Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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LEASH PENDANT
Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of retractable pet leashes, and in
particular to
a pet leash pendant for wearing by a pet wherein a retractable leash is wholly
contained within
a pendant which is sized to be worn by a pet and where the pendant serves as
the leash handle
when retracting the leash from the pendant.
Background of the Invention
In the prior art, applicant is aware of various attempts to mount a
retractable
leash directly to the collar worn by a pet, and in particular, applicant is
aware of the following
United States Patents: United States Patent 7,610,880 which issued November 3,
2009 to Lord
for a Animal Control Device, United States Design Patent D587,861 which issued
March 3,
2009 to Miller for a Dog Leash, United States Patent 7,461,615 which issued
December 9,
2008 to Albright for a Pet Harness with Retractable Leash, United States
Patent 7,017,527
which issued March 28, 2006 to Price for a Pet Collar with Retractable Leash,
United States
Patent 6,916,975 which issued July 5, 2005 to Balan for a Retractable Tether
for a Pet, United
States Patent 6,581,547 which issued June 24, 2003 to Austin for a Pet Collar
with Retractable
Leash, United States Patent 6,481,382 which issued November 19, 2002 to Cohn
for a Collar
with Self-Retracting Leash, United States patent 5,816,198 which issued
October 6, 1998 to
Peterson for a Counterweighted Pet Leash Retracting Collar, United States
Patent 4,964,370
which issued October 23, 1990 to Peterson for a Leash Retractor, United States
Patent
4,977,860 which issued December 18, 1990 to Harwell for a Stay Assembly for
Tethering
Animals, United States Patent 4,328,766 which issued May 11, 1982 to Diebert
for a
Retracting Collar-Mounted Leash, and United States Patent 4,197,817 which
issued April 15,
1980 to Crutchfield for a Retractable Dog Leash.
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As may be seen, the prior art is replete with attempts to mount retractable
dog
leashes directly to a pet's collar. These prior art designs thus require the
modification of the
design of a pet's collar and for the most part require that the leash be
carried at all times when
the pet is wearing the collar. A collar which has an embedded retractable
leash which is worn
at all times by a pet will greatly increase the chance that the leash or leash
retraction
mechanism will become damaged, for example by impact, corrosion, or by
infiltration of dirt,
sand, pet hair, water etcetera. Thus when the pet owner has occasion to use
the retractable
leash, which may only be when a regular dog leash has for example been
forgotten, the
retractable leash may not operate properly or may fail thereby inadvertently
releasing the pet
from the pet owner's control.
Applicant has determined that it is advantageous for a pet owner to, firstly,
not
have to go to the expense of purchasing complicated pet collars which
incorporate retractable
leashes which will be worn by the pet at all times, and has also determined,
because often a pet
owner does not wish to carry a leash when the leash may only be infrequently
required to
control the pet, that it is further advantageous to have a retractable leash
embedded within a
decorative pendant which may be merely clipped or otherwise releasably
fastened to a
conventional pet collar when the pet owner desires to take the pet out but
does not expect to
have to control the pet using a leash at all times. Thus pet owners may
continue to use on their
pets either for example inexpensive pet collars or pet collars which they
prefer for example
because of their look or feel or quality. A further advantage of applicants
pet leash pendant is
that the pet owner may easily have the leash pendant to hand at all times in
the event that the
pet owner forgets to bring along a conventional pet leash, when for example
taking the pet for
a walk, in that the leash pendant may be clipped or otherwise releasably
fastened to the pet
owners key chain in the manner of a key fob, or purse or belt, or the like so
as to be on hand
and ready for use whenever a pet owner so requires.
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Summary of the Invention
In summary, the leash pendant for wearing by a pet, as described more fully
herein, may be characterized in one aspect as including a housing formed as a
pendant, where
the housing encases a leash mounted on a leash retracting reel, and wherein
the housing is
adapted to hang from a pet collar and is sized and shaped in the manner of a
pendant.
In particular the housing is a substantially hollow housing defining a cavity,
and
having an aperture in an upper end or top of the housing so that the aperture
communicates
with the cavity. The leash retracting reel is rotatably mounted within the
cavity for rotation
about its axis of rotation. The leash is a flexible leash wound in a winding
around the reel. The
leash in the winding has a base end mounted to the reel so as to form a base
of the winding.
The leash has a free end, opposite to the base end, which is journalled
through the aperture in
the top of the housing so as to be disposed outwardly of the housing. The
leash extends
through the aperture for selective extension and retraction between extended
and retracted
positions. The aperture in the top of the housing lies on a leash translation
axis which is
substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the reel.
The reel is resiliently biased by a selectively actuable rewinder to rotate
the reel
about its axis of rotation in a winding-on direction whereby the leash, when
un-wound from
the reel in the extended position so as to extend substantially along the
leash translation axis, is
re-wound onto the reel into the retracted position by selective actuation of
the rewinder. In
one embodiment the rewinder is a coil spring.
A pet collar coupler is mounted to the free end of the leash. The pet collar
coupler is adapted for selectively releasable mounting to a pet collar so as
to allow the housing
to depend downwardly from the pet collar with the leash translation axis
substantially vertical
and with the upper end of the housing adjacent the pet collar coupler when the
leash is in the
retracted position. The housing may thus hang freely and downwardly, adjacent
and
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underneath the pet collar when worn by a pet. The coupler may include a swivel
for rotation
of the housing or a clip to stabilize the movement of the housing (so it does
not rotate) about
the leash translation axis.
The housing is sized to accommodate the reel and the leash winding on the
reel.
In one embodiment, in order to reduce size, the leash may be high-tensile
strength filament of
a length in the range of substantially two and one half to six feet. Because
of the
corresponding bulk of the reel and winding, and because the axis of rotation
of the reel is
perpendicular to the leash translation axis, the housing has a pair of
shoulders on opposite
sides of the aperture on top of the housing in order to accommodate the bulk.
The shoulders
provide a bulky handle for grasping by a user when tensioning the leash to
extend the leash
from the housing against a resistance to the tensioning provided by the
rewinder when the free
end of the leash is anchored to the pet collar when worn by the pet.
The housing is shaped to provide the pair of shoulders. For example, the shape
of the housing may be chosen from the group including: substantially a heart-
shape,
substantially a round-shape, substantially a rectangular or square
paralleopiped or other three
dimensional rectilinear shape, substantially an insect-shape, substantially an
animal-shape,
substantially a flower-shape, substantially ovoid, substantially tear-drop
shaped, substantially
star-shaped.
The housing has a height dimension along the leash translation axis, a
thickness
dimension along the axis of rotation of the reel, and a width dimension
substantially
orthogonal to the axis of rotation of the reel and the leash translation axis.
The coupler has a
length dimension substantially along the leash translation axis.
Advantageously, a releasable one-way ratchet is provided. The one-way ratchet
cooperates with the reel when the reel is rotated so as to unwind the leash
winding through the
aperture on top of the housing. Upon tensioning of the leash the reel unwinds
against a return
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biasing resilient force of the rewinder. The return biasing resilient force of
the rewinder is
checked by the one-way ratchet, whereby when the leash is pulled from the
housing by a user
pulling on the housing, the leash remains extended from the housing until the
ratchet is
released by the user. Once so released, the rewinder resiliently urges
rotation of the reel so as
to re-wind the leash onto the reel to thereby retract the leash.
In one embodiment the ratchet includes a resiliently biased latch bar and the
reel includes teeth, or otherwise raised contour surfaces. The latch bar is
resiliently urged
against the teeth on the reel so as to allow only one-way rotation of the reel
corresponding to
un-winding of the leash from the reel. A latch bar release may be provided
which is manually
operable from outside of the housing to selectively disengage the latch bar
from the teeth to
allow for the re-winding of the leash onto the reel. The latch bar may be
elongate
perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the reel. The latch bar release may
be an elongate
member such as a shaft or pin extending along the axis of rotation of the
reel, wherein one end
of the member protrudes from the housing and an opposite end of the member
engages against
the latch bar. Depression by the user of the one end of the member along the
axis of rotation
of the reel drives the latch bar along the axis of rotation and out of the
plane of rotation of the
teeth.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Figure 1 is, in partially exploded perspective view, the leash pendant
according
to one embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2a is, in perspective view, the assembled leash pendant of Figure 1.
Figure 2b is, in rear elevation view, the leash pendant of Figure 2a.
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Figure 2c is, in right side elevation view, the left side elevation being the
mirror image thereof, the leash pendant of Figure 2a.
Figure 2d is, in front elevation view, the leash pendant of Figure 2a.
Figure 2e is, in plan view, the leash pendant of Figure 2a.
Figure 3 is a section view along line 3-3 in Figure 2d.
Figure 4 is, in side elevation, a pet wearing a collar wherein the collar has
the
leash pendant of Figure 2a attached thereto.
Figure 5 is the view of Figure 4 with the leash of the leash pendant extended
from the pendant housing.
Figure 6a is, in rear perspective view, the reel and latch bar of Figure 1.
Figure 6b is, in front perspective view, the reel of Figure 6a.
Figure 6c is, in rear elevation view, the reel of Figure 6a.
Figure 6d is, in side elevation, the reel of Figure 6c.
Figure 7 is, in perspective view, the shaft and latch bar of Figure 1.
Figure 8a is a parrellelopiped form of the leash pendant according to another
aspect of the present invention.
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Figure 8b is a spherically shaped form of the leash pendant according to
another aspect of the present invention.
Figure 8c is a heart-like form of the leash pendant according to another
aspect
of the present invention.
Figure 8d is a disc-like form of the leash pendant according to another aspect
of the present invention.
Figure 8e is a star-shaped form of the leash pendant.
Figure 8f is a diamond-shaped form of the leash pendant.
Figure 8g is a cupcake-shaped form of the leash pendant.
Figure 8h is a dog-bone-shaped form of the leash pendant
Detailed Description of Embodiments of the Invention
As seen in the accompanying figures wherein like reference numerals denote
corresponding parts in each view, the leash pendant 10 includes an elongate
flexible leash 12
which may be a high-tensile strength filament, wound onto a reel 14 which is
rotatably
mounted within a housing 16 which serves as the outwardly visible case of the
pendant. The
free end 12a of leash 12 is provided with a clip 18 or other releasable
fastener, for example a
spring-loaded clip or carabiner or loop of hook-and-loop fastener tape or
other releasable
fastener known in the art. The releasable fastener on the free end of the
leash releasably
attaches the free end of the leash to a conventional pet collar 20, for
example to the metal D-
ring 20a often mounted into the collar near the collar buckle. Thus the weight
of the pendant
when clipped to the D-ring of the collar biases the D-ring downwardly so that
the pendant
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hangs naturally in a jewellery-like fashion downwardly from the bottom of the
collar, and
thereby also biases the collar buckle to a position generally underneath the
neck of pet 8 where
the buckle remains out of view.
With the free-end 12a of the leash thereby attached to the collar D-ring 20a,
and
with the leash 12 retracted into the housing 16, the housing hangs like a
jewellery pendant a
short distance beneath the collar, that is separated from the collar only by
the length of the clip
and D-ring. When the pet owner desires to use the retractable leash 12 the pet
owner (not
shown) grasps the pendant housing 16 and gently pulls on the housing thereby
both rotating
the pendant and collar so as to position the pendant upwardly on the neck of
the pet, and to
extend the leash 12 from the housing 16 by the action of leash 12 unwinding
from reel 14
within the housing.
The base end of the leash, that is, the end opposite the free end 12a of the
leash,
is mounted to the reel, for example in slot 14a, so that when the leash is
fully extended, that is,
fully unwound from the reel, the base end of the leash remains anchored within
the housing.
The housing may thus operate as a handle at the end of the conventional length
of leash when
the retractable leash is fully extended, that is fully unwound from the reel.
The reel 14 is rotatably mounted within the housing 16 and is resiliently
biased,
for example by means of a helical coiled spring 22 (shown in dotted outline)
so as to urge the
reel to rewind the leash onto the reel when the tension on the leash caused by
pulling between
the housing and the pet collar is removed. A one way ratchet mechanism 24
mounted within
the housing 16 and cooperating with the reel 14 allows the extension of the
leash 12, that is,
the unwinding of the leash from the reel without the leash retracting into the
housing whenever
the tension on the leash is let up, for example, when the pet approaches the
pet owner and the
leash therefore goes slack. A latch release mechanism 26 is provided so that
the pet owner
may release the one-way latch thereby allowing the reel to wind-on the leash
from its extended
position to its fully retracted position when the owner desires to re-store
the leash and return
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the housing to its position under the pet's neck, where the housing once again
appears as a
jewellery style pendant hanging freely from and below the pet collar.
In one embodiment which is not intended to be limiting, the reel 14 has a
central bore 14b extending therethrough along the reel's axis of rotation A. A
shaft or pin 28
extends from one side 16a of the housing 16 into the cavity 16b defined by the
walls of the
housing and within which the reel is rotatably mounted by the shaft or pin 28
being journalled
through a shaft casing 16d, itself journalled through bore 14b of reel 14. The
shaft or pin 28
has an internal end 28a protruding into the housing cavity 16b, and an
opposite external end
28b protruding through aperture 16a' in side wall 16a. A latch bar 30 is
mounted in a channel
28c on the internal end 28a of the shaft or pin 28 so that the latch bar is
rigidly affixed relative
to the housing and not free to rotate. Latch bar 30 engages corresponding
teeth or otherwise
elevated contours 32 on the face 14c of reel 14. Bevels on one side edge 30a
of the latch bar
30 slide over the raised slopes 32a of the teeth or contours 32 when the reel
14 is rotating in
direction B during unwinding of the leash 12 from the reel 14 as the leash 12
is being extended
for example in direction C along the leash translation axis D, that is,
extended through the
aperture 16c in the top of the housing 16 by a user pulling on the housing 16
as a handle. For
ease of winding and unwinding the leash from the reel, advantageously the
leash translation
axis D is substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation A of reel 14.
When the tension is slackened on the leash 12 subsequent to the leash being
unwound from the reel, the helical coil spring 22 urges the reel in the
reverse direction so as to
urge the reel to wind the leash back onto the reel. Rotation of the reel
winding the leash back
onto the reel is stopped by the non-bevelled edges 30b (opposite to bevelled
side edges 30a) of
the latch bar 30 engaging against the vertical faces 32b of the teeth or
contours on the face of
the reel.
When a user desires to retract the leash 12 onto the reel 14, the user
depresses
the external end 28b of the shaft or pin 28 thereby driving the shaft or pin
in direction E so as
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to disengage the latch bar 30 from engagement from against the teeth or
contours 32 on face
14c of reel 14 against the return biasing force of spring 34 mounted in seat
30c. Spring 34
pushes against side wall 16e. Once the latch bar 30 is so disengaged, the
helical coil spring 22
urges rotation of reel 14 about axis of rotation A to thereby wind the leash
12 back onto reel 14
until the free end 12a of the leash engages the aperture 16c in the top of the
housing 16.
In one preferred embodiment a swivel 36 is mounted on the free end 12a of the
leash so as to allow the housing 16 and leash 12 to turn freely relative to
the pet collar 20. The
releasable fastener such as a clip 18 is mounted to the top of the swivel 36.
Although housing 16 may take many forms as shown by way of examples in
Figures 2a and 8a-8f, one consistent and useful aspect is the bulk of the
housing necessitated
by having to contain reel 14. Reel 14 has to be large enough to contain a
useful length of leash
12. Even if leash 12 is thin high-tensile strength filament, if leash 12 is
for example three feet
in length then leashl2 when fully wound onto reel 14 will require appreciable
volume within
cavity 16b. Reel 14 must accommodate the full length of leash 12 minus the
short distance
between reel 12 and aperture 16c at the top of the housing. Advantageously
reel 14 as a raised
pair of rims 14d that assist in containing the winding of leash 12 onto the
reel. Rims 14d may
slide over, in contact with, the inner surface of housing 16 to help avoid
binding or jamming of
the leash within the housing.
In one embodiment, not intending to be limiting for example for a smaller dog
(under 251b dog) the exterior dimensions of housing 16 are approximately 1 3/5
inches in
width "w", 1 3/5 inches in height "h" (that is not including the height of the
swivel 36 and clip
18), and 4/5 inches in thickness or depth "d". Reel 14 may be approximately
one inch in
diameter, and 1/2 inch in depth. For larger dogs the dimensions may be larger.
The use of
shorter leash 12, and/or a finer filament for leash 12, allows reduction in
the size of housing
16. As may be seen in the Figures, in one embodiment for ease of
manufacturing, housing 16
may be formed by the joining together of two clam-shell halves. Cavity 16b in
which reel 14
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is mounted may be defined by the use of opposed-facing internal collars 38
formed in both
halves of housing 16. Collars 38 help hold leash 12 on reel 14 by engaging
against rims 14d
during winding-on and unwinding of the leash. Spring 22 may be contained
within a
concentric ancillary collar 40, so for example spring 22 is then seated
against sidewall 16a.
The coupler has a length dimension "1" substantially along the leash
translation
axis. A first ratio of the height dimension to the length dimension may be
substantially in the
range of 1 - 3 : 1 (height dimension of the housing: length dimension of the
coupler). A
second ratio of the width dimension to the length dimension may be
substantially in the range
of 1 - 3 : 1 (width dimension of the housing: length dimension of the
coupler). A third ratio of
the thickness dimension to the length dimension may be substantially in the
range of 1 - 3 : 1
(thickness dimension of the housing: length dimension of coupler). These
ratios generally
define the bulk of the pendant housing 16 and the relative distance of the
housings from the pet
collar.
The bulk of reel 14 and the winding contained thereon forces the width
dimension, the corresponding height dimension, and the depth dimension.
Collectively, and in
particular the width w and depth d dimensions, provide a comfortable-to-hold
useful handle
for a user to grasp, either by pulling the leash to extend it from the housing
or to hold while
controlling the pet. The various decorative forms of the housing will have a
central volume to
accommodate reel 14 and thus all provide the comfortable handle, especially
those, such as the
heart-shaped housing, which have expanded shoulders 16f on either side of
aperture 16c which
provided a laterally expanded area for improved purchase on the handle.
In the illustrated embodiment external end 28b which protrudes from aperture
16a', is contained within a cup or depression 16g in side wall 16a. Thus a
user will be less
likely to inadvertently push end 28b thereby inadvertently retracting the
leash.
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As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing
disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of
this invention
without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of
the invention is
to be construed in accordance with the substance defined by the following
claims.
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