 46 and back housing 30 by means of fastener member 46 flexing outward accommodating said animal collars and returning to original position seizing animal collar to pet leash apparatus. The locking screw 48 is corrugated to fastener member 46 in a central position for applying pressure to slimmer collars managing pet leash apparatus from sliding on collar. The locking screw 48 sits flush at top of fastener member 46 when no pressure to collar is needed and depressed towards back housing 30 allowing no discomfort to animal by means of a flathead screwdriver or nickel though not limited to.
FIG. 4 proclaims the counterweight 54 worn on a D-ring of an animal's collar such like a pendant. The split ring 56 accommodates D-ring by slidably fitting on D-ring attached to an animal's collar. The split ring 56 is slidably attached to the non-corrosive counterweight 54 such like said split ring 56. The counterweight 54 weighs slightly heavier than pet-leash apparatus counterbalancing the weights to stay at top of animal's spine for convenient grasping of webbing strap 18 by supervisor.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

10—Front Housing
12—Finger Impression
14—Lens Cover
16—Arm
18—Webbing Strap
20—Guide Lip
22—Channels
24—Post
26—Depression
28—Crescent Pocket
30—Back Housing
32—Shaft
34—Power Spring
36—Spool
38—Cavity
40—Cord
42—Ball Stop
44—Cutout
46—Fastener Member
48—Screw
50—Peg
52—Retention Member
54—Counter Weight
56—Split Ring

Claims

1. A mechanism comprising:

a metal compression coil wound tightly and contained in compartment to enable retraction action;

said circular compartment surrounding compression coil to confine tension and sandwiching compression coil and guide cord to remain coiled;

wound cord to provide about thirty six inches in length attached to said circular guide;

oval housing enclosing compression coil, circular compartment and cord;

circular ball stop mechanism sandwiching cord and fabric leash;

single fastener member disposed at exterior housing for attachment to collar;

said fastener member has center screw to provide a means for pressure and stability on any animal collar;

transparent oval disk selectively removable so that photo or other media may be inserted;

whereby heretofore components may be deliberately combined to provide portable leash housing to be affixed to animal collar.

2. A fabric leash comprising:

webbing material fashioned in circular loop;

said loop pivotably attached to ball stop mechanism providing predetermined threshold for cord retraction;

whereby pet owner may wrap fabric loop around housing or let hang unobstructed for easy accessibility.

3. A selectively attached counter weight mechanism comprising:

loop mechanism such that weight may be secured on animal collar;

shaped metal of such heaviness to be greater than entire retractable leash mechanism;

whereby retractable leash housing will remain strategically positioned on collar at spine of animal.