Abstract:
An animal leash including an integrated, selectively accessible cavity, the animal leash comprising: (a) a first elongated strap; and (b) a first collapsible wall attached to the first elongated strap to form an integrated receptacle, the integrated receptacle including an opening providing access to an interior thereof, the integrated receptacle further including a reconfigurable closure adapted to be selectively reconfigured to restrict access to the interior of the integrated receptacle.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/514,786, filed Oct. 27, 2003, and entitled “LEASH WITH BUILT-IN POCKET,” the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention is directed to an animal leash having an integrated pocket for receiving articles to be fastened thereto or secured therein.  
         [0004]     2. Relevant History  
         [0005]     Animal leashes are well known in the art. An exemplary animal leash may comprise something as simple as a piece of rope having a first end thereof secured to the animal and an opposing second end thereof coupled to a person or mounted to a fixed object. More elaborate leashes may be manufactured from metal links or from stitched or braided materials. Regardless of the structure, the leash provides a limited range of freedom for an animal. Often, this limited range of freedom is for the safety of the animal.  
         [0006]     One of the more common applications of a leash is involved with walking a dog. It is particularly cumbersome to carry keys, a telephone, or other device in one hand while carrying the leach in the other hand, or attempting to do both with the same hand. Most often, this requires carrying a backpack or having clothing with sufficient storage, such as pockets, to secure such an article therein.  
         [0007]     Therefore, there is a need in the art to provide the functionality of a leash concurrently with the carrying capacity of a pocket to alleviate the requirement of a person carrying keys, a telephone, or other device in his/her hand when wearing clothing with insufficient pocket storage. Still further, there is a need in the art to integrate the pocket with the leash to provide a storage compartment that is not prone to separation from the leash.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0008]     The present invention is directed to an animal leash having a pocket for receiving articles to be fastened thereto or secured therein. More specifically, the present invention is directed to an animal leash that includes an integral compartment for containing useful articles that may include, without limitation, keys, money, identification, a telephone, and plastic bags. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  is an elevated perspective view of a segment of a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is an elevated perspective view of a segment of a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of  FIG. 3 .  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0013]     The exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described and illustrated below to encompass methods for carrying articles and devices for facilitating such methods. More specifically, the present invention provides an animal leash that includes an integrated pocket for storage of articles. Of course, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the preferred embodiments discussed below are exemplary in nature and may be reconfigured without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. However, for clarity and precision, the exemplary embodiments discussed below may include optional steps and/or features that one of ordinary skill will recognize as not being a requisite to fall within the scope of the present invention. In addition, for purposes of brevity, the following description has omitted an exhaustive listing of animals with which use of the present invention may be particularly advantageous.  
         [0014]     Referencing  FIG. 1 , a first exemplary segment  10  of a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a first elongated strap  12  secured to a second elongated strap  14  in a parallel back-to-back fashion. The second strap  14  has an unattached segment  16  where there is a gap between the first strap  12  and the second strap  14 . The unattached segment  16  includes a vertical slit  18  running lengthwise and extending therethrough that includes a closure such as a zipper  20  attached thereto to provide selective access through the slit  18 . Other exemplary closures include, without limitation, loop and pile fasteners, buttons, snaps, and hook and loop fasteners. Collapsible side walls  22 ,  24  are interposed between the first strap  12  and the second strap  14  in the gap formed by the unattached segment  16  to define an enclosure  26  (see  FIG. 2 ).  
         [0015]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the collapsible walls  22 ,  24  are concurrently mounted between the first strap  12  and the second strap  14  to provide the enclosure  26  defining a cavity  28  for storing articles therein. Exemplary mounting techniques for securing the first strap  12  to the second strap  14  and securing the collapsible walls  22 ,  24  thereto are known by those of ordinary skill in the art and include, without limitation, stitching and adhesive. In this exemplary embodiment, the collapsible walls  22 ,  24  comprise an expandable fabric such as, without limitation, spandex, while the first strap  12  and the second strap  14  may comprise a durable fabric such as, without limitation, nylon.  
         [0016]     Referencing  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the first exemplary segment  10  may comprise a portion of a dog leash or other animal leash. Municipal regulations and/or good etiquette may require that the person walking the animal remove fecal material deposited as a result of defecation. Thus, it may be advantageous to utilize the enclosure  26  to secure a plastic bag, glove, and other materials advantageous for fecal material removal. In an exemplary process, the zipper  20  may be manipulated vertically to enable articles to pass through the slit  18  and likewise be manipulated vertically to inhibit articles from passing through the slit  18  when it is desirous to retain such articles within the enclosure  26 . Other articles that may be stored within the enclosure  26  include, without limitation, keys, money, credit cards, personal identification, a portable telephone, animal treats, and a whistle.  
         [0017]     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , assembly and fabrication of the first exemplary segment  10  includes cutting the slit  18  within the unattached segment  16  of the second strap  14 . The zipper  20  is secured to the perimeter of the slit  18  to provide for selective throughput of articles through the slit  18 . The opposing collapsible walls  22 ,  24  are mounted to the first strap  12  and the second strap  14  and thereafter, the straps  12 ,  14  are aligned and secured together to form the cavity  28  which is bounded by the collapsible walls  22 ,  24  and the straps  12 ,  14 . However, it is within the scope of the invention that the straps  12 ,  14  and/or collapsible walls  22 ,  24  comprise a single piece of material.  
         [0018]     Referencing  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a second exemplary segment  40  of a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a first strap  42  secured to a second strap  44  and having an unattached region  46  to which the first strap  42  is not directly mounted to the second strap  44 . A portion of the first strap  42 , a portion of the second strap  44 , and the opposing collapsible walls  48 ,  50  mounted between the first strap  42  and the second strap  44  comprise an enclosure  52  that defines a cavity  54  therein. Access to the cavity  54  is provided by a vertical slit  56  running lengthwise along the segment  40  within at least one of the collapsible walls  48 ,  50 . A zipper  58  attached to at least one of the collapsible walls  48 ,  50  provides selective access through the slit  56  and into the cavity  54 .  
         [0019]     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the collapsible walls  48 ,  50  are concurrently mounted to the first strap  42  and the second strap  44  defining the cavity  54  available for storing articles therein. Exemplary mounting techniques for securing the first strap  42  to the second strap  44  and securing the collapsible walls  48 ,  50  thereto are known by those of ordinary skill in the art and include, without limitation, stitching and adhesive. In this exemplary embodiment, the collapsible walls  48 ,  50  may comprise an expandable fabric, and the first strap  42  and the second strap  44  may comprise a durable fabric.  
         [0020]     Referencing  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the second exemplary segment  40  may comprise a portion of a dog leash or other animal leash. Municipal regulations and/or good etiquette may require that the owner or person leading or holding the animal in check remove fecal material deposited as a result of defecation. Thus, it may be advantageous to utilize the cavity  54  to secure a plastic bag, glove, and other materials advantageous for fecal material removal therein. In an exemplary process, the zipper  58  would be manipulated vertically to enable articles to pass through the slit  56  and likewise be manipulated vertically to prohibit articles to pass through the slit  56 . As discussed above, other articles that may be stored within the cavity  54  and include, without limitation, keys, money, credit cards, personal identification, animal treats, and a whistle.  
         [0021]     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , assembly and fabrication of the second exemplary segment  40  includes cutting the slit  56  within one of the collapsible walls  48 ,  50 . The zipper  58  is secured to the perimeter of the slit  56  to provide for selective throughput of articles through the slit  58 . The collapsible walls  48 ,  50  are mounted to first strap  42  and the second strap  44  and thereafter, the straps  42 ,  44  are aligned and secured together to form the cavity  54  which is bounded by the collapsible walls  48 ,  50  and the straps  42 ,  44 .  
         [0022]     In each of the above exemplary segments  10 ,  40 , the cavity  28 ,  54  is in series with the leash such that tension on the leach stretches the segments to collapse the cavity and more tightly secure any contents therein. It is to be understood that this feature is not required to fall within the scope of the present invention. When the cavity  28 ,  54  is not used to store articles, however, the profile of the leash may generally match the profile of an ordinary leash.  
         [0023]     It is further within the scope and spirit of the present invention that the segments  10 ,  40  may be incorporated into pre-existing leashes or may be integrated into new leashes. Further, the segments  10 ,  40  may be integrated into retractable leashes, roll-up leashes, or other space conscious leash systems. Such leashes may include clips for coupling to a dog collar and an optional handle (such as a loop at the end of the leash).  
         [0024]     It is also within the scope of the present invention that the segments  10 ,  40  be incorporated into animal collars or animal harnesses. Those of ordinary skill will readily understand the applicability of these exemplary segments  10 ,  40  to provide secure cavities for storing articles therein.  
         [0025]     Following from the above description and invention summaries, it should be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that, while the methods and apparatuses herein described constitute exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the invention contained herein is not limited to this precise embodiment and that changes may be made to such embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims. Additionally, it is to be understood that the invention is defined by the claims and it is not intended that any limitations or elements describing the exemplary embodiments set forth herein are to be incorporated into the interpretation of any claim element unless such limitation or element is explicitly stated. Likewise, it is to be understood that it is not necessary to meet any or all of the identified advantages or objects of the invention disclosed herein in order to fall within the scope of any claims, since the invention is defined by the claims and since inherent and/or unforeseen advantages of the present invention may exist even though they may not have been explicitly discussed herein.